I always check out the List Agent before I take a buyer to a Short Sale Listing.  Why?  Because an inexperienced List Agent can KILL the deal!

Submitted an offer under pressure from my Buyer.  I knew the Agent had never done a Short Sale, but I spoke with him and he seemed amenable to trying to work with me to get an offer to the Lender, Chase.

Chase is one of my more favorite lenders to deal with and there is only one note.  Shouldn't be that hard, right?

Wrong!  As we went along (2 weeks total is all), The list Agent disclosed to me that..

1.  His Seller had an Attorney, but he had convinced the Seller that he (list agent) would handle it and so his Seller had fired the Attorney.

2.  His Seller already had a contact at Chase that he was working with..phone # and everything!

3.  His Seller would not sign the RPA and SSA because the Chase negotiator said they didn't need it and just wanted a HUD-1.

Alarm Bells here..

OK..turns out the Attorney never did go away.  Also turns out the Seller is convinced his property will sell for more and therefore he will be 1099'd for less.  I don't think he's clear that he'll be 1099'd for a Foreclosure also here in California. 

How's it going?  Well..the List Agent called me to tell me that he was raising the price because the Attorney/Seller told Chase that it is worth more than the list Price..$150,000 more, and the List Price is about $150,000 over what it will bring.  So..I am just watching the home and showing my Buyers anything else that is comparable to it. 

Turns out, the Agent didn't even know what an Agent Authorization doc was..eek!

And so the Short Sale wheel turns..Experienced Short Sale List Agents rock!!!