I talked with someone from WeBuyHouses.com and he suggested a short-sale, is this a scam?

Anonymous:

I talked with someone from WeBuyHouses.com and he suggested a short-sale, is this a scam?

In no way is a short sale a scam of any type.  A short sale does have to be approved by the lender.

If a seller has a mortgage on the property he can not approve the purchase contract with out first obtaining approval from the Lender.  A short sale is done when the current owner/seller of the property is upside down on the house or in other words because of delining property values he owes more on the house than what it is worth.

In declining market areas short sales have become very common.

Agreed...  Like anything, it can be "scammy" if conducted with impropriety.  How does the saying go?  No such thing a scammy product, only scammy people.

Short sales are not scams. This company might be though, do some research into their reputation.

Anonymous:

I talked with someone from WeBuyHouses.com and he suggested a short-sale, is this a scam?

This is from their website:  This contract process can take place within 48 to 96 hours, with the final payment at closing, or soon after. We are able to buy your property straight out or, if more appropriate, creatively assume your mortgage note and cut you a check for the agreed-upon net equity

That highlighted [by me] phrase made me wary.

Just remember, if you do a short sale, don't expect to have any profit at closing.  A lender would not agree to allow you to sell the property for less than you owe them if it would mean that you would profit.

Short sales are not fraudulent.  This does not sound like a short sale.  This sounds like a shady straw deal or some type of scam to put the homeowner in to a lease-option.