Short sales are on the rise. Compared to a year ago, the number of short sales being done increased 33%, according to RealtyTrac. In fact, short sales beat out REO sales in 12 states. In all, 32 states saw an increase in pre-foreclosure sales, typically short sales.
There are also signs that lenders are more willing to accept aggressively priced short sales, as evidenced by the decline in pre-foreclosure home prices. In January, a short sale sold at an average 21% discount, as compared to the price of a non-foreclosure home sale. While the average time it took to complete a short sale actually tripled since 2007 when the average was 113 days, recent efforts have been made to streamline the process. Beginning in June, the GSEs will require servicers to reach a short sale decision within 30 days of receiving an offer.
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