How Will a VA Compromise Sale Affect My Credit?

If you are a service member or Veteran near Hurlburt Field or Eglin Air Force Base, you may be considering a VA Compromise sale if you have a VA loan. A compromise sale (or offer in compromise) is when the Veterans Administration approves the sale of your home when your mortgage payoff is greater than the sale price, and there is not enough to pay back your VA entitlement. You must have a hardship and need to sell.
Two questions always come up when I help with VA Compromise Sales:
1. How will a VA Compromise Sale affect my credit?
To get a direct answer, I called the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Petersburg (telephone 1-888-611-5916), which covers the state of Florida. They told me VA Compromise sale is reflected as settled for less on credit reports. Settled for less is a common reporting for short sales, as well. The exact number of points that your credit will be affected depends on your complete credit picture. Remember, if you missed payments, that will also show up on your credit report.
2. Will I be able to get a VA loan again if I do a Compromise Sale?
Yes, if you pay back the entitlement that was not paid back to the VA at the sale. Specifically, the Veterans Administration says: Should VA agree to pay the difference between the sales proceeds and the total debt to complete the compromise sale process, the portion of the homeowners entitlement used to guaranty this loan will remain tied up until VA is reimbursed in full.
In fact, I am working with a Veteran now who re-paid his entitlement after a compromise sale, in order to get a VA loan again, because the rate and terms were more favorable. But remember, there are other types of mortgages that will be available to you, if you are unable to seek another VA loan.
If you are a service member or Veteran near Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Duke Field or Whiting Field, and think you might need to do a VA Compromise Sale, short sale or use the HAP program, call me at 850-650-7883. I can help.

Its Wendy
Wendy Rulnick, Broker Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204
itswendy@rulnickrealty.com
Read Wendy's Real Estate Blog

Call Wendy Rulnick, Broker, to list and sell your home or condo on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County- Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field. Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure specialist and has been featured in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine and Florida Realtor Magazine.

310 Evergreen, Hurlburt Field, Mary Esther FL- Short Sale

Calling Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB! Come home to Mary Esther! This short sale house has been recently painted, with berber carpet, new ceiling fans and tile in kitchen and baths. Darling curb appeal with metal roof (about 4 years old) Central heat and air only about two years old. Bonus room with some heat and cooling not included in square footage- 280 square feet. Roomy fenced yard. This Mary Esther Florida short sale home is a quick commute to either Hurlburt or Eglin. Ten minutes to the beach, Okaloosa Island, Santa Rosa Mall and more.
Offered at $123,000.
It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field Real Estate
Emerald Coast Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.
Read Wendy's Short Sale Blog
Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com
Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure specialist and has been featured in "Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine" and "Florida Realtor Magazine". Call Wendy Rulnick, Broker/Owner,to list and sell your home or condo on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County- Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field.
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Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field: Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) for Short Sales

Due to the draw-down of the 33rd Fighter Wing at the Eglin AFB complex, approximately 2000 airmen are being relocated from the Emerald Coast of Florida to other air force bases around the country and world. In addition about 1000 personnel from Hurlburt Field are moving to Cannon AFB in Clovis, New Mexico. Unfortunately, airmen in the Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Navarre, Niceville and Destin areas of Florida are facing the same predicament as most Americans. Many have mortgage balances that are more than the market value of their homes. Thus, when faced with a forced military move, and such choices as to lease out their homes with insufficent rent to cover the mortgage, or foreclosure, the preferred strategy is to conduct a short sale. A short sale occurs when the seller's mortgage holder accepts fair market value at sale of the property, and, in the best case scenario, forgives the rest of the mortgage debt.

The good news for Eglin and Hurlburt Field military personnel is that further financial help may be available through the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). HAP is a long-established Department of Defense program that is managed by the US Army Corps or Engineers. HAP was initially used only to assist in Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) moves, but the new economic stimulus plan has expanded the program to include Permanent Change of Stations (PCS) moves.

What HAP offers in terms of relief is the following:

The Government may-
1. Reimburse you for part of your loss from selling your home
2. Assist you, if you don't receive enough proceeds from the sale of your home to
pay off your mortgage
3. Buy your home by paying off the mortgage
4. Help you, if you default on your mortgage

Further, HAP states you should continue try to sell your home on the open market. According to the program, you may be paid up to 95% of the difference of the Fair Market Value prior to the BRAC or PCS announcement affecting you, and the appraised value at time of sale, with potential for some closing cost reimbursement. HAP will not reimburse for the total loss. At the time of this writing, I have three Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB home sellers who have applied for HAP simultaneously while attempting a short sale. How the government will interact with short sale lenders is to be determined.

Local Eglin AFB commanders are still trying to get formal interpretation of the program as it applies to Emerald Coast airmen. One of the controversial limits of the program expansion in the new American Recovery and Stimulous Act is that it applies only to homes purchased prior to July 2006. This limiting date does not correspond to the still-inflated real estate market in the ensuing months, in which many military members continued to purchase homes as outlined by Air Force Major Jason Trew's Letter to Congress.

While the language in the current bill is still being interpreted by Air Force authorities, you might be eligible to receive benefits under the new legislation. If you are in a short sale situation, stationed at Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field or Duke Field, you should see your commander or first sergeant and make your Application for Homeowner Assistance. As always, consult an experienced real estate agent who specializes in short sales to help you through the process.

It's Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty
Featured Short Sale Specialist in "Kiplinger Magazine"

Eglin AFB Short Sale Help

Email: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com
Call Wendy at 850-650-7883 ext 204

All Rights Reserved. *Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field: Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) for Short Sales* Contact Wendy Rulnick regarding Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field, Florida real estate and vicinity. Copyright © 2009 by Wendy Rulnick.