Why a Lender Might Agree to a Short Sale
Lenders often prefer to avoid foreclosure when another workable option is available.
When a bank forecloses on a home it becomes what is known as a non-performing loan. Multiple non-performing loans affects the amount of money a bank can borrow from the Federal Reserve. Since banks only make money by borrowing from the Fed and lending to the public, they desire to borrow as much as they can. Every non-performing loan reduces the amount the bank can lend to the public, affecting their bottom line profits.
If a foreclosed property goes to auction, the sale may not produce enough to satisfy all mortgage holders. A second mortgage holder, if one exists, may receive little or nothing.
For the bank, a short sale creates a win-win situation for everyone involved. The bank gets some money, but more importantly they keep a non-performing loan off their books. The homeowner avoids foreclosure and saves his credit.