Short sales now account for the majority of some real estate agents' transactions. To ensure they have plenty of time to list and show properties, many of these agents are working with short-sale negotiators, who spend much of their time on the phone negotiating with lenders on behalf of sellers.

The short-sale process can take six months or more, as the presence of second loans, increased consolidation among lenders, and the large number of short-sale transactions have made it more challenging.

Short-sale negotiators typically engage in co-listing agreements, dividing the commission with the agent contacted by the buyer.

Source: North County Times, Chris Bagley (08/23/09)

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