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Need a heartwarming story this Veteran's Day?

By
Real Estate Agent with Andrew Arroyo Real Estate - Lic#01187872 CALBRE#01187872

Here's a deal unlike any I've ever experienced in 20 years of real estate service, that still bring tears to my eyes and warms my soul like no other.  The following story is true, and it happened on Veteran's Day!

On October 12th, 2009 my old Coast Guard shipmate, and long time friend Larry Howard said good-bye to this world following a long, noble battle with a rare intestinal cancer.  But, before he passed he had two request of me:  One - to stand up and speak for him at his memorial, and the other was to handle the sale of his home for his estate.

On the day of Larry's memorial, I honored Larry's life choking through the tears and insighting laughter while speaking to the 100 or so family and friends gathered at the Carlsbad Church Larry attended most Sundays.  I recounted our 30-year friendship, how we went our separate ways, and how we reunited 15 years later.  I also spoke about his home, where he frequently hosted family and friends for weekend BBQ's, and the emotional story of how it almost didn't come to be.

When Larry was ready to buy a home he asked for my help.  Being a passionate, life long surfer, he wanted, no, needed to be closer to the coast.  Specifically - Oceanside, CA.  It didn't take long before we found, what was to ultimately be, his final resting place on Seafarer Drive.  We weren't three steps into the property before he turned to me and said, "Let's make an offer!"  So we did, and got it accepted that same day.

Two weeks before we were scheduled to close, the sellers said they wanted to cancel the deal, that they had changed their minds and were having seller's remorse.  Their own Realtor couldn't talk them out of it, so Larry began to lose faith that the home he had fallen in love with, wasn't meant to be.

There was no way I would allow failure without a battle.  I told Larry not to give up hope, and with the listing agent's approval, went directly to the sellers and effectively "persuaded them" that this was no longer their home.  We closed escrow on time, and Larry was eternally home. 

A few weeks after Larry passed, his family approached me to consult with them regarding the sale, at which point I designed an action plan to prepare the home.  We were just finishing some of the final touches in preparation when the sign went up. I remember seeing the tears in Larry's mother's eyes when she first saw the for sale sign on her son's home - her home away from home.

It was a Tuesday, the day before Veteran's Day, and I had just finished editing the photos for the listing when I received a call from a local agent.  She said that her clients had seen the sign down the street from their parents, and they had been targeting that area for quite some time.  I told her it would be in the MLS that night, when she asked if they could see it right away?  "The lock-box is on the front door, go right ahead", I replied.

Later that evening she called, and told me that they would have an offer to me the very next morning - Veteran's Day.  The offer came in above full price with a touching, heart-felt letter from the buyers.  It read, that he had heard the seller was a veteran, and that he too is a veteran.  He and his wife immediately fell in love with the home, much like Larry did.  They had been looking for just such a home near their parents for quite some time, submitting offers, but were always out-bid. He went on to say, that it would be a dream come true to have their offer accepted on Veteran's Day.  There were even more remarkable factors that made this offer very special.  You see, my friend Larry and I served in the Coast Guard together. The buyer is a veteran as well. The buyer's agent is the widow of a veteran, and, they were using a VA loan for an offer that was submitted & accepted on Veteran's Day!  

Several more buyer calls came in that morning, but Larry's sister Cindy happily, and tearfully accepted the veteran's offer on behalf of Larry and the family by noon. We successfully closed 30 days later.

I felt a strong sense of faith that Larry and perhaps a divine power were working together to affect this most extraordinary outcome on that Veterans Day! 

  Robert Sizer & Larry Howard RIP (10/27/58 - 10/12/09) 

P.S.  Larry Howard was a good, generous man who had a strong sense of family & community, serving his country at the highest level in the United States Coast Guard ~ Semper Paratus my friend ~ Always Ready!

Posted by

Robert Sizer, REALTOR®

Real Estate investments, Marketing & Sales

Andrew Arroyo Real Estate

1020 Prospect Ave Ste. 350

La Jolla, CA 92037

Cell: (760) 519.8436

Fax: (760) 494.5304

Search All San Diego Homes FOR SALE

CA DRE LIC # 01187872

Comments (12)

Scott Benson
Geneva Real Estate and Finance - Santa Monica, CA

Wow, I really do love that story.  When things come together like that for you, you know that your are headed down the correct path.  Congratulations on making dreams come true!

Nov 15, 2009 03:13 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Very nice.....I love when Real Estate gets back to a personal business. We have lost site of that in this bazaar market, but this is a great story.

Nov 15, 2009 03:13 AM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

Things happen for a reason, this was meant to be! I love it when a plan comes together without hassles a rarity now days.

Nov 15, 2009 03:19 AM
Kathy Opatka
RE/MAX CROSSROADS - Ocean City, MD
Serving Ocean City, MD, & The Delaware Beaches

Robert,

You're certainly right about tears in my eyes!

Nov 15, 2009 03:25 AM
Gaye Granice
Robert Defalco Realty - Staten Island, NY
Associate Broker

Thanks for a beautiful story.  You were lucky to have a friend like Larry in your life!

Nov 15, 2009 03:25 AM
Bill Ladewig
LoanOfficerSchool.com - Escondido, CA
Experience Is Your Advantage

Robert, I love your story.  It seems to be a charmed home drawing good people for the right reasons.   

Nov 15, 2009 03:29 AM
Edy Kizaki
eXp Realty - Seattle, WA

Very touching story.  My daughter and I offer 10% of our commission to any vets who buy a house from us, we don't advertise it but my step son was in Iraq for 3 years.  We just had our first vet buy a house from us and it was extremely satisfying.  I think as agents if we can find some way to have a personal interest in the lives and future of our clients it just makes our jobs that much more satisfying.  That's the life I want for myself, a life full of meaning, such as you are describing here.  We can fall into the trap of going along just going through the motions and waiting until some definition of security we have allows us to feel "safe" before we start connecting deeply to those that come into our lives... I submit we will never reach that threashold.  The time is now.  Make every day and every new person you are lucky enough to have come into your life welcome.  Make it count.  It's your life, after all!

Nov 15, 2009 03:57 AM
Anonymous
Dawn

I love it! Thanks for sharing a great story and best wishes for a timely closing.

Nov 16, 2009 10:31 AM
#8
Robert Sizer
Andrew Arroyo Real Estate - Lic#01187872 - Encinitas, CA
Associate Broker

Thank you for your comments.  I've shared them with the family, and they are grateful that the memory of their brother has been shared with others.  Let's not forget the human element that exists in (almost) every deal we broker. That's what I enjoy most about the residential real estate business.

Robert Sizer

Nov 17, 2009 01:58 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Very touching story. My brother and dad are veterans as well. This makes you stand back and take pause. Everything happens for the glory of God.

Nov 19, 2009 05:47 AM
Robert Sizer
Andrew Arroyo Real Estate - Lic#01187872 - Encinitas, CA
Associate Broker

 

USCGC Jarvis (WHEC 725)

Based in Honolulu, we sailed the US Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis to the Bering Sea and back many times on fisheries patrols, search & rescue missions & maritime law enforcement.  This was a lifetime ago, but never forgetful. Semper Paratus ~ Always Ready!  Thanks for the opportunity to serve, you would have been proud.

 

Jan 18, 2011 06:31 AM
Anonymous
Ruby Vos

Wow...that is a beautiful and touching story!

Being a mother of a Marine Veteran who served both in Iraq and Afghanistan (2003-2007)... I am honored to be currently working with you Robert on the sale of our family home in Oceanside. There is something very special about the men and women who serve our wonderful country and to be able to provide a house that they can call a "home" after putting there life on the line for our freedom, is an honor and a priviledge.

Thank you for being the person you are... determined, committed and serving with integrity!

Oct 17, 2011 09:54 AM
#12