If you have a particular problem or question regarding a listing, a buyer or a seller - or even a contract - please don't hesitate to call me.  Perhaps I can be of some assistance or at least give you some friendly advice.  Brokers - why waste your time doing the paper work and qualifying a short sale? You should be doing what you do best - selling! We have a special program to assist brokers and sellers in the short sale procedure.  Call me for information.  '

We can help with a short sale nationwide - so call and find out!

"We do not represent a client unless a written retainer agreement is signed by the client and us and the agreed retainer fee is received.  Any discussion on this Blog is not legal advice and you should not act upon it without the advice of your attorney." 

"The Hiring of an attorney should not be undertaken without a review of the credentials of the attorney - further infomation about Richard P. Zaretsky is available from this office and on the company website www.florida-counsel.com".

Real Estate representation and advice for Buyers and Seller and Realtors regarding commercial and residential real estate.  We also provide Business consulting and corporate representation for businesses including buying and selling of businesses and companies.  We accept representation for litigation matters relating to real estate, including foreclosure, ejectment, and commercial eviction.

Caution: We provide frank counsel and "tell it like it is". We do not want our clients to waste their time nor ours on matters where we do not believe we can achieve our client's goals and expectations.

Recently, we successfully litigated a real estate breach of contract case against Mobil Land Development Corp and received a jury verdict having a value in excess of $20 million. 

Our title company, Automated Land Title Company, has operated in the same location serving all of Florida for over 20 years. Here is a good link to explain the closing process for home closings.

  BOARD CERTIFIED IN REAL ESTATE LAW BY THE FLORIDA BAR

Richard Zaretsky settled in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1975 after obtaining his law degree cum laude from Delaware Law School of Widener University. He is a graduate of Syracuse University, earning his BA in Economics. First working as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida, he opened a private practice of law in 1978, and continues his practice today in the same West Palm Beach location. Although Mr. Zaretsky started his practice with the general practice of law, he strove to specialize in real estate matters. The result is that Mr. Zaretsky was Board Certified in Real Property Law in 1995 by the Florida Bar, and now practices in the areas of real estate law (both transactional and litigation) and commercial transactions. He is principal in the law firm of Richard P. Zaretsky, P.A., whose attorneys provide legal services in real estate and business transactions, state and federal taxation, estate planning and administration, family law, immigration, and civil litigation. Mr. Zaretsky is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, their highest rating for attorneys.

Mr. Zaretsky and his wife, Esther, have three children. Esther is a litigation and immigration attorney practicing in West Palm Beach.

For two decades Mr. Zaretsky has operated Automated Land Title Company, a Florida title insurance agency and real estate settlement company serving the entire state. Its office is located adjacent to his law offices in the Forum office complex. Automated Land Title Company handles transactions for acquisition, refinance and construction of homes, land and commercial properties. Forum Title Company is an affiliate for special situation closings.

In 2003, drawing on 28 years of experience representing financiers, Mr. Zaretsky and his oldest son, Max, created Zemaso Management Company, a private "bridge loan" lender. The company has offices in West Palm Beach.

Presently, Mr. Zaretsky's community involvement includes:

• Chairman of WPB-TV, West Palm Beach Government Television Channel Citizen Advisory Board.

• Serving on the Board of Directors of WXEL television and radio, the local PBS and NPR television and radio affiliate. He is also a lay leader representative to APTS, a Washington lobbying group representing the Public Television industry.

• Mr. Zaretsky is a Board of Director and former First Vice-President of The President  Country Club, and serves on the By-Laws and Long Range Planning committees.

• Founder and President of the Community Broadcast Foundation of Palm Beach and  the Treasure Coast, which is a public foundation charity that has successfully contracted to obtain ownership along with WNET of New York, of the WXEL radio and television public broadcasting stations and is awaiting FCC approval.

• Advisory Board Member for the City of West Palm Beach WPB-TV (appointed 2007) which is the city public access television station.

RICHARD P. ZARETSKY

Biographical Sketch

from Lisa in New Jersey - Richard, this is the most thorough and detailed Active Rain post I have ever read - great job!

from Amber in Alabama - An excellent well written post that really gets to the heart of short sale transactions. Thanks for getting the information out to the AR community.

from Alan in California - Richard, this is by far the best material I have ever read on short sales, your post and your comments.

from Lisa in California - An excellent well written post that really gets to the heart of short sale transactions. Thanks for getting the information out to the AR community.

from Rick in Illinois - Richard, I am a private shortsale consultant for a small law firm in Chicago, IL.  I perform shortsales for the law firm and their shortsale clients only. I Just want to say that by far your blog and your information has really impressed me. I appreciate the post about IRS form 982- Discharge of Indebtedness, and I especially like the post about the discounted deficiency judgements sold at about 5 or 10 cents on the dollar.

Richard, this is by far the best material I have ever read on short sales, your post and your comments.  As a mortgage loan officer, I often talk with people who are upside down and only can recommend that they talk with a lawyer of a CPA with experience in short sales.  I now have a much better sense in how I must approach them.  These are trying times.  There are so many people that need help.  AJ

Should I have known this information two months ago, I would have been able to provide a better and firmer counter responce to a bank loss mitigator from GMAC that told me if I didn't accept her $11,800 net offer, on a $96,000 loan, she would get more money than what we were offering from a private investor at a discounted rate.

Well now, after I did some basic math I realized we were offering her $2,200.00 more on the shortsale for the 2nd note payoff than then the $9,600.00 GMAC would potentially receive at 10 cents on the dollar from an investor. Now, I can actually calculate and anticipate their responce on this specifically, thanks to your story.

Negotiating is an art not a science, but we definetely have to have key knowledge and information, be methodical and have some stradegy to negotiate with leverage on behalf of our clients. I look forward to the rest of your blog education.
.................................................

http://activerain.com/blogsview/237714/Foreclosure-Homes-Short-Sales

................................................. 

Very informative post, thank you for sharing and the extra effort.

Richard, Your posts are always enlightening.  As a Realtor serving many short sale customers I appreciate your information and insights.   

Thank for your invaluable insight Richard. I always learn something from your blogs.

................................................................ 

That was a great breakdown. Thank you.

great job, very informative, we have got to get together soon.  Call me.. Sharkey

Awesome post Richard. Thanks so much.

Richard, Great Clear Cut Advice.