Kristine McCraren

It is unbelievable to me that people are recommending home owners to walk away from and cut their losses! They should know that there is the short sale option or loan modifications available. A short sale allows sellers to purchase a home again in two years compared to seven years with a foreclosure!

I have direct access to Wachovia's Short Sale Negotiator and the process through Wachovia is almost SIMPLE! Wells Fargo is also working with Realtor/homeowners with a process that is reasonable. Almost all banks have been coming around and setting processes in place for short sales and will talk directly with Realtors with the home owner's permission.

It is ideal to start the process before you get behind on your payments. Falling one to two months behind can sometimes help negotiations and prove hardship, but it will hurt your credit. Once you fall behind 90 days most banks will start the foreclosure process. I wish to help home owners that are struggling to make their payments, wanting to avoid forclosure, or that are just upside down and want out! Walking away should be the very last step after exhausting all possibilities!

After ten years in interior design, I decided it was time for a change. Becoming a Realtor has always interested me, so I finally decided to dive in. In March of 2007, I joined The Pepper Group Diversified and began my new career. I cannot tell you how many times I heard "you could not have picked a worse time to get into real estate". It is sure a good thing that I am an optimist, and like a new penny I began to shine as a Realtor.

At the same time I decided to start my own home staging company. My passion for design and the demand for home staging was a perfect fit. Creative Outlet Interiors is still going strong. I have been successful helping sellers and their agents sell their home quicker than average.

My two year renewal is right around the corner. I have been attending GRI classes to increase my knowledge in this industry. All my GRI classes, REO/Short Sale/Bank-Owned Specialist certificate, and deals I have closed give me the confidence needed for success. I have primarily been a buyer's agent, because I have been fortunate to have buyers. Recently, I have been picking up some great listings. I love what I do, and that is why I will become a top agent in southern Arizona.