Congress needs to act, or forgiven Ventura County Short Sale Mortgage Debt won’t be forgiven next year.

At the same time that a bright spot has emerged for struggling home owners trying to get a short sale closed — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now require shorter short sales from lenders they work with — there’s a looming cloud.

Unless Congress acts this year, short sale sellers will be in for an income tax increase in 2013. Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Let’s say you owe $150,000 on your mortgage, but your REALTOR® finds a buyer willing to pay $120,000. The bank approves the short sale and forgives the $30,000 difference. If you don’t complete the sale by Dec. 31, 2012, as of Jan. 1, 2013, that $30,000 in forgiven mortgage debt will be considered taxable income by the IRS.

It hardly seems fair, given that that the reason the lender forgave the debt in the first place was to facilitate the short sale — and help an underwater home owner climb out of financial hardship. Now, those home owners will be responsible for paying a new tax on “phantom” income. And it’s not just debt forgiven in a short sale that would be affected: The same tax hike would apply to home owners who work with their lenders to restructure their mortgages if they’re granted debt relief.

 Back in 2007, Congress passed a law designed to protect home owners from the tax, but that protection expires at the end of 2012. However, one Senate bill recently introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), — and two House bills — recently introduced by Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) — seek to extend the law and eliminate the new tax. The Stabenow and Rangel bills would extend the expiring law for two years, and the Reed bill would extend it for one year.

“Mortgage debt forgiveness is not disposable cash for the mortgage holder,” Reed said in a statement. “Piling additional burdens on people at such a difficult time makes their precarious situation worse.” Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at cjohnson@prucalhomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 805-208-0823.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Ventura County loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

“It’s bad enough that so many families are faced with mortgages that now exceed the value of their home,” Stabenow said in a statement. “But to add insult to injury, without this bill, the IRS would once again require these families to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in additional income tax when they sell or refinance their home. That’s just wrong.”

There’s time yet for Congress to pass one of these bills — or better yet, make debt foregiveness relief permanent — but with so much uncertainty in the housing market, legislative action can’t come soon enough.

Read more: Click here for more.

Thanks for reading this,


Chris B Johnson, Realtor
Chris is a Real Estate Agent at Prudential California Realty.
Phone: 805-208-0823. cjohnson@prucalhomes.com.
Certified HAFA Specialist, Certified Short Sale Specialist, Certified Distressed Property Expert

Which way is the Real Estate Market Headed?
Get a Market Snapshot of your neighborhood:
MLS Market Snapshot Has the Market Stabilized

View My homes for sale at www.ChrisBJohnsonRealtor.com.

 Get your Free Report for All Your Options HERE: Certified Distressed Property Expert,

Chris B Johnson provides HAFA Loan Modification and short sales help, Short Sales in Moorpark, Short Sales in Thousand Oaks, Short Sales in Westlake Village, Short Sales in Newbury Park, Short Sales in Camarillo, Short Sales in Santa Rosa Valley, Short Sales in Somis, Short Sales in Lake Sherwood, and Short Sales in Simi Valley California. Moorpark Loan Modification Help, Thousand Oaks Loan Modification Help, Westlake Village Loan Modification Help , Newbury Park Loan Modification Help, Camarillo Loan Modification Help, Santa Rosa Valley Loan Modification Help, Somis Loan Modification Help, Lake Sherwood Loan Modification Help, and Simi Valley Loan Modification Help, Moorpark short sales , Thousand Oaks short sales, Westlake Village short sales, Newbury Park short sales , Camarillo short sales, Santa Rosa Valley short sales, Somis short sales, Lake Sherwood short sales, and Simi Valley short sales. Moorpark Short Sale Specialist , Realtor, Moorpark Short Sale Specialist , Realtor, Short Sale Specialist , Realtor, Ventura County CA Short Sales. Stop Foreclosure in Ventura County, Certified HAFA Specialist, Moorpark Short Sale Specialist, Thousand Oaks Short Sale Specialist, Westlake Village Short Sale Specialist , Newbury Park Short Sale Specialist, Camarillo Short Sale Specialist , Simi Valley Short Sale Specialist, Moorpark CA Short Sales, Thousand Oaks CA Short Sales, Westlake Village CA Short Sales, Newbury Park CA Short Sales, Camarillo CA Short Sales, Simi Valley CA Short Sales, Ventura County Foreclosure Help, Moorpark Foreclosure Help, Certified Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Specialist, HAFA, HAMP. CA. DRE 10501699.You can find Ventura County Short Sale Specialist, Realtor, at 587 W. Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark, CA. 93021Chris also specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Ventura County California. Ventura County Loan Modification Help, Ventura County Short Sales.
Ventura County Short Sale Specialist, Realtor, Short Sale Specialist, Realtor, Ventura County CA Short Sales. Ventura County Specialist, Realtor, www.theshortsaleguide.com ,
Certified Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Specialist . Always check with a good real estate attorney to find out the laws in your state. There are also legal aid non profits that can give you advice on what to do to stop a garnishment or bank account seizure.

You should also look at California SB458. With the passage of SB458, the Expanded Anti-Deficiency Law May Have Unintended Consequences on Ventura County Short Sales. So Please read http://venturacountyshortsalerealtor.com/?p=948.

For Disclosure, and more information on Mortgage Assistance Relief Services, please see Code 16 of Federal Regulations (FTC), Part 322, or , http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/11/mars.shtm and always consult your CPA, Accountant, Financial Advisor and Attorney before you any financial or legal decisions. Also seehttp://venturacountyshortsalerealtor.com/?p=1066.
Read more: Click here for more.