Have you ever looked at a foreclosure listing, and discovered the amount owed on the loan was at or above the current market value?  This is when knowing how to do a short sale comes in handy.  This is absolutely a tool you must have with today's credit crunch.  Here is an article, courtesy of Donna Robinson explaining the value of short sales for agents, or investors.  Donna is an experienced investor, and agent.  You can read other informative articles on her blog, Robinson Real Estate Report. Thank you Donna!

Increase Your Income With Short Sales

In todays market, with foreclosures reaching record highs, and many
sellers owing more money than their property is even worth, it is time
for a change in strategy.

Whether you are an investor searching for exceptional deals, a homeowner
facing foreclosure, a buyer looking for a great deal on a personal residence
or a licensed real estate agent, short sales are becoming a strategy
you can not afford to ignore in the present market.

With a fundamental situation that presents us with literally thousands
of properties being “dumped” on the market with each passing month,
and most of those properties having little or no equity, it is getting
more difficult to sell most properties for full value.

Many agents have listings sitting on the market for months,
and many of those listings on which the agent has spent valuable time and
effort are going into foreclosure, leaving many agents with less income
and no way to sell their listings for what the seller actually owes.

This situation is creating a need more than ever for agents and brokers
to understand how to use short sales to help their sellers sell and their
buyers buy. Agents - save your listing commissions and help homeowners avoid
foreclosure!

Short Sale means getting the lender to sell a property for a discount
well below the amount the owner owes for the property.
With the growing number of foreclosures, more and more lenders are
having to resort to short sales in order to move inventory that cannot be
sold for enough to cover the payoff.

We are seeing more short sales and hearing incredible stories from
around the US about short sales in some areas where the lenders are
discounting properties by as much as 30 to 70 percent! This results
in a very profitable deal when done correctly.

If you are an agent with overpriced listings that aren’t selling,
investor clients who want the best possible deals, or you are
representing aspiring home buyers who want a good buy in a
personal residence, short sales could be your ticket to more production
in a slowing market that still has a long way to fall before things
start to improve.

But short sales require a certain amount of expertise, not to mention
specific forms, letters and procedures. You have to know what you are
doing. But if you do, you can create opportunities for yourself or
your clients by getting discounts amounting to tens of thousands of dollars,
that can turn “no sale” into a great opportunity.

If you are an investor-buyer, you need to know how to use short sales
strategy to add bigger equity spreads to your own investments. Buying
at a discount will help insure strong positive cash flow on rentals,
with higher equity spreads. It’s the “safe” way to buy in an eroding
market.

But the trick is, how to get this crucial information without spending
$1000 or more on a seminar or course? They are out there - anywhere from
$250 to more than $1500 for information on what will surely be the
hottest buying / selling strategy of 2007 - 2008.

We have been working on a very cost effective solution
for you. If you are serious about making money in real estate in 2007,
you absolutely must know how to execute short sales in a professional manner.

I am currently using this same short sales process to help increase my
personal production as an agent to help sell overpriced listings, as well
as help my investor buyers find better deals and I am confident short
sales can do the same for you too.

There is no need to languish in this market - you must adapt to the
changing market conditions with strategies that will work for you or
your clients.

I predict that this market will continue to worsen for months to come,
making short sales even more necessary than they are now. By 2008
the banks may be desperate for any way out possible.

Because of the obvious need for this strategy, I am very happy to
announce that I can now recommend a new and timely
course called “Short Sales Short & Sweet”, written by Real Estate
Broker, Marie Whitton.

Marie is not just any broker, she is the broker
that I hang my license with. I have known her for several years now.
She is an accomplished real estate investor, and when it comes to
short sales, Marie really knows her stuff.

Together we use short sales to increase our office production.
And whether you are licensed or not short sales can work
for you. You do not have to be licensed to negotiate short sales.
Anyone can learn to use this timely strategy to create great real
estate buying opportunities. But agents should take special note.

The course is easy to read, and designed to help you get up
and running with short sales as quickly as possible. And frankly
it is priced UNDER $150 - a “no brainer” for those of us who make our
living in real estate.

If you are looking for ways to make more money in a tough real estate
market, this could be your ticket.

Short sales help homeowners avoid foreclosure, and it may be the
only way to make a particular deal work for an investor or home
buyer.
In todays market short sales are a timely and important strategy to
have in your toolbox.

Click the link below and discover the benefits of working short sales
and how they can help you add business and income.

Short Sales Short & Sweet

To your success,