Melissa

Thanks Gary, I read the contract with her. There is no clause giving up the right to a final walk through. I am getting one after all. I held my ground. I let her know I was going to report her to her Broker. I also contacted the Michigan Association of Realtors to get there opinion. Basically it was inline with all the opinions on here. I made her aware of everything. She is upset but she will get over it. I will be getting my final walk through Wednesday at 12:45 P.M. Thanks for all the opinion, they helped me a lot. - Tue Sep 2 2008, 19:59

I agree with all of your comments. I appreciate the expert opinions. I just tried to call her but recieved her voice mail. So I emailed her. I hopefully she responds. She seems to have written me off like a cancelled check once the sales agreement was ratified. She is the one that thought I was being ridiculous wanting to do a home inspection. WHICH I DID DO! REGARDLESS OF WHAT SHE THOUGHT. Now I can see why some people are deterred from wanting to use a buyers agent. NOT ALL AGENTS ARE LIKE THIS BUT OBVIOUSLY SOME ARE. - Tue Sep 2 2008, 11:51

Just wanted to give a update for others that maybe interested in this original question of mine. I DID NOT GET CHARGED A ENORMOUS FEE FOR HAVING A FIRE PLACE. I actually got a great deal through Allstate on my homeowners insurance. While in the process I even switched my auto insurance. I now save 50% on my full coverage car insurance. Do check around on the rates. My previous insurer (had been with them six years never late on bill) wanted to charge me $200 more than the rate I got from Allstate. - Tue Sep 2 2008, 11:01

Got quote from State Farm my current insurer for $546.00/ year. I do not think that is too bad of a deal. I haven't checked any place else though. I should do that. - Tue Aug 12 2008, 14:05

MCB is refusing to authorize for the water to be turned on . They approved for electricity only. I will be paying for the fees that are associated with the appraisal, and for the appraisal itself. So I do not understand WHY they will not authorize the water to be turned on. My buyers agent is NO help. She thinks I am ridiculous for paying for a home inspection. I finially heard from my LO he says that FHA guidlines state the water has to be on for appraisal.

Anyone out there got any ideas or experiences to share?? Thanks in advance~ - Sat Aug 16 2008, 23:11

Thanks for the reply. WE all have communicated face to face to face, over the phone, and through email. Today my BA told me she spoke with the appraiser and he is going to still do the appraisal without the utilities on. She said it will not prevent me from closing FHA. I cannot get ahold of the LO to see if it will close. He originally said "NO" to that 2 days ago. I hope I will not have to pay twice for the appraiser once before the closing, and once after when the utilitis are officially on. - Sat Aug 16 2008, 09:57

R U N as fast as you can from this guy he sounds like a CON ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!! - Tue Aug 12 2008, 00:14

UPDATE!!!!!!!!! US BANK had declilned the amended offer about three weeks ago. I was going to do a FHA streamlined 203(k) but all lenders in my area seem to do are the 203(K) so I was going to go that route to have the roof repaired. BUT US BANK accepted another offer within hours of declining mine! So I moved on to other houses. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I FOUND A HUD HOME, IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WON THE BID!! JUST FOUND OUT TODAY. I will close with in 45 days!!! Wooo~Hooooo! I actually got to take part in the $100 down program after all.

Hopefully Ann is enjoying her new home by now! - Wed Jul 23 2008, 23:14

Thanks for the answer, Gary . It was very informative. I am doing a FHA. I was trying to avoid the FHA 203k (bit higher interest rates.) I am hopeful that US Bank accepts the addendum to my original offer. They originally agreed to pay closing, escrow $1600 toward 2008 taxes. So it never hurts to see if they will accept the new offer.

Give me some of those creative tips...................................Thank you~ - Wed Jun 25 2008, 10:08

Well the house got inspected today. We started with the roof~It will need to completely re roofed. I stopped the inspection then and there. I did not want to pay for a new roof. Then my agent and I brain stormed. I decided to write a addendum. Lower my offer to $65000 (due to inconvience to me), ask for $4000 to be escrowed (FHA) for a new roof, 3% for closing cost, $1600 to be escrowed for part of the non homestead property taxes for 2008, seller to participate in DPA Genesis program, a oppurtunity to re inspect if the offer is accepted. A later closing date of July 25, 2008. My agent doesn't have the confidence US Bank will accept this offer. But my loan officer and I feel they will. I expect a counter offer. I am willing to see if they accept. You never know if it will be a go ahead if your not willing to try. My loan officer figures if they accept my offer the bank will still make like $57,000 give or take. I have nothing to loose but time. I have been patient this long. On a good note, the inspector did not charge me a dime, since the roof was as far as he got. I told him I would hire him again in the near future. Below is a link to the house. The roof looks nice visually but inspection wise it is shot.

I got some moving boxes, and tape. I need to go through 10 years of stuff to decide what will move with me when the time comes. Have you started packing yet? - Tue Jun 24 2008, 18:28

LOL, Ann the house I had been waiting on posted as well. I am not really as interested in it as I used to be. I am going through with the inspection on the hope I have the earnest money sitting on. Yet, I now want to quickly change Mortgage brokers. This lady has not given me my GFE she keeps saying she has to wait until after the inspection. NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE! Also she is not letting me know about what good deals I quallify for. Like the MSHDA/FHA mortgage. It has GREAT interest rates! I decided that is the mortgage plan I WANT. I copy and pasted the information from MSHDA website and emailed it to her. She has not responded. I am losing confidence in her. I just hope I can move quickly or maybe have my realtor write up the paperwork to extend my closing date. It is scheduled for July 11,2008. - Sat Jun 21 2008, 23:56

The selling agent is now saying that the change in the listing price was a mistake that was overlooked. Yet the MLS# 171461 is still showing up at 59900. I am thinking of pulling the offer. I don't like being snowballed.........................I am thinking......................What do some of you realtors think. My agent thinks it was a mistake she says she has not way of finding out the truth. - Wed Jun 18 2008, 14:27

Thanks for the encouragement Ann! This is basically what my Buyers Agent said to me. I just hope it all works out for me. I don't want to get stuck with a money pit. I was just worried that the huge price drop was because something was wong with the house that was not visible. My realtor checked and the house previously had 3 potential buyers but none of the deals came to light. That makes me think HMMMMMM? What is up with that. Does any one out there know if a buyer could find in public records what may possibly be wrong with a property. - Tue Jun 17 2008, 20:37

Just found out from my buyers agent that the bank dropped the price of my property yesturday to 59,900. Yet they accepted my offer today for 70,000. I am not willing to pay 15,000 above the asking price. So now we will do a addendum on the offer or pull the offer. She is going to confer with the banks agent Wednesday and ask what is going on. And why didn't he mention this price drop to her today. I will see where to go from here, I now wonder is there something seriously wrong with this house that is not visible such as plumbing, or electrical????????????????? Any thoughts out there? - Tue Jun 17 2008, 19:38

congradulation ANN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo HOO!! That is wonderful. I guess today is OUR DAY~

Thanks for the info on the homestead. I did not know I could file it sooner. I was thinking I had to go to the assessors office in Feb. I would rather file it sooner then I will know half of it is taken care of then I can just worry about making sure it is accurate. Any one know of any links for more information on this conversion from non homestead to homestead? - Tue Jun 17 2008, 16:38

I will keep my fingers crossed for you ANN. This process can be such a head ache! It sucks neither of us could by the HUD home we liked. Or at least bid on it in a fair manner. But I think we both made wise decisions to take our business elsewhere. Thanks for the tip on the first months mortgage, I wasn't thinking about that it is good to know. Luckily this home already has a good stove, refrigrator, and built in dishwasher. Hopefully they work. I would have like the $2500 that HUD offered but they did not want my business too bad or else they would make sure MCBREO is a little quicker posting their properties.

I think it is terrible that MONROE COUNTY will not participate in the Good Neighbor program. That program is a wonderful way to encourage home ownership and to upgrade the community. It would have been a great deal for you. I wish that program applied to Corrections Officer's. - Tue Jun 17 2008, 13:54

The home I will hopefully own by the end of the summer is located at 808 Hein Lansing Mi 48911. So if any of you realtors want to check it out and tell me what you think I will value you opinions. I offered $70,000 with seller concessions of closing cost, $1600 to be escrowed for property taxes, and finally but not least final inspection report. - Tue Jun 17 2008, 13:46

Thank you! I am really excited. I truely hope everything turns out successful for both Ann and I. We both seem to share the head ache of this process. This board has helped me alot! I thank everyone that has given advice or opinios. I will keep you all posted. - Tue Jun 17 2008, 13:42

US Bank accepted my offer on their foreclosed property, I had bid on last week. It is NOT a HUD property. I now have to wait on the inspection. Earliest I could get a appt. was for next Tuesday. The bank will pay my closing cost, and half of the property taxes for the tax year. SInce right now the taxes are non homestead and run 3,500. Way too much. I will got to the city assessor in Feb. 2009 and have the home reassessed for my purchase price and file for homestead.

I originally liked this house a few months back but it was pending a sale. The potental buyer could not qualify for a mortgage. So it went back on the market. If the inspection goes OK it will be my future home, as a first time homebuyer. I am excited!!! - Tue Jun 17 2008, 13:12

I recieved a email back from someone at HUD (someone I did not email, but my email was forwarded to.) I will copy and paste the brief email below. But first I will say I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN! I placed a bid on a nice REO property owned by a bank last Thursday. Who know how long it will take them before they decide if they will accept my offer. So If I have not heard anything when MY HUD HOME list on FRIDAY (IF it really list FRIDAY) I will decide if I will recind the offer I already submitted on a NON HUD home. I HAVE got to see what the HUD home list at, and what the report on it has to say. We will see what happens.
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FW: Status: 263-351955 3616 South Deerfield Lansing MI 48911‏
From: Kellett, Clifford J (Clifford.J.Kellett@hud.gov)
Sent: Fri 6/13/08 7:25 AM


Good Morning M Wright, I’ve been advised that this property has been fast-tracked and will be available in MCB’s listings next Friday. - Sun Jun 15 2008, 23:21

I did get one reply from HUD which sugar coated MCBREO. They did offer to get information for me on the property I desired. I emailed them back with the info, on Monday. I have not heard back. I did look at some other properties today. I found two NON HUD HOMES. Both REO properties. I like one so much I am willing to place a offer. BUT then I noticed what the property taxes were in 2007 for this property. Before I place a offer I want to be reassured by the tax assesor's office that MY NEW TAXES would be based off what I paid for the property. I am willing to offer $70000.00 BUT not if I have to pay 3500.00/year in property taxes. - Tue Jun 10 2008, 23:38

Thanks Ann. As I reread my posting just now, I noticed some misspelled words. I am suprised my spell check did not catch them. Anyway, I too am starting to loose interest in the home I "so desire." I have pictures of it in my cell phone though so I can be reminded of what it looks like on the inside. I have continued looking at other houses. I am going out again on Tuesday as a matter of fact. BUT this one particular HUD house is the only one I have liked well enought that I WANT to purchase. I will keep looking at what else is out there, it is such a BUYERS market right now.

I am not sure if my emails will do any good. But I got the steam off my chest. I am glad you mentioned the Lansing Housing Commission. I never thought about them when I was thinking of who to send the email to. I will send a copy to them and to the Michigan State Housing Developement Authority. - Sat Jun 7 2008, 22:33

I emailed Senators Levin, and Stebenow, also Midwest Regional Director HUD Joseph Galvan, Field office director HUD-Detroit Lana Vacha, Field office director HUD-Grand Rapids Louis Berra. Regarding these HUD listings taking so long. I got the steam off my chest. Not sure if it will fall on deaf ears. Below is what I had to say.
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Hundreds of HUD homes in the State Of Michigan sit vacant. While eager buyers wait, month after month for the homes to go up for bid through MCBREO.COM With technology as it is today this process should not take as long as it has. I am a eager first time home buyer that would love to buy a home located in Lansing MI. I have toured the home. It is a HUD home. Yet can not purchase this home until it gets posted through the law firm handling MI HUD Homes. So far I have waited two months,it still has not been posted. This firm, only post 4-5 HUD homes a week in Lansing and other communities through out the state. I know of others that also have been waiting literally MONTHS for the HUD home they are interested in bidding on. Yet these homes also have not been listed. I feel this is a disservice to all citizens. Could this process of transition be sped up at all? I am sure federal money is paying this law firm good money to handle the sale of these homes. This process should not take as long as it has been. With the economy is the condition as it is in. Foreclosures are up. Stimulus checks are arriving. Some of us taxpayers have already been approved for FHA mortgages and are eager to buy a HUD home. But time is ticking away. Week after week we are disappointed. check out this website, MCBREO.COM it is updated every Friday after 4:00 P.M. you can see for yourself NOT ALL OF THE STATES HUD INVENTORY ELIGIBLE FOR PURCHASE ARE NOT BEING LISTED ADEQUATELY. This transition process from one law firm to another should not be taking this long. - Fri Jun 6 2008, 22:54

Another disappointing day for me too, Ann!!! The house I have my eye on once again didn't show up on the list.

I am with you on our complaints falling on deaf ears. But it makes me feel better knowing I atleast tried to blow off some steam. Tonight I am going to do just that. I am going to email as many people as I can think of, and let them know just what I think. I am entertaining going to the news media, to see if they are interested in a good topic. I am sure the two of us are not the only ones playing this waiting game. I am sure there are many who just have spoken out.

Thanks for the two links I will check them out tonight. - Fri Jun 6 2008, 14:57

Yes, this process with MCBREO is very fustrating. Most people, do not realize what is going on. They think that these homes are vacant because NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN BUYING THEM. That obviously is not the case here! I think people are interested they just do not know what is going on. In the mean time, the houses sit vacant. This also has a effect on the occupied houses in the same neighborhood as the vacant houses. I wish there was someone to contact that would actually LISTEN, and direct me to someone that has the power to DO SOMETHING to speed along this transition process. WHAT GOOD IS A SPECIAL INCENTIVE TO BUY A HUD HOME WITH FHA FINANCING IF THE INVENTORY IS NOT COMPLETELY LISTED FOR THE BUYERS TO SHOP????

THIS EVENING WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK, I PLAN TO EMAIL MY SENATOR, STATE REP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE MY COMPLAINTS WILL BE. I WILL EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO EMAIL THE BIG WIGS AT HUD. IT NEVER HURTS TO TRY. NO JUST FOR ME BUT FOR OTHERS LIKE ME WHO ARE WILLING AND WAITING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BUYERS MARKET AND BUY MY FIRST HOME. - Fri Jun 6 2008, 09:47

Ann I could not agree with you more. I am still looking at other homes. I just really liked that one. If I buy HUD I want to get in on the deal before it expires. Yes, Lansing area has a lot of nice cheap houses. You just have to look. The property taxes are pretty decent as well.

I find it to be so discouraging that with technology as it is today this process of transferring all this information over is dragging. The simple fact the email I recieved stated they have no order in which the properties are posted. NO ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS. A project like this should have some sort of structure to it. The goverment is losing money on every home that someone is interested in yet has not been relisted on the MCBREO website. I agree with you. As long as it was posted by the Chapman firm prior to the transition. It should be fair game for buyers such as ourselves! I know ranting does us no good, I like you check the site every friday morning and again at night just to see if it has been posted. My area has thousands of repo homes both HUD and others, yet only about 5 homes a week get posted in my area for HUD. None of them are the one I am waiting on. It feels good to know someone else out there is experiencing the same problem as myself. It feels good to get it off my chest. - Wed Jun 4 2008, 19:50

I emailed MCBREO last night regarding the home I am interested in which has not been listed on the MCBREO website yet. Below is the reply to that email. I thought I would share it with you all. Thanks for all the information you have all shared with me. Thanks Gary for checking. I am not sure if my buyers agent checked into that. I will share the information with her. (Reply to my email below from MCBREO.COM)

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Thank you for your email. We are currently transitioning the inventory which includes completing home inspections, correcting health and safety issues, and reviewing property documentation on all the available HUD properties in Michigan in order to ensure they are marketed accurately. We appreciate your patience during this process and anticipate having more properties available shortly. Although, we do not have an exact date on any particular city/county due to the fact there is no certain order we are listing the homes, it should not be much longer. Please check our website- mcbreo.com- every Friday for updated announcements and listings.



Christina Elhusseini

Michaelson, Connor, & Boul, Inc.

Customer Service Representative

Office:248.827.0200 ext 200

Fax: 248.827.2100

Email: christina.elhusseini@mcbreo.com

Website: http://www.mcbreo.com - Wed Jun 4 2008, 19:13

My buyers agent says she looks for it listed everyday in the MLS, and Fridays on MCBREO.COM. I found it on HOMESALES.GOV they do not give a listing number, The address is 3616 S. Deerfield Lansing, MI 48911. If anyone can help me with this information. I appreciate it dearly!! - Tue Jun 3 2008, 21:48

Thought I would update my question. Tonight I found the house I am interested in listed on the goverment website GOVSALES.GOV. The goverment has it on their site as a available HUD property in my area. The MCBREO.COM just has not listed it. I assume. I emailed them. I am not sure if I will ever hear back. I wonder if I can FOIA any information pertaining to this property??? I just cannot stop thinking about it. I have already done One walk through on it. I fell in love. It is MY IDEAL. I guess I will be patient, I do not want to wait a year. I will be looking at more homes next week with my buyers agent. This HUD house was the only one I actually liked enough to buy. The FHA/HUD deal going on right now is a great deal that I would love to utilize. BUT I WILL ONLY BUY HUD IF I LIKE THE HOME ENOUGH TO SPEND THE MONEY ON IT. I appreciate all the responses. Keep them coming very informative! Thanks - Tue Jun 3 2008, 21:01