ATLANTA-Batson-Cook Realty is pressing into REO real estate sales. The firm has helped investors snap up more than 130 assets from six different banks—and brokered the purchase of nearly 1,300 residential lots in the Atlanta metro area—this year. The Batson-Cook also has 700 more lots under contract.

Batson-Cook’s Andy Ulsh and Norm Richie are leading the charge. Despite reports of a slow pipeline, the Georgia duo is getting it done. Ulsh tells GlobeSt.com the emergence of sophisticated investor groups has created a new generation level between the banks and end users, which is driving more transactions.

“The banks have finally been able to sell the assets at a price the market will pay, due to two primary reasons,” Ulsh says. “First, the banks’ balance sheets have strengthened to the point they can take the necessary losses. Second, the appraisals have finally come down to factor in the true state of the market.”