Anne Arundel County, Maryland · Samson Properties
You have more options than
you've been told.
Behind on payments. Underwater. Facing foreclosure. Going through a divorce. Whatever brought you here — there is a way through. I've navigated nearly 100 of these situations. Let me show you what's possible.
You're Not Alone
Distressed sellers come from all kinds of situations. Here's what I hear.
Financial hardship doesn't follow a script. Every situation is different — but the feeling of being stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure who to trust is almost universal. If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
We've missed three mortgage payments. The bank is calling every day. I don't even know if we can sell at this point or what foreclosure actually means for us."
We owe more than the house is worth. We didn't think that was possible — but here we are. I have no idea if selling is even an option."
My spouse and I are divorcing and we both need out of this house as fast as possible. Neither of us can afford to keep it and we just need it done."
I inherited this property and it needs serious work. I can't afford the repairs, I can't afford to carry it, and I don't know what it's actually worth as-is."
What Is a Short Sale, Exactly?
The thing most people don't understand until they're in one.
A short sale happens when a lender agrees to accept less than the full mortgage payoff as settlement of the debt — allowing the homeowner to sell the property and avoid foreclosure.
It's not automatic. It requires lender approval, the right documentation, and an agent who knows how to negotiate with loss mitigation departments. Done right, it can protect your credit far better than a foreclosure and give you a clean exit from a difficult situation.
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Do I qualify for a short sale?Generally, you need to demonstrate financial hardship and owe more than the home is worth. Lenders evaluate each case individually. I can help you understand your specific situation quickly.
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How long does a short sale take?Typically 3–6 months from listing to close, depending on the lender. Some move faster. The key is having an agent who knows how to move the bank's process along — most don't.
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Will this ruin my credit?A short sale is significantly less damaging to your credit than a foreclosure. Most sellers recover meaningfully faster and can qualify for a new mortgage sooner after a short sale than after a foreclosure.
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Do I owe money after a short sale?In many cases, lenders forgive the remaining balance as part of the short sale agreement. This must be negotiated carefully and documented in writing. I've done this nearly 100 times — I know what to ask for.
Short Sale Myths — and the Reality
✕ Myth
"If I'm behind on payments, I have to let the bank foreclose."
✓ Reality
Missing payments actually makes you more eligible for a short sale — lenders want to avoid foreclosure costs too. The sooner you reach out, the more options you have.
✕ Myth
"Short sales always take forever and fall apart."
✓ Reality
Short sales handled by experienced agents with proper documentation move predictably. The horror stories come from agents who don't know the process. I've closed nearly 100 of them.
✕ Myth
"The bank will never agree to forgive what I owe."
✓ Reality
Banks regularly accept short sales because the alternative — foreclosure — costs them more. Deficiency forgiveness is negotiable and I know how to ask for it in writing.
✕ Myth
"Selling as-is means I'll get almost nothing."
✓ Reality
As-is cash offers are lower than retail — but through a vetted investor network, they're far higher than most sellers expect. And they close in days, not months.
How It Works
A calm, clear process — even when the situation isn't.
Step One
A Confidential Conversation
We talk privately about your situation — no judgment, no pressure. I need to understand what you owe, what the home is worth, what your timeline looks like, and what outcome matters most to you.
Step Two
We Map Your Options
Based on your specific numbers and situation, I'll lay out every realistic path — short sale, cash offer, traditional listing, or something else. You'll know the pros, cons, and timeline of each before you make any decision.
Step Three
We Execute the Strategy
Once you've chosen a path, I handle the complexity — lender negotiations, documentation, buyer qualification, timeline management. I've done this nearly 100 times. You don't have to figure it out alone.
Step Four
You Get a Clean Exit
The goal isn't just to close a transaction. It's to get you to the other side with the best possible outcome — credit protected, debt resolved, and a real path forward.
Why Shanu
Nearly 100 short sales. I've seen harder than your situation.
I didn't stumble into distressed property work. I chose it. When the real estate bubble collapsed, I was one of the few agents in the area who leaned into short sales and foreclosure alternatives rather than running from them. I earned my CDPE designation — Certified Distressed Property Expert — and spent years negotiating with lenders on behalf of homeowners who thought they had no options.
About 20% of my short sale work has been with active-duty military families facing financial hardship and a PCS at the same time. If you've ever watched someone navigate that situation, you understand why patience, calm, and genuine problem-solving matter more than a sales pitch.
I've been a real estate investor since 2002. I understand how lenders think because I've sat across the table from them as a buyer, a seller, and a negotiator. That perspective is what separates a clean short sale from one that drags on for a year and falls apart.
- CDPE — Certified Distressed Property Expert
- ~100 short sales completed in Maryland
- ~20 short sales with active-duty military families under dual hardship
- MRP — Military Relocation Professional
- Licensed Maryland REALTOR® since 2009 — Samson Properties
- Real estate investor since 2002 — I negotiate from both sides of the table
"I've seen worse than your situation. And I've found a way through it. That's what this work is about."— Shanu Srivastava, CDPE · Samson Properties
The families I've helped with short sales weren't careless or irresponsible. They lost jobs. They got orders they didn't plan for. They went through divorces. They inherited properties they couldn't afford to keep. Life happened.
What they needed wasn't someone to judge the situation — it was someone who understood the process well enough to find the best exit available. That's what I do.
I care about relationships, not transactions. In distressed situations, that's not a tagline. It's the only way to do this work well.
What You Get
Every distressed seller I work with gets this.
You deserve to know your options before you make any decision. Everything below is provided at no cost and with no obligation — because informed sellers make better decisions, and better decisions lead to better outcomes.
A Confidential Situation Assessment
A private, no-judgment conversation about your specific numbers — what you owe, what the home is worth, what your lender has said, and what timeline you're working with.
All Options Laid Out Clearly
Short sale, cash offer, traditional listing, deed in lieu — every realistic path explained with honest pros, cons, and timelines. No steering toward what's easiest for me.
A Guaranteed Cash Offer
Through my vetted investor network, I can put a real cash number in writing fast — often within 24–48 hours. Knowing your floor changes everything about how you evaluate your options.
Lender Negotiation Expertise
If a short sale is the right path, I manage the lender relationship — documentation, loss mitigation, deficiency negotiation — from start to close. You deal with me, not the bank.
Timeline Management
Distressed situations often come with hard deadlines — foreclosure auction dates, court orders, military orders. I know how to move fast when fast is what's needed.
Discretion, Always
Your situation is private. I treat it that way. No yard signs until you're ready. No public marketing that puts your business in front of your neighbors before you choose to move forward.
Let's talk about your situation — privately and without pressure.
The sooner we understand your options, the more options you'll have. A conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
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