I have very few regrets in life. I don't regret my past marriages because I learned something from all of them and, obviously, at the time they seemed like a good idea or I wouldn't have done it. But I do regret not attending Woodstock. Participating in the March on Washington that fall or hitchhiking to the Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival the following spring (the Midwest's answer) doesn't make up for not going to Woodstock. Even though I was only 17, I could have hit the road and almost did, but I didn't.
I know what you're thinking. Oh, just grow up and get over it. But it's not that easy. Some regrets linger.
Some regrets pop up all of a sudden. Yesterday, a short sale buyer for a home on the Sacramento river canceled her escrow. She had regrets. This was a remarkable opportunity to buy a riverfront home for $299,000. Sure, it needs updates but it is livable, boasts great square footage, and OK the way it is. Her reasons for canceling were the process would take too long and the home needed too much work. But she knew that when she signed the purchase contract, and we were only about 30 days into the short sale process.
Something else was at play. That little thing called regret. For whatever reason. See, this is the thing about short sales. They take too long. They give buyers too much time to regret a decision.
This home on the river is not one of my short sale listings, but I can tell you, I wish I had the time to invest in buying this home for myself. It's a good buy. If you're interested in hearing more about it and would like a Sacramento short sale agent to represent you in the purchase, give me a ring.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
---
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.
Great post Elizabeth - and your riverside price is a reality check! Some buyers are still looking for the perfect palace at townhouse prices .... and you re so right ... but regret can happen at any stage in the sale, I'd prefer it in 30 days and not just after we get an approval from the lender ....
Regrets in general are not good Elizabeth cause they are a component of anger. Plus it is just the past. Let it go, learn, and make better decisions going forward. Woodstock would have been cool to attend. i can see the regret factor coming up in all sorts of short sale scenarios.
Well Elizabeth - I finally found something that separates us. . .I have deep regrets about missing Woodstock:-) I've tried to get over it through the years, but it remains one of those regrets. I also wish I had attended a few more "Grateful Dead" concerts too!
Elizabeth - I too have seen my fair share of buyers walk away from some great properties for one reason or another because the short sale process was taking too long. So many of my clients now simply won't even look at short sales because they simply take too long, which is sad because there are some really great looking short sale properties on the market right now. Such is the nature of the business right now.
On another note, I don't like to spend too much time on regret, I find it pointless. I too don't regret hubby #1 either as horrible as he was - would have never met hubby #2 if I hadn't run for my life from #1. I've made so many mistakes in my life but so many of them have made me the person I am now. Thank God I have been capable of learning from most of my mistakes.
Myrl: This does not separate us. It's just another thing we have in common, which is what I think you meant to say. I'm glad I'm not the only one who, when mid August rolls around, gets those little pangs of regret. And I'm not so sure that I agree with Gary that regrets are a component of anger. I think regrets are just a little bit of sadness.
Hey Donne: Buyers who walk away from short sales due to the length of time generally find themselves wrapped up in another that takes even longer.
Hi Elizabeth, I always wished I had been able to go to Woodstock. I think it would have been something to see....but now when I see the footage, and the mud and the rain and good lord all those people - I'm OK with missing it. I really am.
I wonder if your buyer will later regret not sticking it out for this great short sale on the river?