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Investing

Bank Short Sales Increase (JPM, BAC, WFC, C)

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By Paul Ausick Published
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US banks have finally figured out that it costs them less to simply take a loss on an underwater home mortgage rather than try to foreclose. Banks are even paying for the privilege. Major US banks JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC), and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) all have short sales programs in place.

There about 14 million US homes in foreclosure, behind on mortgage payments, or underwater according to a Bloomberg News story citing RealtyTrac:

Bank-owned foreclosures and short sales sold at a discount of 34 percent to non-distressed properties in the third quarter.

In addition to getting out from under the mortgage, a homeowner can receive up to $35,000 in cash to pay for moving expenses and a new place to live. Banks are also reported to be paying a few thousand dollars to holders of second liens to clear the lien and make sure that the short sale goes through.

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About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for a673b.bigscoots-temp.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

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