FranklyMLS.com, 1st to Scrub for Short Sales & Post Article

In a long list of “1sts”, FranklyMLS.com is now the 1st Virginia/DC/MD MLS search engine that scrubs for Short Sales! (maybe the 1st in the nation). Also see my quote today in the
Wash Post, and my other articles defining Short Sales
.

On the FranklyMLS.com spreadsheet results page, try a search for Alexandria, if you see an asterisk next to the price, that means it is “probably a short sale” (if you see a yellow highlighted home, that is a reviewed home by a buyer agent, with extra photos.)

Watch the video example below. (email readers go here).

 

How do we know if it is a Short Sale? Since only 17% of Short Sale listing agents check off the “Short Sale” box under Current Financing, we also crawl the Public Remarks for the phrase “Short Sale” and “Party Approval”. (Soon we will unscrub those that say “Not a Short Sale” ie, no asterisk Update6-16-08, this is now complete).

Why do you want to know which are Short Sales? So you don’t get your hopes up. There has been much discontent amongst buyer agent Realtors, some even calling for a complete ban of Short Sale listings on the MLS since so many are “Fake Listings.” (but they are starting to close, more soon on this, so subscribe to this blog). But now that we give them an *, you can quickly see which are which.

If you see any inaccurate asterisks, or ones that should have an asterisk, please let us know, and enjoy!

– Written by Frank Borges LL0SA- Broker FranklyRealty.com

  • 15
  • June
  • 2008

21 Responses to “FranklyMLS.com, 1st to Scrub for Short Sales & Post Article”

  1. Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty ) says:

    This is good information.

    It is very helpful to weed out the short sales and not end up spending time for something that likely may never happen. (We have one in play for example that is into its 8th month!)

  2. Jon Zolsky (FunCoast Realty LLC) says:

    Frank,
    First, please check the link to the quote on Wash Post, as it idoes not open. Maybe a problem with the link, and I am sure you can fi this easily.
    Now, my understanding is that you are working with 31 MLSs? How you do it, feed the raw data from all of those in a database, and they do your searches in that database?
    This all sounds very interesting, if you can direct me to where you are discussing it at length, I would really appreciate.
    Thank you

  3. FRANK LL0SA Va Broker- BLOG.FranklyRealty.com says:

    Hey Jon,
    Just fixed the link, thanks.

    Nope, we don’t pull from 31 MLSes. I think you are confusing that with my other post that lists all 31 websites in this area. They all pull from the 1 MLS source which is MRIS. We use the RETS feed

    Frank

  4. Jon Zolsky (FunCoast Realty LLC) says:

    One more thing. Just a suggestion. When you watch the video, for some time you see the chart, and it is there as a background. I think you could be better off, if you start with you talking to the camera, until you actually start showing stuff on the screen\

    Just my 2 cent…

  5. FRANK LL0SA Va Broker- BLOG.FranklyRealty.com says:

    Jon, Agreed. It would have been better to have one video showing me talking and then another of the screen. The problem is time. That would have added another hour to the process. I get in trouble for not posting frequently enough anyhow, so if I try and make things too perfect, it just doesn’t get done.

    Frank

  6. Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) says:

    Frank, a great new addition to FranklyMLS – now can you get some of the short sale listing agents to actually pick up the phone and call me back?

  7. FRANK LL0SA Va Broker- BLOG.FranklyRealty.com says:

    Hey Brian, You call them? I send out my Top 10 questions via email. Maybe 1 in 5 will reply. So I only show that one. Frank

  8. Ben Martin, Va Assn of REALTORS says:

    What a cool feature. This will save a lot of time and frustration for buyers who don’t want to bother with a short sale. It’s based on the listing agent’s remarks, so the scrub is only as accurate as the remarks, right?

  9. FRANK LL0SA Va Broker- BLOG.FranklyRealty.com says:

    Hey Ben,
    It isn’t only based on remarks. There is one financing field where it can be placed as well.

    But yes, it has to rely on the agent entering in the data somewhere.

    Frank

  10. Angela says:

    OMG STAY AWAY FROM SHORT SALES!! Great feature!! TAHNK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

  11. Ron Hurak says:

    Read your article in RISMedia about the paperwork being a pain. Couldn’t agree more. Take a look at http://www.teamobs.com offering SalesTrax. This is a complete outsourced back office solution that offers the best of back office solutions at a very reasonable price.

  12. Matthew Rathbun says:

    Man, I wish I were smart enough to have come up with this…. You never cease to amaze!

  13. FRANK LL0SA Va Broker- BLOG.FranklyRealty.com says:

    Just a quick update, we were able to remove the asterisk if it says “Not A Short Sale” or “not short”

  14. Dan says:

    Frank,

    I liked your list of questions in the Sunday edition article in the Washington Post on what to ask the listing agent if a property is in, “Short Sale.” Five weeks ago I placed a bid on a condo that is in short sale and have not heard anything back. I know a woman who is a realtor , her company will neither list or show a “short sale” property. At this point, I understand why.
    Fortunately, I’m in no hurry and can wait out the process.

    Remember, deals of the century come up every week.

    Regards,
    Dan

  15. FRANK LL0SA Va Broker- BLOG.FranklyRealty.com says:

    Thanks Dan,

    The problem is that many people think that with Short Sales is just a matter of waiting and being patient. The problem is if only 1 in 20 close (now might be 1 in 10, I haven’t run new numbers), so if it takes you 3 months per offer, it might take you 5 years to close 1 short sale!

    My client had that exact reaction, “I’ll just wait,” until he better understood that it was a “wait” for three months with a high likelihood of never closing.

    That is why before putting in an offer, I ask my Top 10 and we will only deal with Short Sales that have a decent chance of closing.

    Are you an agent? If not I hope you aren’t going through the listing agent. I got an email from a person that is now homeless. She sold her house and was strung along by the listing agent of a short sale.

    Frank

  16. Short Sale says:

    That is outstanding! What a great tool for investors and those looking for a bargain. We do know that not all short sales are a bargain but some present real opportunities. This would be great in my market and would eliminate a lot of hard work.

  17. Vicky Chrisner, Real Estate Consultant says:

    Frank – a few months ago I totally agreed with you. But, times are changing and short sales are selling. As with anything, agents, consumers, and banks are becoming educated. A strong buyers agent knows which buyers can consider short sales and which short sales might be worth the time.

  18. Jim Johnson,CRS says:

    I think Short Sales should be banned from MLS until they have bank approval to a price and HUD statement. Then allow them into the MLS!

  19. janiceenberg says:

    Just saying hello to you all .. Still a bit confused about the goings on here, but I guess I’ll keep poking around.

  20. I read a lot of real estate websites–yours has one of the coolest layouts I’ve seen.

  21. BRAVO!!! ………… KUDOS!……… & MUCH APPLAUSE MY FRIEND!!!

    I vote for Innovator of the decade!

    This site is absolutely phenomenal.

    God Bless You!

    In Christ,
    David Valcich

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