When It's Too Good To Be True

When It’s Too Good To Be True

Ever have insomnia?   Tossin’ and turnin’ the night away.  Counting sheep doesn’t work nor does picking up that book on your nightstand.   So you turn on the television --- 500 stations and nothing to watch...except those darn infomercials --- dicing and slicing and pumping and primping through the wee hours and beyond...but then you stop... you are mesmerized.  You almost pick up the phone or log onto your computer....

Have you heard about the Ab Circle Pro?  I hadn’t --- frankly, I’m from the side of the world that’s been looking for my gym card since the beginning of the millennium.   Well, anyway -- it seems that Ab Circle Pro was marketed via infomercials and promised -- now get this --- using this machine just three minutes(yes, that’s right -- just 180 seconds, 1/20 of an hour) would cause an amazing ten pounds to practically fall off your body(sign me up!) but WAIT....Yes, devotees of late night television -- it simply wasn’t true.   The Los Angeles Times reports that the Federal Trade Commission said “the only thing that would be substantially lighter was your wallet” if you purchased this incredible machine.

So what do fabulous abs and real estate have in common?  Ah shucks, thought you never ask.  Ok, this isn’t a post about bait and switch but if something sounds too good to be true -- well, you know the rest...  I know -- imagine that.  So if you call me about that short sale you saw online that is priced $500,000 less than any recent comparable sale in that neighborhood that seemed a bit beyond your reach, there is probably a story behind the price and that story -- maybe it will never close or not at that price.   I am not saying anyone is doing anything misleading or criminal but there is definitely more to the story.

If you would like to know about the story behind the story -- give me a call or send an email --- I am happy to discuss real estate and share what I know in the Pasadena area and beyond.  My name is Michael Jacobs and I can be reached at 818.516.4393 cell or michaeljacobs@coldwellbanker.com.