Investors have known for a long time that Short Sales are the key to being successful in real estate these days.  With the explosion in foreclosure filings and all of the attention in the national media, Agents are starting to realize this too.  With the inventory of homes skyrocketing, but prices plummeting, savvy Real Estate Agents are realizing that they need to find a way to undercut the competition with drastically lower prices.  If they can do that, the can rule their market.  The answer, of course, is to find a way to capitalize on Short Sales.  This article from CBS News tells the story of one Agent who has figured out what it takes to thrive today.

 Realtor Frank Wible has become an expert in short sales, which are now estimated to account for one out of every five home sales in the country.

“Now almost 80 percent of my business is short sales,” he said. “I think the next two and a half to three years you’re gonna continue to see short sales.”

But selling short is not an easy way out. First, the lender has to approve.

“And they’re always comparing it against foreclosure. Can they get more for a foreclosure sale than they can from a short sale,” said Allen Fishbein of the Consumer Federation of America.

There’s nothing “short” about short sales, either. The approval process can take months. You have to show evidence of hardship. And it will affect your credit rating.

“But there’s probably nothing worse than the impact a foreclosure would have on a borrowers credit score,” Fishbein says.

 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/24/eveningnews/main4206282.shtml

 Now just imagine how excited Frank Wible would be if he knew that you were out there to step in as the Buyer, negotiate the Short Sale, and help secure financing with a qualified end-Buyer, so that he could free up his time to go out and get more listings, all at no cost to him?  Are you seeing now how invaluable you are to every Agent in your market?   All it takes is getting your message out to them.  Once they understand what you are offering them, Agents will be knocking down your door to work with you.