If you get to read the entirely article - In my opinion they place too little emphasis on the fact that many if not most lenders are not agreeing to release sellers from the deficiency balance. (at least not in the initial paperwork) you must be prepared find ways to gain leverage over the junior lien holders in California, by using California law to your advantage.
Two Alternatives to Foreclosure - WSJ.com
Two Alternatives to Foreclosure - WSJ.com
A second benefit of short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure is that borrowers will generally face a shorter waiting period before they can obtain another mortgage.
Many lenders primarily make loans that they can sell to big mortgage players Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Starting Aug. 1, Fannie Mae generally will not buy loans made to borrowers involved in a short sale in the past two years. That's shorter than the four-year wait time if you have a deed in lieu of foreclosure on your record, and the five-year wait time if you have a foreclosure on record. (The current wait time is four years for a foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure; there is no existing policy for borrowers with a short sale.)
Freddie Mac generally won't guarantee loans made to borrowers who have had a foreclosure in the past four years, says Freddie Mac spokesman Brad German. (If the foreclosure was due to circumstances beyond the borrower's control, such as a medical emergency, then Freddie Mac will guarantee the loan in two years' time). The company considers short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure a significant negative but not an "automatic no," says Mr. German.
A Blow to Credit Scores
What short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure don't do is minimize the impact on a borrower's credit score. All three proceedings have roughly the same negative impact on an individual's credit score, says Craig Watts, spokesman for Fair Isaac Corp., which created the widely used FICO score.
Mr. Watts says that to date little analysis has been done distinguishing, for instance, the credit risk of individuals who completed a short sale versus those involved in a foreclosure. For that reason, "the model ends up treating them [a short sale, a deed in lieu of foreclosure, and a foreclosure] all the same."
If homeowners are interested in pursuing a short sale, they should open discussions with their lender or loan servicer before attempting to sell their house.
For both short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, borrowers will have to present a "hardship letter" to the lender or servicer detailing why they are unable to make their mortgage payments.
Lenders have shown increasing willingness to negotiate short sales and deeds in lieu of foreclosure because of the losses they frequently incur in foreclosures.
