The phone call began, "Hello, Mrs. Weintraub; this is Sarah Johnson (made-up name to protect the innocent) from north New Jersey." I receive a lot of phone calls that start in this fashion. That's because people will read an article I wrote on About.com and call me for advice. They don't call the other writers from About.com because it's not so easy to find their phone numbers. It's very easy to find a Realtor's phone number, in particular, a cell phone number.
"Hello, Sarah, what can I do for you today?"
"You're the Cash for Keys lady, so I wanted to ask you a question." I patiently listen, wondering what in the world. Sarah goes into a long story about foreclosure, the bank, the problems with her daughter, her attempts to find housing. I tried to narrow her query.
Finally, I ask, "Are you a tenant whose landlord has lost your home in foreclosure, or are you a homeowner in foreclosure?" Tenant. The bank has asked her to move and given her a "cash for keys" letter. I ask what the letter says. OK, the bank will give her $2,000 if she moves out in 15 days, $1,500 if she moves in 30 days or $1,000 if she moves in 45 days. It's dated October 13. Today is November 7. Quick math.
"I'd take the $1,500 and skidaddle out of there," I reply.
My job is finished, I surmise. Maybe I can get back to trying to download a 3-computer license for Norton utilities. No such luck. Sarah spends another 10 minutes explaining that she found an apartment but can't move until December 1. OK, I have a solution for that, too. "Guess you'll only get a grand then," I say with as much sympathy in my voice that I can muster, adding, "I'm sorry."
But no, Sarah wants to argue. She wants more money because $1,000 isn't enough to pay a new security deposit. Do I have any idea how hard it is for a single mom to find an apartment in north New Jersey? I've already told her once that I am not the Cash for Keys lady.
I try again, "Look, Sarah, I'm just a real estate agent in California. I can't do anything for you; I can't help you; I have nothing to do with the bank."
"Buuuuutt, can I get more money?"
The moral here is there is a price to pay for good SEO and high ranking in Google.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
The Short Sale, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming from Archer Ellison in January 2009.
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
