Matches made in real estate heaven
Published September 4, 2006
by Robyn A. Friedman
Sun-Sentinel.com

Are you trying to sell a house in South Florida and starting to get a little desperate? That's just what a couple of local entrepreneurs are hoping to hear. Each has created a Web site specifically targeting anxious sellers, and one even contains a panic button -- literally.

Aventura-based Motivated Seller LLC recently launched an online listing service at www.motivatedusa.com that is geared toward sellers of "gotta sell" real estate and buyers looking for a bargain.

The site is a matchmaking service between highly motivated sellers of real estate and active buyers. For a flat fee, sellers can list their properties, complete with a 500-word description and up to four photos. Introductory rates start at $111.75 for a 90-day listing.

The site is the brainchild of Dirk Saecker, a commercial real estate agent who started getting calls last spring from friends and relatives who had invested in preconstruction condominiums, saw where the market was going and were looking for a way out of their contracts.

"I thought, `Something is cooking here,'" said Saecker, who started the site with technology entrepreneur Marius Hernberg. "Not only is the market going down, but people are really getting anxious, desperate and motivated to make deals."

Using Web site CraigsList.com as a model, Saecker created a site that would help match motivated sellers and buyers. Anyone who's interested in a property on the site can submit a name, e-mail address and a brief message, and all will be forwarded to the seller.

Real estate agents are invited to use the site to list their properties as well, and they're offered a volume discount.

To date, the site has more than 100 listings, and Saecker said more are added every day as new clients sign up. To attract both sellers and buyers, the company promotes the site by e-mail and regular mail. Saecker said he plans to expand the market area he's servicing. Right now, he only lists properties south of Orlando to the rest of Florida and other "desperate" real estate markets such as Las Vegas and Southern California.

Otto Oliva, a mortgage broker and insurance salesman in Miami, listed several of his investment properties on motivatedusa.com. "This site can get word out on my units," he said.

Oliva said he's already received "numerous" calls.

visit us : www.motivatedusa.com