The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help
both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise
with distressed sales grows.
According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short
sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new
“traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers
maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure
opportunities.
“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to
foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot
afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles
McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and
short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s
extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the
SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”
The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders,
protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and
state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR
certification, REALTORS® are required to take one core course and three Webinars. For more
information about the SFR certification, visit www.REALTORSFR.org.
