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Finding the Right Northern Virginia Short Sale Agent is Critical

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Finding the Right Northern Virginia Short Sale Agent is Critical

Home owners facing financial distress, looking to the option of selling their Northern Virginia home in a Short Sale are overwhelmed.  There is a lot of bad news online about Short Sales.  And frankly, there are a lot of agents out there saying they know how to list and sell a Short Sale that are clueless.  There are key things you should Finding the Right Northern Virginia Short Sale Agent is Criticalbe looking for in a Short Sale Agent.  

1.  Don't ever hire anyone who tells you that you need to miss mortgage payments to get your Short Sale approved.  That is a fallacy and can ruin your credit.

2.  When you are in a Seller's market and seeing prices increase, do not let an agent convince you that you will need to list below market value.  That's setting the wrong expectation for a buyer and for you.  Banks are countering low-ball offers at full market value, and sometimes even above that if values are rising.

3.  Find someone that has experience CLOSING Short Sales. 

Generally, finding a real estate agent through referral is the best source.  If you have an acquaintance that has successfully sold their home in a Short Sale, ask for the name and number of the agent that conducted the sale. 

 

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Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

If a seller can prove a hardship, the banks don't always insist that they miss their payments. There are a few which have guidelines that do not allow a seller to be current, but it's always worth checking first to find out. If they won't tell you, then you can pretty much figure that you'll need to be delinquent but it's a difficult spot to be in for a seller. That's why hiring an experienced short sale like you, Chris Ann, is so crucial. Sellers should not have to learn the hard way that they hired the wrong person.

Oct 27, 2013 11:23 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Elizabeth:  There are a lot of agents that don't get the ins and outs like we do, but we've been at this so long now that it's second nature.

Oct 27, 2013 12:08 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I got a call just yesterday from a home seller in tears who needed help with her short sale. The problem was she looked in the paper, chose the agent whose name was under the most listings and they have no short sale experience and no time to do it right. I love listing short sales, i have it down to a science and do not fear any bank any longer, they just make Me work harder to get an approval. 

Oct 30, 2013 11:12 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Scott:  I just closed a USAA Short Sale today.  Have two more in the works.  Hoping to get one to the settlement table later this year.

Oct 31, 2013 11:57 AM
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