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Short sales no boon to credit score

By Cathy Moran

When the house is unaffordable,  homeowners often look to a short sale or deed in lieu in the belief that avoiding foreclosure means avoiding the credit score hit.  Not so.

Sharon Epperson’s bit in USAWeekend today points out that a deed in lieu or a short sale will likely be reported as “not paid as agreed.” Put another way, you don’t get any points for trying to make the lender’s life easier.

This reinforces the pitch I often make that, if losing the house is inevitable, live there as long as possible for free.  Those months without mortgage payments and property taxes may be the only return you get on your housing investment.  Don’t lose out on that “return” by leaving earlier than you have to.

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About Cathy Moran

I'm a veteran bankruptcy lawyer and consumer advocate in California's Silicon Valley. I write, teach, and speak in the hopes of expanding understanding of how bankruptcy can make life better in a family's future.

Bankruptcy Basics

About The Soapbox

You’ve arrived at the Bankruptcy Soapbox, a resource of bankruptcy information and consumer law.

Soapbox is a companion site to Bankruptcy in Brief, where I try to be largely explanatory and even handed (Note I said “try”).

Here, I allow myself to tell stories and express strong opinions. We dig deeper into how to consider bankruptcy and navigate a bankruptcy case.

Moran Law Group
Bankruptcy specialists for individuals and small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area

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