We just closed on one with two mortgages. The banks took $300,000 less than the amount owed. It took several months and hundreds of hours of going back and forth, but it finally happened.
Your situation will not only depend on the lenders and how much they are willing to 'forgive', but the negotiators as well. Is the current owner going to have to sign a note? Who is doing your negotiating? A Realtor who is familiar with short sales or an attorney who has handled short sales? If either is not skilled in the process, it will be difficult to get your home.
If you push the lender's negotiator too hard, the house could end up in the foreclosure pile! Sometimes the lenders just won't budge! Good luck. - Sat May 30 2009, 19:32