Across the United States, including the city of Orlando, foreclosures have been on the rise in recent years. One solution that's helping many homeowners to avoid foreclosure is to create a short sale on their home. A short sale means the lender will accept less than the full amount due on the mortgage when a homeowner sells their home.

An Orlando short sale can help the lender avoid numerous expenses and the time involved in following through with a foreclosure. On the other hand, a short sale can help the homeowner escape a tight financial situation and avoid a foreclosure, which can be detrimental to their credit.

What Leads to an Orlando Foreclosure?

Foreclosure occurs when a borrower defaults on his/her mortgage for a certain period of time and is unable to bring their account current with the lender. Mortgage back payments, late fees, attorney fees, property inspection fees, etc. can all add up in a hurry. These quickly eat away at the borrower's home equity and make it more difficult to keep up with the mortgage payments.

Typically, the borrower and lender both lose when a foreclosure occurs. The borrower loses their home and their good credit standing. The lender may lose up to 40 percent of the total mortgage due to added foreclosure expenses such as costs for court, eviction, attorneys, interest losses, property maintenance, selling the property, etc. A foreclosure is also a very lengthy process that can take up to two years in some areas. Therefore, it's easy to see why a short sale can sometimes offer the best solution for all parties involved.

Top Reasons for an Orlando Short Sale

Perhaps you are facing a tight situation with your home mortgage and are fearful that foreclosure might become a reality soon. Some situations that may merit a short sale include no upfront money or if there are fees due, if you owe more than your home is worth (upside-down in your mortgage), or if your payments have increased recently as a result of an adjustable rate mortgage. If you need to move very soon to a new area and are unable to afford the double payments, or if you suddenly become unemployed, these are valid reasons for a short sale as well.

Other situations that may call for an Orlando short sale are if you want to avoid credit damage or a default judgment from the lender, if your neighborhood has recently experienced numerous foreclosures (causing a decrease in property values), or if you're an investor that is overextended with payments or properties.

Short sales often present a viable solution to a problem that many homeowners face today. Luckily, there are certified short sale specialists that can help you through the entire process. These are often Orlando real estate agents that also specialize in Orlando short sales, Orlando MLS services, and Orlando REO (real estate owned) services. A specialist can help you negotiate with your lender to find the best possible route that will best guard your credit.

You can find help with a possible short sale from agents online to save time and money - and to hopefully avoid foreclosure. Search online for Orlando foreclosure specialists or Orlando short sale specialists to get the advice you need during these desperate times.