When working with buyers who want to buy a  Short Sale, we have to have the "Short Sale Strategy Conversation".

Do you really lovvvvveeee this house? Do you want to know how to position an offer so the seller will accept your Benicia Short Sale offer?  There are some strategies that most buyers will not do and the other percentage of buyers who listen will get into contract.  The ones who continue to struggle to get a Short Sale offer accepted is based on many reasons, because their agent who has never sold a short sale told them, they read all over the Internet "how to get the best short sale bargain", they already know how to buy a house because the brother/neighbor/colleague told them how, you get the picture.

As a Benicia Short Sale buyer, you have to be committed and know this is the house for you.  Please don't drag your agent around still looking for that new favorite home.  Unless you can buy more than one house, hang in for at least 60 days to see if the bank approves the short sale.  Believe me the bank will come back quicker if they are not going to approve as they will quickly analyze all the papers the listing agent sent in to determine if the seller has a hardship.

Put some "skin" in the game, as we call it.  Offer to put some money into escrow and upon the short sale approval put the remainder of your initial deposit.  The seller really believes you want the house when this happens.  In addition you will get a preliminary title.  It will tell if there are any outstanding liens. 

For heaven sakes, give the listing agent some time to get approval...Folks....it takes at least 30 days to get a first response after the listing agent sends all 100 pages of Short Sale documentation for a Benicia Short Sale.  Then another 30-60 days to hopefully get the short sale letter.  In the short sale addendum please allow at least 60 days and the really assertive buyers say 90 days.  That means they are willing to stick it out. The agents should be communicating every week.  Usually the banks will inform us what stage they are in the process.  Communication is KING.  Your agent should be asking every week a status report.  As a Benicia Short Sale Listing Agent I communicate every week to 10 days with the buyers agent.  I want that buyer to stick with it. 

This strategy is not for the faint of heart but is for Benicia Short Sale Buyers who truly want to buy and say "I will stick it out to the end."