Having done many short sales in the Venice, Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte Florida and I just wanted to take a moment & share my experiences with everyone about Equator & Bank of America.  I am extremely happy and have found this process to be very easy to follow. It is light years ahead of the way we have submitted Short Sales for years.  Gone are the days of faxing a 50 + page short sale package ....wait 7-10 days for it to upload into the system and then hope someone will admit they received it.  We all have had cases where we sent a package multiple times before someone confirmed they received it. 

With Equator you get an immediate confirmation upon uploading the requested file.  You also have a running file of everything that has transpired in the process. Once that is done then you are assigned the next task.  This is what we all have been waiting for a streamlined process to effectively bring short sales to fruition!  Transparency is evident and everyone has accountability.

This is hopefully the wave of the future and Wells Fargo, Chase, GMAC and the other lenders will join in.  Equator's process has taken the average time to get an answer on short sales from 4-6 months to an average of 88 days.  This is a spectacular accomplishment especially amidst the 10's of thousands of files that are laying on negotiators desks among the various lenders.

My hat is off to Equator and Bank of America for creating this efficient and effective system.  Great job!

Capt. Bob Davies, CDPE 941.468.4485

CLICK HERE for more information on HAFA:www.aboutavoidingforeclosure.com

I have watched the number of foreclosures in my local areas including Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Bird Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key, Palm Island, Little Gasparilla, Boca Grande, Venice, Englewood, Rotonda, Port Charlotte, North Port and Punta Gorda continually decrease. 3 months ago at any given time there were approximately 600 plus foreclosures available. I would receive 15-25 new foreclosure updates daily. In the past 3 months the number of available foreclosures above $70k has been reduced to less 150. Instead of getting 15-25 new foreclosure listings a day I will receive 1-2 new ones and 3-4 status change, meaning they went under contract.

Please don't interpret this as there not being good deals out there, because there are. I find a couple of incredible deals every day but one needs to act fast as they are gone within 1-5 days.

The lack of foreclosures is a combination of events. The first is the banks are overwhelmed with the number of defaults, short sales, modifications, foreclosures and the overall loss of capital & its worth.

Second is the banks are being held accountable to prove that they attempted to modify every loan that is in default. They now are being compensated for each modification they do.

The third reason is that many REO properties are being sold in blocks, large wholesale packages to investors and they never hit the market. This means that many potential buyers will never see them.

Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that property prices are a direct result of supply & demand. As the supply has begun to decrease, the demand has started to increase along with the prices - Economics 101. It is in the banks best interest not to flood the market with foreclosures and cause the prices to decrease but to control or trickle the foreclosures out to sustain the market price.

There will be more foreclosures to come, but they will roll out in a more controlled manner as to not decrease the prices anymore.

What does this mean to you as a buyer? When you find one that you want act fast. There are more buyers in the marketplace than there are good deals. If you are in the market for a home, now is an opportune time to move forward while Florida is still on sale!

2006 Gulf access pool home situated on a tip lot with 160' concrete seawall on sailboat water. Custom built by Newport homes in the beautiful community of South Gulf Cove. By land you are 5 air miles to the Gulf of Mexico and by boat you are 10 minutes to open water. No expenses were spared on this home!

This is a beautiful active community with a clubhouse, heated pool, shuffleboard and other amenities. The community is maintainence free, deed restricted and well kept. Located minutes away from some of the best beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Just a short distance from Venice, Boca Grande and other area attractions. Being sold fully furnished and turn key down to the dishes and silverware. Just bring your suitcase and have fun!

Location, Location, Location! Walking distance from Lemon Bay Park which sets on Lemon Bay. Just grab your fishing pole and walk down to the pier and catch redfish, snook, pompano, trout and other species that are abundant in Lemon Bay. By boat you are minutes from the Gulf of Mexica and some of the best beaches Florida has to offer. The pool home was custom built in 2002 and is in amazing shape, move in ready!

These condo's take it to the next level! They are upgraded almost to extreme and tastefully done. They are brand new, never lived in so you will be the first. Strategically located close to the beach, Lemon Bay, the Gulf of Mexico within minutes of shopping, schools hospitals and area attractions. They are priced aggressively for todays buyers market. No hassles just close and move in!

Great location, tip lot, concrete seawall,Gulf Access and a Foreclosure. What more could you ask for. Located minutes from shopping, hospitals, schools and area attractions. Minutes from Boca Grande and the Gulf of Mexico. Controlled water level makes this an unlimited boating experience. Easy access to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico!

2006 custom built Gulf access pool home with UNIVERSAL DESIGN. 1 minute from open water on the Myakka, then on to Charlotte Harbor then the Gulf of Mexico at Boca Pass. Appointments include granite tops 42" wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, elevator, all openings are impact glass, whole house generator just to name a few. Downstairs is being used as a game room but is perfect for an inlaw suite. 3 car garages with built in storage shelves and also an RV port . 110' of dock 12K boat lift, concrete seawall makes this a boaters dream! Priced aggressively for todays market.

2008 pool home with 2000 sq feet under air! Priced very aggressively even for todays buyers market. Best priced new pool home in the entire Venice, Englewood, Port Charlotte & North Port area. Never lived in so you can be the 1st. Tile in all the wet areas. Minutes from Boca Grande, Lemon Bay and area beaches. Easy access to shopping, schools, hospitals and area attractions.