patrick.net

I am making offer tomorrow.

Make an offer through the listing agent unless he or she says you have to have a buyer's agent. In that case, get one from the same company as the listing agent.
Offer what you want, but don't give up any $. Shorts don't require earnest money to go into contract.
Wait until the banks have OK'd the deal, you understand what you'll owe the second, and you have had a real estate lawyer look over the paperwork.

Thanks for the advice. I have been looking a lot over the holiday breaks. Apparently there is a negotiating process with shorts that goes about 2-3 rounds. I came in after that and the price is fair and about 8-12 % below other shorts in the hood. There are a lot. I decided to use the listing agents office. They can close in 3 weeks but I am stalling now because the house is across the street from a row of empty lots that I found out the builder has stopped building and bailed out. So the view from the front door is a little lacking however the neighborhood is a coveted one with a good crowd of people it seems. People want to live there. I also will, in the event I buy, not use a lawyer, I have been reading about all the possible negative angles I could have and how to avoid them. It is important to get ALTA-extended buyers title insurance. This protects buyer forward and backward on title. Thanks for the advice, I may rethink the lawyer towards the close.

E-man,
How, exactly, does one discern the "small percentage of agents who fit this category" from the very large percentage of agents claiming to be short-sale specialists?

Jane what's the hurry BTW?

E-man says

Regardless of which approach u take, I hope u get the house.

really? why would you care? she is not talking about trying to adopt a puppy!

Well, the hurry is the market in LV I believe is about to go up. I could have it in 3 weeks.

BTW there is also an REO I could get but the area not as good but the price is smokin hot good. ROI is the same as the nice area but resale not as great.