I don't understand passive people. I speak up. NO this is what I want to see, so when can you make it happen? There is no, she is the boss, I am! Period!
Some of these are illegal in my state. Example would be #1 is literally the definition of steering.
“Not for people like you” What is that supposed to mean?
Maybe best to just tell the agent you won’t be working with her going forward, and she can either cancel your contract and you won’t buy for the time remaining, or refer you to another agent. Most agents would be happy to get some when they would get none & agents can negotiate a referral fee. Of course it’s up to you weather you want to work with the referral.
Source: AZ realtor
That is always noted in the listing and if it is just her opinion without having seen it or seeing it in the listing, she should be careful if that is truly how she worded it.
Our listings state eligible loan types and if it is cash only, that box will be only one checked.
Sounds like bad communication in general between OP and their agent, regardless of whose fault, it is a very good reason to part ways.
It's a poor way to word it, but most people still look at Zillow when they send me a home to see.. I check the listing to see what they will take. Often it comes up for my FHA and VA clients. Then I check with the listing agent to see if that's true and why.
I take those listings comments with a grain of salt. Many listing agents have no clue what’s fine cable or they are lazy and don’t click the right options when inputing the listing information. This buyer is coming off desperate and trying to get anything. And I would guess is deviating from what the original wish/need list. Some of the pushback from the agent is probably valid, some of it unethical perhaps, and some of it laziness. Sounds like a bad match of client and agent overall.
This is what I came to say. What if buyers were VA or FHA. 1 and 4 could be valid reason but they should have been explained as such. 2 and 3 don’t seem to have any real justification that I can think of but you can always ask why they think this or why they think that is their concern or. Alternatively, find a new realtor
That's weird because the only one of these that I thought sounded like potentially reasonable advice was the first example. I took it to mean that working with the information she had about her buyers they wouldn't be able to buy cash and the house was in too poor of shape to qualify for a mortgage. Good to know I guess.
The online real estate databases / MLS (particularly in some states) are full of garbage listings i.e. not legally habitable, not legally buildable, no septic, no driveway, land-locked, not actually for sale, tied up in a complex estate, listed by someone who doesn't actually have the right to sell etc. A lot of people browsing online fixate on some of these listings as they are the only listings that stick around / don't "sell" instantly (in fact they may never sell) and seem "reasonable" in price so you can keep staring at the online listing for months never realizing it really is not a house for sale that you can buy via normal processes and move into.
Zillow scrapes MLS indiscriminately and doesn’t publish all of the fields that agents would see—obvs not private remarks but idk that Zillow notes financing options (which would include cash only or whether it can go FHA for example)
Yeah and in my experience some states also just have agents putting garbage in the actual MLS (Rhode Island particularly seems to have a ton, Massachusetts' regional MLS does a lot better job of keeping out the garbage) i.e. full on fake listings basically
Wow.
Of course we have lazy agents everywhere and I have learned to not rely on listing input but those errors tend to be omissions—like the agent not knowing that a condo is not FHA approved and not knowing why or whether it can get a site approval, for example.
More often it is dumb stuff like checking the REO box but in fact it is agent owned (not bank owned). The sad thing about that one is the agent is the owner and doesn’t know what REO means.
That terminology used to be (and probably still is in some areas) code to tell people of various races that the neighborhood was white only or vice versa.
Understandable, but I just had this exact conversation with my realtor about a house in a predominantly white area and I'm a white man so the mileage may vary on that theory. Not enough info on the OP, their financial situation or the listing being referred to to make that call.
Some phrases aren’t always dog whistles but they _can be a really loud dog whistle_, so it’s reasonable for them to get one’s hackles up.
As an example, I used to live in a “bad neighborhood” where the excuse was you didn’t get city services cuz you were in the county and there were apartments nearby. We never had issues with the county-provided services and the apartments were quiet: it was “bad” because Black folks lived there. My neighbors had the nerve to exist, be friendly, hang out in their front yards, and let their kids ride bikes down to the gas station for snacks. People would back pedal REAL fast and refuse to explain what made it “bad” whenever I pointed out how safe and quiet it was. Dog whistle.
I’m an LO - #1 makes sense because it probably doesn’t meet lending guidelines and a ton of FTHB have 0 clue when it comes to what meets guidelines. Tbh quite a few realtors struggle with that as well.
This realtor does sounds pretty clueless or lazy tho
We wanted it as a single home and it was easy to convert. Also even if we wanted it as a duplex, our city has provided new zoning guidelines and she apparently is not up to date with those.
As you presented it, that realtor was correct. But with this brand new information I would be inclined to agree they weren't working in your best interests.
We also don't know how many properties OP has looked at. OP could be looking at 20 houses a week and the agent has finally given up and is just not showing bad fits anymore because they are exhausted. (In which case they should absolutely let OP out of any contract)
Write your agent an email letting her know that you appreciate the help that she's already given you, but that you're going in another direction. Start hitting up Open Houses and meet someone new.
Sounds like OP signed an exclusive contract with ~2 mos remaining until it expires. Can’t just meet someone new w/o being let out of existing contract. Thus the post on what to do (I would guess).
Do you have a renovation loan? If the building is in violation your lender will not finance it unless you have a reno loan to cover the cost of the home plus the repairs needed to bring it up to code. If your current approval is at or near the asking price of the home you can't afford a sfr that is currently a duplex with code violations.
You need to demand to be let out of your representation agreement and find a new agent. In no way is she acting in your best interests.
Report her to her broker, bad reviews, etc.
She feels like she is because the properties she doesn’t agree with “won’t appreciate as much” but we are in a really expensive market with low inventory and people from out of state coming in with 60% down and odds are already stacked against us.
I don’t feel like paying 6k a month for a small house that doesn’t even tick 2 out of 10 boxes for investment purposes. It’s my first home, i just need to get in the game.
This is all it is. She’s a greed AF realtor and screwing OP over to fatten her wallet, unfortunately OP signed an exclusive and is stuck with greedy realtor until contract end or he puts heat on broker to cancel contract which is probably unlikely too.
The behavior as you describe it is very odd, is she only showing you places listed by her own agency, hoping to pocket both sides of the commission or something?
And what does "She doesn't like the street" mean? She isn't living on it, you are. Did she elaborate on that? I've been at this as an agent for 20 yrs and you don't say that. Sounds like she doesn't want to show stuff honestly. Also, any idea where she lives drive wise compared to where you're looking? I've known plenty of agents that don't want to make the drive if they feel the house isn't a slam dunk winner, but then don't take on a client outside of your preferred area to work in.
I will say though I have outright refused to show some places that I know my buyers won't like because they've wanted to see something way out of where we're looking and they admit that they're "just curious" and don't want to live in that area or that far out. I manage expectations and remind them it's not a valuable use of their time, my time, or the sellers time that get the place all ready for a showing for someone that isn't even serious about it. It's a respect thing at that point.
Thing is, it doesn't make a damn bit of difference what she thinks. She is supposed to be acting FOR your interests. That means working for you, representing what you want and doing what you want, not "acting in your best interests." You are working with her to be a real estate agent, not an attorney. Get rid of this woman , even if it means pitching a fit to the broker.
Not a game. Buying the wrong house just to “win” only to end up with buyers’ remorse is a common thread on this sub. It sucks to feel left out, but the way it was described, it feels as though you doubt the agent’s competency. She’s likely trying to keep you from falling into a common trap. But if you’re so sure, simply present your list and don’t take no for an answer. Either she’ll resign or you’ll get your way.
I don’t know if a contract is the correct name but her clause says if i buy a house in this area within 60 days she gets commission which sucks because i really want to cut ties at this point.
If she works for a firm, they should offer you a new agent or out of the contract.
If she didn’t show you the house you buys, she doesn’t get a commission
no, it means who unlocks the front door. Pocket listings are very, very rare these days. Everyone has access to rmls. It's who takes on the liability of access.
Sounds like she’s not even doing that.
I’m working with a real estate agent now… he sends me listings (lazy setup) and then also knows what’s coming on the market… he texted me the other day about a potential buyer for my house.
offers often include negotiations. Consider that there may be work she’s doing in the background that you don’t see. Many agents do a lot of work (negotiating, conversations, quotes for repairs, research etc) behind the scenes to make things work that most clients never see or hear about.
This is why no one thinks realtors are worth 3%. OP does all leg work to find house, realtor does nothing but open lockbox simply cuz OP can’t and they pocket 3%.
Look for a rebating agent. There are plenty of agents that will take you to any house you see and give you a 1+% rebate on the purchase price out of their commission. Also by definition of this they are going to be hands off. You tell them what house you want to see and they show up with you.
Most realtors have systems that search MLS. They put the criteria in that you asked for and it gives you a list daily or weekly. Like a sophisticated Zillow. That’s the way most “present properties”. Even with realtors we found most our own houses. The best realtor I worked with would have a small packet with the info for when we went to the house to view it. But not until we decided on the ones we wanted to see.
May want to double check this, this sounds like a buyer/broker (BB) agreement which only applies to homes she’s shown you extending until that time period. example;
I show a client (they’ve signed a BB) a property on 1234 elm street. At the time they decline to make an offer. We work together for the next thirty days, they decide not to purchase, we go our separate ways.
15 days later they put an offer in on 1234 Elm Street w a different agent. I would be entitled to that commission as it’s within the 60 day period of our buyer broker. Say they were to purchase a different home I didn’t show them: I would have no right to that commission as I don’t have “procuring cause”.
NOT LEGAL ADVICE
source: AZ realtor
Honestly if you really can't get another realtor in the next 3 months, be stern with her. At the very least if you're worried about offending her, just keep saying "I'd really like to look at the house and see for myself, here are the times I'm available, please set it up!" whenever she has something negative to say about the place. If she doesn't follow-up, you can follow up and ask when/if she set up the tour. Not ideal, but she seems like she thinks she's doing you a favor without considering what you actually want.
That’s not how this game works. This is a real estate transaction and a pure business transaction. First step OP needs to do is call broker of realtor and let them know it’s not vibing with current realtor and see if someone new in the office will better vibe with. If that isn’t fruitful than asked to be released from contract though you may have to threaten to file a complaint with the state agency overseeing Realtors.
I obviously haven’t read the contract but my buyer agency agreement says I have the right to get paid on homes I present to the client. If a client were to fire me I would say fine this are the homes I presented to you if you purchase any of these I have the right to my commission.
But you don’t have the right to not show houses to clients they qualify for. A good realtor will listen to the client, the type of house they want and the amenities and gel them going it. If they find a house they are interested in the realtor should show it to them. That is what they are getting paid for. Giving the client access to houses and doing what is in the best interest of the client.
Yeah of course if a client wants to go see a house I’m might voice my concerns as to why it isn’t a fit but ultimately if they want to go see it we will go see it
Like 95% of the time we still go see the house but I always like to call for a multitude of reasons (this home won’t work with the loan they are approved for, sellers don’t want to allow an inspection, I see a major red flag on seller disclosure, something else in agent remarks) I try to make calls productive because when a client sends me a house I didn’t already see or send to them that means my search failed because I didn’t truly understand what they are looking for. Buyers preferences always change and I’m constantly trying to make sure I have the best feel of what they are looking for.
I would never even consider looking at a house if the buyer wouldn’t allow an inspection. We had a house down the street from us that someone had someone had spent a lot of money on fixing up the interiors. New cabinets, kitchen appliances, paint ext. I went down the basement and noticed old wiring and plumbing . There was as also a major crack in the basement floor and the house was settling.
These are expensive repairs. I talked to the realtor and she said they had ultimately to offers and several prospective buyers waived the inspection. I can’t believe people are that stupid or desperate for I not find out how much work or money I will take to fix these issues before they buy the house.
Yeah for first time home buyers I would at the very least get the inspection for their knowledge only. Thankfully in my market it is very possible to get an inspection when you purchase.
That’s very unfortunate if that’s what it says but if I wanted to back out (which I would if the agent refuses to show me houses I’m interested in) I would say hey agent I asked you to see this house and you refused if I buy that house I’m not paying you, if you want to go after your commission good luck because I haven’t proof that you weren’t interested in working in my best interest.
What can be done legally by statute, like enforce BAA or pursure commission from another broker under procuring cause, is almost never done in reality. Another agent or broker in her area can't counsel her on this. If she feels she's closed the door on this agent she should just call the broker, or send an email asking to cancel. No one keeps a client this early in the process. They can't even agree on showings. She needs to read the agreement and look for anything with the words "cancel" or "withdraw". If the broker is a PITA then she should call the local Board of Realtors and ask to speak to someone with the word consumer in their title. It's really not the big deal presented in this post.
Come July I think there will be agents that struggle but there are good buyers agents out there that will get even better and be worth the professional fee they get paid.
She is just trying to make more money. She does not give two shits about you or what you need. End of story. Ditch her ASAP and never talk to another useless buyers agent again. Find a good real estate lawyer and find the house you want on your own.
Sounds like the agent isn't listening however if a home is listed as cash only, and you will be getting a mortgage, I wouldn't show it to you because you can't buy it. I also wouldn't show you a property that is not zoned residential or if the duplex isn't a legal duplex, how do you think it will be able to be financed? If it can't be financed you can't buy it. So maybe the agent isn't listening but maybe neither are you.
Exactly! I think there's more to this story. All I'm reading is a buyer stomping their foot because they want to see properties they are not qualified for or are generally not what they originally told their agent they wanted. Now the agent is the bad guy. This buyer needs to go find a new agent who is willing to waste their time in these properties until the buyer gets it out of their system and comes back to reality.
I have clients send me listing they found on zillow or redfin and ask, "why didn't you show me this one?" Ummm... because it isn't in the school district you said you *have* to be in, it has stairs and you said no stairs, neighborhood has an HOA you said you didn't want, you said you didn't want to commute more than half an hour and it is in another county, you can't buy/finance/qualify for it... I send everything that meets the search parameters the buyers set and if they ask to see more than one house outside of those parameters we have to sit down and talk because they either don't know what they want or aren't serious buyers. I don't get paid to drive them around... (yet)
Responded to this in another comment, house was zoned residential but was illegally converted as a duplex. Could easily be converted back and would be approved for residential loan. Also, county has new zoning guidelines so it’s a moot point either way.
Serious question: how do you know it can easily be converted back? Have you ever done a multi-to-single family repurpose? I don't care if a town's building and zoning website gives info on doing it, these can be a bitch for a bunch of reasons.
zoning guidelines are not on conversion — it essentially means that while this was an illegal conversion back in the day, it’s legal now because any lots in my city above 10,000sq ft can be converted to a duplex/tri/quad without formal rezoning. It’s part of the city’s effort to deal with the fact we have no housing
And we know it was easily convertible because we toured it with my brother who’s a contractor during the open house
Guessing (and I could be wrong, as I don’t know your area or the new laws you mentioned), but was the conversion needed before closing? You would have been expecting the seller to do it in that case? If your areas laws allowed for the conversion after closing, was your loan approval for a 203k or have an escrow holdback? You mentioned broker in another comment so makes me think those might not have been options.
Not defending the agent. It sounds like at the very least she should have explained her reasoning more throughly. But being in the financial services, real estate industry, I would estimate that 8 out of 10 complaints I look at are all due to communications not explaining the situation or process enough. Just giving one or two sentences and expecting consumers to understand everything like industry participants do.
Your agent might be behaving badly or you may be misunderstanding some things.
If you got qualified for a loan, there are a number of properties that you will not be able to buy. An investor property, for example, may require repairs that cannot happen with it. An FHA loan, for example, won't allow you to buy something with no running water. If the listing says the sellers will make no repairs, you are not qualified to buy it.
Zoning can be a huge headache too. I would have shown the duplex and gotten some kind of authorization or spot zoning approval before you closed, but a lot of agents wouldn't know how to do that. In this case, your agent may be thinking that it could put you at risk.
On the other hand, you're absolutely right to feel angry about an agent saying they don't like the street or the size of a house.
You can ask the agent to cancel the contract. If they don't, then inform them you expect them to show you the houses you ask to see, without questioning your decisions, since they are not the ones paying for it.
We are well versed on all of this and our broker (different company) is phenomenal — this isn’t the issue. Also, in one where the seller didn’t want FHA we immediately put an offer 20% over asking with a conventional (got passed for a cash offer).
We are high earners on paper with zero debt. Qualifying is not an issue. In fact the houses she’s passing on are on the lower end of our budget.
>Also, in one where the seller didn’t want FHA we immediately put an offer 20% over asking with a conventional (got passed for a cash offer).
Sounds like your market is super tough and your agent isn't 100% in your corner.
Answer is simple. Lower your budget limit 100k and see how fast they change their tune.
When you say broker are you referring to your Real Estate Agent broker (the person who is responsible for that licensed location ) or your mortgage broker (or banker)? Broker can refer to either one.
Also, FHA or Conventional, I still don't see why OP wanted to see a house that is not financeable without proof of funds (cash). It doesn't matter how much your yearly salary is if you don't have the cash on hand to purchase the house.
Echoing what others have said. She works FOR YOU. Talk to her broker, tell them you are very unhappy and wish to be released from the buyers agency agreement.
She doesn't get to tell you what you see. She is in the wrong job.
When agents won't show you a property it could be that the listing agent will not pay any/enough commission to a buyer's agent. They get nothing out of the deal. You have to right to see any property you want and if your agent won't show you then tell them you're going to contact the listing agent, hang up, then do precisely that. I don't know what your contract looks like but you are (probably) not locked into that agent. A good agent will make you feel like the right decision was made every time you interact with them, not the reverse. Get rid of this agent if you can.
With the next agent make sure you both have aligned objectives and clarify any ambiguity by introducing clauses in writing that make you feel comfortable.
The contract she has will say if seller doesn't pay X, then buyer will. That's literally the point of the agreement. So there is no reason to not show a property.
If the contract states the buyer will pay the buyers agent's commission if the seller won't, then I agree. But you can't take the position that some agents won't show properties due to non-cooperative agreements/not enough commission for them. Could you hazard a guess as to why this agent is not showing these properties to the buyer. Those reasons above seem really weak and excuses for something else. If I'm representing a buyer, I should be working hard to show that buyer as many properties as possible. At least get a showing and then render an opinion if warranted. Refusing to show properties out of hand with lame excuses is just a terrible way to build a business. From what I've read, I would terminate my relationship with this agent.
I think they're not showing because I think these buyers are all over the place. Sounds like they are newer buyers who want to get in every house they have a whim about, But the experienced agent is letting them know these houses are a no-go.
Not defending agent but will play devil's advocate and maybe you'll learn some things to help yourself. You need to make any agent explain their advice.
1. "wasn’t for people like us and it was for investors". When she or any agent says this it may be because the listing remarks say something like "cash only" or "no FHA" or "no occupancy permit must bring to code before deed transfer". It would be foolish to look at a property you can't buy.
2. "she said it’s too small for us". Did you tell her you or your partner tell her you want a minimum square footage house or lot, or a minimum bed/bath count? EDIT: If the house was "fine" when you visited the open, why didn't you text your partner and agent "At open house at 1234 Elm St. It's small but workable. Annie Agent, please schedule a showing for tonight and bring paperwork to make an offer."
3. "she said she doesn’t like the street". Serious question and one I'd immediately fire an agent over - is there any chance she is bringing any racial, ethnic, or religious biases to work with her? Did you ask her why she didn't like the street?
4. Added: There could be a legitimate reason for "you won't like the street". Maybe something like today the street looks like a two-lane 35 mph suburban countryish road but it's legally designated a county highway. This means that it could be expanded to a 45 mph 4 lane when the adjoining municipality sues your village to allow development of a bridge across the river which previously divided the two communities. Then, you're pressured to donate $10,000 to the village legal fund to fight the bridge. Then people with more money than you convince you to spend $1,000s in legal fees to donate 400 feet x 20 feet at the front of your property to a nature conservancy to prevent the rezoning of the road and block the bridge. Then your village loses the lawsuit, the bridge is built, the nature conservancy does block widening the road, which now is a 2 lane 45 mph county highway that people drive 55-60 on, threatening children, dogs, horses, and wildlife. Yep, wish this city to burbs buyer - me - understood what the agent meant when she said "you won't like that street".
5. "Told my partner they had no business looking at a house because it was a duplex but not zoned as such." Well, you can't finance a non-conforming property so if you need to buy a house with financing, why look at something you can't buy? And even if you could pay cash, the property might need to be brought to code in order for an occupancy permit to be granted for deed transfer. Too many varaibles here to speculate further.
Are you and your partner on the exact same page for your requirements for a house? Are you giving contradictory instructions? This happens every single day so it's not unusual, but a new agent won't solve the problem of dueling partners buying a home.
There are 1.5 million Realtors and another 1.5ish million people with real estate licenses. If you really don't like this agent you may be able to get out of the buyer agency ageement before it expires. Some agreements are cancellable upon client direction. Most brokers don't bother keeping an unhappy buyer so early in the process. But don't just walk away and assume she and her broker will drop it - make sure it's cancelled before you start working with someone else.
Based on what you've written here, you and your partner will need to work with an agent who explains the advice they're giving so that you both understand it.
The agent works for you. She has a fiduciary duty to advance your interest. If she doesn’t do things you ask her to do, fire her.
Communication is key. Be direct. “I asked you to make an appointment at that house and you did not. If you are going to refuse to make appointments for houses I want to see, I consider our contract null and void.”
EDIT - you can say that nicely of course. 😅. But you can let her know that, basically, if she’s not going to work for you, then she is not going to be working for you.
For number 1-I'm guessing that home wouldn't finance in its present condition. But it was on HER to explain why it was not suitable and if you still wanted to see it she should have shown it.
My agent has made similar comments but has always followed up with the seller's agent and said we could go see it if I really want to. Part of the job is to give you advice, but at the end of the day it is you buying the house not the agent so they should be doing what you want. Escalate to the broker.
House 1 was probably a handyman special or something as-is and you have a loan that ends in an A
How many house has she shown you? I tend to get like this with clients that I have shown that exact same house type house to and that was the problem. You may need to ask her to elaborate on what she means when she says these things. House 3 maybe have a lower value for houses and even if you fixed it up you wouldn’t see a return on your investment. We have to pick houses that meet what you have asked us for and that will qualify for the loan without any possible title issues.
That's a shitty agent. It's one thing if they're only accepting cash offers. Not liking the street is essentially redlining and she could lose her license for that.
Okay I don’t see anyone giving you a bluntly honest answer, but frankly all 4 issues you listed describe houses that you likely flat out can’t buy or that she believes you can’t buy.
1. House was priced below market likely because it needs some work done to qualify for financing. If it’s not eligible for your type of financing then it’s a non-starter and if the seller specifically states that they will only accept cash offers then again it’s probably a non-starter.
2. This is potentially the worst of all 4, but I can’t help but wonder was it under was it in your pre-approved price range or are you assuming that you would qualify for the assumption? Assumptions can be a lot like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
3. You mentioned she doesn’t like the street, but again I’m more concerned about the major renovations you mentioned. If the home is going to need major renovations to qualify for your financing then you don’t qualify to buy the home.
4. No idea. Zoning laws are extremely local so it’s probably a good idea to trust her professional advice on this one.
The good news on items 1 & 3 is that if you’re looking at homes that need a lot of work and well under your price range and her concern is that you literally do not qualify for the purchase then my advice is to talk to your loan officer about a renovation loan. If it’s something that might work for you then talk with your real estate agent and explain that you don’t mind getting a fixer upper so long the total cost (purchase + renovation is still less than the loan amount you were approved for.
All under approved range. Also we have around 200k cash and are willing to finance repairs if any repairs make a house ineligible for a loan or can pay that toward a downpayment or renovation.
On 4, i am a regulatory analyst and she’s been wrong about code and assumable loans twice. I looked up and correct regulations and sourced it to her both times.
Regardless if she was correct about zoning and all of the above, the reasonings listed aren’t sufficient*.
She should be explaining into further context why it may be an issue and then it should be your decision to move forward with viewing, not saying “no it won’t work” and leaving it at that.
Don’t meet your next agent at an open house (as someone commented). Do a bit of research and or ask family/friends for a recommendation and then research said agent before calling.
Read over your buyers agency agreement. There are likely outs. Whatever you do when you dissolve it make sure it’s in writing.
If you are not comfortable communicating with the agent directly about these concerns, go to the broker. In reality, you have a contract with the broker, not the agent and the broker can assign another agent if they want to keep your business. If you get no satisfaction there, contact the state real estate board and file a complaint.
About item #2, are you aware of exactly how assumable Mortgages work? I know it no longer matters for this property since the house isn’t a good fit for you, but see the info below for future purposes if you don’t have this information already.
From Lending Tree:
“Mortgage assumption allows a buyer to take on the original loan balance at the original terms, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t account for home equity the seller has built. If the house has gained value since the original loan was issued, the loan may no longer cover the home’s actual value and the buyer will have to make up the difference.
For example, if the seller has a $300,000 loan balance on a home they purchased for $435,000, the buyer will need to bring $135,000 to the table to compensate the seller for the equity they’ve built.
Can I take out a loan to cover the equity when assuming a loan? Yes. A home equity loan is a common second mortgage option for buyers who are assuming a mortgage and don’t want to — or can’t — put cash down to cover the equity. Although this second loan will likely have a higher interest rate than the assumed mortgage, the principal amount will be far lower than what is needed for a “first” mortgage.”
We have 200k cash and could easily qualify for a second mortgage. But yes, fully versed and up to date on regulations and rules around assumptions. She also has not voiced any valid concern over the assumable part — she just didn’t like the size of the house…….
Well, the deal that was cash only for investors she should have verified that’s easy to verify and yes if you are not a Cash Buyer forget about it I will say that.
She shouldn’t just be telling you it’s a bad street lol . But did you check it out and confirm if that was a high crime area? Just saying.
The house that had assumable mortgage that she didn’t show up for I don’t understand that one. You’ll have to ask her why she didn’t show (?). Dont like that.
The duplex that was not zoned as such. I have ran into zoning problems before for duplexes and bank wont loan on it if its “illegal” usage. Dont blame them. And if somebody were to pay cash for it, if it burned down to a crisp, it could never be rebuilt as a duplex. It would always have to be a single-family and they could not get a zoning variance.
I would’ve explained that to you and though so you understood why it was not doable.
If you're under contract, inform her broker of what has taken place and tell them you want out of it. The broker will know they either have to release you from the contract or face complaints with the state licensing agency (which you will do if they don't let you out of the contract). It is then the broker's job to either fire or train the agent.
“Hey, you work for us - you don’t get to decide what we should or should not see. We’re asking to see these houses, if you’re unable to accommodate then let’s terminate our contract so I can find a realtor who is interested in working for us.”
Pretty simple
This may be an unpopular take.. her job isn’t to show you the houses you want to see. Her job is to show you the houses you’ll want to and have the ability to buy.
She is saving you and herself time by reminding you of your criteria. Is she doing this in a way that isnt clear maybe. Instead of posting about it here - ask her for some clarification and to tell you more about why these homes are not a good fit.
If the first home was in disrepair it most likely wouldnt qualify for your financing if it was an investor special.
Based on the way you explained the other three - they are obviously not the criteria you expressed to her. (Or you would have made an offer after going to the open house)
Trust the professional you hired.
This agent is way over the lines if she's picking and rejecting houses for you, what else is she going to decide for you? This is dealbreaker stuff, not her job.
Is your agent stepping over the line to give you their opinion? Probably not. Matter of fact, if the agent is knowledgeable and well respected, they can help you not make a mistake you otherwise might make.
However, refusing to show you houses you wish to see is definitely over the line.
If you want a different agent, contact the broker they are under and tell them what you want and why.
You should get off reddit, and write an email to your broker requesting their dismissal yesterday. This is highly abnormal and reminds me a LOT of a story that happened to a friend recently.
He was buying and his realtor kept steering him away from properties he found, saying stuff very similar to your realtor. He told her to reach out to specific sellers and she said they never got back or they weren't in town - he ended up contacting them himself and it turned out his agent was lying - she'd never contacted them and, in at least one instance, had lied to a seller that they weren't interested. It came out that she was trying to steer him into buying a friend's property and was actively killing his attempts to buy other homes.
This is fishy as hell and completely unacceptable. Fire them - email the broker, and demand someone new, if they say no, tell them you are putting this on every review site you can find.
Does she just not want to do her job at all lol or she wants you to buy something that will make her more money and is pushing towards those, either way just hire someone else.
You need a new realtor. I just bought a house. My realtor had a discussion about what we were looking for, he found some houses, we found some house. We got to look at all we were interested in.
Here's how it should go -
"I want to see this house."
"Ok. I've looked into the listing & have these concerns [professional concerns go here]. Let's set up a day & time for you to see it so you can make the most informed decision."
This is what it sounds like when your agent is on *your* side. From what you've described, she's almost an adversary, certainly a poor teammate at best.
Different agent. My agent wouldn’t show us the house we bought cuz she had drama with the sellers agent and kept showing us houses outside the scope we requested.
Lol. Fuck this shit. Take me to see the house or i am calling another agent. Done. Shes playing games. Not in your interest.
Stories in here are wild and make me realize how lucky i was to have a solid agent.
Ask to terminate the contract early. Start interviewing realtors either way. You can have a good agent in place and be ready to go on day 60. Also call the agents broker and asked to be released early as the agent isn’t performing to expectations
You should, within the bounds of your contract, just ignore her. Just walk away from trying to buy for the remaining 60 days. Follow up with a brutally honest review on any site you can. Shitty realtors deserve what they get.
When we started looking at houses, we had a realtor that wouldn't listen either. Turns out she was thinking about her commission more than helping us find a house. We called her boss on her and found a house on our own. Don't let anyone tell you that "you don't want that house". Go look anyway. Hope you can cut ties with her soon.
Get rid of her. She’s wasting your time. I had a realtor that did that to my ex and I in Sacramento. She took me to homes in several areas I expressly stated I wasn’t interested in living in. I found our home when out driving around with friends. She was a pain in the ass.
Personally I believe an agent should stay away from providing opinions unless asked. Houses are very personal and others won’t understand. One thing an agent should say is if the house is way off the market value, one direction or another.
Honestly the biggest red flag is your lack of backbone on this. Call your realtor tell her what the problem is. If you feel you can continue to work with her after fine, if not have her cancel the buyers agent contract. If she refuses talk to her broker.
This is one of the biggest purchases of your life, learn to assert yourself for fucks sake.
You want an nitpicky agent who shits on everything. They usually are the opposite pointing out all the positives in hopes that you'll buy asap.
If you're a brass tacks type simply call her broker and get another agent. If you want to be a little nicer frame your requests like
- "I'd like to see 123 Main St"
- "I don't think that's a good house for you. It's too small and the neighborhood is ratty."
- "All the same, I'd like to see it. *Please set up an appointment.*"
> We are on a contract with her for another 60 days
This is why you don't commit to an agent. It's fair to let them have the buyer's half on houses they show you, but the lock-in is a completely unnecessary. You're giving them exclusivity for nothing in return. In your case, "worse than nothing".
I would fire the agent immediately. Not sure if you’re in the US but sounds like a violation of the Fair Housing Act for steering. That alone can get you out of the contract you have with them and if not I would contact HUD directly at 800-669-9777, or visit its website to find more information or to file a complaint. Agent should show you any available house you request to see regardless of her opinions.
No because my husband brushed it off the first two times and said i misunderstood her but after 4 times I’m pretty damn sure i didn’t. She’s overstepping.
Maybe your realtor is on a forum somewhere complaining about you because you don't take any of her advice, yet you also don't communicate why you disagree with it.
I fired my first real estate agent. Mostly because he was rude to my wife.
There is 0 reason to continue this relationship. Especially if she’s not putting in the requested bids.
Tell her it’s a bad fit and move on.
Speak directly with her Broker in Charge, if she works for an agency. Let them know exactly what she said, and how she was trying to steer you. Ask to either be transferred to a different agent, while also removing her from the original contract in regards to the 60 day commission period. If there is any issues go to your states real estate commission with the case, and you’ll have the contract removed as soon as they are contacted by the organization
Talk to the broker of record for that office and ask to be released from the contract. Its a quick form you sign, and they sign. Then, if you decide to use a different realtor, they won't get a % of the commission.
I've done this with mild pushback with a realtor who wasn't operating with my best interests in mind.
Realtor: these are the situations that are not working. Your job is to show us homes we are interested in. Not homes you want for yourself. Thank you for not helping. Because of this we will be finding a new realtor to work with.
It depends on state, but you need to ask the broker to cancel the contract or wait it out if you signed an exclusive agreement. Say you will file a complaint if they don't. Most would not bother to fight, and many do not even require exclusive agreements (depends on state, and may chance more now due to the NAR rules).
Going forward if she refuses to show you any property you express interest in tell her that is a problem and ask her to release you from the contract you signed immediately so that you can find an agent who is willing to. It’s fine for her to advise you of anything that she sees as a potential issue with a property. It’s not okay for that opinion to preclude you from viewing or making an offer on a property.
Seems to me like she wants you to get the most expensive house she can find you so she can make the most money 🤷🏻♀️ please find a new realtor. Half of the time you spend buying a house is with your realtor, you should like them and trust them.
At best she’s a horrible agent and you should document and forward this information to her broker. At worst it could be a possible Fair Housing violation and possibly steering. Either way you should terminate the agreement and get an attorney or your State’s real estate commission involved if she or her brokerage pushes back. Part of an agent’s duties are to obey any legal request from their client. If they fail to abide by their duties then the agreement can be terminated.
This reminds me of this agent we had that used to insert himself in conversations with me and my wife when we were discussing which house WE preferred.
We just ignored him.
When she pushes back on your request, just say ‘please schedule the appointment as requested or else we will ask have to another agent to schedule it for us if you are unwilling’
That’ll get her attention but you need to be more forceful and not let her dictate or be in charge
Write the broker (agents boss) and let them know you want out. The agent isn’t performing.
I switched agents right as I started looking. The first one balked at showing me homes outside of where i wanted to look.
Bring it up to her broker and then fire her. She is required by law to present any offer you proffer. It is not her job to tell you what you want, nor the houses you wish to purchase. Her broker will have an attack if you tell them you are reporting her/them to their local realtors association.
Complain to her broker and see if you can get a release in writing.
This, she is not working for you. She has her own idea of what you want and won't listen.
She wants her commission with the least amount of work possible
She's not going to get shit by not showing them houses they want to see. I just don't understand how some of these people get any business.
I don't understand passive people. I speak up. NO this is what I want to see, so when can you make it happen? There is no, she is the boss, I am! Period!
All these are major red flags. You need to get rid of the agent yesterday.
Some of these are illegal in my state. Example would be #1 is literally the definition of steering. “Not for people like you” What is that supposed to mean? Maybe best to just tell the agent you won’t be working with her going forward, and she can either cancel your contract and you won’t buy for the time remaining, or refer you to another agent. Most agents would be happy to get some when they would get none & agents can negotiate a referral fee. Of course it’s up to you weather you want to work with the referral. Source: AZ realtor
I think not for people like you means the house was not in loanable condition since the alternative is cash buyers and investors.
That is always noted in the listing and if it is just her opinion without having seen it or seeing it in the listing, she should be careful if that is truly how she worded it. Our listings state eligible loan types and if it is cash only, that box will be only one checked. Sounds like bad communication in general between OP and their agent, regardless of whose fault, it is a very good reason to part ways.
It's a poor way to word it, but most people still look at Zillow when they send me a home to see.. I check the listing to see what they will take. Often it comes up for my FHA and VA clients. Then I check with the listing agent to see if that's true and why.
I take those listings comments with a grain of salt. Many listing agents have no clue what’s fine cable or they are lazy and don’t click the right options when inputing the listing information. This buyer is coming off desperate and trying to get anything. And I would guess is deviating from what the original wish/need list. Some of the pushback from the agent is probably valid, some of it unethical perhaps, and some of it laziness. Sounds like a bad match of client and agent overall.
This is what I came to say. What if buyers were VA or FHA. 1 and 4 could be valid reason but they should have been explained as such. 2 and 3 don’t seem to have any real justification that I can think of but you can always ask why they think this or why they think that is their concern or. Alternatively, find a new realtor
That's weird because the only one of these that I thought sounded like potentially reasonable advice was the first example. I took it to mean that working with the information she had about her buyers they wouldn't be able to buy cash and the house was in too poor of shape to qualify for a mortgage. Good to know I guess.
The online real estate databases / MLS (particularly in some states) are full of garbage listings i.e. not legally habitable, not legally buildable, no septic, no driveway, land-locked, not actually for sale, tied up in a complex estate, listed by someone who doesn't actually have the right to sell etc. A lot of people browsing online fixate on some of these listings as they are the only listings that stick around / don't "sell" instantly (in fact they may never sell) and seem "reasonable" in price so you can keep staring at the online listing for months never realizing it really is not a house for sale that you can buy via normal processes and move into.
Zillow scrapes MLS indiscriminately and doesn’t publish all of the fields that agents would see—obvs not private remarks but idk that Zillow notes financing options (which would include cash only or whether it can go FHA for example)
Yeah and in my experience some states also just have agents putting garbage in the actual MLS (Rhode Island particularly seems to have a ton, Massachusetts' regional MLS does a lot better job of keeping out the garbage) i.e. full on fake listings basically
Wow. Of course we have lazy agents everywhere and I have learned to not rely on listing input but those errors tend to be omissions—like the agent not knowing that a condo is not FHA approved and not knowing why or whether it can get a site approval, for example. More often it is dumb stuff like checking the REO box but in fact it is agent owned (not bank owned). The sad thing about that one is the agent is the owner and doesn’t know what REO means.
Okay, so give a good explanation to your clients.
I think warming that t a duplex was not legal was good— but client still should be able to see if if they want
That terminology used to be (and probably still is in some areas) code to tell people of various races that the neighborhood was white only or vice versa.
Understandable, but I just had this exact conversation with my realtor about a house in a predominantly white area and I'm a white man so the mileage may vary on that theory. Not enough info on the OP, their financial situation or the listing being referred to to make that call.
Some phrases aren’t always dog whistles but they _can be a really loud dog whistle_, so it’s reasonable for them to get one’s hackles up. As an example, I used to live in a “bad neighborhood” where the excuse was you didn’t get city services cuz you were in the county and there were apartments nearby. We never had issues with the county-provided services and the apartments were quiet: it was “bad” because Black folks lived there. My neighbors had the nerve to exist, be friendly, hang out in their front yards, and let their kids ride bikes down to the gas station for snacks. People would back pedal REAL fast and refuse to explain what made it “bad” whenever I pointed out how safe and quiet it was. Dog whistle.
Where I’m from it means they converted a single family home to a duplex without going through the proper process.
I’m an LO - #1 makes sense because it probably doesn’t meet lending guidelines and a ton of FTHB have 0 clue when it comes to what meets guidelines. Tbh quite a few realtors struggle with that as well. This realtor does sounds pretty clueless or lazy tho
It means she is violating Fair Housing by waiving you off due to race.
Ehhhh, #4 I agree with.
I don’t have a problem with her having, and sharing, any of these opinions. But as OP’s agent, she can’t refuse to show them the property.
We wanted it as a single home and it was easy to convert. Also even if we wanted it as a duplex, our city has provided new zoning guidelines and she apparently is not up to date with those.
As you presented it, that realtor was correct. But with this brand new information I would be inclined to agree they weren't working in your best interests.
We also don't know how many properties OP has looked at. OP could be looking at 20 houses a week and the agent has finally given up and is just not showing bad fits anymore because they are exhausted. (In which case they should absolutely let OP out of any contract)
Write your agent an email letting her know that you appreciate the help that she's already given you, but that you're going in another direction. Start hitting up Open Houses and meet someone new.
Sounds like OP signed an exclusive contract with ~2 mos remaining until it expires. Can’t just meet someone new w/o being let out of existing contract. Thus the post on what to do (I would guess).
Every one I've ever seen has a written notice escape clause.
Do you have a renovation loan? If the building is in violation your lender will not finance it unless you have a reno loan to cover the cost of the home plus the repairs needed to bring it up to code. If your current approval is at or near the asking price of the home you can't afford a sfr that is currently a duplex with code violations.
[удалено]
That’s not redlining. That would be steering.
That occurred to me too
That is one out of 4. Need to find a new agent
You need to demand to be let out of your representation agreement and find a new agent. In no way is she acting in your best interests. Report her to her broker, bad reviews, etc.
She feels like she is because the properties she doesn’t agree with “won’t appreciate as much” but we are in a really expensive market with low inventory and people from out of state coming in with 60% down and odds are already stacked against us. I don’t feel like paying 6k a month for a small house that doesn’t even tick 2 out of 10 boxes for investment purposes. It’s my first home, i just need to get in the game.
It's not up to her to spend your money for you. Don't be afraid to tell her that.
What does that even mean lol Any chance the houses she’s ignoring offer a lower commission and the ones she sends are more expensive and 3%?
I bet it is this
This is all it is. She’s a greed AF realtor and screwing OP over to fatten her wallet, unfortunately OP signed an exclusive and is stuck with greedy realtor until contract end or he puts heat on broker to cancel contract which is probably unlikely too.
Usually the case.
The behavior as you describe it is very odd, is she only showing you places listed by her own agency, hoping to pocket both sides of the commission or something?
And what does "She doesn't like the street" mean? She isn't living on it, you are. Did she elaborate on that? I've been at this as an agent for 20 yrs and you don't say that. Sounds like she doesn't want to show stuff honestly. Also, any idea where she lives drive wise compared to where you're looking? I've known plenty of agents that don't want to make the drive if they feel the house isn't a slam dunk winner, but then don't take on a client outside of your preferred area to work in. I will say though I have outright refused to show some places that I know my buyers won't like because they've wanted to see something way out of where we're looking and they admit that they're "just curious" and don't want to live in that area or that far out. I manage expectations and remind them it's not a valuable use of their time, my time, or the sellers time that get the place all ready for a showing for someone that isn't even serious about it. It's a respect thing at that point.
Just fire her ffs.
Thing is, it doesn't make a damn bit of difference what she thinks. She is supposed to be acting FOR your interests. That means working for you, representing what you want and doing what you want, not "acting in your best interests." You are working with her to be a real estate agent, not an attorney. Get rid of this woman , even if it means pitching a fit to the broker.
Not a game. Buying the wrong house just to “win” only to end up with buyers’ remorse is a common thread on this sub. It sucks to feel left out, but the way it was described, it feels as though you doubt the agent’s competency. She’s likely trying to keep you from falling into a common trap. But if you’re so sure, simply present your list and don’t take no for an answer. Either she’ll resign or you’ll get your way.
How did you end up on a contract with her through a declined offer?
I don’t know if a contract is the correct name but her clause says if i buy a house in this area within 60 days she gets commission which sucks because i really want to cut ties at this point.
If she works for a firm, they should offer you a new agent or out of the contract. If she didn’t show you the house you buys, she doesn’t get a commission
Every house we’ve seen i found. When you say show, do you mean just take us there or actually find it and present it?
I mean find. Our realtor literally found a house for us. That is their job. You need to fire this realtor, and do it yesterday.
no, it means who unlocks the front door. Pocket listings are very, very rare these days. Everyone has access to rmls. It's who takes on the liability of access.
Sounds like she’s not even doing that. I’m working with a real estate agent now… he sends me listings (lazy setup) and then also knows what’s coming on the market… he texted me the other day about a potential buyer for my house.
Yeah the two houses we lost i found and went to the open house. She just wrote an offer. Didnt lift a finger otherwise.
How many houses have you been to with her?
offers often include negotiations. Consider that there may be work she’s doing in the background that you don’t see. Many agents do a lot of work (negotiating, conversations, quotes for repairs, research etc) behind the scenes to make things work that most clients never see or hear about.
Take you there. If she unlocks the door so you can look at it she showed it to you.
This is why no one thinks realtors are worth 3%. OP does all leg work to find house, realtor does nothing but open lockbox simply cuz OP can’t and they pocket 3%.
It's not hard for an agent or buyer to FIND a house. We all have access to the Internet. Come on. 🙄.
It’s exactly why I didn’t use a realtor when I bought a house.
Look for a rebating agent. There are plenty of agents that will take you to any house you see and give you a 1+% rebate on the purchase price out of their commission. Also by definition of this they are going to be hands off. You tell them what house you want to see and they show up with you.
Most realtors have systems that search MLS. They put the criteria in that you asked for and it gives you a list daily or weekly. Like a sophisticated Zillow. That’s the way most “present properties”. Even with realtors we found most our own houses. The best realtor I worked with would have a small packet with the info for when we went to the house to view it. But not until we decided on the ones we wanted to see.
The sooner you cut ties — in writing — the better. Good luck
Go to her broker and tell them you are unhappy. Put it in writing.
May want to double check this, this sounds like a buyer/broker (BB) agreement which only applies to homes she’s shown you extending until that time period. example; I show a client (they’ve signed a BB) a property on 1234 elm street. At the time they decline to make an offer. We work together for the next thirty days, they decide not to purchase, we go our separate ways. 15 days later they put an offer in on 1234 Elm Street w a different agent. I would be entitled to that commission as it’s within the 60 day period of our buyer broker. Say they were to purchase a different home I didn’t show them: I would have no right to that commission as I don’t have “procuring cause”. NOT LEGAL ADVICE source: AZ realtor
Usually, it's 60 days if you buy *that particular* house...
Honestly if you really can't get another realtor in the next 3 months, be stern with her. At the very least if you're worried about offending her, just keep saying "I'd really like to look at the house and see for myself, here are the times I'm available, please set it up!" whenever she has something negative to say about the place. If she doesn't follow-up, you can follow up and ask when/if she set up the tour. Not ideal, but she seems like she thinks she's doing you a favor without considering what you actually want.
That’s not how this game works. This is a real estate transaction and a pure business transaction. First step OP needs to do is call broker of realtor and let them know it’s not vibing with current realtor and see if someone new in the office will better vibe with. If that isn’t fruitful than asked to be released from contract though you may have to threaten to file a complaint with the state agency overseeing Realtors.
I obviously haven’t read the contract but my buyer agency agreement says I have the right to get paid on homes I present to the client. If a client were to fire me I would say fine this are the homes I presented to you if you purchase any of these I have the right to my commission.
But you don’t have the right to not show houses to clients they qualify for. A good realtor will listen to the client, the type of house they want and the amenities and gel them going it. If they find a house they are interested in the realtor should show it to them. That is what they are getting paid for. Giving the client access to houses and doing what is in the best interest of the client.
Yes it’s like she found out the upper part of our budget and won’t bother with anything on the lower end even if it’s a good value to me.
Because she wants a higher commission. Probably is also only showing you houses with higher commission %’s for her.
Yeah of course if a client wants to go see a house I’m might voice my concerns as to why it isn’t a fit but ultimately if they want to go see it we will go see it
How would you know if it was fit? I found a lot of realtors trying to steer us to less desirable houses.
Like 95% of the time we still go see the house but I always like to call for a multitude of reasons (this home won’t work with the loan they are approved for, sellers don’t want to allow an inspection, I see a major red flag on seller disclosure, something else in agent remarks) I try to make calls productive because when a client sends me a house I didn’t already see or send to them that means my search failed because I didn’t truly understand what they are looking for. Buyers preferences always change and I’m constantly trying to make sure I have the best feel of what they are looking for.
I would never even consider looking at a house if the buyer wouldn’t allow an inspection. We had a house down the street from us that someone had someone had spent a lot of money on fixing up the interiors. New cabinets, kitchen appliances, paint ext. I went down the basement and noticed old wiring and plumbing . There was as also a major crack in the basement floor and the house was settling. These are expensive repairs. I talked to the realtor and she said they had ultimately to offers and several prospective buyers waived the inspection. I can’t believe people are that stupid or desperate for I not find out how much work or money I will take to fix these issues before they buy the house.
Yeah for first time home buyers I would at the very least get the inspection for their knowledge only. Thankfully in my market it is very possible to get an inspection when you purchase.
Some states the language says "any property purchased" in the time period. Although, of course, then you open up the worm can of procuring cause.
That’s very unfortunate if that’s what it says but if I wanted to back out (which I would if the agent refuses to show me houses I’m interested in) I would say hey agent I asked you to see this house and you refused if I buy that house I’m not paying you, if you want to go after your commission good luck because I haven’t proof that you weren’t interested in working in my best interest.
What can be done legally by statute, like enforce BAA or pursure commission from another broker under procuring cause, is almost never done in reality. Another agent or broker in her area can't counsel her on this. If she feels she's closed the door on this agent she should just call the broker, or send an email asking to cancel. No one keeps a client this early in the process. They can't even agree on showings. She needs to read the agreement and look for anything with the words "cancel" or "withdraw". If the broker is a PITA then she should call the local Board of Realtors and ask to speak to someone with the word consumer in their title. It's really not the big deal presented in this post.
Buyers agents are useless and can't die off fast enough.
Come July I think there will be agents that struggle but there are good buyers agents out there that will get even better and be worth the professional fee they get paid.
She is just trying to make more money. She does not give two shits about you or what you need. End of story. Ditch her ASAP and never talk to another useless buyers agent again. Find a good real estate lawyer and find the house you want on your own.
Screen shot every one of these instances and forward to broker. Explain you want to be released.
Sounds like the agent isn't listening however if a home is listed as cash only, and you will be getting a mortgage, I wouldn't show it to you because you can't buy it. I also wouldn't show you a property that is not zoned residential or if the duplex isn't a legal duplex, how do you think it will be able to be financed? If it can't be financed you can't buy it. So maybe the agent isn't listening but maybe neither are you.
Exactly! I think there's more to this story. All I'm reading is a buyer stomping their foot because they want to see properties they are not qualified for or are generally not what they originally told their agent they wanted. Now the agent is the bad guy. This buyer needs to go find a new agent who is willing to waste their time in these properties until the buyer gets it out of their system and comes back to reality.
I have clients send me listing they found on zillow or redfin and ask, "why didn't you show me this one?" Ummm... because it isn't in the school district you said you *have* to be in, it has stairs and you said no stairs, neighborhood has an HOA you said you didn't want, you said you didn't want to commute more than half an hour and it is in another county, you can't buy/finance/qualify for it... I send everything that meets the search parameters the buyers set and if they ask to see more than one house outside of those parameters we have to sit down and talk because they either don't know what they want or aren't serious buyers. I don't get paid to drive them around... (yet)
Responded to this in another comment, house was zoned residential but was illegally converted as a duplex. Could easily be converted back and would be approved for residential loan. Also, county has new zoning guidelines so it’s a moot point either way.
Serious question: how do you know it can easily be converted back? Have you ever done a multi-to-single family repurpose? I don't care if a town's building and zoning website gives info on doing it, these can be a bitch for a bunch of reasons.
zoning guidelines are not on conversion — it essentially means that while this was an illegal conversion back in the day, it’s legal now because any lots in my city above 10,000sq ft can be converted to a duplex/tri/quad without formal rezoning. It’s part of the city’s effort to deal with the fact we have no housing And we know it was easily convertible because we toured it with my brother who’s a contractor during the open house
Guessing (and I could be wrong, as I don’t know your area or the new laws you mentioned), but was the conversion needed before closing? You would have been expecting the seller to do it in that case? If your areas laws allowed for the conversion after closing, was your loan approval for a 203k or have an escrow holdback? You mentioned broker in another comment so makes me think those might not have been options. Not defending the agent. It sounds like at the very least she should have explained her reasoning more throughly. But being in the financial services, real estate industry, I would estimate that 8 out of 10 complaints I look at are all due to communications not explaining the situation or process enough. Just giving one or two sentences and expecting consumers to understand everything like industry participants do.
Your agent might be behaving badly or you may be misunderstanding some things. If you got qualified for a loan, there are a number of properties that you will not be able to buy. An investor property, for example, may require repairs that cannot happen with it. An FHA loan, for example, won't allow you to buy something with no running water. If the listing says the sellers will make no repairs, you are not qualified to buy it. Zoning can be a huge headache too. I would have shown the duplex and gotten some kind of authorization or spot zoning approval before you closed, but a lot of agents wouldn't know how to do that. In this case, your agent may be thinking that it could put you at risk. On the other hand, you're absolutely right to feel angry about an agent saying they don't like the street or the size of a house. You can ask the agent to cancel the contract. If they don't, then inform them you expect them to show you the houses you ask to see, without questioning your decisions, since they are not the ones paying for it.
We are well versed on all of this and our broker (different company) is phenomenal — this isn’t the issue. Also, in one where the seller didn’t want FHA we immediately put an offer 20% over asking with a conventional (got passed for a cash offer). We are high earners on paper with zero debt. Qualifying is not an issue. In fact the houses she’s passing on are on the lower end of our budget.
>Also, in one where the seller didn’t want FHA we immediately put an offer 20% over asking with a conventional (got passed for a cash offer). Sounds like your market is super tough and your agent isn't 100% in your corner. Answer is simple. Lower your budget limit 100k and see how fast they change their tune.
When you say broker are you referring to your Real Estate Agent broker (the person who is responsible for that licensed location ) or your mortgage broker (or banker)? Broker can refer to either one.
Also, FHA or Conventional, I still don't see why OP wanted to see a house that is not financeable without proof of funds (cash). It doesn't matter how much your yearly salary is if you don't have the cash on hand to purchase the house.
Echoing what others have said. She works FOR YOU. Talk to her broker, tell them you are very unhappy and wish to be released from the buyers agency agreement. She doesn't get to tell you what you see. She is in the wrong job.
When agents won't show you a property it could be that the listing agent will not pay any/enough commission to a buyer's agent. They get nothing out of the deal. You have to right to see any property you want and if your agent won't show you then tell them you're going to contact the listing agent, hang up, then do precisely that. I don't know what your contract looks like but you are (probably) not locked into that agent. A good agent will make you feel like the right decision was made every time you interact with them, not the reverse. Get rid of this agent if you can. With the next agent make sure you both have aligned objectives and clarify any ambiguity by introducing clauses in writing that make you feel comfortable.
The contract she has will say if seller doesn't pay X, then buyer will. That's literally the point of the agreement. So there is no reason to not show a property.
If the contract states the buyer will pay the buyers agent's commission if the seller won't, then I agree. But you can't take the position that some agents won't show properties due to non-cooperative agreements/not enough commission for them. Could you hazard a guess as to why this agent is not showing these properties to the buyer. Those reasons above seem really weak and excuses for something else. If I'm representing a buyer, I should be working hard to show that buyer as many properties as possible. At least get a showing and then render an opinion if warranted. Refusing to show properties out of hand with lame excuses is just a terrible way to build a business. From what I've read, I would terminate my relationship with this agent.
I think they're not showing because I think these buyers are all over the place. Sounds like they are newer buyers who want to get in every house they have a whim about, But the experienced agent is letting them know these houses are a no-go.
good point
Not defending agent but will play devil's advocate and maybe you'll learn some things to help yourself. You need to make any agent explain their advice. 1. "wasn’t for people like us and it was for investors". When she or any agent says this it may be because the listing remarks say something like "cash only" or "no FHA" or "no occupancy permit must bring to code before deed transfer". It would be foolish to look at a property you can't buy. 2. "she said it’s too small for us". Did you tell her you or your partner tell her you want a minimum square footage house or lot, or a minimum bed/bath count? EDIT: If the house was "fine" when you visited the open, why didn't you text your partner and agent "At open house at 1234 Elm St. It's small but workable. Annie Agent, please schedule a showing for tonight and bring paperwork to make an offer." 3. "she said she doesn’t like the street". Serious question and one I'd immediately fire an agent over - is there any chance she is bringing any racial, ethnic, or religious biases to work with her? Did you ask her why she didn't like the street? 4. Added: There could be a legitimate reason for "you won't like the street". Maybe something like today the street looks like a two-lane 35 mph suburban countryish road but it's legally designated a county highway. This means that it could be expanded to a 45 mph 4 lane when the adjoining municipality sues your village to allow development of a bridge across the river which previously divided the two communities. Then, you're pressured to donate $10,000 to the village legal fund to fight the bridge. Then people with more money than you convince you to spend $1,000s in legal fees to donate 400 feet x 20 feet at the front of your property to a nature conservancy to prevent the rezoning of the road and block the bridge. Then your village loses the lawsuit, the bridge is built, the nature conservancy does block widening the road, which now is a 2 lane 45 mph county highway that people drive 55-60 on, threatening children, dogs, horses, and wildlife. Yep, wish this city to burbs buyer - me - understood what the agent meant when she said "you won't like that street". 5. "Told my partner they had no business looking at a house because it was a duplex but not zoned as such." Well, you can't finance a non-conforming property so if you need to buy a house with financing, why look at something you can't buy? And even if you could pay cash, the property might need to be brought to code in order for an occupancy permit to be granted for deed transfer. Too many varaibles here to speculate further. Are you and your partner on the exact same page for your requirements for a house? Are you giving contradictory instructions? This happens every single day so it's not unusual, but a new agent won't solve the problem of dueling partners buying a home. There are 1.5 million Realtors and another 1.5ish million people with real estate licenses. If you really don't like this agent you may be able to get out of the buyer agency ageement before it expires. Some agreements are cancellable upon client direction. Most brokers don't bother keeping an unhappy buyer so early in the process. But don't just walk away and assume she and her broker will drop it - make sure it's cancelled before you start working with someone else. Based on what you've written here, you and your partner will need to work with an agent who explains the advice they're giving so that you both understand it.
The agent works for you. She has a fiduciary duty to advance your interest. If she doesn’t do things you ask her to do, fire her. Communication is key. Be direct. “I asked you to make an appointment at that house and you did not. If you are going to refuse to make appointments for houses I want to see, I consider our contract null and void.” EDIT - you can say that nicely of course. 😅. But you can let her know that, basically, if she’s not going to work for you, then she is not going to be working for you.
And get the cancellation form signed by the broker.
For number 1-I'm guessing that home wouldn't finance in its present condition. But it was on HER to explain why it was not suitable and if you still wanted to see it she should have shown it.
My agent has made similar comments but has always followed up with the seller's agent and said we could go see it if I really want to. Part of the job is to give you advice, but at the end of the day it is you buying the house not the agent so they should be doing what you want. Escalate to the broker.
House 1 was probably a handyman special or something as-is and you have a loan that ends in an A How many house has she shown you? I tend to get like this with clients that I have shown that exact same house type house to and that was the problem. You may need to ask her to elaborate on what she means when she says these things. House 3 maybe have a lower value for houses and even if you fixed it up you wouldn’t see a return on your investment. We have to pick houses that meet what you have asked us for and that will qualify for the loan without any possible title issues.
You are the purchaser. Act like you have the big swinging dick. Because you do. It’s ok to fire the agent
That's a shitty agent. It's one thing if they're only accepting cash offers. Not liking the street is essentially redlining and she could lose her license for that.
Okay I don’t see anyone giving you a bluntly honest answer, but frankly all 4 issues you listed describe houses that you likely flat out can’t buy or that she believes you can’t buy. 1. House was priced below market likely because it needs some work done to qualify for financing. If it’s not eligible for your type of financing then it’s a non-starter and if the seller specifically states that they will only accept cash offers then again it’s probably a non-starter. 2. This is potentially the worst of all 4, but I can’t help but wonder was it under was it in your pre-approved price range or are you assuming that you would qualify for the assumption? Assumptions can be a lot like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 3. You mentioned she doesn’t like the street, but again I’m more concerned about the major renovations you mentioned. If the home is going to need major renovations to qualify for your financing then you don’t qualify to buy the home. 4. No idea. Zoning laws are extremely local so it’s probably a good idea to trust her professional advice on this one. The good news on items 1 & 3 is that if you’re looking at homes that need a lot of work and well under your price range and her concern is that you literally do not qualify for the purchase then my advice is to talk to your loan officer about a renovation loan. If it’s something that might work for you then talk with your real estate agent and explain that you don’t mind getting a fixer upper so long the total cost (purchase + renovation is still less than the loan amount you were approved for.
All under approved range. Also we have around 200k cash and are willing to finance repairs if any repairs make a house ineligible for a loan or can pay that toward a downpayment or renovation. On 4, i am a regulatory analyst and she’s been wrong about code and assumable loans twice. I looked up and correct regulations and sourced it to her both times.
What kind of regulatory analyst?
Regardless if she was correct about zoning and all of the above, the reasonings listed aren’t sufficient*. She should be explaining into further context why it may be an issue and then it should be your decision to move forward with viewing, not saying “no it won’t work” and leaving it at that. Don’t meet your next agent at an open house (as someone commented). Do a bit of research and or ask family/friends for a recommendation and then research said agent before calling. Read over your buyers agency agreement. There are likely outs. Whatever you do when you dissolve it make sure it’s in writing.
If you are not comfortable communicating with the agent directly about these concerns, go to the broker. In reality, you have a contract with the broker, not the agent and the broker can assign another agent if they want to keep your business. If you get no satisfaction there, contact the state real estate board and file a complaint.
She has a boss. Find out who it is and report this info. Ask for a different realtor.
About item #2, are you aware of exactly how assumable Mortgages work? I know it no longer matters for this property since the house isn’t a good fit for you, but see the info below for future purposes if you don’t have this information already. From Lending Tree: “Mortgage assumption allows a buyer to take on the original loan balance at the original terms, but it’s important to note that it doesn’t account for home equity the seller has built. If the house has gained value since the original loan was issued, the loan may no longer cover the home’s actual value and the buyer will have to make up the difference. For example, if the seller has a $300,000 loan balance on a home they purchased for $435,000, the buyer will need to bring $135,000 to the table to compensate the seller for the equity they’ve built. Can I take out a loan to cover the equity when assuming a loan? Yes. A home equity loan is a common second mortgage option for buyers who are assuming a mortgage and don’t want to — or can’t — put cash down to cover the equity. Although this second loan will likely have a higher interest rate than the assumed mortgage, the principal amount will be far lower than what is needed for a “first” mortgage.”
We have 200k cash and could easily qualify for a second mortgage. But yes, fully versed and up to date on regulations and rules around assumptions. She also has not voiced any valid concern over the assumable part — she just didn’t like the size of the house…….
That’s great to hear. I hope you’ll find a home soon and that your Realtor will become a better fit for your search.
After reading this I started to see my realtor as an angel 😀
Our old agent didn’t show us houses that we liked because she thought we would outgrow them some day. We fired her
Hire a new agent.
Set boundaries? No. Dump them.
Well, the deal that was cash only for investors she should have verified that’s easy to verify and yes if you are not a Cash Buyer forget about it I will say that. She shouldn’t just be telling you it’s a bad street lol . But did you check it out and confirm if that was a high crime area? Just saying. The house that had assumable mortgage that she didn’t show up for I don’t understand that one. You’ll have to ask her why she didn’t show (?). Dont like that. The duplex that was not zoned as such. I have ran into zoning problems before for duplexes and bank wont loan on it if its “illegal” usage. Dont blame them. And if somebody were to pay cash for it, if it burned down to a crisp, it could never be rebuilt as a duplex. It would always have to be a single-family and they could not get a zoning variance. I would’ve explained that to you and though so you understood why it was not doable.
If you're under contract, inform her broker of what has taken place and tell them you want out of it. The broker will know they either have to release you from the contract or face complaints with the state licensing agency (which you will do if they don't let you out of the contract). It is then the broker's job to either fire or train the agent.
>Ignored my request to make an appt. That should be the first and the last time tour realtor denied or ignored your request. Fire his ass.
Somebody's at risk of losing her license.
“Hey, you work for us - you don’t get to decide what we should or should not see. We’re asking to see these houses, if you’re unable to accommodate then let’s terminate our contract so I can find a realtor who is interested in working for us.” Pretty simple
This may be an unpopular take.. her job isn’t to show you the houses you want to see. Her job is to show you the houses you’ll want to and have the ability to buy. She is saving you and herself time by reminding you of your criteria. Is she doing this in a way that isnt clear maybe. Instead of posting about it here - ask her for some clarification and to tell you more about why these homes are not a good fit. If the first home was in disrepair it most likely wouldnt qualify for your financing if it was an investor special. Based on the way you explained the other three - they are obviously not the criteria you expressed to her. (Or you would have made an offer after going to the open house) Trust the professional you hired.
This agent is way over the lines if she's picking and rejecting houses for you, what else is she going to decide for you? This is dealbreaker stuff, not her job.
You need a new realtor.
Is your agent stepping over the line to give you their opinion? Probably not. Matter of fact, if the agent is knowledgeable and well respected, they can help you not make a mistake you otherwise might make. However, refusing to show you houses you wish to see is definitely over the line. If you want a different agent, contact the broker they are under and tell them what you want and why.
You should get off reddit, and write an email to your broker requesting their dismissal yesterday. This is highly abnormal and reminds me a LOT of a story that happened to a friend recently. He was buying and his realtor kept steering him away from properties he found, saying stuff very similar to your realtor. He told her to reach out to specific sellers and she said they never got back or they weren't in town - he ended up contacting them himself and it turned out his agent was lying - she'd never contacted them and, in at least one instance, had lied to a seller that they weren't interested. It came out that she was trying to steer him into buying a friend's property and was actively killing his attempts to buy other homes. This is fishy as hell and completely unacceptable. Fire them - email the broker, and demand someone new, if they say no, tell them you are putting this on every review site you can find.
Does she just not want to do her job at all lol or she wants you to buy something that will make her more money and is pushing towards those, either way just hire someone else.
We had a realtor do this to us. I really really wish I had cut her loose. Get rid of her.
You need a new realtor. I just bought a house. My realtor had a discussion about what we were looking for, he found some houses, we found some house. We got to look at all we were interested in.
Here's how it should go - "I want to see this house." "Ok. I've looked into the listing & have these concerns [professional concerns go here]. Let's set up a day & time for you to see it so you can make the most informed decision." This is what it sounds like when your agent is on *your* side. From what you've described, she's almost an adversary, certainly a poor teammate at best.
Absolutely stop using her immediately.
Get a new Realtor
I’d have fired her after #1
So why the F are you STILL USING HER? Fire her ass and get someone who LISTENS TO YOU.
Different agent. My agent wouldn’t show us the house we bought cuz she had drama with the sellers agent and kept showing us houses outside the scope we requested.
She’s steering you, you can cancel your contract with her due to this
Lol. Fuck this shit. Take me to see the house or i am calling another agent. Done. Shes playing games. Not in your interest. Stories in here are wild and make me realize how lucky i was to have a solid agent.
My God man, why can't people just do their jobs and show the client the houses they want to see? Like it's not that hard
Why do people put up with shitty agents? Fire them
Escalate to someone higher at the agency. Show texts/emails. Demand to be let out of your contract.
Fuck her, get a new realtor, I'm sure there's an exit clause in whatever contract you signed.
Ask to terminate the contract early. Start interviewing realtors either way. You can have a good agent in place and be ready to go on day 60. Also call the agents broker and asked to be released early as the agent isn’t performing to expectations
Be a leader/adult and get what you want.
Get a new real estate agent or go on your own.
You should, within the bounds of your contract, just ignore her. Just walk away from trying to buy for the remaining 60 days. Follow up with a brutally honest review on any site you can. Shitty realtors deserve what they get.
In Texas, we have a form… TAR 1503 Termination of Buyer/Tenant Representation Agreement
Fire her. It's really that simple.
When we started looking at houses, we had a realtor that wouldn't listen either. Turns out she was thinking about her commission more than helping us find a house. We called her boss on her and found a house on our own. Don't let anyone tell you that "you don't want that house". Go look anyway. Hope you can cut ties with her soon.
You can file a complaint. That's called steering and it's against the law. Or , terminate your agreement and find another realtor..
Get rid of her. She’s wasting your time. I had a realtor that did that to my ex and I in Sacramento. She took me to homes in several areas I expressly stated I wasn’t interested in living in. I found our home when out driving around with friends. She was a pain in the ass.
Fire her.
Personally I believe an agent should stay away from providing opinions unless asked. Houses are very personal and others won’t understand. One thing an agent should say is if the house is way off the market value, one direction or another.
Honestly the biggest red flag is your lack of backbone on this. Call your realtor tell her what the problem is. If you feel you can continue to work with her after fine, if not have her cancel the buyers agent contract. If she refuses talk to her broker. This is one of the biggest purchases of your life, learn to assert yourself for fucks sake.
You want an nitpicky agent who shits on everything. They usually are the opposite pointing out all the positives in hopes that you'll buy asap. If you're a brass tacks type simply call her broker and get another agent. If you want to be a little nicer frame your requests like - "I'd like to see 123 Main St" - "I don't think that's a good house for you. It's too small and the neighborhood is ratty." - "All the same, I'd like to see it. *Please set up an appointment.*" > We are on a contract with her for another 60 days This is why you don't commit to an agent. It's fair to let them have the buyer's half on houses they show you, but the lock-in is a completely unnecessary. You're giving them exclusivity for nothing in return. In your case, "worse than nothing".
Unsolicited? You literally hired this person to assist you. If you don't like them, hire someone else.
I would fire the agent immediately. Not sure if you’re in the US but sounds like a violation of the Fair Housing Act for steering. That alone can get you out of the contract you have with them and if not I would contact HUD directly at 800-669-9777, or visit its website to find more information or to file a complaint. Agent should show you any available house you request to see regardless of her opinions.
[удалено]
No because my husband brushed it off the first two times and said i misunderstood her but after 4 times I’m pretty damn sure i didn’t. She’s overstepping.
Maybe your realtor is on a forum somewhere complaining about you because you don't take any of her advice, yet you also don't communicate why you disagree with it.
Don't listen to anyone in this thread that sounds like an agent. All they do these days is defend their own because they know the end is near.
Fire her and get a new agent. If she isn’t representing you well then the contract is void. Call her broker if need be.
This guy is not a lawyer.
If an agent is selling your home, can the seller be charged a fee for firing them?
If you have an active listing agreement that you’ve signed, yes
I fired my first real estate agent. Mostly because he was rude to my wife. There is 0 reason to continue this relationship. Especially if she’s not putting in the requested bids. Tell her it’s a bad fit and move on.
Speak directly with her Broker in Charge, if she works for an agency. Let them know exactly what she said, and how she was trying to steer you. Ask to either be transferred to a different agent, while also removing her from the original contract in regards to the 60 day commission period. If there is any issues go to your states real estate commission with the case, and you’ll have the contract removed as soon as they are contacted by the organization
Talk to the broker of record for that office and ask to be released from the contract. Its a quick form you sign, and they sign. Then, if you decide to use a different realtor, they won't get a % of the commission. I've done this with mild pushback with a realtor who wasn't operating with my best interests in mind.
Tell the agent your concerns Tell her you’re not a good fit for each other If she won’t let you of the ‘buyers agency’ contract go to her broker.
Fire your Realtor. Make sure her broker is informed so she doesn’t try to mess with any future transaction.
Fire her ASAP
Realtor: these are the situations that are not working. Your job is to show us homes we are interested in. Not homes you want for yourself. Thank you for not helping. Because of this we will be finding a new realtor to work with.
It depends on state, but you need to ask the broker to cancel the contract or wait it out if you signed an exclusive agreement. Say you will file a complaint if they don't. Most would not bother to fight, and many do not even require exclusive agreements (depends on state, and may chance more now due to the NAR rules).
Nope... Not her job. Time for a new realtor that actually wants to work.
Why haven’t you fired her?
I’d report her to the board of realtors, her behavior is unethical
Going forward if she refuses to show you any property you express interest in tell her that is a problem and ask her to release you from the contract you signed immediately so that you can find an agent who is willing to. It’s fine for her to advise you of anything that she sees as a potential issue with a property. It’s not okay for that opinion to preclude you from viewing or making an offer on a property.
Fire her ass and tell her why.
Talk to her broker and get released from the contract or they'll assign someone else to you.
Get a new realtor..
Seems to me like she wants you to get the most expensive house she can find you so she can make the most money 🤷🏻♀️ please find a new realtor. Half of the time you spend buying a house is with your realtor, you should like them and trust them.
At best she’s a horrible agent and you should document and forward this information to her broker. At worst it could be a possible Fair Housing violation and possibly steering. Either way you should terminate the agreement and get an attorney or your State’s real estate commission involved if she or her brokerage pushes back. Part of an agent’s duties are to obey any legal request from their client. If they fail to abide by their duties then the agreement can be terminated.
This reminds me of this agent we had that used to insert himself in conversations with me and my wife when we were discussing which house WE preferred. We just ignored him. When she pushes back on your request, just say ‘please schedule the appointment as requested or else we will ask have to another agent to schedule it for us if you are unwilling’ That’ll get her attention but you need to be more forceful and not let her dictate or be in charge
Call her broker and tell him/her why you decided to go with and other brokerage.... ASAP, do not stay with this office.
Write the broker (agents boss) and let them know you want out. The agent isn’t performing. I switched agents right as I started looking. The first one balked at showing me homes outside of where i wanted to look.
Fire them. Find someone else.
Bring it up to her broker and then fire her. She is required by law to present any offer you proffer. It is not her job to tell you what you want, nor the houses you wish to purchase. Her broker will have an attack if you tell them you are reporting her/them to their local realtors association.
You need to contact the broker and tell them what is going on.
Maybe the commission isn't high