Special offer

Offers are no joke

By
Real Estate Agent with EXIT Realty Services- New Paltz, NY

Everyone wants to get a good deal- but when you put in an offer to purchase real estate, it a serious document and isn't a joke.

We recently got an offer on one of our properties that has been on the market for quite some time.  The offer tens of thousands of dollars below the asking price.  At first our seller balked at the offer thinking the house was worth more, but the buyer and her agent didn't give up.  For weeks, we went back and forth.  The buyer said she couldn't afford to go any higher but loved the house and wanted it, the seller said she couldn't afford to go that low and still pay off the mortgage.  The buyer and seller each wrote letters to each other explaining their position. 

Finally, the seller decided that if the buyer (who was putting down a significant down payment) could close quickly, she'd take the offer.  We expected the buyer to be excited- instead we didnt' hear anything from her or her agent for days.  Finally her agent called and said her client never really thought that offer would be accepted and she wasn't really ready to buy.  WHAT!?!  SERIOUSLY?!?  This "buyer" and her agent had spent weeks tried to talk us and our client into this deal- now we learn it was all just a whim.

I had another deal recently fall through.  This time I was working with the buyers.  From the time they put in the offer, they kept threatening to back out of the deal.  If the least little thing when wrong, they threatened to walk away.  I knew in my heart that the closing wouldn't happen.  But everytime they threatened, I was able to smooth things over.  Finally 2 days before the closing, they called me and told me they would not be buying the house because a minor- I'm talking minor repair had not been done yet.  They ended up having to pay for the home inspection, title, attorney fees and face the possibility of being sued by the seller, but they didn't care.

I understand that buying real estate is a scary and emotional proposition.  But you need to weigh all the options and make an educated deicision before you put in an offer.  If you were the seller, this is what you would expect from prospective buyers.  As an educated real estate salesperson, I can help you decide if its the right time.  We can also help you find a mortgage that's right for you.

Barbara Carter and Becky Cook

Mother/Daughter Team Real Estate Two Together For You

ExiT Realty Services 10 Main Street Suite 424 New Paltz, NY 12561

Barbara (845) 505-3160 Becky (845) 853-4210 Office (845) 255-HOME

On the web: www.UlsterNYHomes.com    e-mail:  UlsterHomes@yahoo.com

Barbara Carter
Century 21 Alliance Realty Group - Highland, NY
Serving Your Real Estate Needs in the Hudson Valle

Man, Becky, it has been a weird couple of months- I am beginning to think we attrack these crazy deals. You should have mentioned that on both deals we worked so hard and.... Nothing- This is not an easy job!!!!

Sep 15, 2008 12:06 PM
Becky Cook
EXIT Realty Services- New Paltz, NY - Highland, NY
Ulster County, NY- New Paltz, Highland, Marlboro, NY Real Estate

SOOOO hard.  Harder than most.  I was also going to write that these 2 deals falling through cost us thousands of dollars.  It's going to get better.  That's why we need to educate people.

Sep 15, 2008 12:09 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Becky - I think it would be down right unethical for an agent to engage in a negotiation knowing full well the client had no intention of going through with the offer. 

Sep 15, 2008 02:52 PM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Whimsical buying, don't you just love it?  I wonder why the buyers agent didn't know what the buyer was up to?  They should have know up front and put the brakes on before they even started this whole process!!

Sep 15, 2008 10:14 PM
C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Oh my word, I am so sorry you ladies had to experience that. I've had my share of _____ as well and I am doing the best I can but it's very disappointing when your best is being disrespected by posers pretending to be buyers. What is up with that? I do not understand the reasoning of some people. I recently was blogging about the fact that people playing these types of games cost everyone money. Making a bid just to see how low someone will go is very serious business. Hang in there, Becky. Take it one day at a time. Love, C. 

Oct 05, 2008 11:46 AM