Hi folks. Recently I have had several SoliVita Short Sale sellers ask me the same question…..”We need to replace our car. Should we do that before we go through the short sale process?” The concern is that once they go through the short sale their credit will be dinged and financing an automobile will not be easy. One is even paying cash and is concerned how it will look that he went out and spent $15,000 cash on a car and then turned around and asked the lender to accept a short sale.

Interesting question. And one that certainly shows that we are in a different stage of the short sale wave. The Short Sale Sellers mentioned above do not have cut and dry hardships. They are current on payments and have great credit scores.

The first wave of short sellers that started mostly in 2008 were distressed sellers. Property owners that could no longer afford to make their mortgage payments. The next wave were folks that had adjustable rate mortgages that were resetting and they couldn’t refinance as promised when they took out their mortgages.

The current wave is made up of folks that just need to sell but can’t because their properties are too far underwater. They are current on their payments and are not in foreclosure. They could continue to make payments. BUT….they have to move.

Their family has out grown the property. They have a job transfer. Or they are strategic short sellers.

Their situations are different than the first two waves of short sales…

So……should they go out and replace their car prior to doing the short sale? It depends. My response to them is……..

• “If replacing your car is something you would be doing even if you weren’t getting ready to do a short sale then, yes, go ahead and do it. If dependable transportation is needed for job purposes then, yes, go ahead and replace it now. Do what you need to do to make sure your family is taken care of. BUT…be able to defend your position if the lender ask you about it. Be able to show that buying a car was needed and not just wanted. And…..be prepared to make a cash contribution towards the short sale lender’s loss.”

This is my opinion. What’s yours?

Do you need help with your SoliVita Short Sale?

Am I a Short Sale Expert? I don’t think so. Even though my new CDPE designation says I am!!! Yes that’s right I am now a Certified Distressed Property Expert (R).

VISIT MY SOLIVITA SHORT SALE INFO SITE

As you may know, my partner Wendy Rulnick and I own the most active Short Sale Network in the World at ShortSaleSuperstars.com and we have been teaching agents how to do short sales for several years now. BUT….we are not Short Sale Experts.

So…..we both decided to attend the CDPE classes and get our Certified Distressed Property Expert (R) designations.

Wendy took hers online and I attended the 2 day CDPE class in Orlando Florida this week. You’ll be happy to know we both “passed”!

I was the lucky one since I didn’t have to take a test. Just show up and be present for 14 hours of class and BAM!! you too can be a Short Sale Expert.

But Broker Bryant, how was the course? I’m glad you asked. I found it to be very good. The information being taught was relevant, accurate and fairly detailed. If an agent took the CDPE course, that had zero short sale experience, they would certainly be a position to help some folks avoid foreclosure. I would still recommend they have a mentor to assist with them with their first few short sales but they would at least know the process. And they would have the forms and materials to get them started.

CDPE has a very thorough package of Short Sale documents and forms that would help any agent. Lots of good questionnaires and disclosures to protect the agents and their brokers while at the same time helping to educate the Short Sale sellers.

Plus the CDPE Advanced Membership provides you with monthly marketing materials, website and continuing support for your short sale business.

So all in all my hat’s off to Alex Charfen for authoring a very excellent Short Sale Designation with CDPE. Well done Alex!!!

But please….don’t call me a Short Sale Expert. Just call me Broker Bryant, The Best And Hardest Working Short Sale Broker You Will Ever Find In The State Of Florida. Next to Wendy, of course

You may even qualify for a cash incentive*** from your Lender to do a SoliVita Short Sale.

***These programs are not available to all Sellers and the incentives may vary from State to State.

Here are the Florida Short Sale Incentive Programs that I am aware of:

HAFA. Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative. Lender will pay the Seller $3,000 as a Relocation Assistance. Only for primary residences.

FHA PFS. HUD Pre-Foreclosure Sale. Seller can receive $1,000 for relocation assistance. Just yesterday I received FHA PFS approval increasing the seller incentive to $4,000!! Only for primary residences.

Chase Short Sale Incentive Program for select Borrowers offering them up to $35,000 to do a short sale.

Bank of America Co-operative Short Sale. From $3,000 to $20,000 Short Sale Incentive.

Citi Bank, Wells Fargo and Ocwen also have programs available for select home owners. Amounts vary from $3,000 to $35,000. Most are in the $5,000 range.

Folks if you are behind on your SoliVita mortgage payments be sure to open any and all mail you receive from your lender. It could very well be an offer to Short Sale your property. These offers are usually time sensitive and require immediate action on your part.

But why would my Lender pay me to do a SoliVita Short Sale? That’s a good question. For one, it less expensive, for them, for you to cooperate during the Short Sale process and maintain the property than it is for the Lender to foreclose and get an abandoned property back. Also, the Lender does not want you to continue living in the property for free. They would rather pay you to do a Short Sale now than have you live there for another year or so while deciding what to do. The incentive gets you to take action.

Whatever their reason is..…it’s a good opportunity for you. Any questions?

Are you under water on your Florida mortgage?

SoliVita Floor plans

SoliVita recently hosted a Realtor(R) open house to show us their new model home park. All I can say is WOW!! The new homes are gorgeous and the prices are very reasonable. Homes starting at $126,990 for the 1,278 sq ft Marathon model up to $367,990 for the 2,980 sq ft Cordoba model.  And everything in between. 17 floor plans to choose from. Something for everyone.

The best part of course is living in SoliVita. SoliVita is Florida’s premier retirement community designed for active adults over 55. SoliVita offers 2 championship golf courses at Stonegate Golf Club. 14 heated swimming pools including the indoor aquatic center for year round water exercises and swimming.

SoliVita Amenities include: Numerous lakes and canals for boating and fishing. 2 fitness centers. Grand Ball Room. Computer centers. Library. Restaurants. Tennis courts. Pickle Ball courts. Ball field. Dog park. Shuffle board. Over 100 clubs to join. And so much more.

Folks, if you are looking to retire in Florida or just want to simplify your life then you owe it to yourself to take a look at SoliVita. I moved here in May of 2010 with my wife and have to say it has been the best place we have ever lived. I’d love to give you the tour!!

SoliVita Resales are also available staring in the 90s.

SoliVita. The place for active adults to enjoy all that Florida has to offer. Amenities include 2 par 72 golf courses at Stonegate Golf Club. The Riviera Spa and Fitness Center with full gym, indoor track, indoor aquatic center, 2 out door spas, heated pool, dance studio and much more.

Also enjoy the Village Center with its restaurants, 17,000 sq ft Starlight Ballroom, pool hall, ceramic and art studios and waterways for canoeing, boating and fishing. And as if that’s not enough there are 11 heated pools through out the community.

And the new Palms Amenity Complex with it’s state of the art fitness studio and 4,000 sg ft pool. Professional staff on site. Oops! I forgot to mention the tennis courts, pickle ball courts, horse shoe pits, dog park, softball fields and nature preserves. You really just need to come have a look. Houses from the low 100s to mid $500s.

If so……why not check out Solivita? Solivita is a World class 55 and over active adult community. Solivita features single family homes from the low $100s to the high $500s. Two Championship golf courses including StoneGate. Beautiful Riviera Spa and Fitness center and so much more.

Each Solivita community has a 24 hours manned guard gate. Solivita is located in Poinciana Florida. 25 minutes from Disney World Orlando. By the end of 2012 we should have one of the most modern hospitals in Florida directly across the street from the entrance to Solivita. Buy now while the prices are good. We’d love to have you.

Now you are probably wondering what active adults do. Well check it out……

I have a dilemma today. It seems I am about to run out of "For Sale" riders for my beautiful, shiny, night glow, Tutas Towne Realty signs. I guess that's a good problem to have. To me, signs in the ground mean money in the bank. And lately I have been making lot's of "deposits." It's been a long time since I had over 20 listings. Not there yet, but will be next week. It's been so busy the last couple of years I couldn't keep inventory. Place a home on the market on Monday and have multiple offers by Wednesday. Now that was fun!

Now that it takes a little longer for me to sell a house, inventory is up and sign riders are running low. So what do you do? I know, the obvious answer is buy more "For Sale" sign riders. I'm not sure why but to me that sounds too pessimistic. I think, what I would really like to do, is place some properties "pending". Now that sounds more like it. Place them "pending" and switch the rider from "For Sale" to "Sold". I like that. Frees up some sign riders and puts that "deposit" a little closer to my bank account.

Now maybe my thinking on this is a little strange. But hey, it usually is. In fact "The Lovely Wife" would say, my thinking is more than a little strange, on most occasions. But she does agree with me on the sign riders. Creating challenges like this, in my head, is what keeps me motivated. And for some reason I know that later this week, when I am down to my last rider, I can expect to place several of these properties "Sold". Problem solved. Life is funny like that. You usually get what you are expecting. I am expecting to get some deals this week and I will. I love it when that happens.

So what are you expecting next week? Are you expecting good things? Or are you expecting bad things? Are you expecting to sell some houses? Or are you expecting to be rejected? Do you go to your listing presentations with the agreement already completed except for the price? Or are you just going to feel out the situation and make another appointment?

Expectations. I truly love that word. Expectations. Real Estate is all about expectations. So the decision is yours. What will you expect next week? I hope you decide to expect good things. I can tell you from experience, that if you do, good things will happen.

I'm expecting "The Lovely Wife" to make me an excellent four course dinner tonight. Ok, so maybe it doesn't work all the time!

Ok, so if you haven’t read it already. “The Lovely Wife” won this week’s Carnival of Real Estate! Is that awesome or what! And needless to say I will never hear the end of this. I knew “The Lovely Wife” was beautiful. But now I have to deal with a beautiful, smart and talented wife.

I am so pleased and proud I can’t stand it. So “Lovely Wife” a big kudos and I’m proud, from the adorable husband.

Now can you cook me dinner? Actually, how about I take you out to dinner?

Time management. This is a very important part of being a successful Realtor. Or, in being successful at anything, for that matter. We all have 24 hours a day. That's it, 24 hours. 24 hours to do business, spend time with our families, exercise, relax, eat and sleep. Now for me, I like to spend most of this time on the last two, eating and sleeping. Well, not really, even though I do love to eat and I cherish my down time, whether it's spent relaxing, reading, blogging on AR, playing with "The Lovely Wife" or sleeping. So how do I manage "down time" while still handling my business. Especially since I'm a solo Realtor.

First, I am very organized. I wake up everyday knowing exactly what I have to do that day and exactly how much time it will take to accomplish these things. I don't like surprises. I try not to change my schedule unless absolutely necessary. And most importantly, if it's on today's list, then it gets done today. I don't roll things over to the next day. At the end of the day, I start a new list, for the following day. All of this is kept on a legal pad that goes with me everywhere. It has my appointments for the day, phone calls that need to be made, signs that need to be delivered, task to do and so forth.

The biggest time saver for me is choosing not to work with Buyers. I don't have the time, desire or patience to do this. I have a network of Realtors, in my area, who I refer Buyers to. Being the Broker, my referral fee is just about what I would make if I had a Buyer's agent working for me, so what the heck. It also helps to build good relationships with my fellow Realtors and I don't have to spend my time supervising an employee. By doing this I am free to concentrate on getting listings, communicating with my Sellers, negotiating deals and following up on closings. These are the things I enjoy doing so why not do them exclusively?

Here's a list of a few other things that help me, with saving time. Hopefully, these will help you in your business.

• One appointment listings. Do a short seller prequalification, on the phone, prior to your appointment and go over prepared, loaded with info and ready to list and put your sign in the yard. Before you leave, take all photos, measurements and give the Sellers their copies of the paperwork. In and out in 90 minutes. On to the next one.
• Answer the phone. This is a major time saver. No calls to return. Answer the phone and your done.
• Respond to E-mails as you read them. Read it, reply, your done.
• Call your Sellers daily. This way they don't call you when you are busy. I do this while driving to and from appointments.
• After a closing, close the file. I add the Buyers to my data base, send out thank you cards, go to quantum mail.com and send out my just sold mailers, order the Lowe's Rewards for the Buyer, send over the press release for the newspaper and deposit my check. Same day as closing, the file is in archives. Next!
• Normal paper ads and monthly mailers are ordered for the year in January. The only thing left to do is pay the bills.
• Group appointments and errands together. If you have to leave the office make it worth your while.
• If you have to call a customer with negative news. Do it immediately. Don't worry about it. Don't stress over it. Don't try to figure out how to break the news. Your customers are adults, pick up the phone and make the call. Get it off your plate and together you and your customer can work on a solution. A stressed out Realtor is no good.
• And my favorite all time, time saver. Don't take an overpriced listing or work with an unqualified and unmotivated Buyer. The ultimate time waster and stress maker.

That's it. Broker Bryant's crash course on time management. I'm a small time Realtor (by choice) but by utilizing these time saving techniques, I am able to limit my work to about 5 to 6 hours a day and still accomplish 40-60 closings a year, working by myself and from my home. So I know it can be done.

So, get a grip on your time, enjoy your business and enjoy your life. And please don't call me after 8pm……. because I will be playing with "The Lovely Wife" and the phone will be cut of.