It seems a key component is selling your personal residence for 399k.From the pictures it is clear you need to declutter and take personal pictures and items out of there.When the property is staged you are sending the message that you have mentally moved out of the house.If you have a bunch of stuff there it will seem to a buyer you have it listed but are not ready to move on.Also the buyer will have a hard time envisioning themselves and their memories there and will be focused and amused by your STUFF.What are the recent SOLDS for the area?

I'm not completely clear on "conventional" requirements, but my guess is that they are tighter than HUD.

The fee, since it is a short sale, is probably related to a service for processing the short sale on behalf of the listing agent.If this fee is part of the purchase contract where you agreed to pay for title and closing costs, then you should contact the title company because they are required under RESPA to clearly describe any and all fees charged as part of closing.If you did not already agree to pay for the fee in advance, then call them on it.

You can then see who is on title obviously.I think the other issue here is your seller didn't seem motivated or did not clearly talk to the ex spouse.

Chris, frustrating experience it sounds like.It wasn't clear what the balance of the note was nor what type of interest the note had.

I make them pay cash or cashiers check so I don't worry about a bounced check or a long time to clear my account.

If I were you I would also look into other lists like free & clear, absentee owners, etc.

Then he can foreclose upon you and you can also have a forgivable caveat on the mortgage.I have done dozens of JV's/OP's and mortgages are just so much easier as they leave your investor secured, attached to title with everything laid out and clear.

Now if you have understood all this, you can clearly see why a bank releasing all REO's would be disastrous for the bank.

Clearly not true, so let me ask a question I can't decide about.I have an investment in a mini-storage.