The Form 35R Request for repairs was much less demanding than we had anticipated. Out of the 19 things that the inspector called out, only 5 repairs were requested. Jackpot! We had thought that the inspection may have blown the deal. I was confident as I called my seller with the good news.

As they say, "one man's treasure is another man's trash" and my client wasn't nearly as happy with the requests. He looked at each request as a check that he had to write and didn't want to hear how I saw it as a small obstacle to overcome before closing on his FULL PRICE offer.

Of the 5 issues, 3 were electrical and dangerous, 1 was the replacement of faulty wall heaters (DANGEROUS!), and the last was a window with leaky seals. My thoughts were to agree to the 4 "things that could kill a guy" and let the buyer worry about the window. What I did not consider was the theseller/owner was the one who had performed the dangerous electrical work!

After an hour of heated discussion I finally reached an agreement with my client to repair the 3 electrical issues and replace the heaters which had been recalled. I was on the home stretch! (I thought.)

"REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN" was how the request was worded but, I can now tell you, that was not what the seller read. The seller's impression of the contract seemed to be that he had to go back in and make the issues "look" like they were safe. Boy was he wrong!

Rather than call a licensed electrician to do the work, he decided to do the work himself and save a few bucks. He re-wired the spots in question, bought new heaters online and installed them himself. That seemed like a good idea until the bank appraiser guy comes along (who used to be a county building inspector) to do the appraisal and discovers the poor quality work. He called it out as a condition of lending and went on his merry way.

The seller blew a gasket but had no choice but to now hire an electrician to fix his shoddy work. Electrician's bill = $375.

Closing came and went without a hitch. On a cold day in November (about 2 days after the closing date) my phone starts to ring off the hook. It seems that the buyer/new owner decided that she needed a little heat in the home and turned on a few of her new wall heaters. The home filled with smoke in about 2 minutes flat and everyone evacuated. She gathered her courage and ran into the smokey house to turn off the heaters.

After several hours of convincing my client that it wasn't actually "her problem" and explaining the fact that he was most probably going to end up in court and ALSO POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT HE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE HOME TO BURN DOWN AND MOST LIKELY KILLED SOMEONE, he finally agreed to replace the heaters (again) and have a licensed electrician repair the burnt wiring and install them. New heaters (this time the right ones) = $675.00. Electrician's bill = $450.00

In an effoort to save a few hundred bucks the seller cost himself an extra $1000 and almost landed in jail!

My friends Laura and Terra are at it again! Take a look!

Date:  Second Wednesday, February 8th

Time: Informal intros begin at 6pm, feel free to gather as early as 5:15

Location: Lacosta Mexican restaurant

5 minute spiel: February's Green Drinks presentation will be from Clark County's Environmental Services with development updates and participation information on Clark County's new Green Business Recognition Program.  Clark County has given roots to this new web-based program designed to help usher green and even not-so-green businesses into an environmentally savvy future. Get in on the ground floor and get the recognition your green business deserves.  Find out more at this month's Green Drinks. (See below for an invite to the program kick-off event!)

Some other community news we think you might be interested in:

Green Business program kick-off event: Clark County Environmental Services is pleased to announce the launch of a new green business recognition program designed to help Clark County businesses get green and stay green. Please join us in honoring the first recipients of the Clark County Green Business designation and learn how you too can earn this important recognition. February 14, noon to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided, The Heathman Lodge, Fort Vancouver Ballroom, 7801 NE Greenwood Drive, Vancouver 98662 Register online. Seating is limited.

Bike Recycling opportunity (update):

After the last email (see below) we were connected with a non-profit that has many of the necessary elements in place already. The biggest stumbling block at this point is space. If you or someone you know has space that you think might be appropriate for a non-profit bike reuse program, please let us know!

Know someone who's passionate about bikes? Bike repair? Reusing bikes for needy families in Clark County? We are in the very preliminary stages of trying to start a program similar to Community Cycling Center and a few others (see below.) We have the resource (bikes diverted from the County transfer stations) but we need someone to spearhead the rest of the program. We're looking for some individuals who have the skills and enthusiasm to start a program like this. This program absolutely won’t get off the ground unless we can find a few people excited about it. Currently, all the bikes that end up at transfer stations are recycled for scrap metal. For more inspiration, see:  Bicycle recycling in Yamhill County and a Seattle program

Why can't everyone be this happy?

Photo Journal - Vancouver Washington Real Estate is a side project for me. My real estate blog was so filled with facts and figures that it would make your eyes bleed. My photo journals will be filled with pictures that I have taken around town. Hope you enjoy!

Follow this link to see the rest of Photo Journal - Vancouver Washington Real Estate

What is wrong with this picture? Anyone?

This E-Bay auction was only for the box yet there were 36 bids for it that drove the price up to $565.00. Obviously someone wasn't reading the details very well. Obviously there we quite a few people that weren't reading it!

That wouldn't happen to you, would it?

There is an agent in my office who is getting ready to put the proverbial screws to a large bank who signed and accepted a purchase and sale agreement that asked for seller paid closing costs, a new stove / range unit, and a new roof (up to $8000) to be installed before closing. At the time that the offer was signed around and returned, the listing agent commented on how unusual it was for the bank to make major repairs to one of their REO's prior to closing.  Escrow was opened and everyone was happily moving towards closing.

Until a few days before the scheduled closing and the HUD was drawn up!

As soon as the HUD was submitted to the bank it was rejected based on the requested repairs. They claimed that they had never approved such repairs and never would. When they were presented with the contract that had been signed by their representative they broke off contact and have been stalling for what has turned into a week.

Sounds like "Robo-Signing" has come around to bite them in the butt.

This isn't my transaction so I don't know that I will be able to report any more details. I will do the best I can. I would be very interested in knowing how this one turns out!

Here is the national real estate report for January 2012. Our Keller Williams International office produces this awesome video each month and I post it here for my clients, friends and family.

This month you will find out if waiting until the spring to list your home is really the best course of action. The answer may surprisee you. Watch this video for more valuable information.

Although this is a national report and does not take into account some of the nuances that you may be experiencing in your area, the information is still timely and useful for anyone who is considering buying or selling a home. Would you like the local report for the Vancouver Washington Real Estate Market? Please call us any time.

This month in real estate December 2011 - Video Market report

Here is the national real estate report for December 2011. Our Keller Williams International office produces this awesome video each month and I post it here for my clients, friends and family.

This month you will find out why most people sell their homes and why you should us a full service realtor. Watch this video for more valuable information.

Although this is a national report and does not take into account some of the nuances that you may be experiencing in your area, the information is still timely and useful for anyone who is considering buying or selling a home. Would you like the local report for the Vancouver Washington Real Estate Market? Please call us any time.

As Realtors, our success depends on prospecting at all times and making sure that everyone we run into is aware that we are the best at helping people buy and sell houses.

Recently I have found a new source of leads that I will share with all of my loyal readers. What is nice about this stream of leads is that:

1. They have loads of money and want to share it.

2. Most of them were referred by an "Honorable mutual friend."

3. They only communicate via email.

4. I don't even have to look for them. They find me!

Here is my most recent interface:

~Leung Cheung~  I am contacting you because you were referred by a honorable mutual friend.  I need your assistance to transfer $22,500,000.00 USD from Hong Kong to your country. Your share will be 40% while I will be

entitled to 60% as the initiator of the business. I shall provide you with

"MORE DETAILS" immediately I receive a positive response from you.

~ME~  That sounds great. Who was the honorable friend? Those kinds of friends are very rare and I would like to thank them for making the acquaintance. With that large of a budget, you will be able to get a very nice home here in Clark County. Please give me "MORE DETAILS" on the type of home that you are looking for. Number of bedrooms? Number of baths?

~Leung Cheung~ I am very happy to know that you contacted me back. We will need to meet to solidify the details. I am sure that you are understanding of me. This is a large sum of USD funds. Will your calendar allow you to me soon? Inform me of your availability and I will make all of the details. Tell me and I will make all go smooth for you.

~ME~ My calendar is very flexible. I can make time for you at any time. The best course of action is to meet at my office and talk about what kind of home you are looking for. I still need to find out what will work for you and your family. Bedrooms? Baths? Is there a particular neighborhood that you want to be in?

Also, while I have your attention, do you have any friends or family who might be thinking about buying or selling a home? Maybe a FaceBook friend has mentioned something? Let me know. I am sure that our honorable mutual friend has mentioned that I build my business with referrals.

~Leung Cheung~ I have made your travel arrangements. You will be arriving in Hong Kong on December 18th to discuss "VERY IMPORTANT" details. I am sure that you will be pleased with outcome. Very kindly send me your credit card information so that I may gratefully secure the finest arrangements for you.

~ME~ Dude! I make it a point to never travel to Hong Kong, China without an initial consultation meeting at "MY OFFICE" to discuss "VERY IMPORTANT DETAILS" first . Do you have any friends or family who might be thinking about buying or selling a home? Maybe a friend at church has mentioned something? Let me know.

~Leung Cheung~ I pleasantly must decline your gracious offer to meet you in the United States. I am now forced to find another to give assistance to transfer $22,500,000.00

USD from Hong Kong to your country. Thank you most gratefully for your time and attention to this most serious of matters.

~ME~ No problem Leung. I have added you to my database and you will now receive weekly Clark County real estate updates. Also, please remember me to your friends who are considering buying or selling real estate in the area. Maybe someone at work? Send my regards to our honorable mutual friend.

2 weeks later:

~Leung Cheung~ Unsubscribe.

~ME~ No!

We had an interesting response from a short sale negotiator the other day,

REJECTED!

This is noteworthy because the seller is really a distressed seller. This is not a sale of convenience. The hardship is obvious: a divorce with extensive attorney’s fees, a severe cut in job hours, 6 months of delinquent mortgage payments on a home that is worth $55,000 less than the mortgage. It seemed pretty clear to my team that this seller is in need of relief.

It is also interesting to note that the lender didn’t even bother to counter the offer that was on the table. It was simply rejected. When asked why the offer was rejected without a counter, the negotiator simply replied that the borrower didn’t “qualify” for an approved short sale. Huh?

After some creative fact finding, the truth finally came out as to what was going on, the lender is more financially distressed than the borrower!

The lending institution is a local bank that, as research would show, is being investigated by the FDIC. Apparently they are on the verge of being seized and are trying to balance books in any way possible. It seems that juggling their short sales is an effective method of hiding non performing assets!

Maybe we need a form to determine whether the lender is distressed before we list short sales?!

Homes for sale Vancouver Washington

Rob and Annalise came to us with a special challange. Annalise was pregnant and they needed a bigger home ASAP! We listened to their needs and went to work, checking every home on the market for a perfect fit. We made it just in time and they moved into their new home with two weeks to spare!

Who do you know who is looking to buy a new home? We can help!

If you enjoyed this post, you can find more like it in the following links:

Video Testimonial - The Schulling's Sell Their Home in Just 4 Hours!

My Absolute FAVORITE Video Testimonial! Must see!

Emily Just Bought Her First Home - Video Testimonial

Erin Talks About Buying Her First Home - Video Testimonial

Happy First Time Home Buyers - Jon and Shawna - Video Testimonial

Video Testimonial - Ryan - First Time Home Buyer

Homes for Sale Vancouver Washington

Ashley and Tracy came to us looking for a new house in the Felida area. They were very clear that their new home had to be located in the right location so that one daughter could go to one highschool but the other daughter could attend another! That was a tall order, I can tell you! We found a great place for them and you can see how excited they were when I delivered the keys to their new house!

Who do you know who is looking to buy a new home? We can help!

If you enjoyed this post, you can find more like it in the following links:

Video Testimonial - The Schulling's Sell Their Home in Just 4 Hours!

My Absolute FAVORITE Video Testimonial! Must see!

Emily Just Bought Her First Home - Video Testimonial

Erin Talks About Buying Her First Home - Video Testimonial

Happy First Time Home Buyers - Jon and Shawna - Video Testimonial

Video Testimonial - Ryan - First Time Home Buyer