With the goal of landing a bargain many buyers in today’s market are interested in purchasing short sale properties. But not all buyers are ideal candidates for such transactions. If your home buying criteria includes any of the following you may not be a good candidate:

-You have a lot of contingencies

-You need to sell your current home before purchasing another

-You need to close quickly

-You do not have resources to repair and rehab the property, if needed. Note: short sale properties and foreclosures are not always in need of repairs or rehab, so even if you do not have resources to cover those things, a short sale could still work for you, but fewer homes that  match your situation would be available and the search more frustrating.

If you determine that you are a good candidate for buying a short sale and want to make an offer, here are some guidelines (among others):

- Attach a “Short Sale Addendum” to the contract that stipulates the amount of time you are willing to wait for the lender to review and process the short sale package (but if the timing is too short, the lender may not approve the short sale).

- When it comes to pricing, if the offer is too low, the lender may not approve the sale. Your Realtor should prepare a competitive market analysis (CMA) so you can be realistic with your offer.

-In negotiating a short sale contract, request that the listing agent not submit multiple offers.

-The lender may ask that you contribute to deficiencies due to second lien holders, unpaid home owner association fees, etc. These are negotiable items that can make or break a deal.

-Inspections, financing and other details require the same regimen you would follow in a “normal” transaction. Once the short sale has been approved it is crucial that time lines be established and followed.

With patience, due diligence and the guidance of your Realtor, buying a short sale can save you 10-40% over the price of similar properties in a normal sale.

Learn more about the facts and myths about buying a short sale and how to be a winning buyer in today’s market. Click here to download my free handout “Winning with Foreclosures”.

This post has been authored by Eric Slifkin, REALTOR® serving South Florida’s Treasure Coast. You can reach me at 888-288-1765, or visit my Web site at www.TreasureCoastHomeSales.com. As your resource for information on new or resale homes throughout the Treasure Coast, please be sure to contact me about any home you may find on the Web, yard sign or ad and I will research the property, arrange showings and handle all the details.

Palm City real estate is a great value right now, especially in comparison to properties further south. This includes homes in sought after Palm City communities such as Cobblestone, Canopy Creek, Hammock Creek and Orchid Bay.

There are great opportunities to purchase a golf villa, waterfront property or luxury home in Palm City at a significant discount over what you might have had to pay several years ago. You can also find deals on new homes with many builders sitting on large quantities of unsold inventory.

International buyers from Great Britain, Germany and Canada have also begun to target Palm City real estate as a great way to take advantage of the current buyer’s market. With our location on Florida’s Treasure Coast we are offering some of the best real estate deals available in years from townhouses to luxury executive homes for sale.

For many Palm Beach area buyers this may be their best chance to grab the home of their dreams. Eric Slifkin is your source for all Stuart, Palm City and Martin County real estate with our free MLS search and free buyers representation services. If you are looking for Stuart real estate, Palm City real estate or other Treasure Coast area property call me at 772-288-1765 to find out how I can help you today.