By John O’Dell
I wrote an article last year that the banks were trying to make short sales shorter. That post was based on news at that time that banks were streamlining their short sale process. Well, I think that was propaganda that was just made to make people think the banks are acting responsibly. Nothing has changed since the banks press release.
You can wait six months and not hear anything from a bank on a short sale. They even put the property in foreclosure in the middle of a short sale! I can give you several recent examples that I had with short sales, none of them good.
A 5,000 square foot house in Nevada County was a short sale. Listed at over $800,000, than dropped to $599,000, than $499,000, than finally to $399,000. One of my clients made a full price offer, but was in a backup position. The buyers in first position, that is they made the first offer. The bank listed the property at $399,000, but then started negotiating with the buyer. The bank said (verbally) OK we’ll take $450,000, but once the buyers said OK, the bank changed their mind and said no we want $475,000 and got it! So much for fair dealing. By the way, 60 percent of the buyers in second position are the ones that get the home, since the buyer in first position gives up and buys somewhere else.
I have several offers in for my clients in second position and several months later, we have not heard anything. We have an offer in for another client on an REO (bank owned home) in San Jose and we are in the second week of finding out if our offer has been accepted. The response we get from the listing agent is that the bank’s asset manager is over whelmed. I can’t give you the offering price, but you know real estate in San Jose is not cheap, yet the bank is “over whelmed”.
So what has been your experience in dealing with your bank?
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
Here to help you with your buying or selling of real estate.
I’ve learned newer and more efecvtife things from your blog post. One more thing to I have found is that in most cases, FSBO sellers may reject people. Remember, they will prefer not to use your products and services. But if a person maintain a comfortable, professional romance, offering aid and staying in contact for around four to five weeks, you will usually be able to win an interview. From there, a listing follows. Thanks a lot
John – Right there with you. Short sale closed after a year on the market, 3 buyers, 3 buyers walked, finally 4th hung in 6 months to obtain approval only for the water main to break 3-days before closing. I closed it but can’t afford to do many of these a year. Now the REO agents who have nothing to do and are picking up short sales. Great, 70% of listings will not provide information via returned phone call. Selling real estate in the dark here in San Jose.