You should use other criteria to find properties, and if they appreciate while you own them, that's a bonus. 

Diane,,, your really barking up the wrong tree thinking you can negotiate with a lender that is leaving the space.. better use of your time is to find a new lender..Banks will often change their positions on what they will and or won't do.. you have no way of knowing if there loan portfolio is out of balance and too heavy to real estate and the regulators have dictated them to reduce exposure to RE.. this was common of course in the Meltdown.good luck with it.. should not be a big issue If Chris cant help you then dial for dollars... but thinking you can convince a lender that wants to exit and has a legit balloon coming up,  that's a fight you cant win.. foreclosure in CA takes 7 to 9 months give or take. and of course there will be bidders and you would be entitled to the overage as this would probably bid up to 1.4 to full price of 1.7...

If exposure is what you're looking for, you may want to ignore your personal reasoning against using it.And yes, Christmas and the New Years is a killer for a lot of people.

You could also tell them that if they have any cost-saving suggestions that you would give them a bonus if they saved you money.

Set aside any enlistment bonus payment, hostile fire, combat pay, flight pay, COLA, tax free...whatever you can set aside.  

Your tax exposure, assuming the value of the property is being sold for is higher than the auditors appraised value, is the main reason for doing so.

They have to show investors i had market exposure. 

Hi @Christopher Nerio,Disclaimer: I think as a general rule, appreciation should be looked at as a bonus because it isn't guaranteed (which you already know I'm sure, but I had to say it).

To process a short sale, the property is also required to be listed on the MLS with a licensed Realtor, for exposure to the widest market, at the highest market price.  

Close to the beach which is always a bonus.