Understand the property
We review local comparable sales and likely selling costs to help you understand your home’s market position. Having enough equity for a traditional sale can change the conversation.
Tampa short sale help • A private conversation starts here
Tampa Bay Short Sale Help
for Homeowners
A difficult chapter doesn’t define your future.
If your mortgage feels overwhelming or you owe more than your Tampa Bay home may sell for, you deserve clear answers and a compassionate guide. Explore whether a short sale could be one of your options—with Chris Johnson and a real estate attorney involved in every short-sale negotiation.
REQUEST A PRIVATE CONSULTATIONNo obligation to list. No judgment. A conversation about your next step.
Let’s take this one step at a time
You don’t have to explain everything today.
Start with your name and a safe way to reach you. We can talk about your home, your timeline, and what questions to take to your mortgage servicer and attorney.
A private consultation—not a public announcement.
Requesting a conversation does not list your home or authorize us to share your story in marketing. Tell us how and when you prefer to be contacted, and whether it is okay to leave a message. Any future listing, lender submission, or legally required disclosure will be discussed with you.
Please do not enter Social Security numbers, account numbers, bank statements, or detailed financial information in this form. This is a real estate consultation, not legal advice.
Prefer to call? 813-515-8274
Request your private consultation
A small first step. A real person ready to listen.
Understand your options
Upside down on your Tampa home? What is a short sale?
A short sale is a sale in which the lender agrees to accept less than the mortgage balance owed. It requires lender approval; accepting a buyer’s offer alone is not enough. If there are additional mortgages or other liens, those must also be addressed before closing.
For some Tampa homeowners who cannot sustain their payments and lack enough equity to sell conventionally, it may offer a way to sell before a completed foreclosure. You will be selling the home and moving—not keeping it through a reduced-payment arrangement.
See NAR’s short-sale overview and the CFPB explanation.
What a short sale is not
- A guaranteed approval or a quick sale.
- A loan modification that lets you keep the home.
- Automatic forgiveness of every unpaid balance.
- A promise to stop an auction or protect your credit.
- A personal failure—or the right answer for every family.
A lien release and a release from personal liability are different. An attorney should review the written approval and any remaining obligations before you commit.
A personal note from Chris
I know how hard it can be.
My family has been there.
When the housing market collapsed in 2008, my family found ourselves owing far more on our home than it was worth. My income came from real estate, and as the sole income earner with two children at home, I was trying to support my family while the very industry we depended on was falling apart.
It was difficult to accept that we could no longer make the numbers work. We felt the weight of our responsibilities, and the idea of a short sale came with guilt, uncertainty, and questions about what it meant for our future.
Eventually, we had to look at our situation with the same honesty a business would bring to a difficult financial decision. We needed to separate our worth as people and parents from what was happening to our house. For our family, at that time, a short sale was the decision that helped us move forward.
Letting go of that house did not mean giving up on our family’s future. It gave us room to rebuild it.
We rented for a couple of years, worked to stabilize our income, and found our footing again. Our credit took a hit, and we recovered over time. We were able to buy another home two years later. Looking back, the short sale was one of the best decisions we could have made for our family.
That experience stays with me when I help homeowners through the short-sale process today. I understand that this is about more than paperwork. It is about your family, your dignity, and being able to see a way forward.
You do not need to feel embarrassed about asking for help. Difficult circumstances happen to hardworking, responsible people. You deserve to be heard and treated with respect.
— Chris Johnson, REALTOR® • EmpowerHome Team
This is my family’s personal experience, not a prediction or recommendation for yours. Credit effects, lender decisions, and eligibility to buy again vary. A two-year return to homeownership is not guaranteed.
Local real estate guidance. Attorney-led negotiations.
How we help Tampa Bay homeowners
Coordinate the sale
If you choose to pursue a short sale, we handle pricing, marketing, buyer communication, offers, and transaction coordination while keeping you informed.
Bring in legal experience
All of our short sales are negotiated by a real estate attorney. The attorney handles lender negotiations and reviews approval terms, including any proposed deficiency release. Approval remains the lender’s decision.
We provide real estate services. Your attorney advises on legal rights and obligations; a qualified tax professional addresses tax consequences. Representation, scope, and any fees are established separately and explained before you proceed.
The short-sale process in Florida
What the process can involve
A short sale involves more parties and approvals than a typical home sale. Complete documents and steady follow-up matter. Timing varies, and the process may take months.
01Discuss the situation
We listen, discuss your selling goals, and identify any urgent dates. Contact your servicer about available assistance and speak with an attorney if legal action has started.
02Prepare the required package
The lender may request a hardship explanation, income and expense information, financial records, authorizations, and sale documents. Sensitive records should be provided through the appropriate secure process.
03Market, negotiate, and seek approval
We work to secure a qualified buyer. The real estate attorney negotiates with the lender; valuations, counteroffers, additional lienholders, and updated documents can affect the outcome.
04Review terms and plan the move
Review written approvals, remaining debt, expenses, and deadlines with the attorney and tax professional. If all conditions can be satisfied, the transaction proceeds to closing.
Make an informed decision
Short sale, foreclosure, and bankruptcy:
understand the differences.
Taking action early may leave more options to explore. None of these choices should be made from fear or a promise that one solution works for everyone.
Short sale
A negotiated sale can offer more involvement in the sale and transition than a completed foreclosure. But approval is uncertain, you must move, and credit, tax, or remaining-debt consequences may still follow.
Foreclosure
A completed foreclosure can mean losing your home, less control over the transition, and additional costs. Foreclosure generally remains on a credit report for seven years. Florida law may allow a deficiency claim; losing the property does not necessarily eliminate the unpaid debt.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy involves a court case, financial disclosures, costs, and lasting credit consequences. Chapter 7 may involve selling nonexempt assets; Chapter 13 typically requires a three-to-five-year repayment plan.
It can also provide meaningful legal protection and debt relief. Chapter 13 may help eligible homeowners catch up and keep their home. A bankruptcy attorney—not a real estate agent—should evaluate whether it is appropriate.
Already received court papers or an auction date? Contact a Florida attorney and your mortgage servicer promptly. Listing your home, sending this form, or requesting a short sale does not by itself stop foreclosure or extend a legal deadline. Do not wait for a callback from us to protect your rights.
Your questions, answered
Tampa short-sale FAQs
Do I have to miss payments to ask about a short sale?
Do not intentionally stop paying to try to qualify. Ask your mortgage servicer about its requirements and your circumstances. Missing payments can damage credit and reduce options. CFPB guidance.
Will the lender forgive everything I owe?
Not automatically. The attorney should seek and review written terms addressing remaining debt and personal liability, including obligations to other lienholders. Do not assume permission to sell means the entire debt has been forgiven.
Who negotiates your short sales?
All of our short sales are negotiated by a real estate attorney. Chris and the team handle the real estate sale and coordinate with the attorney. The lender and any other required parties decide whether to approve the transaction.
Will everyone know about my financial situation?
A consultation does not authorize a public announcement or a listing. We discuss contact preferences and handle your situation with care. If you proceed, lenders, attorneys, title professionals, and other necessary parties will need information; a listing may need to disclose lender approval requirements, and court or property records may be public. We cannot promise that a transaction will be completely confidential.
Can a short sale affect my credit or ability to buy again?
Yes. A short sale and any missed payments can affect credit and future mortgage eligibility. Results depend on your history, how the account is reported, and the future loan program. Chris’s family bought again after two years, but that is his experience—not a standard waiting period or guarantee. A licensed mortgage professional can explain the requirements that apply to you.
Could I owe taxes on canceled mortgage debt?
Possibly. Canceled debt can be taxable, and exclusions depend on the facts and current law. Do not assume an older article’s home-mortgage exclusion still applies: IRS Publication 4681 identifies a December 31, 2025 cutoff for the qualified principal residence debt exclusion, with timing and agreement rules that require individual review. Other exclusions, including insolvency or bankruptcy, may apply. Consult a qualified tax professional before agreeing to terms. IRS Publication 4681.
How much will it cost, and how long will it take?
There is no single fee arrangement or guaranteed timeline. Lender review, liens, buyer financing, and document requests can add time. Ask for a written explanation of commissions, attorney fees, closing expenses, and any proposed seller contribution. Lender approval of costs is not a promise that every expense will be covered.
What if I want to keep my home?
Tell your mortgage servicer that goal and ask about available loss-mitigation options, which may include a repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification. A HUD-approved housing counselor can help you explore alternatives. If the home has enough equity, a traditional sale may also be worth evaluating before a short sale. Explore alternatives with the CFPB.
Is bankruptcy always worse than a short sale?
No. A short sale deals with selling a property; bankruptcy may address a wider debt situation and provide protections a sale cannot. It also carries obligations and consequences. A bankruptcy attorney can evaluate the choices without assuming selling your home is the best answer.
Where can I find independent help?
Contact your mortgage servicer and a HUD-approved housing counselor. You can call 800-569-4287 to find counseling. Avoid anyone who guarantees a foreclosure will stop or tells you to divert mortgage payments to them. For legal deadlines or court papers, seek a Florida attorney promptly.
Tampa • Hillsborough • Pasco • Pinellas
Your next chapter can begin with a conversation.
Looking for a Tampa short-sale REALTOR® or trying to understand how to sell a home when you owe more than it may be worth? Chris Johnson and EmpowerHome Team assist homeowners across Tampa Bay, including Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, and Clearwater.
You do not have to know the answer before reaching out. Let’s start with your questions.
LET’S TALK PRIVATELYEducational resources • Reviewed September 16, 2026
This guide draws on National Association of REALTORS® and Florida Realtors resources, with legal, tax, and consumer information checked against primary sources.
NAR: short-sale workflowCFPB: short salesU.S. Courts: Chapter 7U.S. Courts: Chapter 13IRS: canceled debtGeneral information only. This page is not legal, tax, credit, bankruptcy, or financial advice. Chris Johnson and EmpowerHome Team provide real estate services and are not your lender or a government agency. Eligibility, lender approval, debt forgiveness, foreclosure postponement, credit outcomes, and future financing are not guaranteed. Consult the appropriate licensed professionals about your circumstances.