Md jet
Home Buyer
Pleasant Hill, CA

I am trying to decide whether or not to make an offer on a short sale home. The owner has not yet approached the bank to get a short sale approval, but has stopped making payments as of a few months ago. There are presently no other offers from interested buyers. I am trying to determine the likelihood that the bank would approve the owner to short sale vs. letting him go into foreclosure. I have read that in Pennsylvania, the bank has the right to recover money from the owner in a foreclosure if the owner has other assets (ie: retirement accounts, stocks, savings, etc.). Is there a way to find out the seller's financial situation other than to run a background check? Is there any reason I/my agent shouldn't ask the seller's agent for this info. and is there any reason that the seller's agent wouldn't/shouldn't provide this info.?