okay, so DH and I just sold our first home. Yesterday we looked at a bigger house that we fell in love with. We are prepared to make a reasonable offer, when our agent calls and says that the seller doesn't even know if she wants to sell her home! WHAT?!

I'm so upset. We've looked at almost 75 homes, and I really felt like this one was 'the one', you know? I just don't understand why someone would put a home on the market, just to jerk people around. She has until Friday to decide what she wants to do.

I've heard people living in their homes for long periods of time can get attached, but she's a 30 year old, newly divorced woman who needs to sell because she can't afford the mortgage (according to her agent). So, I don't understand what the problem is. Now I'm afraid if she does decide to stay on the market, she won't accept anything other than full asking price, which the house needs some repairs and I refuse to pay full price for something that needs necessary repairs that she should have been responsible for.

Okay, that's my two cents. I think some serious sewin' is in order for me!

I would encourage your agent to take her an offer anyway. If she sees something in writing, she might just decide to take it. Of course, if you are offering lower than her asking price, I would definately write an explanation as to why (the repairs, etc). And do tell your agent you are willing to look at a counter offer... will keep fingers crossed for you!

I'm with Cori, make an offer. If it's the right house, it'll work out. We had lots of drama buying our home: we had three signed contracts before we landed the foreclosed-upon fixer-upper we live in now! I got the inspector to give me a frequent-buyer discount when we got to the third house!!

Make an offer. She can refuse, but at least she will be aware there is a serious buyer. Good luck.

just be happy she doesn't raise her price. i've seen that happen recently.

make an offer and if the house is meant for you, you will get it

be sure to have an inspection

We're going to make an offer tomorrow morning. It's on the market for $135,900 and we're making an offer of $130,000, and she needs to either fix the floor in the kitchen (the laminate is coming apart and it's cracked, which they tried to hide with a rug) and she needs to have a door replaced (she cut a huge hole in the bottom!), or she needs to give us an allowance to fix it ourselves.

The backyard needs a total overhaul and it's just...really dirty. Like, not messy, but dirty and unclean (mold in the coffee pot!). The whole thing is just really weird, but if she rejects our offer, she has to take it off the market (according to her agent).

Good luck.

Why would she have to take it off the market if you don't make a full price offer?

Unless the rules are very different in your state, the seller is free to reject any offer she wants, especially given that it isn't full price. The repairs seem fairly minor, so the big question is what do the comps say it is worth? The asking price is only a starting point and may or may not reflect reality. Our seller refused to fix anything, but we felt that the house was still worth what we had offered and went ahead anyway.

Good luck - I hope things work out for you and you find your dream home :-)

Good Luck!! If it was me I would put in contract, exactly in $ amout how much you need back for repairs, if she doesn't want to do them, such as $8,000 for repairs.

The total market value (according to the county auditor's website) is $129,000. It's probably because it's an old home and it's location. I'm also concerned about the basement because it's an older home (1934). It didn't look wet, but they had everything on shelves and nothing of obvious value was directly on the floor. I'm not going to pay $136,000 because the auditors website reflects a different value, plus the comparable in the neighborhood have been selling in the $125,000 area. According to what I've heard about older homes, parts for repair (i.e. - the door) are a little difficult to find, so that's something else to consider.

I'm feeling better, and I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't work out. My parent's have graciously offered to let us store everything in their pole barn and move in with them for as long as it takes. So, either way, at least we won't be homeless ;). Wouldn't that be a sight to see! A crazy lady with a sewing machine and her little white dog! LOL

I'm feeling better, and I won't be heartbroken if it doesn't work out. My parent's have graciously offered to let us store everything in their pole barn and move in with them for as long as it takes. So, either way, at least we won't be homeless ;). Wouldn't that be a sight to see! A crazy lady with a sewing machine and her little white dog! LOL[/quote]
-------------------------------
That's the right attitude, if it's meant for you, it will come. The door sounds like she might have had a big dog and started a doggy door (perhaps taken by the ex?) and a dirty yard says that maybe the dog had been confined there. But landscaping will pay for itself in not to long a time (says a Landscape Architect's wife) You can clean it up and start with the basics, big trees and shrubs and a bunch of annuals. That will fill in the time you spend cleaning up the house.
But do have your inspector check out that basement. And talk to some of the neighbors about flooding in that area. Look at other houses in that area and check out fences and tree trunks for water lines. Ask the agent flat out if it floods in that area.

Have you checked with the local police department about how "nice" that area is? Do they get a lot of calls there? In my town there is a nice looking area that surprisingly has some of the town's most active police calls....

In our area, the county auditor's value is always way below the true market value, but having lots of recent sales for accurate comps is good.

I would be less concerned about the door. Standard doors are pretty cheap ($25) and can be found at salvage places if necessary. I agree that a damp basement may be more of a concern.

The right home will show up soon :-)

My laugh of the day. The crazy lady with the sewing machine and her little white dog. Keep the faith if it's meant to be it will be.

Make sure u have the home inspected! U don't want surprises!!

Is this the MARKET value, or the ASSESSED value? Since you're getting this number from the county auditor's website, I suspect it's the assessed value. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Your realtor should be able to explain the difference to you, and if he/she can't, you need to get a different realtor. You should be basing your offer on the MARKET value, which has many determining factors - size, location, condition, and comps.

In todays market and the age of the home I'd offer assessed value and go up from there. The age of the house would determine a real inspection in my state. Asbestos, mold, foundation problems etc. Be reactive, if the house is to be yours it will happen, but don't get attached.

I too had the same thoughts..lol. You seem to have the right attitude & i wish you all the luck, yes i also agree if its meant to be then it will happen. Keep us posted.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Great advise!

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

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

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)

maybe she loves the house too, and would not moving voluntarily. right after a divorce is such a difficult time-real loss and grieving.
good thoughts on having this work out for you. knowing her house is going to good people might just give her a little comfort. if you have a good agent I'm sure he can smooth over the rough spots of negotiation-

:-D :-D

You think you have problems? Listen to this. My home of 50 + years went on the market in December 2010. Within 5 days I had a buyer. We wrote the contract, etc and set a closing date for January. No. 1, the buyer defaulted on the contract. Her lawyer kept saying she isn't ready yet. So we agreed to go along with her because it was winter and an especially bad time to sell a house.

Forgot all about this buyer. Had some showings, but nothing concrete. People are not looking to buy, they are just nosy and it's good entertainment for a weekend. They look at it, "Oh, it's lovely." and we never hear from them again. Until last week, my realtor got a call from the original buyer that had defaulted that she was ready now. I gave her 30 days to close on a new contract with no refund of the earnest money.

What a headache.

About buying house and owner backing out,that is exactly what happened to our children...do you think that's a phase right now.

Have to wonder, are they forced onto the market, because of all thats going on, Divorce, forclosures, etc. then given the possible chance to keep, refi's etc. Causing the feet to drag and slowing you down. Seems like almost always drama when house buying.
Sorry you've ran across the situation, be patient if this falls thru. It was meant to be. Think of how Great the Right one will be!! Hang in there :)

And the comment about the sewing machine and white dog, too cute. Thanks for the laugh!! :thumbup:

Just to clarify, and I appreciate the advice from everyone, and I'm not trying to offend anyone.

This will be the second home I've purchased, and an inspection is state law. It can't be preformed until up to and including 10 days after we go under contract. Once I make an offer and the seller accepts, I can't get out of it, or I could be in serious legal trouble, so that's why I'm being so picky about our new house.

So we saw the other house, and it just wasn't for me. The seller of the house we wanted rejected our offer, didn't even bother to counter. So, we are going to wait awhile and watch that house closely and see what happens. She obviously doesn't want to move, but if that's the case she should take it off the market and stop jerkin' people around because we're not the first offer on that house.

"Good luck, hard to understand people.

I can appreciate the drama of house hunting. But I'm not understanding how she is jerking you around. It sounds like you made a low-ball offer and she didn't take it. The end. Having to "deal" is so uncomfortable to me, I know I'd set a price and that would be it. Maybe that's what's going on. I'm sure you'll find something. Good luck!

Every lender that I know of requires an appraisal of the property to determine if the value meets the sales price. If the appraisal comes in with no landscaping in the back yard, for instance, then the value reflects that. Repairs are usually all negotiable. The seller will determine if your offer is acceptable or not. If not, they will reject it or counteroffer. They do not have to take the house off the market if you offer less and they don't accept it. If this is the house you want, then I hope it works out for you!

It sounds like your agent needs to do a better job of preparing you for the process. You do have your own agent representing you? I don't mean to be mean, but his/her job is to see that you understand all of these processes. I wish you luck.

Make sure when you make an offer you list absolutely evrything you can think of that needs repair and approximate cost to get the seller to see there is work that has to be done and a reduction in asking price is reasonable. We have moved many times over the years and loked at more homes then we would like. Our oldest has made most of those moves with us and from a very early age has analized what he likes in homes especially on building or refurb programs.

Make sure you have a reputable real estate agent...someone who is open and honest with you! I agree with having a licensed inspector to do the inspection while you are there! Do your homework. Listen to your female instincts! We all have them! You'll know what decisions you need to make! Keep us posted!