Short Sales a Failure According to CA Survey

Ninety-four percent of Realtors surveyed by the California Association of Realtors participated in a short sale transaction during 2010, demonstrating the growing presence of short sale listings in today's distressed real estate environment. Despite increased market interest in the short sale as an alternative to foreclosure, the survey found that fewer than three out of five actually close in California. The trade group says this fact illustrates "the complexity and difficulty of navigating lenders' and servicers' short sale procedures."

“The lack of standardization, long approval process, and lack of lender approvals are hampering what should be a 45-day short sale process,” Peerce said. “Instead we’re hearing the typical response time for lenders is at least 60 days, and in many instances, their response time exceeds six months.”


More than half (63 percent) of Realtors said that lenders took more than 60 days to return a written response of the approval or disapproval of the short sale agreement submitted. Only 4 percent said they received a written response in less than 14 days.


http://www.dsnews.com/articles/short-sale-success-faces-hurdles-in-california-survey-2011-03-08