Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patti Guilford on April 15, 2012 at 9:13am

Being the listing agent on a short sale is much more than real estate. Its debt mediation and requires approximately 500 emails, hours and hours on the phone, paperwork, converting the jpeg docs that sellers and agents send into pdf docs (Equator doesn't recognize jpeg docs) cleaning up faxed docs by enlarging because agents have faxed back and forth 3 or 4 times, making sure all addenda are signed and dated etc etc etc. It takes approx quadruple the time it takes to sell a listing than it did in the good ole days and compensation for this extra burden should be a given.

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Vardakis on April 19, 2012 at 10:21am

See I disagree with you on that Fred.  As already stated, listing agents do much more than just take the listing and present contracts.  There is a lot to learn on how to do short sales and a lot to keep abreast of the changing rules and laws and programs.  Yes, the buyers agents needs to inform the buyer regarding a short sale and also then keep the buyer in the game however, a contract is a contract.  Many buyers get tired of waiting an unreasonable amount of time such as less than 45 days and even 30 days and want out of the contract.  We the listing agent have done so much work up to this point to only have it die.  This doesn't just restart where we left off with the bank.  Once we get a new offer, we start all over because they close the file when the other dies.  As for the sellers, I haven't had any upset with the difference in the commission split.  They know what goes into it from the start because of the gathering of all their docs.  It is a very timely ordeal.  And, we are not guaranteed a sale. 

 

Now my question to buyers agents is who are you working for when you focus on what commission is being paid? If the house fits the buyers needs then it shouldn't matter what commission is being paid.  they are buying the home and want what fits their needs and wants, not what fits your pocket book.  there I said it. 

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Permalink Reply by Laura Chaney on April 13, 2012 at 10:50pm

Yes, we have heard of it.  We had a closing last year where the Buyer's agent collected $500. from the Buyer at closing in a cash sale transaction.

 

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Permalink Reply by Joseph C. Alfe on April 15, 2012 at 6:01pm

The fact of the matter is this;

Agents/Brokers may charge a disclosed negotiation fee if your state allows it.

Third party negotiators hired by the SELLER can charge the buyer a fee, as long as it's properly disclosed to buyer.  Both Fannie/Freddie purchase guidelines specifically allow third party short sale negotiation fees to be charged to buyers, so therefore it is now considered "resonable and customary" This is completely acceptable so long as it is disclosed on HUD-1 at closing.

And that settles it. Period.

www.ssprocessors.com

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Permalink Reply by Pamela A. McGrath on April 16, 2012 at 5:07pm

As a real estate closer I have not seen a fee being charged to the buyer for the short sale process.  There are many negotiators out there charging the buyer more in their escrow fee but we have chosen not to do that.  We feel that the seller is the one benefiting fromthe short sale so their fee is higher.  We do short sale negotiations all over and welcome any questions you may have.  You can email me at spokanecloser@gmail.com.

 

Best of luck to you all.  Pam

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Permalink Reply by Alexa Peronard on April 17, 2012 at 2:58pm

I am in Florida, and I do this with every short sale.  The lender won't allow the seller to pay, so the buyer pays my negotiator a flat fee at closing.  It is disclosed on the HUD, and there is an addendum to the contract stating the buyer will pay it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Helen Law on April 19, 2012 at 4:45pm

Hi Alexa,

We are in Idaho. Would you mind sharing the language and addendum you use to for the buyer fee? WE are compedlled to start charging the buyer a transaction processing fee.  I would really appreaciate it!

Thanks,

Helen

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Vardakis on April 18, 2012 at 2:12pm

Not heard of this in our market Tracy....................I do a split of 3.5/2.5 as I am unable to charge a seller transaction fee.  Buyers agent can charge their fee and ask for the difference of .5.  I do this because we work extremely hard on these files to get them SOLD AND CLOSED.  AND there is no guarantee that will happen.  I would love some feedback on this because I get agents who ask why only 2.5% and I tell them about the amount of work.  Some agree and some don't. 

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Permalink Reply by Satar Naghshineh on April 18, 2012 at 3:29pm

First off, what I am about to state regarding commissions is in no way an indication as to how much my brokerage charges nor is it construed as best practices for other brokerages in setting real estate commissions. The number reflected here is for example purposes only! Now that said...

Adjusting a co-broke is the best way to accomplish compensation on a short sale. You do not have to justify it to anyone. I personally do it in two ways:

1. Adjust the co-broke to make it profitable for my company in the manner you suggested.

2. Have the buyer make up the difference. For example, let's say I have a 10% listing agreement and the seller's lender only pays for 6%. I then have the right to collect that 4% difference from the seller. This seller expense then can be moved to the buyer, so the buyer could pay the 4% difference. You will need to check with your state law regarding how this can be accomplished.

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Vardakis on April 18, 2012 at 2:16pm

I would love to hear what other agents do in markets where you get a listing that is as low as 10K and the seller wants help?  I get a lot of under $30K deals and can not find it to turn them down.  By the time I get paid out of the deal it is just not worth it. 

 

any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.  I struggle with this tremendously and am unable to say NO to anyone.

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Permalink Reply by Satar Naghshineh on April 18, 2012 at 3:32pm

I would team up local investors and have them pay your brokerage a fee to offset the compensation paid by the foreclosing lender. Too many agents think like agents and confine themselves to a standard number.

Personally if there were 10k listings in my area, I would try to pick them up for $500 or less. How much will it cost the bank to foreclose and dispose of?

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Permalink Reply by Marty Macisso on April 18, 2012 at 3:15pm

Not in Maine, need to be a licensed debt negotiator or an attorney to charge upfront fees...check with your state first

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