Anita

No, but I'm interested. Can you give more details and perhaps the exact address? I haven't heard good things about Realty Trac so won't join. Even if it is cheap.
Do you know of another place to find info?
Good luck selling. I'm sorry you were foreclosed on. - Wed Apr 15 2009, 08:15

Don't know if you're still interested but...
Contact the listing realtor as I'm pretty sure this house did not sell, if it was indeed under contract. It is in the newest real estate book, as it has been for months now.
Having been inside this home I would say it needs work (some updating has already been done) and the yard is large for this neighborhood and "in town"
Hope that helps. - Sun Mar 22 2009, 10:29

I saw that on 60 Minutes too Bad Time and it seems things are only going to get worse when the next rounds of foreclosures begin. I welcome all opinions. I meant only that by my remark about it taking a village. Nothing snide was intended...
Miami is my home town, so I was sad to see the state of things there. - Mon Dec 15 2008, 14:49

No apologies necessary Kristin. It takes a village ....
And I so appreciate all those who have "checked" the YES box of my sanity questioneer.
You're a great resource. I can't thank you all enough. - Mon Dec 15 2008, 10:05

I'm really getting so much good info to arm myself with.
Our situation here is a bit different as this is a small, rural town, and not affluent in the least. There was a big influx of CA, FL and TX folks buying up houses during the boom who raised prices out of the local's reach. A sad state of affairs in many places. People here are used to living with very little and making do. Meaning we did not have far to fall in this economy, so the realtor's haven't seen the foreclosures, etc. elsewhere. I think there is only 1 foreclosure in town right now. However I do know they're starving along with many of their peers as the out of state buyers dried up. And they've said this to me as well!
We wanted a bargain for ourselves, not necessarily a fixer, but for a deal this place would be worth the time, money and effort. We would not flip it but live there for years enjoying the fruits of our labor.
Honestly, I think this kind of behavior gives both small towns and realtors a bad name. - Sat Dec 13 2008, 16:07

To clarify, this offer was unofficial. I felt obliged to prepare my agent for a low offer to soften the blow since she'd made noises before about "hurt feelings." I gave her a heads up so she wouldn't "fall off her chair" (literally what I wrote to her.) Now that I write this I see how ridiculous it was that I had to walk on egg shells to being with.
I feel the professional response would be something like... "Well, that's pretty low, don't expect it to be accepted, but we'll see what the seller counters with." Right?
Seems this is a business model better suited to a day care than a real estate company!
Can someone tell me more about going around the realtor to deal directly with the seller through a lawyer?
Thanks again to everyone for their help and to the realtors who have rekindled my faith in their profession by being as appalled by this behavior as I am. - Fri Dec 12 2008, 11:07

Thanks for your answers.
Poor Suze, she's getting hammered! :)
I only mentioned her remark to show the attitude among some, including me, that now is the time to get a home at a bargain price. I can't find a flaw in that logic.
IMHO a refusal to forward an offer is an effort to keep prices from dropping. If you never present a low offer for someone to consider, or God forbid accept, then prices stay high don't they?
Can't see how it's the realtor's call to make this decision for the seller or me. - Thu Dec 11 2008, 20:15

Thanks Jim. That was my feeling too that it *must* at the very least be presented to the seller.
This is a case of a dated, older home in a good neighborhood. It's a '70's rambler that needs everything updated/upgraded inside, a new roof and siding to replace the aluminum that's there now. We're talking a major monetary investment. One that we'd be willing to take on if the house was obtained at a decent price. But to pay 200+k then add 50-75k more, even if you can make it back some time down the road is a leap of faith. Only wish those working for me would take the same leap.
I believe it is time to get another agent.
I appreciate your time... - Thu Dec 11 2008, 16:21