Get a Short Sale Attorney on Your Team at No Cost to You
The bank pays the approved Realtor and attorney fees in our short sale program. You get an experienced California attorney and real estate broker helping you navigate the sale, negotiate with the lender, and review the approval terms, without paying our fees out of pocket.
Our fees are subject to lender approval and paid at closing from the sale proceeds accepted by the lender. We do not charge you those fees out of pocket.
Free initial conversation. No obligation. California properties.
(858) 324-8855John McConnin | California Attorney & Real Estate Broker
Before You Hire a Realtor for a Short Sale, Watch This
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Before You Commit, Know What Happens to the Debt, the Taxes, and Your Credit
Your free consultation addresses the questions that determine whether a short sale is the right move for you.
Whether you could owe the lender money after the sale.
How the expiration of the mortgage debt forgiveness exclusion affects your particular situation, including applicable exceptions and other tax protections.
Why the lender's approval terms need legal review.
How starting early can provide more time to evaluate options and negotiate.
The Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Exclusion Has Expired. Know Where You Stand.
The temporary federal exclusion for qualified principal residence debt generally ended after December 31, 2025. Qualifying written arrangements made before January 1, 2026 may still qualify.
If your lender issues a Form 1099-C reporting six figures of canceled debt, that does not automatically mean the amount is taxable. Nonrecourse debt treatment and other exclusions may apply. The sale itself also requires a separate gain or loss analysis.
We examine your loan's legal status and proposed transaction, then coordinate with your tax professional as needed. The goal is to understand the consequences before closing, rather than discover a problem when a tax form arrives.
Bank Approval Is Only Part of the Job
We analyze your applicable California protections, negotiate the proposed terms, and review the lender's written approval before you proceed. That includes personal liability, any requested contributions or new obligations, and the conditions needed to complete the sale.
Where applicable, we seek language that accurately reflects your loan's nonrecourse status and statutory protections. Approval wording must match the law and the facts. Wording alone does not guarantee a tax result.
More Time Can Mean More Options
California foreclosure procedures and applicable postponement protections can affect the lender's alternatives and the time available to complete a sale. Starting early gives us more opportunity to evaluate those deadlines, market the property, and present a supported proposal.
We assess how the lender's expected costs, timing, and recovery may support better negotiated terms. Your available time depends on your circumstances. Do not assume negotiations automatically stop a foreclosure.
An Attorney on Your Team. No Out of Pocket Fee for Our Included Services.
Through our combined short sale program, you do not pay us an upfront fee or a separate out of pocket attorney or brokerage fee for the included services.
Our compensation comes from lender approved transaction proceeds through approved brokerage compensation or separately authorized attorney compensation, as applicable. We explain the arrangement and included scope before you engage us.
Depending on the property and service arrangement, John's brokerage can handle the sale or coordinate with a local Realtor.
This describes our program's professional fees. It does not promise that taxes, HOA balances, or every other property or transaction obligation will be eliminated. Standalone legal matters and deed in lieu engagements are separate services.
Legal Strategy and Real Estate Execution, Coordinated Through One Program
- California attorney since 1991.
- Real estate broker since 2004.
- Personally sold more than 200 homes.
- Invited by the California Association of Realtors to train Realtors on short sales.
- Legal analysis, lender negotiation, and real estate services coordinated through one program.
Invited to train does not imply endorsement by the California Association of Realtors.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Tell us a little about your property, your loans, your payment status, and what you want to accomplish. This starts an initial conversation; it does not commit you to a paid engagement.
Please do not include Social Security numbers, full loan account numbers, or sensitive documents. Submitting this request does not by itself establish an attorney client relationship.
Understand Your Position Before You Commit
Start with a free initial conversation about your property, loans, payment status, and goals. We will discuss whether our short sale program fits your situation and the next steps.