ZipRealty Helps Buyers and Sellers Navigate the Short Sale Market

""ZipRealty"":http://www.ziprealty.com, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the United States, offers its clients access to more than 290 short sale agents and recently launched a ""Ziprealty.com microsite"":http://www.ziprealty.com/short-sales/index.jsp dedicated to providing house hunters and home sellers with resources to navigate the complicated short sale process.

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Due to the unique structure of the short sale process, ZipRealty has worked with sales agents in each of the 35 markets the company serves to ensure they exceed industry standards for expertise in this growing segment of the market.

By completing one of three industry-certification programs â€" the ""Five Star Institute Short Sale Certification"":http://www.fsicertificationsummit.com, National Association of Realtor's Short Sales and Resource Certification (SFR), and Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation â€" these ZipRealty local market experts are trained and prepared to assist sellers in qualifying for short sales, negotiate with lenders, and inform buyers about the short sale process.

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The California-based company's new ""short sale microsite"":http://www.ziprealty.com/short-sales is designed to help both homebuyers and sellers learn more about the complex issues that arise with short sales. The site includes tips, guidance, and videos to address the many questions that typically accompany a short sale. It also allows buyers and sellers to connect directly with local short sale-certified ZipRealty agents.

""While nearly 13 percent of home listings across our markets nationwide are currently short sale properties, many clients are confused about how these sales differ from standard sales, and we want to help eliminate this confusion through education,"" said Patrick Lashinsky, ZipRealty's president and CEO.

Lashinsky continued, ""Many reports indicate that more short sale homes may come onto the market this year as a result of federal policies such as HAMP and HAFA. The information contained within our microsite, and access to short sale real estate agent experts, is designed to help our clients who are considering whether buying or selling a short sale property is the right decision for them.""

In an effort to provide clients with even more useful information and transparency into the housing market, ZipRealty has also launched an interactive ""pending homes map"":http://pending.ziprealty.com. The company says it is the first and only brokerage to do so.

The new pending home sales map shows consumers where homes are currently selling. It displays homes that have just gone under contract from brokerages across the country. It also shows which homes have gone off the market in the past one to two days from all brokerages in the areas that ZipRealty serves.