Using the Equator system
When processing short sales, it’s important to know about how each of the lending institutions handles loss mitigation and paperwork processing. Many folks already know that Equator is the online platform used by 5 major lenders (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Nationstar, GMAC, and Service One). If you have done a few short sales in Equator with different lenders, you may see what while your same Equator account is used for all your short sales at all the lending institutions, each of the servicers uses the platforms in a different manner.
And, my hat goes off to Bank of America for really raising the bar when it comes to short sale processing online. And, believe me, after processing short sales with Bank of America in 2007, this change is much appreciated.
New Bank of America Short Sale Process
Effective April 13, 2012, Bank of America made a few major changes that may make our short sale processing times more efficient. The goal of these changes is to make short sale processing through Equator (the Internet-based platform) at Bank of America so efficient that short sale approval can be received in less than one month.
First off, Bank of America now requires their new third party authorization for all short sales being processed through the Equator system. Additionally, the folks at Bank of America will be working to improve task flow for short sales in Equator by making some minor changes to the process.
According to the Bank of America website,
Now you are required to upload five documents (which you can obtain at www.bankofamerica.com/realestateagent) for short sales initiated with an offer:
- Purchase Contract including Buyer’s Acknowledgment and Disclosure
- HUD-1
- IRS Form 4506-T
- Bank of America Short Sale Addendum
- Bank of America Third-Party Authorization Form
And, now, you will have only 5 days to submit a backup offer if your buyer has flown the coop.
The last change is a curious one, especially for short sale listing agents, since it often takes awhile to find a new buyer after you learn that the current buyer has changed his or her mind.
Short sale listings agents should be familiar with these changes in order to assure that they are providing their client with the most efficient short sale experience possible.
