Special offer

"I Wanted to Buy That Home" - The House That Got Away

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Madeline Island Realty 50317-90

"I Wanted to Buy That Home"

 

Every year, we are given the privilege of representing and marketing a handfull of exceptional properties in our Madeline Island and Bayfield, Wisconsin real estate marketplace.  And each year, when these properties sell, we invariably hear from at least one or two folks who call us up after the sale closes and they wistfully lament, "I wanted to buy that home"  or "I was going to buy that home".

 

This statement always moves me to ask, "Why didn't you purchase it then?"  And the list of excuses comes forth from these would-be buyers in a torrent.  We hear replies like:

 

 

"I was waiting for the price to go down a bit more."

 

"I didn't think it would sell that quickly."

 

"We heard a rumor that a family member was going to get the house."

 

 

Some of the more disgruntled would-be buyers have told us that they had been watching "the house that got away"  for quite a few years, hoping it would reach the market.

 

Yet these dreamers watch and wait, hoping and lurking, dreaming and scheming.  But when their dream home finally becomes available, they do nothing.

 

What a pity.  And it still leaves me wondering why this happens so frequently.

 

To paraphrase the lyrics written by Ira Gershwin from the 1954 film "A Star is Born"  (my  apologies, Ira):

 

"The night is bitter,
The stars have lost their glitter,
The winds grow colder
And suddenly you're older,
And all because of the house that got away."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments(23)

Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Eric, waiting for the price to come down, listening to gossip about a house is certainly the way to let it get away! I hear it too... on top of... we put an offer in but lost it. And the offer turns out to be a non offer, if you know what I mean.

When someone wants a house, find a good agent and make a reasonable and fair offer! Because if you don't, the last thing you should be doing is complaining!

Mar 09, 2015 01:17 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Does this affirm why we should be sending out just listed postcards to everyone like Barbara Todaro does?  Then they would have no excuse...

Mar 09, 2015 01:22 PM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Eric,  I have seen it many times where buyers lose out on a home, just because they wanted to think about it for a couple of days,

Mar 09, 2015 01:23 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Eric Kodner -

You know the old saying, You snooze, you lose."  It proves to be very true in real estate.

 

Mar 10, 2015 01:21 AM
Shannon Milligan, Richmond VA Real Estate Agent/Associate Broker
RVA Home Team - Richmond, VA
RVA Home Team - Winning with Integrity.

You know who I often feel really bad for? The ones who lost it because they didn't have a pre qualification letter in hand to be ready to pull the trigger. It happens so often. 

Mar 10, 2015 01:37 AM
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Dreams becoming reality may actually scare some people. I sold a home a couple years ago to someone like this, but they acted when it came on the market.  It made all the difference. 

Mar 10, 2015 02:32 AM
Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Eric Kodner we do hear I could have, would have or should have. Unfortunately with low inventory and multiple offers here, we hear that pretty often.

Mar 10, 2015 02:49 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

I've seen that a couple of times in the last few weeks, as our market changes from a Buyer's market to a Seller's market.    What are you waiting for?  If you like it, write an offer now today, before it is gone!

Mar 10, 2015 01:32 PM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Eric,

The one that got away has become a reality for many here in the Dallas market...we've been a Seller's market for awhile now, and some buyers are having a difficult time catching up to the change.

Mar 10, 2015 02:56 PM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

"always be prepared" comes to mind, so when that dream home is available, there won't be any regrets.  Nice post!

Mar 11, 2015 03:50 PM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Eric

I think you owe Ira nothing for he said it so well. Maybe a line or two added:

those that ponder

are souls who wander

given their simple choice

just buy the damn thing

for fools who don't

won't find a roof

to cover just how aloof

they have been

I know, way toooooooooooo late to pontificate. cheers cvc thanks for the follow

Mar 11, 2015 04:30 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I get that all the time too. Buyers call me and then complain when I tell them the home is pending -- their excuse is where is the pending sign? They called because there was no pending sign. Doesn't matter, the home is still sold and they called too late. Besides, everything is online and we don't really bother much with pending signs anymore. I might put one up if the home is nearby but otherwise, nah.

Mar 12, 2015 03:23 AM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Eric Kodner I liked your post and the reference to Gershwin.  I see it all the time too.  Buyers often say they'll think about it when they really love the house.  Bad move as it takes just a short time to write an offer up today, especially since you can do it on an iPad.

Mar 12, 2015 08:34 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Eric. You hear this story time and time again, but some just will make offers that have no chance of getting accepted.

Mar 13, 2015 12:53 AM
Cara Marcelle Mancuso
Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ
Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

Such a beautiful area in which to live - the early bird gets the worm, and all that.  BTW, thanks for the follow!

Mar 13, 2015 04:43 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Eric - the fear of loss is a bigger motivator tha the fe ar of gain.  Too bad they weren't in the know when offers were being made.

Mar 13, 2015 10:23 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Some people are always looking for excuses Not To. So they look back with regrets and keep complain about something that was not perfect.

Mar 13, 2015 04:07 PM
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Hey Eric-awesome paraphrase, the I remember seeing JG sing that song on tv when I was a kid and it is still one of my all time favorites. BTW people that lose houses because of their own indecisiveness get no pitty from me.

Mar 13, 2015 09:56 PM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

I try to remind buyers....don't be those buyers that will sing that song.

Some are smart & lucky enough;

 but some, they just gotta touch this hot stove before they believe it's hot.

Mar 16, 2015 12:38 PM
Holleay Parcker - Spinnaker Realty - Serving Clients From Corolla to Hatteras
SPINNAKER REALTY LLC - Kitty Hawk, NC
With 14 Yrs Experience in Outer Banks Real Estate

When I hear this from buyers, I tell them that the one that got away was never meant to be for them.  I say that when they are ready, the right house will appear...and when the right house appears, it will click with them, they will feel enthusiastic and eager to move forward, and the transaction will unfold easily... 

Mar 22, 2015 04:48 AM