HUD Delays the Ban on Dual Agency for Short Sales on Properties with FHA Loan being sold short. The rule was to go into effect on October 1, 2013, as outlined in mortgagee letter 2013-23 released in July 2013. The rule stated that brokers and their agents may only represent the buyer or the seller, but not both parties. This is commonly called dual agency so the rule thus makes it illegal for an agent that works for the brokerage of the listing agent to represent a buyer in the purchase of a short sale.

The intent of the rule is not to limit real estate agents but was to limit the risk of fraud and to ensure “arms-length” transactions on short sales and deed in lieu of foreclosure. There has been rampant fraud being performed with some agents listing homes for short sale and selling them to other agents below the market price by not taking any other offers to the bank. The same thing has been happening on REO properties that have been sold by agents that sell them to a partner at below market value by not taking any other offers to the bank that is selling the property.

The intent of the rule is well-intentioned but it would actually hurt sales of homes with FHA loans that need to be short sold as it would mean a lot fewer agents taking short sales if they couldn’t sell the home to any other agent that worked under the same brand name. HUD had originally proposed the policy change because HUD’s inspector general had detected fraud and abuse in the pre-foreclosure sales process.

The National Association of Realtors cited many problems with the new rule such as violating some state laws and also some laws for listing properties on the MLS. It seems HUD has responded to the complaint by NAR and has delayed implementation of the rule so as of October 1, 2013, there can still be a dual agency on Short Sales.

If you would like to apply for a Mortgage Loan, you can APPLY ONLINE HERE, you can call John Thomas at 302-703-0727.

John R. Thomas – NMLS 38783

Certified Mortgage Planner – Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.

302-703-0727 DE Office / 610-906-3109 PA Office / 410-412-3319 MD Office

248 E Chestnut Hill Rd, Newark, DE 19713