A Bank short sale is a great way for investors to buy property at a fraction of the market price; however there are several steps that should be followed in order to guarantee a successful and profitable transaction. These tips include using a real estate agent experienced in the short sale process, doing research on the short sale specifics, identifying the correct owner of the property, file all associated paperwork in a timely and efficient manner, and completing a thorough inspection of the property before finalizing or signing any papers.

Not all real estate agents are familiar with the short sale process. Some professionals view the process as a last ditch effort by banks or other lending institutions to sell off debt accumulated through bad loans and therefore avoid such proceedings. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Many agents have discovered that a short sale is a great way to acquire property at greatly reduced prices and have begun to specialize in such dealings. These are agents you want to seek out, both for their experience and their connections. They will be able to guide you through the process step by step.

Another important tip is to fully research the short sale specifics. The best way to find out information on a particular property is to check the public records. In this manner you can discover who is on the title for the property. You can also find out how much money is owed to the bank through the property. This will help you determine a proper asking price to approach the mortgage holder with. The proper price should approximate the amount owed to the lending institution. You should also be able to discover if the property has been foreclosed upon. If these proceedings have been initiated, then a short sale is not possible. Bank short sales can only be completed during pre-foreclosure proceedings. You can also find out if the property in question has multiple loans against it. Avoid properties with multiple mortgages against it.

A short sale is a quick process that must be completed before the property moves into foreclosure. This means that time is usually of the essence. Paperwork must be filed out in a timely manner and documents must be completed according to strict deadlines. Make sure that you attain all the associated paperwork during your initial visit to the bank or loaning office. Not attaining all of the paperwork in the initial visit can lead to time consuming delays that may derail the short sale.

Also make sure to ask the loan officer for a list of all required documentation needed for a successful short sale. Missing only one piece of paper or one simple omission of information can make a short sale unsuccessful.

Finally, once all of the paperwork has been completed, the proper documents filed, and the research has been done, it is a good idea to have the property in question inspected by a licensed home inspector. Many properties fall into disrepair when they fall back into the ownership of the bank. Therefore, it is wise to identify all the current issues associated with the assumption of ownership. After all, a house isn't worth much if it needs a completely new foundation. Still, it is certain anyone looking for investment properties; a bank short sale is usually always profitable.