This week I dealt with two agents offering a startling contrast in styles.  Sort of like “vinegar” and “honey”.

Agent Vinegar Tactics during negotiations:

“Your seller must not really want to sell.”

“How many offers have you had so far?”

“It’s not priced right in the first place.”

Agent Honey Tactics during negotiations:

“I am not Houdini, but I’ll try to do magic!”

“I’ll do the best I can to make this work.”

“Thank you!”

Which agent do you think will be more successful negotiating for their client?  Both are representing their buyers with low offers.  Agent Vinegar’s approach is an aggressive attack.  It is meant to show the listing agent that the house was overpriced and the listing agent could not sell it.  Agent Honey shows he is approachable and calls for empathy.

Agent Vinegar will probably get the listing agent defensive and build up a wall.  Remember, agents are not automatons, they are human.

Agent Honey will probably get the listing agent to act like a teammate to get the deal done.

Which agent are you?

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Call 850-259-0422

Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

The post How Do You Negotiate? Like Vinegar or Honey? first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

I was flattered to have been recently interviewed by Kiplinger Magazine regarding the state of short sales.  The story, “Escape the Debt Trap” is in the February edition of the magazine.  It highlighted one of my Destin Florida real estate client’s experiences in short sales of her properties in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.  Angela Angelovic hired me to help her “short sale” three houses over the last few years, two investment properties and a primary residence.  She is now on her way to rebuilding her financial life, feeling “relieved.” The Kiplinger article emphasized that one-fifth of U.S. homeowners are “upside down” in their home’s market value versus mortgage balance, and that short sale is a strategy that can help free you from your debt “trap”.  Also discussed were methods of reducing credit card debt, student loan debt and medical bills. The reporter, Pat Mertz Esswein, states “If you pursue a short sale, look for an experienced agent who knows the local market values, is familiar with lenders and their short sale process, and can zero in on patient buyers”.

She noted that most of my short sale approvals were obtained with waiver of deficiency.

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Call toll-free 1-877-487-9639 or local 850-650-7883 ext 204
Email Wendy: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

The post Destin Florida Short Sale Agent In Kiplinger Magazine first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

I am humbled when I receive kind testimonials from my Emerald Coast of Florida real estate clients.

“Wendy Rulnick and her firm Rulnick Realty never gives up. They are the best realty professionals that I have worked with in the Southeast United States. It was perfect and truly professional.”
Dan Curtis , Destin Florida

“Wendy and her staff did an exceptional job in getting my house sold short sale. Consistency, consistency, consistency is how I best describe Wendy.  She did not give up. On a personal level she supported me and calmed my fears and anxiety.

To be able to give this kind of service reflects that Wendy enjoys what she does and is committed in doing ALL within her professional capability to make her clients satisfied.  My recommendation is given freely and without hesitation to Wendy and her team to handle your real estate business”
Kay Cann, Navarre Florida

If you are looking for a real estate agent to represent you in a short sale, look for experience, confidence and tenacity.  A Destin, Navarre or Santa Rosa Beach short sale is a long, complex transaction.  Your real estate agent should never give up!

The post Destin Florida Short Sale Broker Never Gives Up first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

This week I lost a dear friend to cancer.

If there is someone in your life who used to touch your heart, don’t wait.  Don’t feud.  People come from different places and have different experiences and outlooks.  The problem may have nothing to do with you.  Forgive them and reconnect, before it is too late.

Wendy Rulnick

The post Make Amends with Your Friends – Before It’s Too Late first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

Here is an approval I just received for a Mary Esther Florida short sale property:

Deficiency… what deficiency?  My theory – they are leaving out the deficiency reference, but not “forgetting” about it!

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR     Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Destin FL Real Estate

Destin Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.

Read Destin Real Estate Blog

Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204

Email Wendy to sell your home or buy a home: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

This site, Wendy Rulnick or Rulnick Realty, Inc. is not providing legal or tax advice.  The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only.  It is recommended that sellers considering a short sale should consult an independent legal and tax advisor for more information.

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The post Bank of America Approval Letter- Version 2- What Deficiency? first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

Come see this elegant short sale home in the Villages of Crystal Beach. Located in Destin, Florida, this new community has luxurious pool, grounds, landscaping. Just a few minute walk to Destin beaches, Destin Commons, Rave Cinema.  Four bedrooms, three full baths and fully furnished.  Short sale subject to seller’s mortgage holder’s approval.  Offered at $419,700.

The post 217 Kono Way, Villages of Crystal Beach, Destin FL – Short Sale first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

Open the from door to the most relaxed feeling of home in this lovely Santa Rosa Beach FL property. Great for entertaining and family. L/R, D/R, Kitchen all open to screened porch, with view of natural landscapped and wooded lawn. Interior features, Maple wood and tile floors, 9′ ceilings, crown molding, Kitchen counter tops are Formica Brand hard Surface, Island in kitchen is tiled. 4th bedroom is now set up as office. Oversized garage,laundry tub, outside shower, Hot Tub, above ground pool. Very secluded sub/division and close to Bay Park.  The Woods subdivision in Santa Rosa Beach Florida is 15 minutes from Destin shopping, Sandestin, Baytowne Wharf, Grand Boulevard, Sacred Heart Hospital and of course, the Gulf of Mexico Beaches! Offered at $395,000.

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR     Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Destin FL Real Estate

Destin Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.

Read Destin Real Estate Blog

Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204

Email Wendy to sell your home or buy a home: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

The post 119 Fern Way, Santa Rosa Beach FL – Home for Sale first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

The post 36 21st St., Santa Rosa Beach FL Home for Sale first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

This central Destin home in the Indian Oaks subdivision is a show-off! Bright, clean and surprisingly spacious! Living room with fireplace and cathedral ceiling. White kitchen with tile floors and pass-through. Oversized master bedroom. Fenced back yard with patio. Bent Arrow and Indian Oaks are three minutes from Destin Harbor, Harborwalk Village, the luckiest fishing in the world, the Gulf of Mexico and Crab Island.  What more could you want? Short sale subject to seller’s mortgage holder’s approval.  Offered at $127,900.

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR     Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Destin FL Real Estate

Destin Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.

Read Destin Real Estate Blog

The post 209 Bent Arrow, Indian Oaks – Destin Florida Short Sale first appeared on Rulnick Realty.

HAP, where are you?

HAP is the Homeowner Assistance Program for U.S. military members “who face financial loss” when selling their homes in order to PCS, or “permanent change of station” to a new base.  In other words, if you are an airman stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field or any other base and you have “orders” to move and your mortgage amount is more than the current value of your home- HAP is supposed to help you.  HAP was meant to help cover a significant portion of your losses so you can dispose of your real estate to PCS, even if you are upside-down in  your mortgage, without facing foreclosure.

But what is HAP doing?  I am sorry to say- NOTHING!  Thousands of servicemen have applied for help and many have already relocated – with no financial assistance. I have written a series of posts with information every time I get updates about the HAP program.  Each time I write a new blog, HAP changes its story and so far has done NOTHING to help upside-down Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field airmen who are forced to relocate to new bases.  On a previous blog I posted a link to the Department of Defense Directive that detailed the new HAP policy for PCS moves.  When I checked the blog links about a week later- I found the information had been REMOVED from the HAP site.   Further, the HAP site used to have an expanded FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section that answered many questions about the new PCS help.  Those questions have been since REMOVED.  But not before I quoted them in another post.

Our military members are good citizens and purchased homes when they moved to Eglin AFB or Hurlburt Field.  Now, forced to PCS, they are faced with a choice:

1. Rent out their property, for an amount insufficient to cover their mortgage payment, due to declining rentals.  Most military do not have enough to cover the shortfall.

2. Let the property go to foreclosure.

3. Do a short sale.

4. Bring money to closing to cover the loss- highly unlikely since most Fort Walton Beach, Crestview and Navarre Florida homes purchased in the last few years are $100,000 or more upside-down.

5. Wait for HAP while doing any of the above.

When HAP finally puts an assistance policy in place, these servicemen may get reimbursed part of the loss on their upside-down mortgages.  But my question is-  what good is a reimbursement after a lender has foreclosed or a short sale has been completed?  By the time HAP starts working, it would be too late.  There will already be a hit on the airmen’s credit.  HAP representatives have suggested to me that the affected homeowner “borrow” an amount sufficient to cover the loss in a short sale, then wait for HAP funds.  My question – “HOW can an airman who earns $50,000 borrow a $100,000 note to “cover” an upside-down mortgage?”  He cannot.

HAP, you’ve got to help…  NOW.

It’s Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR     Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Emerald Coast FL Real Estate

Emerald Coast Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.

Read Emerald Coast Real Estate Blog

Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204

Email Wendy to sell your home or buy a home: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Call Wendy Rulnick, Broker/Owner Rulnick Realty, to list and sell your home or condo on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County-  Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field.   Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure specialist and has been featured in “Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine” and “Florida Realtor Magazine”.

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The post HAP – No HELP for Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field PCS first appeared on Rulnick Realty.