RISMEDIA, June 22, 2010—ZipRealty, the fifth largest real estate brokerage in the U.S., offers its clients access to more than 290 short sale home expert agents and recently launched a Ziprealty.com microsite (www.ziprealty.com/short-sales/index.jsp) offering house hunters and home sellers additional resources to navigate the complicated short sale process.
According to the company, due to the unique structure of the short sale process, ZipRealty has worked with sales agents in each of the 35 markets the company serves to ensure they exceed industry standards for expertise in this growing segment of the market. Through completing one of three industry-certification programs- National Association of Realtor’s Short Sales and Resource Certification (SFR), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) or Five Star Institute Short Sale Certification-these ZipRealty local market experts are fully prepared to assist sellers in qualifying for short sales, negotiate with lenders and inform buyers about the short sale process.
ZipRealty.com now also hosts a microsite (www.ziprealty.com/short-sales) to help home buyers and sellers learn more about the complex issues that arise with short sales. The site includes tips, guidance and videos to address many questions that arise in a short sale and also allows buyers and sellers to connect directly with local-market Short Sale Certified ZipRealty Agents.
“While nearly 13% of home listings across our markets nationwide are currently short sale properties, many clients are confused about how these sales differ from standard sales, and we want to help eliminate this confusion through education,” said ZipRealty President and CEO Patrick Lashinsky. “Many reports indicate that more short sale homes may come onto the market this year as a result of federal policies such as HAMP and HAFA. The information contained within our microsite, and access to short sale real estate agent experts, is designed to help our clients who are considering whether buying or selling a short sale property is the right decision for them.”
Resources available on ZipRealty’s microsite include:
-Information regarding some of the factors lenders evaluate in approving a short sale
-An easy-to-follow video discussing the short sale process and tips
-The role of a real estate agent throughout the process
-Information regarding various loan modification programs
-How the Home Affordability Modification Program (HAMP) and Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program can help
-A “how-to” video and introduction regarding the ins-and-outs of buying a short sale home
-Tips about what to look out for and expect during the buying process
-Seven key questions to consider
-The role of a real estate agent during the searching and buying process
To provide its clients with even more useful information and transparency into the housing market, ZipRealty is one of the first brokerages to launch an interactive “pending homes map” (http://pending.ziprealty.com/) that shows homes that have just gone under contract and are pending in sale from brokerages throughout the U.S.
For more information, visit www.ziprealty.com.
