As a Realtor I hear the complaints and criticisms of many Camarillo home sellers who find themselves competing over price with Lenders for the sale of their homes.

The successful sale of Lenders' Short Sales and Bank Owned (sometimes referred to as Real Estate Owed, or REO) inventories are setting a trend for Camarillo's Real Estate Market. Now, more than ever, a home seller has to pay close attention to a Compare Market Analysis (CMA) and examine the short sale and bank owned homes in the neighborhood.

Since many Camarillo home sellers are not able to compete with the lenders' short sales or bank owned home prices, home sellers are left to make one of the following decisions:

• Keep reducing the sale price for their home; sometimes to the point that they can go down no further.
• Cancel their listing
• Let their listing expire
• Rent out their home

The number of short sales and bank owned homes in Camarillo are increasing by the month.

As a home seller if you are unable to compete with the prices lenders have to offer home buyers I suggest you wait until Camarillo's Real Estate Market turns in your favor.

 However, if you can offer Camarillo home buyers a compatible price this is your market.

• Camarillo home buyers who have been waiting for months to hear from a lender on an offer they put on a short sale are turning to you, the reasonable home seller.
• Home buyers who need to relocate to Camarillo right away are looking for you, a home seller that can close escrow in 30 or less days.

When pricing your home ask your Realtor to give you a detailed print-out on short sale or bank owned homes in your area. You don't have to price your home at what the lenders are offering. However, try to price your home as close to what the lenders' in your neighborhood have to offer home buyers. Most home buyers understand that you, as a private seller, will be offering them much more than a lender would (repairs, disclosures, termite reports.......) and many people prefer to work with private individuals rather than getting lost in the "corporate jungle" that Short sales and REO's can sometimes feel like.

Selling a home in today's real estate market is becoming more challenging by the day. If you decide to go ahead with the sale of your home I wish you the best of luck. And remember if you need any help with the sale of your home I am only a phone call away.