(909) 435-0271
Short sale escrow

Upside down on your mortgage? You can still sell.

If you owe more than your home is worth and can no longer make the payments, a short sale lets you sell the home and have your mortgage company accept less than the loan balance. Christine Quintana has 20-plus years of escrow experience and will process your short sale herself — coordinating with your mortgage company, keeping the approval on track, and getting you to closing. The short sale processing fee is paid by your mortgage company, not you.

Open an escrowCall (909) 435-0271Seller portal: submit & track your short sale

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Call us first

    Tell Christine what you owe and what you can no longer afford. She'll explain how a short sale works, what your mortgage company will ask for, and how long its approval usually takes.

  2. Step 2

    We open escrow and build the package

    Once you have a buyer, we open escrow and assemble the short sale package your mortgage company needs to review the file — hardship letter, financials, and the paperwork behind it.

  3. Step 3

    Your mortgage company approves

    The lender reviews the file and approves a sale price below your loan balance. Nothing is final until that approval is in writing, so we track it and keep every deadline in front of the right people.

  4. Step 4

    Close without a commission

    There's no listing commission through us. At closing the sale proceeds pay off your loan, the lender releases its lien, and relocation assistance is paid out if your lender approved it.

What to have ready

  • ✓Latest mortgage statement and loan number
  • ✓Hardship letter explaining why you can't keep paying
  • ✓Pay stubs, bank statements and recent tax returns
  • ✓Your mortgage company's loss mitigation or short sale contact
  • ✓Buyer's offer and purchase agreement, once you have one
  • ✓HOA name and contact, if any

Common questions

Read the full short sale FAQ for homeowners and lenders
Who pays the escrow and short sale fees?+

Your mortgage company does. In a short sale the lender approves the sale and pays the escrow and short sale processing fees out of the sale proceeds — Christine is paid by your mortgage company, not by you.

Do I pay real estate commissions?+

Not to us. Swift Settlement Escrow is the escrow holder, not a listing brokerage, so there's no listing commission through us. If you choose to list with an agent, that commission is a separate agreement with them.

Will a short sale still hurt my credit?+

It's reported differently than a foreclosure and generally damages your credit less, but it is still a negative item. Christine can walk you through how it typically compares to a foreclosure for your situation.

Can I really walk away with no mortgage debt?+

In most approved short sales the lender releases its lien and forgives the remaining balance, so you walk away with no mortgage behind you. Forgiven debt can have tax consequences, so check with a tax advisor before you close.

Is relocation assistance guaranteed?+

No. Some lenders offer relocation assistance at closing when they approve a short sale and some don't. Christine confirms what your lender will offer before you sign anything.

How long does a short sale take?+

Lender approval is the long part — it commonly runs several weeks to a few months — then a normal escrow closing follows once the approval lands. Your timeline depends on the mortgage company, not on escrow.

Can't keep up with your mortgage?

Tell Christine what you owe and she'll tell you whether a short sale is realistic, and what your mortgage company will ask for. Call (909) 435-0271, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm, or send us a message. Swift Settlement Escrow is an independent escrow company licensed by the California DFPI, License No. 96DBO-216415.