At a meeting I attended a couple of weeks ago, an agent said she was refocusing her real estate career to specialize in short sales and foreclosures.  I don’t know why, but her new goal bothers me.

I know that there are people who will be facing difficult times – many already have.  I also know that I’ll help where I can.  For example, I received a call yesterday from a man who’s been unemployed since March.  He is still current on his mortgage payments and has enough to make his November payment, but come December he’s out of money.  He called because everyone has told him to sell and he didn’t know what else to do.

The gentleman went on to explain that he really didn’t want to sell his home because he doesn’t think he’ll be able to find a place less expensive to live.  When he told me what his monthly payment is, I agreed with him.

I advised him that now is probably not the time to sell.  The FIRST thing he needs to do is contact his lender and explain his situation.  His credit is still good, he’s never been late on a payment, so there is a good chance that they’ll grant him a forbearance – or several months off of paying the mortgage while he keeps working to find another job (he said he’s a finalist at this point for two jobs).

I want to help him and yet I don’t.  I don’t want him to have to sell, but I want him to hear options to solve his problem.  I don’t want to be a short-sale specialist or a foreclosure diva.  But I think I’d be okay with being the person to motivate would-be sellers to act – not just be frozen with fear of the unknown.  I want to encourage people to face that important phone call to the loan company.  Face that they might have to work two jobs to make ends meet.  Understand that if they go into foreclosure, their credit is ruined for years to come.

Make the phone call.  Get two low paying jobs instead of just one super job if you have to.  Don’t give up.

Photo by ClickFlashPhotos through Flickr Commons.