Hi tbone499,
Welcome to the forum and thank you for joining...................
Here are the new rules for FannieMae regarding getting a new loan after foreclosure or BK...........
https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides.../2008/0816.pdf
For a Short Sale you need to go through Wells Fargo and HSBC first to see if that is an option at this time......so you would need to ask for a short sale package from each of them..........
Wells Fargo
1-800-416-1472
HSBC
1-888-648-3124
also be very careful about defaulting on the HELOC because the HELOC can be charged off and placed into the hands of a collection agency...........so you would not have any leverage with a HELOC if that were to happen.