Bakersfield, CA Real Estate - Bobby Moreno earns Short Sale SFR and HAFA Certification

July 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Bakersfield, CA  — Bobby Moreno with Coldwell Banker Preferred, Realtors has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification and Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR and HAFA 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 one-third 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 and HAFA 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® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “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 and HAFA certification, REALTORS are required to take several courses to become educated in each designation.  Contact Bobby today for a private meeting.