short sale with owner/agent acting as agent??

[Jocelyn Canfield]

I am looking at several investment properties owned by an agent who is overleveraged, upside down and divesting, but he is acting as agent for the properties... I believe ahead of getting the go ahead to do so from the lender. The conflicts of interest here made me want to get an agent to work with me on this deal, but he said to me he is not paying an agent. All this is a bit weird to me since it is a short sale. I believe this guy to be a bit shady. I tried calling the lender directly but was told to talk to the agent. Comments? Advice? Clearly I wouldn't give him a deposit check in his or his brokerage's name. But I also don't want to make an offer and have him use that to shop other higher offers. I would ask him for email confirmation that the lender has received the offer and a contact person with the lender.

[Minna Reid]

Ron - LOL - no that's not what that meant. 

It means the short selling lender works for the lender and is not who these two need assistance from to figure out how to work a short sale. They should get someone else - a lawyer/agent etc to help them on their end.