SHORT SALES COME UP SHORT

An article from the national Association of Realtors reports that Realtors across the country believe mortgage lenders make the housing downturn worse by taking months to make decisions on short sales and sticking to high internal target prices. As a result, more home buyers avoid short sale properties, forcing foreclosure sales that typically result in lenders accepting lower prices than they could have achieved in the short sale. "The only question banks should ask is can they make more in a short sale than in foreclosure," according to Lighthouse Point, Fla.-based Realtor Ron Rosen, who cites a "broken" system. "The answer is that in nine out of 10 cases, they will lose more money in a foreclosure." Some Realtors contend that lenders lack the appropriate systems and staff to handle short sale requests, while lenders insist the short sale process is complicated by the need for approvals from investors and mortgage insurers. Still, Realtors note that a more efficient short sale process would boost prices and reduce inventory.