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Short Sale Speed-Bump ... The BPO

By
Real Estate Agent with Marathon Real Estate

For the past two and a half years,  we have been providing Broker Price Opinions to some of the nations largest lenders. Approximately two thirds of these reports are exterior reports, meaning, the owner/ occupant of the home and listing agent (if the home is on the market) have no idea regarding the report.

On certain occasions, the lender will order an interior report consisting of typically a minimum of 10 interior pictures and the standard exterior pictures. While I hear consistent complaining from agents about the duration of a short sale, it is baffling how many of these listings are ill-prepared to be shown or inspected.

The timeframe of an interior BPO is typically 1-3 days. It is very important for the inspection to be completed in the first day to two days for an on time arrival of the report. Keys removed from lock boxes, no lockbox because the listing agent has removed it, inflexible sellers who insist on after hour inspections (not possible for an exterior picture), so on and so forth.

Remember the last time you flew on an airplane? Hurry up, wait, hurry up, wait.... There is much waiting in the short sale process, but when a document is needed by an assset manager, or a BPO is ordered, you simply have to hurry. The Broker Price Opinion is a major hurdle in the short sale process. If your listing is not ready to be shown without you being there, you chances of closing your transaction just decreased dramatically!

If you are involved in a short sale transaction representing either side, make sure the home is ready to be looked at. When your clients' lender is interested in a value of the property and a week goes by without receiving it, you are no longer on the top of the pile. Our next topic will focus on what a listing agent should do and most time do not do in a short sale transaction!

Best of luck to a prosperous 2010!

 

The Mike Johnson Realty Team specializes in REO property and BPO valuations in the Baltimore-Annapolis region. Serving the nations largest lenders!

Valorie Stover, Realtor for Casta del Sol
Casta del Sol Real Estate / HomeSmart Everygreen Realty - Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo,CA, Active Adult Community!

Just how many BPOs do the bank usually want? I just had one listing that the bank did 4 BPOs from 4 different agents., all in 2 days. Yes we made sure we were ready and welcomed them!

Mar 08, 2010 04:45 AM
Ann Zeilingold
First Meridian Mortgage - Spring Valley, NY

How true!!

I have had this happen to me time and time again. I am negotiating the shortsale and the bank wants to do a BPO and the listing broker either forgets to meet them, or the sellers aren't available. I have learned to tell the realtors and sellers what to expect and to light the fire of urgency under their bottoms when it comes to the BPO!!

Mar 08, 2010 04:50 AM
Ann Zeilingold
First Meridian Mortgage - Spring Valley, NY

How true!!

I have had this happen to me time and time again. I am negotiating the shortsale and the bank wants to do a BPO and the listing broker either forgets to meet them, or the sellers aren't available. I have learned to tell the realtors and sellers what to expect and to light the fire of urgency under their bottoms when it comes to the BPO!!

Mar 08, 2010 04:51 AM
Michael Johnson
Marathon Real Estate - Severna Park, MD

I have tripped over other agents taking pictures on many occassions. It is up to the lender, but not uncommon for multiple BPO's to be ordered especially for interiors. They are looking for multiple opinions on the value of the home and if there is more than a 20% variance on the value, they will keep ordering new reports until the final value can be reconciled. A quick update, yesterday after a lockbox failed me twice on an REO, sometimes its easier to find a living room window that rely on the listing agent on vacant REO property:)

Mar 08, 2010 10:07 PM