However, from my seeing deals negotiated by various types of players there is no question in my mind - professional full time short sale negotiators deliver a far superior end product (not just to the investor but typically to the homeowner also).

The problem is that the latter two have a normal private sector with companies competing with each other whereas Dubai is heavily influenced by businesses controlled by the rule and his friends.I agree that Dubai built too fast but disagree that it is a place with nothing going for it.

Regarding the comps... call a local real estate agent and explain to them that you need a Competative Market Analysis (CAM) for the subject property that includes properties that are similar regarding bath, bedrooms and square footage, going back 6 months and out to a distance of .25 to .5 miles.Once you get this CMA you want to focus on the properties in the condition your property will be in once renovated, that have sold in the fewest number of days on market.

If you have a loan, have been a good client and use the "I'm thinking of re-fiing somewhere else", my guess is, the bank will want to compete.

I won't try to compete in the pissing match here, but I'll just say that in my experience in Chicago, when I see a 1 off deal that looks really extreme (like 80% off the loan value), when you investigate the history it is usually a case of fraud somewhere in there.

I still believe that Israel should have not attacked in international water, I know the players very well.

I like to call it informing or illuminating the BPO an most investors fail to understand this is part of any negotiations no matter the industry.Take a sports agent who is negotiating a free agent contract for a player in the prime of his/her career.

In the free market, aren't companies supposed to compete with each other to provide better services and/or lower prices for the customer?

You will begin to see which ones are the serious players and which ones are the "all talk and no walk."

Private schools today are considered expensive because they have to be expensive in order to survive - they are competing as a premium product against a free product of mediocre quality.