If you're falling behind and can't handle your mortgage payments some real estate agents say foreclosing on your home does not have to be your last option.

Many home owners have never heard of a "short sale."

Future Home Realty real estate agent Kevin Vasquez says doing a short sale is a better option than foreclosure.

Many agents don't do them because it can be difficult work, but they're trying to stress it's well worth it.

"So many people go straight to foreclosure, they never even put their house on the market, they never try to short sale or communicate with anyone because it's embarrassing, its a financial embarrassment."

A short sale is an opportunity to get out from under a home you owe more money on than what the market is dictating it may be worth.

I negotiate with mortgage companies to allow them to sell the home for less than what the owners owe, "It's just like you borrowed ten dollars from me and you only have eight to pay me back, I would accept the eight dollars."

I did a three day training session to learn more about it and receive my CDPE (Certified Distress Property Expert) Certificate.

There's a lot of misconceptions about short sales, "A lot of folks don't understand short sales, some of them have been told well you have to be behind on your note, that's not necessarily true it depends on the lender and the situation."

To qualify for a short sale, you have to have a hardship sitiuation like losing your job decrease in salary or a family death.

They say, yes you're losing your home, but your credit will be repaired after two years versus several years if you were to foreclose or claim bankruptcy.

It should be a red flag if someone tries to charge you an up front fee.

There are no up front fees to do this because the banks negotiate the commission