Everyone seems to know what a short sale is these days, but few know about some important changes in Oregon law with respect to Short Sale Negotiation.  Oregon's House Bill 2191, which became law in 2010, says the following:

Residential Short Sale Negotiation is a regulated Debt Management Service (OAR Chapter 411, Division 900, 0000-0200)

Under the new law, licensed Real Estate Agents may perform Short Sale Negotiation as a part of their service to their clients as long as nothing more than a customary real estate commission is  earned (meaning the Short Sale Negotiation is done for free)

A fee can be charged for third party Short Sale Negotiation only if the negotiator is appropriately registered with the Division of Finance and Corporate Securities (DFCS) - a few exemptions are available to banks,
licensed loan originators and attorneys

Many Short Sale Negotiation companies and individuals operating in Oregon are currently missing from the registry and therefore need to jump through some hoops to meet Oregon's new requirements before they can legally accept a fee for their services

For more information go to http://www.cbs.state.or.us/dfcs/debt_mgmt.html