Are You Willing to Pay to Be Short Sale Certified?
This is a follow up to my recent post about Equator and Bank of America short sales. In that post, I describe the Equator system, how it is used, and how to get started if you have not yet taken the plunge into short sales and the Equator software platform.
Equator and REO Trans have now upped the ante a little bit. Effective May 17, 2010, Equator now offers a certification program to assist real estate agents meet the increasing market demands for short sales.
According to the Equator website, the benefits of certification include:
- Top Ranking in Search Results
- Enhanced Profile
- Ability to Market Experience Using the Equator Certification Logo
There are three levels of certification–silver, gold, and platinum. The platinum certification costs $499 and includes a comprehensive Equator training program as well as your choice of either a short sale certification or an REO certification. If you are interested in both certifications (REO and short sale), there is an additional charge of $199. The training programs are all online modules, and you must pass a test at the end of the last module in order to receive certification. You can sign up for the certification program on the Equator website.
The Equator certification program is one of the many certification programs currently available for short sale agents. There are also a great number of HAFA certification programs that train agents in the comprehensive details of the government’s HAFA program. Additionally, there are several designations currently offered that focus on the distressed property market.
I have participated in and taught several short sale courses.
As you approach your business and consider short sales, I urge you to carefully consider all of the certification programs available and decide which best suits your needs. Many of them cost several hundred dollars. So, before you type in your credit card information for each and every program offered, spend time studying the programs and decided which will be best for you and your business.
