Howard Hanna Holt realtors earn short sale certifications

From Dunkirk Observer- story

Homeowners who can no longer keep up with their mortgage payments and need to sell a house to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure have an alternative. It's called a short sale.

Two Howard Hanna Holt Real Estate agents recently earned their certification from the National Association of REALTORS in short sales and can assist homeowners in arranging a short sale transaction.

Roger Britz, Sr. and William Carlson at the firm's Fredonia office now have valuable knowledge to help both buyers and sellers who want to better understand how a short sale works.

"We aren't attorneys or public accountants and we can't offer that professional advice," explained Britz. "What we can do is explain how the process works and the steps involved."

Carlson said, "A short sale can be arranged if the lender is willing to accept less than mortgage amount due. A short sale often can avoid the cost to both the homeowner and the lender of going through a foreclosure proceeding."

"Short sale sellers and buyers need well-qualified professional representation," emphasized Howard Hanna Holt president George W. "Pete" Holt. "Short sales are an option, but we always advise our customers and clients to get professional legal and accounting advice in these types of transactions."

In the simplest of terms, a short sale involves the following steps:

• A seller signs a listing agreement with a real estate agent;

• A buyer makes an offer that may be less than the mortgage the bank has on the home;

• The buyer and seller agree on a price and the lender approves the offer.

"The basics are fairly straightforward," Britz said. "But working through the process can be challenging if someone isn't working with a real estate agent who understands the many details involved."

Carlson said, "Having specialized training is definitely a benefit to our short sale sellers and buyers. We can offer them a superior quality of service."

Locally-owned Howard Hanna Holt Real Estate, www.howardhannaholt.com, offers comprehensive residential and commercial real estate sales, leasing and related services including real property appraisals, property management, development services, vacation property rentals and traditional rentals. The Chautauqua County-headquartered affiliate of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has offices in Fredonia, Mayville and Westfield, on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution, at the Bemus Bay condominiums and at Peek'n Peak Resort and Spa.

Pittsburgh-headquartered Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is the 3rd largest independent real estate company in the United States, the country's 4th largest full service real estate company and the 6th largest mortgage banking company in the nation. The third-generation company serves the Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia real estate markets.