Joan Dickson

After having been a Realtor for about 25 years and recently retired, I have experienced several scenerios including this one. If it is meant to be it will, but one has to work on it to make it go, One of the first things I would suggest it: HAVE IT INSPECTED!!!!!!!! I had a good offer on my house, had an inspection and found termites. Deal fell through, had the termites treated, repair work done, found another buyer within one week and closed. I never sold a house without an inspection.

skippitydodahquilts

Update - We put in the offer, and even came down to 129,000 based on comps and value. We are looking at a house about a block away in a couple hours, and her realtor is going to try and move her along. Hopefully she realizes that we aren't going to be waiting at her beck and call and that we are serious about buying.

LovingIzabella

Sometimes you also have to take in to account what are you really getting for your money? A door and laminate floor are nothing really. A wet basement-is a bigger concern. Sadly we purchased our home for almost $200,000 and had to put on a new roof, new oil tank, new furnace and on and on it goes.(Good ol NY) You will always have to do work when you own a home. Look at the big price items and see if those are going to hold out for you or if you are going to be doing major repairs or replacements. Good luck on whatever home you may buy!
Hugs
April

denise d

Good luck! Having just been through this process, my only recommendation is make sure you have a good home inspection.

sandpat

No matter what house you buy, you should have a professional inspector do that for you prior to your offer! And no matter what she is asking, you are free to offer whatever you are willing to pay for the house. She can either accept it or not. We have made offers so low that our realtor was embarrassed to take them to the seller...and guess what...the seller accepted. So, listen to your own gut, do your homework and then do whats right for you.

amandasgramma

As old as the house is, be sure to put in the offer that it's contingent on you PERSONAL inspector looking it over. Then you have the option to deny it if he/she finds too many things that need fixing. As for her not "wanting to sell it"....that may be realtor talk for "I don't want to take such a low offer." Make an offer, make sure they take it to the seller and make sure you get copies of her acceptance or denial. I had a realtor say about the same thing to us....turns out she never took our offer to the seller and they sold the house a year later for $1000. less than what we offered!!! BTW - the realtor lost her license over that and a few other things.

Oh and the personal inspector doing that kind of inspection is NOT the dry rot/pest inspection that most lenders require. This one would go over plumbing, electrical -- EVERYTHING.

craftiladi

Great advise!

Diannia

I'm wondering if she just put it on the market because she had to as part of the divorce settlement??? I'm thinking she doesn't really want to sell but has to make it look like she's trying and she's stalling so she can live there as long as possible...just a thought.

Diannia

polly13

Good attitude! Sometimes a rejection turns out being the best solution so accepting the results whatever they are is wonderful on your part.

luvstoquilt

As a former (and successful) realtor I would tell you to insist your realtor take her a written offer. Her realtor (if she wants to make the sale)should advise her client the first offer is 90% of the time the best and this market is very weak. There is at least a 9 month inventory right now of currently owned homes. That means if no other homes came on the market for the next 9 months there would be homes available to purchase! Also, the longer a home is on the market the harder it is to sell. Buyers wonder what is wrong with it.

Now to make you feel better, if this house isn't meant for you a better one is just out there waiting for you. If the lady is not ready to sell she can make the transaction miserable to say the least. I hope you have a strong realtor.

I am not sure what the laws are in your state but insist on a home inspection with a LICENSED inspector. Make sure you go to the inspection and follow the inspector around and ask questions. The more you know the better prepared you will be.
The inspection is sort of boring but it only lasts a couple of hours. In NJ if there are issues that the homeowner will not address you can rescend your offer with no cost to you except for the inspection fee. Your ernest money is returned in a few days. (In NJ, it is kept in an escrow account at YOUR realtor's company..I don't know how it is done in Michigan)