By Frank Fredericks, Owner & Broker of North West Properties Brokers Network and Clark County area’s most experienced short sale expert

The main objective for me in writing this blog is to alleviate the frustration I have felt in trying to explain the things I have learned over the years.  It is my hope that this information will enlighten people as to the benefits of ‘short sales’. I believe once a person decides what they want they can move forward and literally change the way their life unfolds before them. 

I have a successful real estate business but my desires go far beyond being a profitable business man and selling homes.  I earnestly want to help people make good and wise decisions in this perilous economic time.  I honestly believe it is possible to have a win/win outcome even when someone is dealing with a lousy situation. I know there are many great real estate agents whose goal is to help their clients however; as there are those whose main objective is self serving.

My desire is to share the knowledge I have gathered from my many years of experience in order to help people understand the possibilities that are available.  I have been persistent in creating a trail for the seller to walk when faced with this very difficult decision.  I want to serve our industry but more importantly I want to be an advocate for our clients, to make them savvy and wise sellers and buyers so they can work as a team with their Realtor, Mortgage Company or Bank.

I am a realtor and broker who currently works in Clark County and surrounding area.  I have over 20 years experience in real estate.  Since there are 5 generations of realtors in my family I grew up watching and learning from my grandparents and parents.  I love life and enjoy helping people because I believe it is not what you get in life that matters but what you give that really counts.

In 1992 I had my first experience with a ‘short sale’.  I found myself looking at a situation where a seller felt a foreclosure was their only option.  As a business man that choice didn’t make sense to me. I think there are always options.  It felt like a lose/lose proposition and a less than desirable business decision so I asked my broker at the time if I could approach the bank and begin discussions regarding a solution which was later called a ‘short sale’.  It was an unblazed trail that I continue to walk some 16 years later and I believe wholeheartedly that it can result in a win/win outcome for seller/buyer and realtor.  I successfully closed that first deal and almost every deal I worked on for years to come.

It hasn’t been easy being a ‘lone ranger’ in the ‘short sale’ field especially during those first 10 years.  In fact it was quite frustrating.  By virtue of the systems that are in place, realtors are generally set up to tell people what they know and to react to the banks and lenders suggestions.  I have been judged and criticized because most agents still do not understand this unique transaction.  Even today it is rare to find an agent that will take the time to listen to what the seller or buyer really wants, especially when it is doesn’t fit nicely into the usual real estate box.  I find agents tend to worry about ‘the norm’ when in this specialized area there is no ‘norm’.

It is my intention to update this blog regularly, to provide current information on what is happening in the uncertain real estate market and to share my expertise, insights and market trends.  I commit to being open to all possibilities, not living in a box, having this information reviewed by attorneys and as always sending it to the State Department of Licensing for their review. I want to encourage everyone to recognize that they don’t have to be defined or confined by their current circumstances.  Perhaps by becoming a pro-active county we could change the industry for the better!

Expect great things to come your way and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

I invite your comments and thoughts.  Make it a great week – until next time, 

Frank,

“Open to the possibilities” - The Real Estate advocate who is here to help you!