Zoom Call 6.11.24 Debe Maxwell Unique Client Situations

Zoom Call  6.11.24   Debe Maxwell  Unique Client Situations

The Zoom call this week was lively if not for the topic but also the airing of like issues all had encountered in the course of dealing with clients. Debe Maxwell, CRS  was the moderator, but the smile she had through the call was more of 'I'm lovi'n this' as the topic was so well understood by all the real estate agents.

I logged on a few minutes late and the conversation was already flowing with one person discussing the issues that were presented by a client, already under contract, seemingly attempting to get more and more out of the seller, a 'nickel & dime' negotiation that was starting to get on everyone's nerves.

This set the tone for the subject to be issues currently being faced by people involving condo purchases.

The reality of the collapse of the condo in FL has lenders on the alert for possibilities of reoccurrence down the road. The high-rise buildings so suspect for lack of maintenance.

One agent spoke of a condo sale that went wrong for the agents. A woman with a pet, bought a condo and when she reviewed the documents for the HOA, all was okay.

While going through settlement, the association had a vote and ruled that pets would no longer be accepted. After moving in, the new owner was approached by a board member and told that the pet would have to be removed.

After court action, it was ordered that the agents that failed to keep the buyer appraised of the change were liable and had to reimburse the buyer for the purchase price and costs.

There was a topic that had multiple comments as related to the insurance rates getting so much larger.  Some lenders are not offering the mortgages because the newer insurance rates are impacting the debt-to-income ratios,

Some of the people looking at taxes and insurance costs on a monthly budget see the value of renting as better than owning, and ignoring the fact that appreciation of the home over the years would more than offset the increased costs.

Another agent discussed the condo associations being underfunded for reserve especially as the condos are older and will eventually needs some major renovations. They spoke of a large building that had undergone a large inspection that detailed large exterior issues, plumbing and electrical was estimated to cost app, $50,000,000 and was going to get larger if delayed.  The HOA association with well-placed members have ordered no new condo fees, with only delay the problems.

With the rise in rates, and lenders unwilling to offer mortgages, it is making some condo purchases cash only which will impact the prospective new owners down the road for resale.

The condo conversation then shifted to the higher association fees being seen even on small 2/2 units mostly occupied by older people who are not able to keep up with these fees and are forced to sell.

Another attendee offered a story of a client that was divorced and had a very nice home but with a large bit of compassion and would offer people down on their luck a place to live. he had brought in a young woman with no ulterior motives other than just a nice person. The owner got sick, went into the hospital and needed extensive time there. He gave the young woman access to his finances to pay bills.

She not only cleaned out his finances, but also did a great deal of damage to the interior of the house. He passed and his sisters, with the legitimate will, were attempting to sell the house. It was discovered that meth had been cooked in the house as well.

This raised the question of disclosure, and in some states, it would be required to disclose while in others it wouldn't need to be disclosed.

This moved the conversation to disclosure as relates to agents that become aware of issue in a home through inspections and the sellers offer no concessions to a buyer which causes the buyers to terminate the purchase, and the house is placed back on market with no change to price or the disclosures. 

This led to a consensus that the agent was in violation of their ethics and should be reported to the state board.

The call was very interactive and all participated wand again it was suggested that this be a regular monthly style of Zoom call.

Zoom Call  6.11.24   Debe Maxwell  Unique Client Situations