When you're lost in the rain in Juarez, and it's Easter-time, too. And your gravity fails and negativity don't pull you through. That's the opening to a song on Highway 61 Revisited, next to Blonde on Blonde, my second favorite Dylan album. He was so cute back then! Up on housing project hill, it's either fortune or fame. You must pick one or the other, though neither of them are to be what they claim.
This song, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, is going through my head this morning as I reflect on yesterday's insane activities. Usually Thursdays are a bit slower because they are the unofficial Sacramento short sale agent day off. But there was nothing day-offish about yesterday.
A couple of agents tried to renegotiate the terms of a short sale. One of them said she "didn't feel comfortable" following the terms of the contract, which her buyer had signed. I'm very sorry she is uncomfortable, but that's too bad. If she plans to let her buyer breach the contract, we'll put the home back on the market as an active short sale pending rescission. It's not that I'm uncaring but, hey, my seller's needs come first.
The ink wasn't even dry on the contract when another agent called to ask if she could lower the amount of her buyer's earnest money deposit. She said a lower amount would make him happier. It's not my fault she did not explain that all earnest money deposits are released to escrow. Because we expect buyers to act like a buyer. Crap or get off the pot, why doncha? This is standard procedure.
There is nothing standard procedurish about this new short sale listing in the Pocket. It's a beautiful remodeled townhome in a remarkable complex. You'd be lucky to live here. You'd be lucky to own this as an investor. It's so clean you could eat off the kitchen floor, although I don't know why you'd want to when the dining area is a perfectly acceptable place to have dinner.
The dining area features sliding doors to a balcony. Just beyond the balcony, across the street, is the pool and spa. It was the middle of the afternoon and 80 degrees when I was there, and the pool area was completely empty. It's very pretty scenery. At the other end of the dining area is the living room, with a fireplace, a granite surround, and sliding doors to yet another balcony. This balcony faces the front and has enough room for a large grill, table and chairs.
The first floor has a large laundry room with plenty of space for workout equipment, plus the washer and dryer stay. Off the laundry is an attached 2-car garage. The second floor features your entertainment area, with a living / dining combo, a remodeled half bath, and a gorgeous kitchen. Actually, the sellers of this home read my blog a few years back about my Land Park kitchen remodel and intalled the same marble backsplash, but these counters are granite. Mine are quartz.
Upstairs, you'll find 3 bedrooms, one of which is a master suite. The master bath has a separate tub and a walk-in shower. Ceramic floors in all the baths with granite vanity tops.
This complex is called Park River Oak Estates, and it's a gated community. There is a clubhouse with gym and spa, plus an entertainment area, located across the street. The HOA dues are $250 a month.
7756 Park River Oak Circle, Sacramento, CA 95831, is exclusively offered by Lyon Real Estate as a short sale at $149,000. For more information, call your Sacramento short sale agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, at 916 233 6759. For a private showing, call Linda Swanson, at 916 607 0111.
Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub
---
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.
Elizabeth, I just don’t understand some agents. They are the problem with many short sales. If they don’t understand them and don’t have the stomach for them they should not be representing buyers on them. When buyers are educated about short sales the sales process is like an organic sale with the exception of the time required to obtain lender approval(s).
Now it's going through my head! When I saw your title I thought could she be referring to " Just Like Tom Thumb Blues" one of my favorite Dylan songs of all time? Love your choice in music.
That's gotta be a first! I don't believe I've ever heard of a Buyer requesting to reduce an earnest money deposit. I guess he's making offers on multiple properties, and needed to split up his available funding. . .:-)
Hi Kathleen: In some circles, it's like the blind leading the blind around here. But I just go with the flow and remember to repeat myself over and over until they get tired or hang up. Ya gotta have patience. I have a lot of patience. I didn't use to have patience. Short sales have taught me the zen of patience.
Hi Brian: A client I went to visit in the Pocket a few days ago had bought a new keyboard with like, oh, I dunno, maybe 50 different buttons that produced various sounds. It didn't have a Dylan button. You know, that nasal sound. I asked.
Hi Myrl: When buyers and their agents find out things will be different than they thought, they often think it's OK to renegotiate. But the answer to that is no. No, no, no, a thousand times no. Can't wait to go fishing!!!!!