Fred B.

Daniel and Cindi, forgive me but I fail to see how having my own qualified buyers' agent would have changed the situation. At the end of the day my independent agent would still have to go through Jack & Jill to get my offer to the bank. The lack of transparency would remain allowing Jack & Jill to manipulate the situation at will.

If I am overlooking key facts in this situation, please let me know. - Sat Nov 15 2008, 13:43

Wow, thanks everyone! I didn't know what I was getting myself into and I sure could have used this guidance on the front end. All I wanted to do was negotiate with the bank for this home. Obviously I didn't expect them to show their hand since they want the highest price they can get. However, I didn't expect that the person who is facilitating the process would actually be muddying the waters to serve their own financial interests. This is one of those live-and-learn experiences indeed.

You all have provided outstanding advice and I'll certainly remember your names for future reference. You've given me a lot to chew over before I made my next move. Thanks again. - Sat Nov 15 2008, 11:11

"…often it’s like playing three card Monty. A home can site for a year, you call about it and suddenly there are multiple offers and your “highest and best” is needed ASAP. The other game that is getting very popular is listing for significantly less than they’ll go for and the bidding war starts..."


Hank, are you clairvoyant? This is exactly my situation. The home I want to buy is a dozen houses away from mine on a different street. I pass by at least twice a day, on my way to and from work. It sat for at least a year (maybe more) before the owner took the For Sale sign down. Now that it’s bank owned the asking price has decreased 85%. I live in the neighborhood and I know the market here. None of the homes are moving yet Jill expects me to believe that there are suddenly multiple offers on this one?

Is it reasonable for her to ask me to increase my offer when I haven't even heard back from the bank yet? If this were a game of tennis the ball would be in the bank's court now. It's not my turn to make a move or is it? Given my desire to get this house I would consider upping my cash offer but I get the feeling that I’m being hosed and I don’t like it. - Sat Nov 15 2008, 07:47

Lisa, I signed a purchase and sale agreement that contained a designated agency assignment. "Jill" is supposed to be working exclusively with me as my designated agent and "Jack" is to be working exclusively as the Seller's designated agent. Is this what you meant?

Joshua, you say this was a poor decision on my part but how else could I have gotten my offer to the bank except by going through Jill? By the way, Jack and Jill have different last names so it's not clear whether they are married.

Lynn, that's just the thing. I would assume that if Jill was REALLY working in my best interest she would have contacted me and let me know that there were higher offers on the table. Even if she couldn't tell me exact figures, if she's working to help me get this house she could have clued me in. I have no problem with multiple offers; the problem is that my agent appears to have divided loyalties. I haven't yet received a rejection or counteroffer yet but my agent is telling me to offer more money. It just doesn't smell right to me. - Fri Nov 14 2008, 18:32