Some of the best rewards for Realtors come from the heart. You know what I'm talking about...those deals where the commission is next to nothing, but you are happy to make them happen because of the people involved.
One of those feel-good deals happened to me this week. I decided to tell you about it because Mimi Foster's post - Remember When Real Estate Used To Be Fun? - made me stop to think about some good things that are still going on in this difficult market.
I got a call from a young girl who drove past one of my listings and wanted to know the price. When I told her, she sounded disappointed. We chatted on the phone for a bit and she told me that she and her husband have two small children and have been living with her parents for quite a while to save money for a house. They are pre-qualified for a very low amount - high enough that a mortgage company would do the loan, but so low that their choices would be very limited. Her husband wanted to live out in the country, on at least a half an acre - another giant hurdle.
My first thought was, "Oh great. They will never find anything decent at that price." But she had already been searching on the MLS and had found several properties that she was interested in. So, I checked them out for her.
Most were manufactured homes, and in today's market it is getting harder to find a lender to do an FHA loan on a manufactured home. She checked with her lender, and sure enough, they won't do manufactured home loans. After several phone calls, I did find a lender willing to work with them.
So, they loaded up the two kids and we went out to look at homes. Two days later, they found a perfect little (emphasis on little) house in Santa Fe (Texas) at a great price they can afford, and it's a free-standing home, not a manufactured home. They made a fair offer on the home, and the seller eventually accepted it!
I don't think I have ever seen two people so happy! The house is very tiny...you can hardly turn around in the kitchen, and there is not much counter space for cooking at all. But these two were GLOWING when their offer was accepted! I was so happy to be able to help them find a home they can afford. I know that after they move in, this young girl will fix that place up like a little doll house. It will be perfect for them.
There won't be much commission on this deal, but there's a ton of gratitude from this sweet young couple. Those feel-good deals are really the best! They make me love my job!
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