Something in my gut wrenches when I read "Short Sales Are a Game".
They involve people's lives, families, difficult circumstances & situations, & loss of one of the most basic Human needs.
You don't "successfully PLAY" a short sale ...it is collaborative, not competitive, WORK.
Hopefully, with a compassionate attitude to all parties involved.
Yes, even empathy for the Loss Mitigator who may be overworked with a huge pile of files on their desk. I will gladly NOT switch places with them for even a day :)
The Indiana Association of Realtors Online has re-printed a statement:
" You have no Business doing a short sale unless...
(reprinted from James J. Tsighis from the Tennessee Association of REALTORS Forum), that disscusses some key points & ethics to consider behind the decision making of even doing these type of Real Estate Transactions.
We've been doing Short Sales for several years now, and just closed our 1st short sale real estate transaction for 2010 in only 26 days from the date of taking the listing till today's signing documents at Closing!
We were not the 1st REALTORS to list this property and there were many obstacles to this short sale which I will not go into.....
What matters, is the thanks we got from the Seller, Buyers, Co-Operative Agent and yes, even the Lender:)
editorial Opinion by Jeff Safrin - Real Estate Broker/Owner F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate serving NW Indiana
Thanks for stopping by and reading our Blog about Life in NW Indiana, The Housing Market, Communities, Local Sports, Events, attractions & more.
Sincerely,
Jeff & Grace Safrin, Broker / Owners
F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate
13 Lincolnway Suite # 203
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Office # 219-309-9930
serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Newton & Starke Counties in NW Indiana
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You are SO right. It is NOT a game. And, I wouldn't trade places with a loss mitigator for all the tea in CHina. Although it is extremely frustratinf for all parties involved, I hear that most of these folks at the bank have 200-300 (and some even more), files in their cubicles. This is where the word YIKES must have originated.
And, everyone loves to place blame on the seller, who should have been making their payments in the first place. How about if they lost their job because of the economy, or in my case, I had a seller whose husband was murdered, and she was left with nothing to get by on.
I like that you wrote about the personal side.
Agreed Jean - There are many individual circumstances that don't allow hasty or sweeping generalizations refering to short sales as a game to be played.
Jeff - I just know you sleep well! ... Some people have a heart while others do not some people sleep well knowing they were part of the soultion others only care about their pocket.
I am working 4 short sales right now. You have to be very patient. and I love your comment, it is collaborative, not comepetitive, WORK.
Hi Kathy - thanks, we do our best for those involved I have a Realtor Prayer about laying down and resting if well if we've helped someone - and trust God to take care of providing :)
Hi Tracy -you are sooo right... Us vs. them never works in the long run....there is no I in Team :) patience and persistance are key is short sales.
thanks to both for taking time to comment
Sincerely,
Grace
Grace,
My heart bleeds for every family that lost their home through foreclosure or short sale. I pray that they are able to rebuild their lives. Many people lost a lot during the Great Depression and in other countries from war.
Mary
thanks Mary - sometimes people do not know where or who to turn to - we as professionals need to be ready to refer them to attorney, accountant, social workers (if family or marriage problems result) and even their clergy at times of despair. i think i still use some of my nursing skills nowadays in certain home sale situations ...
Sincerely,
Grace
This is another great depression whether the government wants to admit it or not. Health care is just a smoke screen to keep us focused on something other than all the little tragedies occurring. We need lots of extra prayer during this tough time!
Funny you should notice Barb - I agree...2 of 3 of the listing appointments we're going on in just a 24 hour time frame are short sales...there is no socio-economic prejudice to them - they cross all levels of education and income earning brackets. They are due to unemployment, lack of health care and making payments for medical treatment vs housing, (life verses shelter), and also predatory lending and arms coming due to double or triple the original interest rate and payments which IMHO is a SIN - people are being robbed of their homes by those in power and wealth just like in the book of Micah....as my father once said ( bless his soul) history repeats itself :)
thanks for taking time to comment,
Sincerely,
Grace