Short sales are a fact of life for most real estate professionals. Despite new government regulations short sale transactions are still difficult to close. You probably feel like you are hitting your head against a brick wall over and over and over again!!

The question arises, why are short sale real estate transactions so difficult? Why do some banks act like the enemy?

This video from  www.ThinkBigWorkSmall.com,  show why some banks aren’t motivated to get your short sale closed. The good part comes after the CNN announcer stops talking.

Real estate virtual assistants can help get your short sales to a successful closing! Our team of Transaction Managers are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE). We have the expertise needed to communicate with lenders, your clients and other real estate professionals to get you to the closing table. Contact us today and get more of your short sales closed!!

All Mortgages
3.30% in Foreclosure
7.88% in Default (30+ days late)
11.18% Total in Default

Prime Mortgages
1.88% in Foreclosure
5.06% in Default (30+ days late)
6.94% Total in Default

Subprime Mortgages
13.71% in Foreclosure
21.88% in Default (30+ days late)
35.59% Total in Default

FHA Mortgages
2.43% in Foreclosure
13.73% in Default (30+ days late)
16.16% Total in Default

VA Mortgages
1.66% in Foreclosure
7.52% in Default (30+ days late)
9.18% Total in Default

Note the dramatic difference between the number of homeowners who are actually in the foreclosure process compared to those who are 30 days or more late in payments. The FHA figures jump from 2.43 % in foreclosure to 13.73% in default…an 11% increase. The VA figures increase 6%, Subprime…11%. These numbers are a strong indication that the foreclosure crisis is going to continue to get worse before it gets better.

If you are continuing to shy away from working with homeowners in distress and short sales, you may want to reconsider. This segment of the market will be with us for quite awhile. The good news for Realtors is Fannie May has instructed their servicers NOT to negotiate your commissions up to 6%.

If you need help building and managing your short sale business, a real estate virtual assistant can help. My Team and I have earned our CDPE designations so we have the background necessary to support you. Take a look at our Short Sales In A Box and give us a call…we’re glad to help!!

This being the case, how do you start to grow your pre-foreclosure and short sale business? Below are 10 low cost steps to jump start this new facet of your business: 

1.  Brand your short sale business. 

Branding is developing a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. It is a look and a feel that the consumer will associate with you when they see your marketing pieces. This concept is not new to many real estate professionals. We have heard about branding for years. Branding your distressed property business is just as important as the branding of your real estate practice as a whole. Quality Images for your marketing materials can be found on 123RF.com or IstockPhoto.com for just a few dollars per image.

2.  Register a domain name. 

Part of branding is the use of a keyword rich domain name to use on your marketing. One of the best keywords to use in real estate marketing is the name of your city or town. Combine your city or town name with words the consumer will use when searching for information about short sales, such as foreclosure or short sale. A couple of examples are: www.stopatlantaforeclosures.com or www.atlantashortsales.com. You can register a domain name at GoDaddy for less than $10 per year. 

3.  Create a short sale website. 

Homeowners facing foreclosure are in desperate need of information. Most don’t realize there are options other than foreclosure. Create a short sale website that provides information in layman terms, explaining their options and how you can help. And don’t forget to include a call to action. A cost effective website option is a Standard Point2Agent website. You get 15 pages with the first three months free and then only $9.95 per month. A good example is ShortSalesCentralNJ.com.  Another option is to create an additional page on your current website dedicated to short sales and foreclosures and point your short sale domain name to it. 

4.  Create a short sale business card. 

Having a separate business card isn’t necessary. Utilize the back of your current business card to promote your short sale business and let the world know you are a short sale expert. Be sure to include your new short sale domain name. 

5.  Place an ad on CraigsList. 

Being free, Craigs List is one of the most cost effective marketing tools available. Place your ad under Real Estate Services for your area. If you haven’t used the ‘Services section of Craigs List, there are additional hoops to jump through before you can post. You are required to provide a phone number associated with your ad. Craigs List then calls and verifies the number. There are any number of ways to create your ad, but one to consider is using Vflyer.com, which creates the code necessary for an HTML ad. Free personal accounts are available. 

6.  Write a press release. 

Submit a press release about how you can help families in distress avoid foreclosure. Highlight any designation you have earned or additional training you have taken. Your local newspaper will print a press release for free and there are numerous online options, such as Free-Press-Release.com, PRlog.org and PressRelease365.com.  

7.  Advertise in local print media. 

Your local newspaper and real estate magazines aren’t as cost effective as online marketing, but it will set you apart from the crowd. Consider both classified ads and display ads. 

8.  Utilize social networks. 

Blog about your short sale business and add it to Face Book. Put it on My Space, Linked In, and Active Rain and be sure to tweet about it on Twitter. 

9.  Send an introduction letter, email or postcard to your database. 

Get the word out with a letter, email or postcard to your database informing them of how you can help families facing foreclosure. They may know you are a real estate professional, but they need to know of your expertise in the area of short sales and avoiding foreclosure. 

10.  Call your sphere of influence. 

Last, but certainly not least, do what real estate professionals dread the most. Pick up the phone and call your sphere of influence. Sharing how you can save families from foreclosure is a great reason to call old friends and clients, as well as an excellent way to generate business. These days, most everyone knows someone struggling with making mortgage payments. 

My team of Marketing Specialists and Transaction Coordinators have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, making us uniquely qualified to assist you with growing and managing your pre-foreclosure and short sale business. We can create your website and marketing materials, call your sphere of influence, manage your listings and coordinate your closings. Check out our Short Sales In A Box…a turnkey solution to building and managing your distressed property and short sale business.

For more information on how we can help visit myREassistant.com or call 757.271.6047.

The statistics below are based on 45,000,000 mortgages for the 3^rd quarter of 2008: 

All Mortgages:
            2.97% are in foreclosure
            6.99% are in default
            9.96% total in default 

Prime Mortgages:
            1.58% in foreclosure
            4.34% in default
          5.92 total in default 

Sub-Prime Mortgages:
          12.55% in foreclosure
             20.02% in default
            32.57% total in default 

FHA Mortgages:
           2.32% in foreclosure
             12.92% in default
            32.57% in default  

VA Mortgages:
          1.46% in foreclosure
            7.28% n default
         8.74 total in default 

As you can see, 10% of all mortgages were in default. Not just subprime mortgages but all mortgages! A number that has doubled since January 2007. These numbers are not only overwhelming, but also heart breaking knowing they represent 4.5 million families in crisis. 

The real estate industry has the ability to help these families avoid foreclosure and regain stability in their lives. Most families in distress don’t know they have options and think foreclosure in inevitable once they get behind on mortgage payments. CDPE training provides you with the tools you need to assist families in distress. As real estate virtual assistant who is CDPE certified, I can assist you with implementing the tools CDPE provides, growing your distressed property business, marketing distressed property listings and progressing to a successful closing. 

Give me a call. I’d like to work with you helping families in need.

Until I took the course, I thought the foreclosure problem was at its peak and the worst was over. This couldn’t be further from the truth. 2.97% of homeowners are in foreclosure and another 6.99% are in default, meaning they are behind on payments but not in the foreclosure process yet. When I realized the foreclosure crisis is not going away any time soon, I knew it was time for my Team to earn our CDPE designations and offer virtual assistant services to CDPE designees.

We have put systems in place to help CDPEs with:

• building a distressed property business
• servicing distressed property listings
• assembling your short sale package
• and coordinating a successful closing 

The primary goal of a CDPE is to help a homeowner avoid foreclosure and move forward with their lives. We believe so strongly is this goal that we are limiting our distressed property services to CDPEs only. This way we know we are all on the same page and are working toward the primary goal of helping those in distress.

If you are a CDPE in need of support services in building your business and assisting homeowners, visit our website, myREassistant.com or give us a call, 757-271-6047.