Distress Sales Dominate Housing Market

Distress Sales Dominate Housing Market
Distressed Properties Account for Nearly Half of Home Sales

Per this Real Estate Economy Watch article, Half of January Home Sales were Distressed Properties, sales of Distressed Properties (i.e. foreclosures, REO's and short sales) accounted for almost 50% of all home sales in January 2011. This represents yet another increase in the trend of increased market share for distressed properties. Currently, several real estate markets are already experiencing sales of distressed properties accounting for well over 50% of all home sales. Overall, the article speculates that across the country sales of distressed properties could make up well over 50% of home sales in the near future. Based on what I am personally seeing in and around Nashville Tennessee, I believe that foreclosures and short sales will ultimately account for at least 10% to 80% of all home sales depending on the town. Brentwood, Franklin and Nolensville will likely be on the lower end of that range with distressed properties accounting for 10% to 20% of all home sales. Murfreesboro and Smyrna will likely be in the middle of that range with distressed properties accounting for 25% to 50% of all home sales. LaVergne (La Vergne) and Antioch will likely be in the upper end of that range with distressed properties accounting for 60% to 80% of all home sales. Overall, it is clear that distressed property sales will account for an increasing share of the housing market in all price segments for quite some time.

Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Springfield, Gallatin and Middle Tennessee Financially Distressed Homeowners and Property Owners. Stop the Bank from Foreclosing with a Quick Cash Offer or Short Sale. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee or La Vergne Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact Jim to discuss a short sale (when the real estate sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the mortgages and liens on the property). Jim helps sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in any Middle TN County (Rutherford, Williamson, Davidson, Maury, Sumner & Robertson). If you need to short sell your house or property, or you need a quick sale to stop a foreclosure sale, you can Get Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor. (*Free: In a real estate short sale, the bank or mortgage company usually approves and pays all of Jim's commissions and fees.)

Law Professor Advocates Strategic Mortgage Loan Default

Law Professor Advocates Strategic Mortgage Loan Default

Per this academic law paper, Underwater and Not Walking Away: Shame, Fear and the Social Management of the Housing Crisis, the author, Brent T. White (a law professor at The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law) advocates strategic mortgage loan default as a very viable option for both financially distressed and non-financially distressed underwater homeowners (i.e. the mortgage balance(s) exceeds the value of their home - there is negative equity). The major issues addressed in this paper include the following:

• Part I: Most underwater homeowners are not walking away from their homes (i.e. strategically defaulting on their mortgages).
• Part II: From a purely financial standpoint "many more homeowners should be strategically defaulting."
• Part III: Homeowner and borrower "emotions such as shame, guilt, and fear play the largest role in homeowner decisions" to keep paying on their mortgage loans even though they are financial black holes and the most rational action would be to strategically default.
• Part IV: The "government, the media, and the financial industry" and expected credit score damage combine to pressure underwater homeowners to keep paying on underwater mortgages even though strategic default would be the best financial option.
• Part V: Substantial differences in behavioral norms between underwater homeowners (borrowers) and banks give the banks substantial artificial leverage over the homeowners. In other words, the banks regularly fail as evidenced by the TARP bank bailouts and all the other unprecedented government actions to artificially prop up the banks so the banks clearly have no shame in threatening to default and close their doors in order to get money from the government (i.e. morality has nothing to do with their decision making), yet those very same banks pressure underwater homeowners to pay their mortgages by playing the "moral card". According to the author, this situation has "created an imbalance in which individual homeowners have borne a disproportionate financial burden from the housing collapse."
• Part VI: Government policy should seek out ways to level the playing field between underwater homeowners and banks so that given the circumstances mutually beneficial outcomes can be reached.

My view is that after seeking proper real estate (i.e. from me), legal and financial advice, underwater homeowners should consider "walking away" from their homes only as a last resort. In almost all cases, underwater homeowners should attempt the following loss mitigation actions (listed in order):

1. Short Sale.
2. Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure.
3. Strategic Default (i.e. walking away).

Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Springfield, Gallatin and Middle Tennessee Financially Distressed Homeowners and Property Owners. Stop the Bank from Foreclosing with a Quick Cash Offer or Short Sale. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee or La Vergne Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact Jim to discuss a short sale (when the real estate sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the mortgages and liens on the property). Jim helps sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in any Middle TN County (Rutherford, Williamson, Davidson, Maury, Sumner & Robertson). If you need to short sell your house or property, or you need a quick sale to stop a foreclosure sale, you can Get Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor. (*Free: In a real estate short sale, the bank or mortgage company usually approves and pays all of Jim's commissions and fees.)

Financial Distress Hitting Affluent Towns and Neighborhoods

Financial Distress Hitting Affluent Towns and Neighborhoods

Per my previous blog posts, Brentwood Distressed Sales Activity Increasing and Franklin Distressed Sales Activity Increasing, there are now larger numbers of short sales and foreclosures in wealthy areas as such as Brentwood Tennessee and Franklin Tennessee (both are located in Williamson County Tennessee). Both of these affluent towns were previously immune to the effects of the failing economy and housing market decline. The primary cause of these increased real estate distress sales are homeowners suffering from financial distress (i.e. job layoffs, and long-term unemployment). Recently, I have been contacted by two financially distressed homeowners who previously were earning in excess of $100,000 per year working in the health care industry. I say "previously" since both homeowners were recently laid off from their high paying jobs in an industry that was once thought of as a safe haven for employees. This is proof that almost no job is really "safe".

I think many financially distressed homeowners who are well educated and were formerly high income earners try to handle their mortgage delinquencies without the help of a real estate professional since they think that the bank will work with them at first. Of course, many will find out the unfortunate truth about how little the banks will do for them despite their once stellar payment history and credit. I think embarrassment is another reason why financially distressed homeowners who live in executive, luxury or otherwise high-end towns and neighborhoods delay seeking out professional real estate assistance from a short sale expert. In short, they do not want their neighbors to know about their financial hardship. This desire for discretion is fully understandable. The good news is that I am keenly aware of this concern. For example, several short sale sellers have asked me not to use a For Sale on their home. As a result, I don't use For Sale signs on my short sale listings. I also use short sale pre-qualification techniques to minimize the marketing period of their home by thoroughly researching their loan type and lender. Another way I keep the circumstances of my financially distressed seller clients as quiet as possible is communicate with these clients via their cell phone (calls and text messages) and personal email. In short, you can call me the "Discreet Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR and Real Estate Expert".

Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Springfield, Gallatin and Middle Tennessee Financially Distressed Homeowners and Property Owners. Stop the Bank from Foreclosing with a Quick Cash Offer or Short Sale. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee or La Vergne Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact Jim to discuss a short sale (when the real estate sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the mortgages and liens on the property). Jim helps sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in any Middle TN County (Rutherford, Williamson, Davidson, Maury, Sumner & Robertson). If you need to short sell your house or property, or you need a quick sale to stop a foreclosure sale, you can Get Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor. (*Free: In a real estate short sale, the bank or mortgage company usually approves and pays all of Jim's commissions and fees.)

Murfreesboro REALTOR Closes Nashville TN Short Sale

Murfreesboro REALTOR Closes Nashville TN Short Sale

Jim McCormack, a Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Springfield, Gallatin and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor recently closed the short sale of a single home in Nashville TN. Jim was able to close the short sale despite the bank initially over valuing the property by $15,000 and an imminent foreclosure sale. The financially distressed sellers were relieved to be out from under this property that they could no longer afford and were very happy to avoid foreclosure.

Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Springfield, Gallatin and Middle Tennessee Financially Distressed Homeowners and Property Owners. Stop the Bank from Foreclosing with a Quick Cash Offer or Short Sale. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee or La Vergne Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact Jim to discuss a short sale (when the real estate sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the mortgages and liens on the property). Jim helps sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in any Middle TN County (Rutherford, Williamson, Davidson, Maury, Sumner & Robertson). If you need to short sell your house or property, or you need a quick sale to stop a foreclosure sale, you can Get Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor. (*Free: In a real estate short sale, the bank or mortgage company usually approves and pays all of Jim's commissions and fees.)

Franklin TN Distressed Sales Activity Increasing

Franklin TN Distressed Sales Activity Increasing
Short Sales and Foreclosures Increasing Their Market Share

Compared to late 2009, the percentage of Distressed Sales Activity (i.e. Short Sales and Foreclosures) is increasing. In late 2009, distress sales (i.e. Short Sales and Foreclosures) accounted for over 5% of all Active Listings and just under 6% of all Pending Sales. Currently, distress sales account for over 7% of Active Listings and just under 8% of Pending Sales.

Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, Springfield, Gallatin and Middle Tennessee Financially Distressed Homeowners and Property Owners. Stop the Bank from Foreclosing with a Quick Cash Offer or Short Sale. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee or La Vergne Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact Jim to discuss a short sale (when the real estate sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the mortgages and liens on the property). Jim helps sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in any Middle TN County (Rutherford, Williamson, Davidson, Maury, Sumner & Robertson). If you need to short sell your house or property, or you need a quick sale to stop a foreclosure sale, you can Get Free* Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor. (*Free: In a real estate short sale, the bank or mortgage company usually approves and pays all of Jim's commissions and fees.)