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Bad Mortgage People

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty

Yesterday one of my agents sent me an email asking if lenders normally allow credits to buyers for repairs.  The deal was structured where the buyer was getting approximately a 3% credit to closing costs and another 3% for repairs. 

The mortgage broker handling the transaction (not our in house lender) at the 11th hour informed the agent that the repairs will be required prior to close of escrow, the lender would not allow a credit of this type.  I asked the agent why the buyer used this lender.  I was told that this lender offered a better price.  Unfortunately this is an REO property that will not do the repairs prior to closing.  They will only credit the buyer through escrow.

So much for the better price, because the deal isn't going to close.  The mortgage guy should have known, or did know but decided not to tell everybody about this detail.  They offered a price for something they could not deliver.  The seller is out, the buyer is out, the listing agent is out, the selling agent is out, the escrow is out... everybody is out because the unprofessional lender did not do his job.

I have over 15 years of experience originating loans and a lot of them.  I averaged 130 deals per year.  When I told an agent I could do something, we did it.  We did not play games.  Unfortunately there are folks out there that compete on price but they really can't deliver.

If a buyer said to me they can get a better deal from someone else.  My response would be probably not... what is important here is to first and foremost close.  We want to secure a good deal on the financing, but we want to make sure that it is done correctly.  Mortgages are not a comodity.  The cheapest isn't always the best... go and ask all those folks in foreclosure if the cheapest deal they got was the best.  Mr. Buyer, I would suggest you work with Arrowhead Home Loans Inc.  we know them, they can be trusted, they offer good value, and the offer expert advice.  Use them, you won't be sorry

Theresa Grant
Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Broker/CEO/Team Lead - Theresa Grant & Associates
I've never had a bad experience with Arrowhead Home Loans. NEVER. If Tom says something will happen, it happens. If Marty says something will happen, it happens. As you know, a lot of times the buyers on my listings already come with financing in hand, but on the rare occasion when someone hasn't talked to a lender and is shopping for financing I refer them with AHL because I know that they'll get the job done. I trust them.
Mar 30, 2008 04:08 AM
Steven Keefe
Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty - Lake Arrowhead, CA

Thanks for the comment Theresa. 

Steve

Mar 30, 2008 04:15 AM
Michael (Mike) Elliott
Nottingham Real Estate Group - Hamilton, NJ

I had Chase do the same thing to me last week. It was not an REO. 

Mar 30, 2008 04:16 AM
Jim Dunlap
Roberts Realty - Yucca Valley, CA
This is probably not a quite on topic comment, but worth mentioning.  According the Calif. Assoc. of Realtors legal hotline, any money that goes to a buyer, that comes out of funds used for the purchase, even if it is out of an agents commission after escrow closes, has to be approved by the lender otherwise its considered mortgage fraud.
Mar 30, 2008 05:32 AM
Kim Sellers
Lake Arrowhead, CA Coldwell Banker - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake Arrowhead Realtor - BRE#01412099 - Lake Arrow
Almost always.... my clients are swung towards Arrowhead Home Loans, Marty & Tom are awesome when it comes to being a true professional and getting the bottom line done.   I hate the feeling in my gut when my clients go with a lender I do not know and everytime it is a struggle.  When I have Marty go over loans with my clients, they see through all of the crap that what they think they are saving in one spot, they are actually getting a raw deal in the end.  Using a great lender is the key to getting the transaction closed for sure and knowing that your clients are being cared for in the best possible way.  We have a great network between CB, AHL and Alpine, why would you go anywhere else.  Hey where the heck is your side bar... recent visitors???
Mar 30, 2008 07:34 AM
Steven Keefe
Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty - Lake Arrowhead, CA

Understood Jim, but the point is that the lender knew, or should have known that this was going to be a requirement long before it was revealed to the seller, buyer and agents.  This type of unprofessionalism is what plagues the mortgage industry and makes putting deals together even more difficult.

 

 

Mar 30, 2008 09:15 AM
Greg Steffens
Mountain Country Realty - Lake Arrowhead, CA
There are a lot of uninformed and/or immoral people in the lending realm.  Whether they're unorganized, ignorant or unethical, they can put deals at risk.  As real estate professionals, it is our responsibility to suggest lenders that we have full confidence in.  I have full confidence in Arrowhead Home Loans.  Whether our clients decide to use them or not, I always recommend that they give Arrowhead Home Loans a call.  "You can lead a horse to water, but can't make them drink..."
Mar 30, 2008 09:52 AM