Rosario Panzarella with RE/MAX PLATINUM has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of Realtors offers the SFR certification to Realtors who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.
According to a recent NAR survey, nearly twenty percent of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. Realtors who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.
“As leading advocates for homeownership, Realtors care as much about keeping families in their homes as they do about helping them find the home of their dreams, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said NAR President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Fla. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a Realtor who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”
The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk and provides resources to help Realtors stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, Realtors are required to take one core course and three Webinars. For more information about the SFR certification, visit REALTORSFR.org.
