A bank short sale is not the only way to get out of foreclosure – but it might be the best way. If you’re already in this situation, you’re already straining under intense financial pressure. Much of this anxiety should be alleviated if approved for a short sale, because you’ll be in the best position possible to purchase another home.

It is extremely difficult for us as homeowners to accept the fact that our home may be lost, but if it’s going to happen, avoiding foreclosure is the highest priority. It’s important for us to understand clearly that a short sale is not the”only” way out, but it may be the “best” way out. If we foreclose, the lender can sue us, garnish our wages, put a lien on other property, and hound us for years. All this in addition to the destruction of our credit rating. With a bank short sale – if handled correctly, we’re making an agreement with our lenders up front to settle most of these issues now.

Either way, for the layman, a bank short sale or foreclosure can be quite stressful due to all of the complexities involved. There are attorneys, lenders, accountants, complex forms, legal jargon, and the internal revenue service to deal with. On top of that the money is tight on every side. We’ve got to remember in this situation that all parties involved are trying to get as much of their money as they can – so we’ve got to be prepared for anything. Banks are well-known for dropping surprise requests at the last second. Don’t allow yourself to be pushed around!

These last second surprises can be avoided if we seek expert advice from the outset. We don’t want to attempt a bank short sale without expert assistance of some kind – and should not procrastinate in acquiring it. Throughout the process we’ll deal with complex issues of property taxes, our loan, and real estate. We’ll need an expert in each of these areas. If you look in your area you should be able to find services that provide you with the expert assistance of qualified accountants, lawyers, and real estate agents – who will be paid by your lender. As with any type of service you need to exercise discretion in order to get the best assistance available.

A bank is obviously not going to be happy about a short sale. They’ll be happy about avoiding a foreclosure, but enthusiastic is not the word I would use to describe them. They’re out after their money and at times they may be quite difficult to deal with. It is for this reason that some phases of the bank short sale that should move quickly – will not. Stay patient and keep your cool. Working with a bank during a short sale is quite similar to working with the government.

The entire short sale process is strenuous and all parties may not agree on every issue – but if we can tough it out, we’ll be the winners in the end. We’ll be successful if we avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy, get our debt forgiven, and come out without any unpaid property taxes. This is why a bank short sale is such a sweet deal. It won’t be perfect, but at least we’ll be in a position to buy another home. Completing a short sale puts us in the best position for the future. No, a bank short sale may not be the only way out, but it is one of the better options!

Anthony Mauwer’s short sale advice has helped many homeowners successfully complete a bank short sale. Be sure to take a look at his short sale blog for tips, advice, and information on how the bank short sale can best work for you.