The Meeting with the Mighty BPO

I have spoken with several Realtors and Investors who say that they don’t like short sales and I always ask them “WHY?” They tell me that the Short Sale Lenders never come back with a value that matches the offer that they have on the property. I always ask them did they go out and meet the real estate agent or the appraiser who was sent from Short Sale Lender to provide the value back to the Lender? Their answer is always “NO.” In fact, many Realtors who list short sales will list high because they are paid on commission thinking that the house should sell at list price. However, they never take into account all the repairs needed or the updates that are required to allow the house to obtain an appraisal at list price. Therefore, their short sale sits for months and ends up going to foreclosure sale. In fact, because they said they didn’t go meet the BPO Agent and just gave them the lockbox code or they have an electronic lock box on the house, the BPO Agent is able to get into the house and only spends about 5 minutes at the house.

As a Real Estate Broker who gets commission on short sales, I would always like to get as much as I can, however, not meeting the BPO Agent can cost me big time and big money.

Since I am a Real Estate Broker and an Investor who buys short sales, this is what I always recommend to Realtors and Investors. Always list the property low, as it is not up to the Realtor, Seller or Buyer to tell us how much the property is worth; it is up to the Short Sale Lender. I never allow an appraiser or a real estate agent obtaining value on a home to go to the house by themselves, not even for my straight sales. The BPO Agents only receive $50 to $75 on a BPO and the Appraisers are receiving a lesser amount than they would receive if this was an appraisal specifically for the Buyer’s financing. The Appraisers receive $350 to $500 for a mortgage appraisal when an individual is buying a non-short sale and they would receive $100 to $200 if it is a short sale appraisal completed for the Seller’s short sale Lender.

So … what do you say and take with you when you meet a BPO Agent/Appraiser for the short sale Lender? You must provide the following information: Purchase Agreement, Sold Comparables in the last 90 days if possible no more than 6 months and no further than .5 miles away, Repair Estimates from Contractors, Hardship Letter, Crime Report of the area, and anything else that would provide the BPO Agent/Appraiser with the facts about the house so that they can determine the “real value” of property.

Unfortunately, some BPO Agent/Appraisers will not take this information. Then what do you say when you meet them? Make sure that they are aware that the house is in foreclosure and the price that the buyer is willing to pay.   How do you do this? EXAMPLE: I normally say I have an offer to give to you on this house in the amount of $150,000 and this is a foreclosure. I will then say that I have several contractor estimates for the repairs that are about $25,000. I might even make a joke that I am surprised to see an offer so high on this property of $150,000 with soooooo many repairs. I will say that it looks like about $25,000 worth of repairs and ask them if they agree.

Remember, you always start by telling them that you have a package for them including the Purchase Agreement, Comps, Estimates, etc. Always remember to build rapport with them so that they are likely to work for you versus working against you.

If you don’t meet the BPO Agent/Appraiser out at the house and provide them with the above information your value will always come in HIGH and you will have to wait another 90 days or up to 4 months before you have a chance to order another one from the Short Sale Lender.

Thank you so much to all of you who continue to send me your questions and topics that are most helpful for you to read about. Your Success is important to me, please let me know how I can help!!!

Happy Negotiating!

 Kimberlee Frank