Category: REO Articles
I get these questions daily from REO Rockstars subscribers and from foreclosure brokers that I am coaching; "What is happening with bank owned properties?" "Why are the inventory levels fluctuating so much now?" "What can I do to keep from going under?" My explanation is this: The government and the banks are trying desperately to stop this huge flow of distressed properties from hitting the market. The government, of course, wishes to preserve home ownership and neighborhood values. The banks, of course, wish to SAVE MONEY and REDUCE LOSSES. As a result, we are seeing many new programs and strategies implemented, in an effort to keep foreclosures from taking place, and to offset losses, by disposing of bad debt though other means, like short sales. An interesting note that you may or may not know, is that banks are consistently seeing about a 15 point higher return on short sales vs. foreclosures-only makes sense that they look towards these alternatives, as additional methods of property disposition.
Does this mean an END to REO is coming?
Good morning all. Just a very quick post to remind everyone that you will NOT get away with slacking on utility connections. I realize that this may seem to be a post with a very obvious meaning but I have to tell you that this is probably one of the biggest hangups that AMs have to deal with. I would roughly guesstimate that at least HALF...yeah HALF of the REO properties that I visit DO NOT have utilities activated. I also know with absolute certainty that almost ALL Master Listing Agreements contain a special section regarding broker responsibilities, specifically, ACTIVATING UTILITIES. I was reminded of this sore subject by an email received from a client today,
This was an actual question posed to me by a local real estate broker this morning. Since I've heard it a lot lately, I thought I'd go ahead and address it quickly for everyone. Here's the deal in a nutshell...
Folks, I have seen a lot of wild things in the REO business over the last few years (HAFA, HAMP, etc.) but this one really takes the cake. The government is now apparently using TARP funds, to the tune of some 14 Billion dollars, to assist in providing special refinancing options for home owners who are "upside down" in their mortgages, by encouraging lenders to write down loans. Now for me, it raises some interesting questions:
Did I say CORRUPTION?!!! You bet I did!
If you've been selling bank foreclosures as an REO broker for any length of time, you've undoubtedly run into a "proposal" that smelled "fishy", didn't seem right, or just kinda made you go "hhhhmmmmmm".... It seems that around every corner there's a guy or girl trying to make a quick buck from everyone-problem is, it's not always LEGALLY. To be right up front and honest with you, this kind of b.s. gets my blood boiling, to the point where I'd like nothing more than to ram my fist down someone's throat, every time I hear such an offer. Wow...that sounded harsh! haha...actually, I'm not a violent guy, and I would never do such a thing, but I sure want you to have a vivid mental picture about how strongly I feel about running a "clean" business, rather than a sleazy one. Let me give you an actual example of the kind of thing I am talking about here, in case you've yet to come across this sort of impropriety:
I get this question on REO Rockstars calls a lot so let me share a bit of free insight on why REO agents and investors buying bank owned homes have their hopes of a golden finish blow out violently, like a speed skater who's shoved into the boards, trying to squeeze out Apollo Ohno on the last turn before the finish line! Grab a pen and paper and take some notes my friend. This stuff is not for the fainthearted but it doesn't take 4 years of torturous training either-just a tiny little bit if focus. You can manage that can't you? 
...Every day my office receives offers from these "would be" investors. Seems like everyone has taken some class, "learned from a friend", or just plain walks blindly into the "investor" game. Now not to be critical of REAL investors here. We do business with PLENTY of super smart guys who make a very good living at this. But how do they do it? Well, it begins with the basics of knowing HOW to structure a deal that just makes sense. Contrary to what the "wanna be" guys seem to think, a great deal involves a heck of a lot more than looking at a few comps and speculating on a flip price. Bluntly, It is not the HOUSE that matters. It's the PLAN. Smart investors, the guys who actually make a career out of this (and no, I'm not talking about some of these TV goofballs who make me cringe as they buy termite infested, water logged, structurally defunct houses and end up rebuilding from the foundation up-HACKS!), break the numbers down to the last penny, including the financing factors. First, they have to consider "where" they are going to get the non-occupant financing and more importantly "how" they are going to convince the hard money guy to fork over a chunk of change to finance the project.
You know, when you do a lot of volume in REO, you spend a lot of time looking at the big picture and you sometimes forget about the small improvements that could greatly impact the efficiency and morale of your team. Sit here for just a moment now and imagine that you are sitting in your office chair trying to get a little work done. As you stare at the words on your computer screen, words that look a lot like the ones you see on your screen now, black on a white background, you begin to feel yourself tuning in. The more you stare at these words and the the tasks they represent, the more you settle into your place and get so focused that you can almost feel your chest rise and fall with each breath you take. You are in your zone, to the point that you are feeling super energized and ready to accomplish the work of two or maybe even three people. Then all of a sudden...
There are certain tools that can just make life a heck of a lot easier if you're an REO broker.
RoboForm2GO Pro is just about the best little piece of software that I have ever purchased. It auto-fills registration forms and remembers passwords to all of your clients' on-line platforms. I cannot tell you how strongly I feel about having this little tool. It WILL be the best $49.50 you have ever spent. I prefer the RoboForm2GO Pro version. It can be loaded on to a flash drive and you can take it with you wherever you go. Get RoboForm2GO Pro version here RIGHT NOW.
Your website should be very "buyer sticky". By that I mean that it should give buyers reasons to stay around and seek out more information. Let's face it, buyers want to see homes. They don't care about how great you are or about your silly sales pitches. I have always gotten the best results by providing a "one stop shop" for REO searchers. I found exactly ONE IDX software that can be fully customized to your own specs - IDX Broker. Do not be fooled by companies who say there's is customizable. If you can't have access to the code then you can't really customize. For example: on my site REOAtlanta.com I have been able to code in special parameters that identify potential REO properties and short sales in ways that I could NOT do with any other IDX provider. This is like GOLD to REO investors and they come back to my site over and over each day. Try IDX Broker. It's the only truly customizable IDX solution on the market today. Don't know how to custom code? No problem. Email Brent Guest of BHGDigital LLC for custom web design (he does 100% of mine-including REO Rockstars.)
For BPO information I use a service called REDLINK. They don't service a lot of states but see if they service yours and use them if you can. It's a big shortcut to information for my valuations staff.
Lastly, I have a self-designed site called UnlistedBankHomes. It is a subscription based site for investors where I list homes that are about to hit the market. We list the homes here after getting a listing agreement from the seller and IMMEDIATELY before placing them on the market (we also give information on pre-list homes but it is very limited). This information makes investors drool and keeps them locked in to you as the expert resource they seek out. I would recommend using every one of these tools if you are going to be serious about making serious money selling REOs. Check them out and get 'em!
So yesterday I failed...Well, actually my staff failed but that means that ultimately I was responsible. Whew....got the self blame out of the way. Is it supposed to feel good to take responsibility or is it just the right thing to do? Who knows and WHO CARES! Anyway, I get an email from my office manager telling me to call a particular selling broker, who was upset about how the negotiations were going on one of my listings. He really could not believe that his buyer's offer was flat out "rejected" without a seller counter right in the middle of negotiations (very short negotiations I might add...his buyer was WAY low on price). Anyway, long and short of it was that did not "believe" that banks would just stop negotiating in mid-stream and force a buyer to either walk or counter their own counter. The guy actually believed that the bank was using his offer to shop other offers. He REALLY just didn't "get it"! So how do you (and how do I NORMALLY) prevent this?
