Tuesday, February 7, 2012

2012 mortgage debt relief act is expiring this year!

How i love when Short Sales4U network of agents are on top of news that makes a difference to all!
One of my top producers at Century 21 in Rancho Cucamonga,, Ron Gent- sent me a note about this tax bill that expires this year. This is a big deal since this is a debt forgiveness tax code that can exclude up to 2 million dollars of debt on your personal residence! Read the article below by a CPA in California :

Short Sellers motivated by " IRS Tax Consequences" to close escrow by Dec. 31

Hello Agents

With short sales accounting for over half of all listings (approx.) most agents have experienced a certain frustration because of some homeowner's/ seller's "hidden agendas".

Many homeowners simply use the short sale process to stay in the home for as long as possible. That's understandable...losing a home is traumatic.

The impact for you.. as an agent (both selling and listing) is spending time, money and emotional energy trying to close the sale...when the seller has no intention of following thru with the sale.

(Note...it's almost as frustrating ...for your loan officer).

These listings /sellers can usually be identified by the terms and comments in the MLS.

Such as:

a) No lockbox or sign

b) Shown by appointment only

c) A Ridiculously high purchase price

Note...if the seller is considering bankruptcy (and assuming they qualify) the transaction probably will not "close" because the home owner can also discharge the debt with the BK filing.

Now you may have a "hammer" to close these transactions!

The Mortgage Tax Relief Act ...eliminating mortgage debt forgivenessexpires Dec. 31, 2012.

But home owners will be "motivated to act " well before the date because of the short sale and foreclosures' lengthy process.

Currently the tax-relief act allows homeowners to exclude from income (for the sake of tax purposes) primary mortgage debt (1st trust deed) forgiven by their lender.(i.e short sale, short refi , foreclosure or deed in lieu)

Impacted home owners are most easily identified by simply pulling a title report and comparing the amount of the original loan (1st TD) vs the current 1st TD.

If the balance is higher...you may have a motivated seller. Here's why:

After Dec 31., if a lender cancels a home owner's debt, the IRS requires the debt be treated (reported) as "general income"...because the duty to repay it no longer exists.

For example: if a homeowner owes $250,000 and the lender forgives $50,000 of that debt, that $50,000 is considered income.

If the homeowner's combined federal and state marginal tax rate is 36%, the seller would owe $18,000 in taxes. A BIG DETERENT TO JERKING YOU AROUND ANS SABOTAGING THE SALE AT THE VERY LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT!

Note ....when a homeowner refinances their current mortgage to a LOWER loan balance, there is no tax on the difference between what a homeowner owes on the old loan and what a home owners owes on the new loan amount.( becasue the basis is higher)

However the refinanced loan amount is now a "recourse debt" which may subject the borrower to a future lawsuit for a "deficiency judgment".

Here are a few of the other important rules the homeowner needs to know:

• The debt-relief law applies only to debt incurred to buy, build or improve a personal residence. (S ave your receipts in case of an audit).

It does not apply to a HELOC used to pay off debts or used as "walking around money".

• The act does not apply to vacation homes or investment properties.

• The max. amount a homeowner can treat as indebtedness is $2 million, or $1 million if married but filing separately.

The expiration of the act will motivate many home owners to seriously consider selling...OR..if not ...save you gas, time and emotional grief!

Well, that's all folks, I hope you enjoyed learning something new today about real estate tax law!!! Sincerely, Stacie MacDonald - Your Short Sale expert!

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