It was a hectic year for short sales, but there was some good news, big and little, that brings hope for 2010. Here are my top short sale stories for the past twelve months, some personal, some national.
1. The first story is a Happy Short Sale Saga. One of my Destin Florida sellers regained employment, so did not have to sell the home he and his family desperately loved! I gladly withdrew the property from the market. Specializing in short sales is often more than closing the sale.
2. HAP - The Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) is a government program expanded to help our military members who have orders to relocate from bases such as Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. Many of these servicemen are upside-down in their mortgages, and HAP is supposed to cover 90% of their loss so they can avoid foreclosure. HAP has not helped many yet and is flooded with applications. The good news is that they are improving their information and refining their system, so hopefully more of our military will be helped in 2010.
3. HAFA – The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative Program is supposed to get short sale lenders/servicers on board to speed up approvals for homeowners of primary residences. It offers guidelines and incentives to pre-approve short sales and forgive deficiencies. We’ll watch carefully in the spring to report on HAFA progress- or not.
4. Short Sale Training - My first short sale webinar marked the beginning of my business partnership with Bryant Tutas. I prepared for the webinar with nervous trepidation, but ended up loving doing these classes! Simply put, it was a blast! Not only did Bryant and I educate others, it helped me grow personally. We have since incorporated as REGrow, LLC. Expect more good things in 2010. 
5. www.ShortSaleSuperstars.com is the community Bryant Tutas and I founded to help short sale agents across the country "Learn, Know and Grow". In little over five months, our group is now almost 750 members strong. Here, short sale professionals jump in to share secrets and information about every and any lender or short sale situation you can imagine. Here, they are unlocking the knowledge to save more homeowners from foreclosure and do it at the highest levels. This is a tight community of giving short sale leaders that is open for membership. If you have not yet joined – we welcome you to come with us on this exciting adventure.
As a final note, for 2010, I hope we all find greater solutions to the foreclosure and home ownership crisis that is touching the lives of every one of us.
It's Wendy! Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR Rulnick Realty, Inc. Destin Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help. Read Wendy's Destin Real Estate Blog www.ShortSaleSuperstars.com for agents Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204 Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure specialist and has been featured in "Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine" and "Florida Realtor Magazine". Call Wendy Rulnick, Broker/Owner,to list and sell your home or condo on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County- Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field.
2010 is going to be awesome for REGrow, LLC. I can feel it coming. Just reblogged you.
Wendy, just caught the re-blog, and thought you deserved equal consideration. 2010 will be the year of the distressed homeowner for multiple reasons. We as agents need to make sure we do the best we can for those people that look to us for help. Likewise we as agents need to make sure we get the best help and information we can and do no additional harm while we do our job. Thanks for sharing.
Wendy Good luck to you and Bryant, you guys make a great dynamic duo when it comes to the short sales advice...keep up the good work.
I'm thinking on joining this group. Yes i'm starting to get involved with them so i should surround myself with people who know them. More and more clients are just walking away and they desparately need our help.
Wendy- Thank you for sharing all you know and go through. There is good in every circumstance and one good thing for me through all this short sale journey was meeting you and becoming friends. Katerina
Thanks Wendy for the Short Sale awards. We'll need to set up an awards show on television to present these.
I'm happy to report that HAP is working. I have two closing this week. The checks are in, the attorney's are lined up and hopefully by the end of the week I will have two great stories to tell. Currently I have three more in line for Janaury closings and the sellers have final approval in hand we are just waiting for the checks.
Bryant - I am there!
Ed - You are welcome, there is plenty for all of us to learn.
Steve - Thank you for your support.
Gwen - If we only could get those banks hustling, that would make many smile.
Robert - Have you signed up for www.shortsalesuperstars.com yet?
Katerina - Thank you for reaching out to me, I appreciate your friendship!
Gabe - And the winner is... !
Cindy - Thank you for the enlightening words! I am waiting for HAP to hustle to help Eglin Air Force base and Hurlburt Field, too!