Lawyers practice law and real estate agents practice real estate. The line between the two should never be blurred. When clients are looking for a Sacramento short sale agent, they call me. But when they ask for legal advice, I refer them to lawyers.
See, I am basically a happy go-lucky type of person. If I practiced law, I would be an unhappy person because that's not my specialty. My expertise is selling Sacramento short sales and saving homeowners from foreclosure.
In my personal life, I can be sort of a goofball. My husband and I were standing in line yesterday to buy movie tickets to see the hugely popular Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the downtown Century Plaza. In front of me was a family of four. One of the little kids was staring at the movie posters on the wall. I turned to him with a smile and said, "I bet you are here to see Bruno!" His dad immediately put his arm around the kid and ushered the family to another line.
But when it comes to handling Sacramento short sales, I'm 100% business. Some agents farm out their short sale negotiations to a third party. I do not.
More often than not, though, it's necessary for a seller to contact a short sale lawyer. The seller may have a hard-money loan, be facing a deficiency judgment or have assets to protect. These types of short sale sellers absolutely need legal advice. Some smart clients may have already retained the services of a lawyer by the time they call me. I have a list of recommended lawyers.
Bottom line is all Sacramento short sale sellers should seek legal and tax advice before committing to a short sale. Then hire the most experienced short sale agent in Sacramento you can find. Find out how many years that agent has been selling real estate. Don't trust a novice to produce results -- a short sale, if handled properly, is one of the most important transactions of your life and should be done by a pro.
Moreover, don't hire a foreclosure scammer, a loan modification specialist, or any third-party walk-away company. Make sure your representatives are honest, ethical and reputable. Because there are a lot of sharks wading around in Sacramento short sale waters.
----
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you.
The Short Sale Savior,by Elizabeth Weintraub, available through bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com.
Sacramento Short Sale Agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, has the answers to your Sacramento short sale questions.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
Comments (32)Subscribe to CommentsComment