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No Credit....But I Am Paying Cash!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

No credit...But I am paying cash!

Frank and Karen Baker  wrote a post that got me thinking about a special buyer from years ago. He had no credit history and no other agent would work with him. He called on one of my listings after seeing my yard sign. I had my husband drive me to the appointment. 

This man liked the house and when I started with the questions....found out he had been with the same company...had a steady job for over for 20 years, was in a long time marriage and now had a young child.  What was so unusual?

He paid everything with cash..did not believe in owing anyone.

No credit, he used cash!  

 

                            Cash..HomeRome 410-530-2400

He paid his electric bill with cash, he bought his groceries with cash and..he rode the bus. When  asked where his money was, he answered in the bank. I asked permission to speak with his banker and he was pleased.

I drove him to his local branch, met the manager and was assured he had funds to complete a real estate transaction paying CASH.

Why, in over twenty years, had he been renting? Why did he not own?

He told me that no one ever asked if he had money... that whenever he called an agent to see a house, they would not talk with him because he did not have credit and could not show a driver's license.

But they never asked how he would pay for the house. They wanted him to go talk to a lender. They wanted to pull his credit. They wanted him to be like everyone else.

Here was a family without a car, without a driver's license, without a credit card, and he never owned a house.

Could they have worked hard, lived within their means?  Is it possible they  never asked anyone for anything?  Who would think these people could also be in the wonderful position of owning a home free and clear?

Don't forget to ask:  Where IS the Money Coming From?

 

This past summer we stopped by to visit this family. What a joy! They invited us in and picked a bounty from their own garden to share with us. This was one of my favorite times in real estate!

 

 

 

It was a great deal.

 

No credit....but I am paying cash!

 

Margaret Rome

 

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

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Deb Espinoza
Stage Presence Homes, San Diego Real Estate - Ramona, CA
GRI, Broker, SRS,ABR ePro, SFR, CNE

HI Margaret- Great story! I always say to never judge - there are a lot of people out there with the ability to pay cash for homes that don't "look" the part.

Apr 15, 2011 12:18 PM
Marc Oster
Y & M Real Estate LLC - Greeley, CO

Great story.  Why would agents never ask how he was going to pay for it?  Weird.  But I have a question.  Did they have any kind of ID?  Here in Colorado it's typical for the title company to ask for a copy of a drivers license.  

Apr 15, 2011 01:07 PM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

Wouldn't it be great if we all were in your clients position, paying cash for everything.  Think how much better the market, US, World would be in right now if everyone purchased only with cash!  Oh, I'm sorry, I was dreaming again.

Apr 15, 2011 01:09 PM
Carrol Nelson
The River Connection Realty DRE#01022352 - Seiad Valley, CA
Specializing in beautiful Klamath River properties

Over the years I have had a few buyers show up in vehicles that looked like they were on their last leg, even one that broke down right in our yard. (which my husband was able to get the car fixed)  Both sets of clients purchased with all cash and were some of the nicest client to work with.

 

Apr 15, 2011 01:59 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Margaret - I just had a been there done that moment - one of the first things I do is ask if they are prequalified and I know you can't judge a book by it's cover

Apr 15, 2011 03:34 PM
Steve Scheer
Realty Oasis - Metro Brokers - Highlands Ranch, CO
Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Denver Real Estate

Margaret, I really love this story of yours.  Says a lot that so many before you were so in tune "within the box" that they never even considered anything else.  Its actually a bit sad that he didn't own sooner, he probably would now have even more cash.

Apr 15, 2011 04:41 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Now it is almost midnight..just wrote a contract but promise I have read all your comment and thank you. Will I be able to answer you personally...nope. But I promise to stop by your blogs .

With appreciation to all.

Margaret

 

Here's the follow up:

Don't Forget to Ask...Where IS the Money Coming From?

Apr 15, 2011 04:56 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

It's a crazy world when we're all expected to fit neatly in our little boxes. Good for you for taking the time to listen to that gentleman.

Apr 15, 2011 09:08 PM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

Cash still rules and cash buyers shouldn't be dismissed, but I learned very early that just because they say they are paying cash doesn't mean that they have any.  This is a great story.  Just wish I lived this this family.

Apr 16, 2011 12:17 AM
Anonymous
Laurie Matthias

I'm working with a buyer right now that has one line of credit and it's practically killing his goal for getting a house. The underwriters see this as a major red flag and have put my buyer through the wringer every step of the way. To the extent that we're now 30 days past settlement because they want 'one more thing'.

When this country is in the credit driven mess that it's in, why can't we applaud those that buy only what they can afford?

It's crazy!!

Apr 16, 2011 12:38 AM
#55
Robert Courtney
Lihue, HI
Century 21 All Islands, RA, CDPE, MCRE, CIAS

Great reminder to not judge, investigate and THEN make a decision.  Realtors that are tire kickers are like some buyers looking for the "right" house.

Apr 16, 2011 05:57 AM
Bridget "Mortgage Mama" McGee
SWBC Mortgage 410-960-2061 - Baltimore, MD
Maryland Mortgage Mama NMLS#196068

In sales, one of the first things I learned was to beware of pre-concieved notions, they will get you every time.  I bet those other realtors are kicking themselves!  Leave it to you to ask the right questions!

Bridget "Maryland Mortgage Mama" McGee

Apr 16, 2011 06:50 AM
Anonymous
Barbara Terranova

Great story!  I am working right now with a woman buyer who is using a cash settlement from her divorce to purchase a small condo.  The cash settlement is approx $60k more than the condo price.  She would prefer to have a small loan on the home in order to have more of a nest egg for her future & to get a tax benefit.   However, because all of their credit transactions were in her husband's name the lenders will give her a small loan but at a 10% rate! 

Apr 16, 2011 07:29 AM
#58
Petra Norris
Lakeland Real Estate Group, Inc. - Lakeland, FL
Realtor, Lakeland FL Homes for Sale

Margaret - stories like that I really love.  I'm sure that family could have owned a home long time before if he would have said he is paying "cash" or he just waited until the right buyer's agent came along - YOU!

Apr 16, 2011 08:31 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

I am reading and appreciating each and every comment.

Apr 16, 2011 05:58 PM
F U
nobody - Alamance, NT
Dead

incredible, how could these other agent drop the ball so badly? Good for you for seeing past the prior agents road block.

Apr 16, 2011 06:06 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Cash is king.  I always ask how they are paying - Cash is great but get Proof of Funds.

Apr 17, 2011 06:55 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Great story.  It is amazing how few and far between people like this are.  I had a buyer a couple of years ago who had no credit at all either, though he also ended up not having enough  money to purchase cash, but he could barely even get private lending because he had absolutely no credit to show for, AND he didn't have a bank account (didn't trust 'em) so he was a "save it in his mattress" guy.  Not a lot of folks these days that don't live on credit. 

Apr 17, 2011 05:03 PM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

I understand that some of the agents do not ask enough questions to find out if the individual was worthy to be their client.

Apr 22, 2011 06:37 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Tim, We need to be confident in asking the right questions. Where will your funds be coming from is a very important question!

I love cash deals...so much easier.

Apr 22, 2011 06:42 PM