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Do the things you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know. -George Macdonald

Short Sale Smarts vs. Snake Oil Salesmen

 As a real estate professional I was invited to attend a recent seminar at the Marriott last week.  I knew this was not going to be an educational seminar but instead more of a sales seminar.  It was not open to the public.  It was targeted directly at real estate agents. 

I could guess that absolutely nothing of value was going to be presented.  It was a sales seminar.   As an insider, I am always curious as to what they are selling and what they "conveniently forgot" to mention.  I'm also doing research for an upcoming article and this fit right in to the subject matter.   That was all the justification I needed , plus I had a little free time so there I was.

Not surprisingly I saw many local real estate agents I knew.  Many of which were there to learn about doing a short sale.  They didn't learn much.  Instead they were subjected to a two hour long sales pitch.  Nobody walked out of the conference room with the knowledge required to complete a short sale unless they walked in with the knowledge.

I came out a winner

 However, in my mingling about I ran into a real estate trainer that really knows his short sale stuff, Gary Ross.  When the same name comes up over and over and over again you get an inclination he really knows his stuff.   He does. 

Gary Ross is Trainer for Florida Luxury Home Liquidators, which trains professional real estate agents in everything involved with shorts sales.  She was there for the same reason I was - to see what the snake oil salesman were pushing. In the end the snake oil turned out to be an expensive "3 day boot camp", followed by an expensive enrollment into a "system". 

It's no surprise , neither of us bought that day.  I did come out a winner though.  Gary invited me to come to one of his training sessions.  I jumped at the chance! 

Intense training

The session was intense and very different.  Different because Gary didn't leave anything out.  He was not selling a product.  He was there for one reason and one reason only.  To professionally instruct the best agents in the business on how to professionally complete a short sale.  His students know how to expertly manage a short sale.  They know what to look for, what to avoid, and how to best minimize the downside of a negative equity situation.  Gary teaches his agents not only how to complete the short sale but also how to effectively minimize the loss.

I liked that he works with the same ethical base as the best real estate professionals I know.  That base is doing whatever is best for the client - even if it means not making a sale.  Don't kid yourself for a moment, Real Estate is SALES and it's full of salespeople. 

 Who are you dealing with?

 If you are in trouble.  If you are considering a short sale.  Now, more than ever, it is vital that you work only with professionals who know and understand the transaction.  Your Uncle Steve might have been an Agent for the last 20 years.  He might have just attended some 3 day short sale boot camp.  I can guarantee you one thing.  Good Ole Uncle Steve doesn't know half of what Gary's Students do.

If you would like to contact a professional short sale expert in your area, drop me an email.  I'll be happy to point you in the right direction.

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Labels: Avoiding Foreclosure, preforeclosure, Short Sale, Short Sale Feasibility