Yes, it's true - a REALTOR saved my daughter from herself!
My daughter's first home purchase began Mother's Day weekend when I was visiting her in Texas. For anyone who missed it, I wrote about how this whole thing started in My Daughter Made an Offer on a FSBO this Weekend... Then I followed up with two more posts, FSBO Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome and In Defense of FSBO's.
I'm happy to report that the story has a happy ending for her, thanks to Jennifer Nodwell, of RE/MAX Pinnacle Group in Arlington, Texas. No, Jennifer is not an ActiveRainer because I had referred Susan to Jennifer long before my ActiveRain days, when Susan first received the job offer in Texas. (I'll invite her, when I send her the link to this post.)
After Susan walked away from the failed purchase of a FSBO property near UT Arlington, Susan contacted Jennifer and set out to buy a home. She had found another one online, and asked Jennifer to show it to her. Again, Susan was ready to buy - but Jennifer advised that it was over-priced and a lower offer would be appropriate. Well, that one didn't work out either, so they went back to basics with a sit-down so Jennifer could get to know Susan and Susan could get to know the market. And, of course, Jennifer knew the perfect neighborhood for this buyer - one that Susan had never considered. When Susan looked at homes in that area, she agreed it was what she wanted but didn't know she could find or afford. A good REALTOR is just what this buyer needed to get her headed in the right direction.
A few days later, Jennifer told Susan about a property in that neighborhood which was not yet on the market, but the seller was working with another agent to buy one of Jennifer's listings. She got permission for Susan to see the home and, to make a long story short - "my baby" is now buying a house!
After growing up in the D.C. area, where you have a hard time finding a decent 2 BR 1 BA condo under $300,000, Susan feels like she won the lottery with a seven-year old brick home that has 3 BR, 2 BA, a fenced yard, fireplace and double garage for about half that price. With Jennifer's guidance, she made a fair offer and asked for the closing help she wanted - and the seller accepted the offer without any changes.
In case I ever doubted it, this proved to me again that REALTORS do have value, because I do for my clients what Jennifer did for Susan, and you do for your clients - help nice people find the right home for them, with minimal hassle and the right price. It's so easy to get discouraged when consumers attack our fees and openly dismiss our value - this was one of those times that warm any REALTOR'S soul.
So, to all you folks who followed the first few installments of this, now you know the rest of the story: A REALTOR rescued Susan from her FSBO woes and she got the job done right for "my baby." We all expect Susan to live happily ever after.
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
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Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
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Congratulations to you (yes because you're sharing in the happiness here too), your daughter and Jennifer! Reading this makes it sound all so simple so kudos to Jennifer for the proper guidance! And after reading this, I'm sure she'll join Active Rain. And if she doesn't, just write another post till she does :D
Again, congratulations to you all!
Margaret,
Don't you just love happy endings? I feel like I am a part of this as well because I have been following the other installments!
Margaret,
All's well that ends well...great series!!! Thanks, Fran
P.S. I have relatives in Plano, Richardson, and Carrollton if she needs a friend!!!
Margaret - good for your daughter for seeing the light that a Realtor was important....and good for Jennifer for following up with her and finding her that perfect home! Jennifer sounds like she would be a GREAT addition to AR.
Great story Margaret. And you know you are going to have more stories to tell as Jennifer guides her through inspection and everything else that comes along. It looks like a beautiful home.
Great ending to a wonderful story - and she really should join ActiveRain
Congratulations to your daughter, the house looks and sounds beautiful. I bet the other agent will join AR now!
Margaret, Congrats to your daughter! I bet she is so excited to finally find a home!
Margaret... first off, glad all worked out well.... secondly, you hit the nail on the head. Good realtors do add value to any transaction. It's finding that good realtor which is not always the easy job, just like a good loan officer. Congrats to all...
Great story Margaret. Nice to read something good and positive first thing in the morning. Have a great weekend.
FRAN - First reply goes to you... any of those relatives include a nice single guy in his 30's???? LOL. I know a really nice young woman with a good job, a new house - and beautiful, too... Now, woudn't that be a story!
RICARDO - Thanks for your comment. Yes, she would be a nice addition to our little community, but apparently she's selling homes like crazy - I think 5 or 6 in the pipeline now - so she might not have much time for this.
DAVID & KRISTIN - I've already got my plane ticket... headed there after settlement to help with the move and dog-sit while she travels 2 weeks on business. I'll probably have time or lots of blogging.
MARY - Lol. Susan never had any doubt about the importance of a Realtor - we had just stumbled on that FSBO house by accident. In fact, she had lined up a Reator to pay for putting that offer in writing, if the Seller had accepted it, because Susan would not buy without an agent.
STEVE - It's true... I probably will!
THESA - Yes, she should! She would love getting to know people like you.
LISA - You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink - and I can't count the number of people I've invited to ActiveRain who never joined, or did and never participated. Thanks for your encouragement, and I will try.
ROBERTA - Now THAT is an understatement. It's so much fun to be on the "other" side of this and experience a homebuyer's joy first hand.
JEFF - You are so right, and I feel guilty confessing to you that I encouraged her to go online for her loan after a client of mine came in with a pre-approved Bank of America lno-fee loan that looked too good to be true. If it's any consolation, my favorite loan officer said that BOA comes up with unbeatable programs about once a year and she should grab it while she can. I don't think Jennifer is entirely pleased about this, and I wasn't either when my client first brought it to me.
SUSIE - It IS good to read a positive post in the morning. May everyone who does have a very positive day!
Morning Margaret,
Glad to hear there is a happy ending to the story. I can feel the excitement your daughter is experiencing. I hope she has many happy years in her new home.
As Realtors we do have value and work for the renumeration we recieve. Those that don't see it are more selfish then honest.
Have a great weekend.
Margaret- What a nice ending to the story! I am happy for you and your daughter. Not sure I could handle the heat in Texas but at those prices.....
Best,
Scott
My congratulations go out to all involved. I believe in happy endings.
Margaret,
All I need to say is CONGRATULATIONS! That's just wonderful.
Mike in Tucson
Harold - Yes, this was a good reminder for me!
Scott - I hear you... it's pretty hot down there.
Rosario - Me too, happy endings are good.
Mike - Thanks, Mike
That's wonderful news! Congrats to your daughter, Susan and thank you to Jennifer for being a great example of what a professional realtor can do.
Congratulations to your daughter and Kudos to Jennifer for helping Susan on the purchase o her new home
Matt and Roland - You're right... Jennifer delivered on this!