In some cases, yes. Relocation assistance may be available to help with moving expenses, depending on the loan type, timing, and how the sale is structured. Eligibility isn’t automatic, and most homeowners don’t know to ask about it.

Relocation assistance is a benefit that exists in some short sale programs specifically to encourage a smooth, cooperative move-out, since a vacant, well-maintained property in good condition through closing benefits both the lender and the eventual buyer.

What determines eligibility

Whether relocation assistance applies, and how much, depends on the specific loan investor’s guidelines and the servicer’s own program. Government-backed loans through FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac have historically offered structured relocation incentive programs under certain conditions, while privately held loans vary entirely by servicer. There’s no universal rule that applies across every short sale, which is exactly why this needs to be checked file by file rather than assumed.

Why most homeowners never find out about it

Relocation assistance generally isn’t volunteered. A homeowner who doesn’t specifically ask about it, and an agent who doesn’t specifically check for it on a given loan program, can close a short sale without ever knowing whether it was available. This is something an experienced short sale agent should be reviewing on every file as a matter of course, the same way they review hardship documentation or comparable sales.

If you’re considering a short sale, ask directly and early whether relocation assistance applies to your specific loan. It’s a meaningful benefit in the right circumstances, and knowing about it before negotiating the rest of the sale terms generally produces a better outcome than discovering it after the fact, if it’s discovered at all.

Have a question about your own situation? Call or text Michele Lee Scherger at 561-309-2950. As a Certified Short Sale Expert, she can walk you through what applies to your loan, your lender, and your timeline.