The Agent Insider Blog

FTC Rules That Real Estate Agents No Longer Have To Comply with the Mars Advertising Rules Just a few short months ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued the new M.A.R.S. rules and specifically determined that these new rules would be applicable to real estate agents who list short sale properties. This would require that [...]

I was recently quoted in Residential Specialist Magazine regarding ‘strategic defaults’ by borrowers. I thought it was an important article that I should share with you. Click here to download a PDF of the article PLEASE NOTE: If you have problems viewing please install the latest version of Acrobat Reader by clicking here. “In some [...]

FHFA Mandates that Fannie and Freddie Align Short Sale Servicing Standards One thing I have wondered about in the past is why the two government-sponsored entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, found it necessary to have different rules for short sales, but then I remembered that the “G” in GSE stood for government and, of [...]

The Government recently released Supplemental Directive 11-02. This “policy clarification” will go into effect June 1st, 2011. Currently the changes only apply to the treasury department program and do not apply to Fannie and Freddie 1st Lien loans as well as FHA /VA /RHS loans. However, this may change in the future. Click Here to [...]

Federal Trade Commission M.A.R.S. Rule Requires New Disclosures From Real Estate Agents Who Negotiate Short Sales For Consumer Borrowers. The FTC Rule Took Effect on January 31, 2011 and Real Estate Agents Are Subject to Substantial Fines and Penalties For Transactions Without the Mandatory Disclosures. Most real estate agents are not aware of the new [...]

I have poured through the 53 page M.A.R.S documents and just posted a very important video below that covers the new M.A.R.S. rules implemented by the FTC that will effect every real estate agent that works with short sales. We have also posted a full length video and 4 example disclosures that you can use [...]

VIDEO: at end of post At the end of 2010, the United States Treasury Department in Supplemental Directive 10-18, amended the HAFA short sale rules and policies for non-GSE servicers and lenders. The effective date for the new HAFA amendments was February 1, 2011. All real estate agents who work with HAFA short sales need [...]

The Wall Street Journal just released an article where I discuss ‘The Short Sale Alternative’ in light of the foreclosure turmoil the real estate market finds itself in. The short sale market is poised to explode as investors and buyers begin to shy away from already foreclosed properties and banks look to limit their exposure [...]

The Realty Times website just released a new article where I discuss some important points regarding the recent news of “robo-signing” by some of the larger banks and how this will affect foreclosure sales. I also discuss some important information that agents need to know about foreclosed homes that are currently occupied by long-term tenants. [...]

I was recently quoted in an article featured on the site bankrate.com. The article covers some of the pros and cons when a seller uses ‘seller financing’ to help a otherwise unqualified buyer purchase a home. “Lance Churchill, an attorney and president of Frontline Real Estate Education Group in Boise, Idaho, says all sellers also [...]