We've all heard of them, and have often run into them. Who didn't laugh at famous nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched? I even have fun stories of my own I could tell of my time spent living near some nosy neighbors. 

I had a close encounter with one nosy neighbor yesterday that almost torpedoed a pending sale.  It's not over yet but I am hopeful that we will get this one closed.  Cross your fingers and wish me luck with damage control this weekend.

Wednesday was the scheduled closing day on a home that my client has been trying to sell for more than two years  Cute home on a beautiful golf course.  Affordable, lots going for it.  I could have sold it a hundred times except for one problem.  The front door opened into the kitchen and laundry room area.  Enough said.

Finally, joyfully we got it under contract to close on April 14. Then an underwriting log jam delayed the closing until Monday the 19th, dang! 

Yesterday came a frantic call from the buyer's agent that the buyer had gone over to the property.  The buyer was also disappointed with the delay, having made plans to be moving in this weekend.  While walking around the yard, the nosy neighbor came over and proceeded to tell her, among other things, that there is a bark beetle infestation in the pine trees on the property and that THE SELLER ABSOLUTELY KNEW ABOUT IT!  Nosy neighbor showed the buyer a tree stump which, according to the nosy neighbor, was a tree that had been cut down due to the beetle infestation.

I called my seller, who was flabbergasted.  Although the home has been vacant for two years, she has had a company do ongoing lawn and garden maintenance the entire time.  They have brought any issues that needed attention to her and she has had them taken care of.  She is Conscientious with a capital C.  The tree stump, she said, was a tree she removed more than 10 years ago because this same neighbor kept complaining that it was going to fall on her house.

And then there's the fact that this home backs to a scenic, timbered Avondale Golf Course, with professionals who care for the grounds and landscape to keep it in spectacular shape.  Do you think there is any possibility that ONE yard on the golf course has a bark beetle infestation while all the neighboring trees do not?  Of course not.  Those bark beetle infested trees turn brown in a matter of weeks and spread like wildfire to surrounding trees.

My heart goes out to my poor seller.  Financially distressed carrying two mortgages for two years, maintaining this house well, being blessed with a sale in time for tax day only to see a delay, and now to be fearful that it may not close at all!  Hopefully the yard care guy will be able to overcome the interference by the nosy neighbor and reassure the buyer that all is well with the stately pine trees in this beautiful yard.

UPDATE 4/19/10:  Turns out that there is no bark beetle infestation.  Got the call that the buyers have signed and we will fund and record today.  Today is a GOOD day!