Short Sale Questions regarding HOA fees...

My general understanding and experience is that lenders will not pay HOA fees, or should I say prefer not to pay --- as I have closed short sale transactions when the lender did pay the HOA fees.

Many times when a lender will not pay HOA fees - it is because they claim it is a service proved to the homeowner and therefore must be paid the homeowner.

There have been times when the buyer has paid the HOA fees - or it was split between buyer and seller - when a lender was unwilling to pay HOA fees.

My experience is - all lenders have their own process that they follow in reviewing and (hopefully) approving short sales.