Short sales, that's the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the name of this blogging challenge. I have accumulated more than my share of short sale horror stories, blogged about many of them. Survived them all.
Now, here I stand, a SURVIVOR of several years of endless toils in the
maddening niche of short sales. And yes, I am stronger (and smarter, and braver) for it!
Just this morning, after waiting for a couple weeks, calling and recalling, I FINALLY received from our negotiator (Specialized Loan Servicing on bahalf of Bank of America) the promised valuation of my short sale listing. It came as a huge fax, 40 some pages, which contained six copies of an actual appraisal. That was odd, I've never been sent six copies a copy of the actual appraisal before. I thumbed through the stack of papers eagerly searching for the appraised value - and almost had a heart attack! It was nearly double the price I have the house listed for! WHAT???? I looked at the comps and was stunned to see that he was able to find such high priced comps, how had I missed them, was this a bad dream? Then, I noticed that the date on the six appraisals appraisal was May, 2006!
This kind of stuff, over and over and over,
is enough to drive any normal person out of their ever lovin' mind!
But we who work short sales are not normal,
we are stronger, smarter and braver for our struggles!
Another lengthy call to my friends at SLS in an attempt to get the valuation information from the appraisal which was done on July 16th. Their policy prevents them from giving that information out over the phone to the authorized person, it can only be mailed.... Just think how simpler and more efficient life would be if, after I run the gauntlet of questions and passwords and am determined to actually BE the authorized person, they would take 2 seconds to just tell me the piece of information I need. Did I mention that in two weeks the appraisal will be 
too old and they will have to order another one? As the gal goes through the notes, reading them aloud as she looks for stuff on my request, she lightly skips past a part that said something about the offer is too low.
WAIT! Back up, please. What was that? The offer is too low, was anyone going to mention that to me? Perhaps COUNTER the offer? Nope. I just have to get lucky and hope that on one of my calls, after waiting on hold for eons, the person on the other end of the line will notice a note in the file that the offer is too low, and think to mention it to me? Yes. REALLY?
This is just one call, just one little, tiny piece
of the never ending outrageous ridiculousness
we are forced to deal with daily in the insane
world of short sales.
I really could go on and on and on and on and on... Today came a long (and I mean loooooong) awaited short sale approval on a deal with Chase/USDA. One of the delays was the divorced husband's refusal to respond to the request for updated financial documents. After WEEKS of voice messages and emails, pleading, groveling (begging actually) for him to contact me, I found the secret to his cooperation. Before I left town, I left him one final voice message, telling him I left a check for $100 at the title company and if he would drop off the documents to them he could have the check to compensate him for his time. I ended the message by saying the offer expired at 5:00 the next day, and I chuckled a little as I said those words. Sure enough, he never returned my call but he produced what was needed in time to collect the loot.
Every short sale is a wonderland of unanticipated adventures and learning excperiences.
I am stronger for it, because I have learned to NEVER GIVE UP! I have learned to never take no for an answer. I get my short sales CLOSED and my clients are able to achieve the absolute best outcome possible in a very difficult situation. They understand what I go through to make it happen, and they are grateful.
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