I was over at the Med Center yesterday listing a house. It's a short sale, like many in Sacramento. As I was walking through the home, doing my agent visual inspection, my phone rang. I'm always a bit conscious when I'm in a vacant house and talking on my cell because I tend to pace the floor when I talk. I can't stand still. No way, Jose. As a result, the sound of my heels clicking on hardwood floors echoes through my Jawbone device. I imagine that sound is not a very pleasant experience for the caller on the other end.
The solution, of course, would be to unzip those boots and prance around in stocking feet. But I'm not that practical. I also wasn't wearing a coat, so going outside wasn't an option. It was chilly by Sacramento standards, in the high 40s, low 50s. That would be balmy weather in Minnesota, but cold here.
I tiptoed around the house.
The guy who called me wanted to know if Freddie Mac would negotiate with him. Why does he think I have the answer? I don't know him; I don't know his agent; I am not privy to his transaction and, on top of it all, I am really not even allowed to give him advice because he is not my client. The Code of Ethics say I can't interfere in another REALTOR'S® transaction. Giving him advice would be interference. I'm just a Sacramento short sale agent, working with my own clients. See, this is what happens when people can easily find you on the Internet.
I see agents do interfere in other REALTORS'® business all the time on Trulia.com. Sometimes, I even post a message that says we can't give that type of advice, and I explain why. But agents stomp right over my warnings and post away, yakking about what the person should or should not do, all the while knowing the person has agent representation. Some agents just don't think. Or, if they do, they don't care.
The property this guy wanted to buy was located one block away from the home I was listing. I suspect it was an REO, probably a HomePath property. He described the whole thing to me and asked what he should do. What did his agent tell him to do? His agent told him to buy the property, he said. It was something like $30,000. What a steal. Well, then, stop blabbing to me about it and go buy it.
Just for the record, if you're looking for a home in the Med Center, I have a sweet bungalow for $149,000, with hardwood floors and gobs of charm. 3840 Y Street, Sacramento, CA 95817. Lyon Real Estate. Offered as a short sale by your Sacramento short sale agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, 916 233 6759. For a private showing, call Barbara Dow at 916 761 7398.
---
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.
