Why I like Working for Keller Williams Realty

As a Realtor, for the last year I have seen many, many short sales and foreclosures come about. It's the housing frenzy that everyone has been speaking about which has resulted in our economic decline. The unfortunate is that many realtors and housing gurus have been thriving on the idea of a short sale - hoping to get more homes moving off the inventory and more homebuyers to assist in the economic situation. The only concern that arrives is that not ALL homes are short sale qualified. Not all homeowners in short sales were the "investor" who bought with an ARM financing product that had hoped to turn that property around for a profit before the ARM came due. Many of those homeowners in short sale or foreclosure, were middle class families whom either lost their jobs, had trouble making ends meet and could no longer keep up the payments on the home while fending for their families.

I can't tell you how many companies I have seen, even real estate related, that are taking advantage of this.

What happened to the Realtor that works for you and assists you. Not ever transaction should be about the money. It should be about building relationships and assisting those in need during hard times so that somewhere down the line that homeowner you helped will either refer your services or ask for your services again. I'm not saying Realtors should not get paid for their efforts. Remember I am one. But I am saying that if you receive a client that wants to sell their home because they can no longer afford it, think about their situation before your pocket. Our housing inventory is not moving and as a Realtor you can not guarantee how long it will stay on the market or how quickly it will sell. You just have to offer the best services you can provide and aggressively market their property. In the meantime realize, that homeowner who is in financial trouble still has to pay their bills and if they couldn't pay them when they first signed with you, maybe you need to offer them another approach so the home does not go into foreclosure before you get the opportunity of a buyer. ANd if the sale is a short sale, that sale can take longer than an average sale largely because the lender holds the cards on deciding who will be accepted to purchase that home.

Helping your client by discussing their options to work with their lender is the first step. No bank wants to acquire a home. They want their loan money returned and if they short sale they will receive a loss. They would rather work with the homeowner to keep the home rather than buy it back. The Lender provides Loan modification options - all the customer has to do is contact the lender and ask for help. The lender may require a hardship letter, or other information, but it is really the first step before the family you are working for ends up without a home.

Subscribe to this feed for future information on upcoming programs that you can provide to your clients in this situation.

As a Keller Williams Agent, we learn not to just be a realtor, but a consultant. And in being a consultant to someone who really needs your help, you may just end up their Realtor for Life.

Wishing you all the best.
Dawnmarie Hatfield, TRC Realtor
Keller Williams Realty, Palm Harbor