Buying A Home
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Can't Sell...What's next?

We have had our home on the market since April 2010 because my husband got transfered out of state and his company refused to buy our house.  We have been living with my parents since because we cannot afford to rent or buy another house.  We do not know what to do to get rid of our house.  We can't rent it because no one will pay enough to cover our mortgage so we would still be stuck with my parents.  We aren't eligible for a short sale because they claim our house is still worth more than we owe, which I don't get cause it is up for sale for way less than we owe at this point.  We are very frustrated because we feel like we can't get on with our lives.  Any suggestions?

Re: Can't Sell...What's next?

  • imageteacher624:
    We can't rent it because no one will pay enough to cover our mortgage so we would still be stuck with my parents.  We aren't eligible for a short sale because they claim our house is still worth more than we owe, which I don't get cause it is up for sale for way less than we owe at this point.  

    Well, if you rent it at least you'll have money coming in which is more than you have now.  Obvioulsy, renting it opens another can of worms as far as tenants and possible damage.  However, it sounds like you are in a bad situation and right now you are paying for a place you don't live.  Any kind of income to help offset that will be helpful.  You do see that even if it doesn't cover your mortgage, it's still money coming in to offset that right?

    If your mortgage company isn't going to work with you on a shortsale and you don't want to rent it, it sounds like your only options are to stop payments and let it get foreclosed on or keep it on the market and wait.  I have no advice on which would be better for you.  I imagine your situation is frustrating especially since your h's company wouldn't buy or help you sell the house.

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  • What is making the bank say it's worth more than you owe? Have they sent an appraiser out? Honestly it takes a lot of work to get the bank to move forward with a short sale - they have zero incentive to do so. I would spend more time on the phone with the bank to pursue the short sale option. Talk to your realtor and have him/her provide sale prices for comparable homes that have closed recently in your neighborhood. Have that information in front of you when you call your lender and be prepared to send it to them. Make sure you document every phone call and the person or people that you spoke to, and follow each call up with a letter mailed to the lender so you have a record of it. It will take some work but you shouldn't let the bank off the hook with what sounds like a totally unsubstantiated assessment of value on your home!
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  • I'd still rent it out at a loss just to move out of my parents' place. So, let's say you pay $1000/month on the mortgage. You rent it out for $700/month. Just get an apartment for $700/month. OR, since your DH at least is working, right (you moved for his job) rent an apartment for $1000/month (the $700 from rent + $300 from his paycheck.)
  • I don't understand why you don't rent it. Even if you have to cover a gap it's still better than covering the entire mortgage.  O you could just go into foreclosure. I'm not sure that foreclosure is really all that different on your credit than a short sale anyway though I guess they could come after your other assets depending on where you live and if you have them. 
  • I think renting it is just a short term solution that will lead to a bigger loss down the road.  You don't want to band aid the situation, you want to solve it.

    I would lower your price to max loss you can afford and try to sell one last time.  As long as you can afford the payments, while living with your parents may suck, at least it's keeping your credit in tact.  Foreclosure would be the last resort IMO.

    Also understand that a short sale is not designed to bail out everyone that is upside down on the house value and wants out.  It sounds like you don't have a second mortgage yet and can afford the payments.  I would really try to sell it, by lowering price and maybe changing realtors to someone that is more aggressive.

    1st Groom

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  • Have you considered taking it off the market for 3 months and then re-listing?  When you re-list after 3 months it becomes a new listing.  That may make it more appealing to buyers if it's a new listing rather than something that has been on the market for 18 months.  Just a thought.
  • Why do you think it's not selling? Are there no buyers in your area? Is anything else in your neighborhood selling? If other houses in your area are selling, then it's likely that your house is priced too high.

    Get several realtors to come look at the house and tell you what they think the fair market value is. If they come in with estimates that are below what you owe on the mortgage, submit that documentation to your mortgage holder and ask again about the possibility of a short sale. 

    If you get denied again for a short sale, then rent it, even at a loss each month. Some rental income is better than what you're getting out of it now.  Say you lose $300 a month - that $300 should not be the difference between getting an apartment in your new town and being stuck living with your parents. Scrimp and save everywhere you can to be able to afford your own place, you should be able to come up with $300 somewhere in your budget if you cut out extras like cable, phone data plans, gym memberships, eating out, etc. It might not be super fun, but it's probably better than living with your parents.

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