My name is Jamar James a realtor who specializes in working with homeowners in foreclosure. With the amount of foreclosures in Arizona, I have a confession.  Some realtors can't afford to help the homeowners avoid foreclosures.  I have been hired by many homeowners to list their homes and conduct short sales on their behalf.  What I have noticed is, I UNFORTUNATELY, was NOT there first choice!   I have not been the first realtors in many of those instances, and it's unfortunate! 

They had hired other realtors that could not sell their home, not to discredit the home, or the realtor, however,  the realtors weren't able to (1) service the home for proper marketing, (2) place a lock box on the property, and (3) market the property in the newspaper or any other "paid" advertisings.  

The economy is hurting the realtors ability to do there job. More then ever the 20% of the realtors are selling 80% of the properties just because they have the financial resources and they are able to do "regular realtor" activities.

I have worked with Homeowners in Foreclosure For Five Years now and there is two things a realtor must do, one is communicate honestly, the second is place the homeowner needs first.  I call this Jamar James foreclosure marketing tips.

Homeowners must understand if a realtor has 40 listings, he must be able to afford 40 lockboxes, signs, and marketing for those homes.  Nowadays there are realtors with 100 listings with no pictures on MLS, no signs, and no way to communicate to the world that they have listings.  If your working short sales, (more then 20 short sales) you must have a staff.  I personally have a staff of 12 to negotiate and market my properties. This is a service to the homeowners. 

Realtors must become more selective and remember to provide the service to the homeowner. We can't take a chance with homeowner's pre-foreclosure homes. We must do our duty as realtors and think of the homeowner first.