Short Sales Bring 24% Greater Returns than Foreclosures

The real estate professionals at Massachusetts-based ""McGeough Lamacchia Realty"":http://www.shortsalene.com/ have been proponents of short sales for quite some time, insisting that everyone comes out ahead when a short sale is achieved as opposed to a foreclosure. Now they're sharing the facts that back up their claim.

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On average a home sold through short sale brings a 24 percent greater return than a foreclosed property, according to ""recent findings"":http://www.shortsalene.com/mcgeough-lamacchia-realty-study-shows-short-sales-better-for-banks-than-foreclosures/ from McGeough Lamacchia Realty.

""This means the banks are losing an average of $43,000 for every foreclosure sale compared to what they would have made in a short sale,"" said a blog post on the company's website.

The firm reviewed prices for short sale and foreclosure sale properties in 2010 and 2011 in Boston, Phoenix, Tuscon, Southern California, and Southwest Florida.

While banks often offer incentives to homeowners who pursue a short sale, ""more needs to be done to promote short sales,"" McGeough Lamacchia said.

Specifically, the firm points out that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not offering the cash incentives for short sales that are now standard through the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program.

""Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac need to do more to promote short sales and make it easier for distressed homeowners to do a short sale and avoid foreclosure,"" McGeough Lamacchia said in their blog post.