Bank of America is one of the nation’s leading banks and is working hard at improving their system for processing and approving
short sales. Many of the loans for Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley area homes are owned or serviced by
Bank of America. They are a participant in the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives also called
HAFA Program. In that program they will pay the home owner a relocation incentive or HAFA incentive of $3,000 or more to move when the short sale is completed.
They also have a program where the short sale can be “pre-approved” in advance so that the bank of America will help determine the list price by sending an appraiser out to do a BPO appraisal and then accept the short sale immediately after an offer of that price is received.
They also do traditional short sales with upside down homeowners and investors who do not meet the financial criteria to do a short sale and do not require a preapproval on those standard short sales. Often times homeowners in default or after being served with an NOD will contact B of A for help, although they suggest that you contact them before the situation becomes urgent.
Many short sale home sellers start the process by applying for a loan modification and then if the loan modification is either denied by the bank or is not sufficient enough to lower the payments to where the homeowner is comfortable then a short sale can be requested, either HAFA or traditional. The number for their short sale department is 1-866-880-1232.
If you have a VA or FHA or HUD loan that is either owned or being serviced by Bank of America then you should also call 1-800-669-0102 and ask about help from their home retention department.
If you are in default and find that the bank has sent someone to put a lock on your door or rekeyed your locks then call the Bank of America Property Preservation Resolution Center at 1.866.515.9759 and ask them to remove it and let them know that you are in the process of listing with a realtor to do a short sale and then call me or someone who can help you list the property and delay the foreclosure eviction process so your rights as a homeowner can be protected.
You will be asked to prepare a short sale package to submit to Bank of America;
This will include;
2 years tax returns, include all pages and all signatures
2 months of all bank account statements, all pages even blank ones.
2 months pay stubs
A budget worksheet of all income and all expenses
A letter of hardship explaining why you need to short sale your home, it does not have to be extreme just logical as to what the problem is that is causing you to have to sell.
The bank will send you other forms to fill out upon receiving these, your short sale realtor can also help you prepare your package. You have the right to and should choose your OWN real estate agent to sell your home you do not have to use the one that Bank of America recommends, who is usually the REO, foreclosure real estate agent. .
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