Relocate to Wisconsin

   Decision making can be a painful process. Sometimes it feels that the biggest and hardest decisions must be  made at a time when we have the least amount of strength to make them.   When we are emotionally involved with an individual and have their health care power of attorney....it sometimes feel like no matter what the decision, the question is who are we deciding for....for our comfort or the comfort of the person who may be suffering and will never recover to regain the quality of life that they had enjoyed before the threatening health care situation.

     For short sale sellers, there can be agonizing decisions complicated by each unique seller(s)' situation...the health, the unemployment, the death or divorce.  The hardship that has put them in the situation makes the decision to do a short sale less than automatic....less than simple and always complex. 

     What we are learning is that the rules are always changing. Lenders are sometimes not forgiving all of a HELOC and requiring sellers to work with them for a portion of it to be re-paid.  The pain of disappointment is evident when a short sale looked as though it was a complete and total forgiveness of all house related indebtedness,....a chance to start over. 

       From our perspective, you STILL have that chance....if the alternatives are bankruptcy or foreclosure, examine them carefully.   We know that there are less than objective sources who will immediately encourage bankruptcy....never mind how many  years it will be before the sellers can buy another home..that getting a car loan will be  challenge...that charging holiday presents on non-existent credit cards will make the holidays a lot less cheerful for years to come.  The short term fix may not be the very best answer....soothing the momentary pain may just be a tourniquet that will continue to bleed financially for years to come.  Consult legal counsel, a qualified short sale realtor, and take the time to make the decision that is best one for the long term...for the better life you deserve.

  We had a call yesterday from an agent considering writing an offer on one of our short sale listings...he said he knew all about short sales....and he had prepared his buyers that they may have to wait at least 21 days for bank approval....oh yeah...now there's a thought.  I asked him if they had a home to sell..."They have 'just about sold theirs." (Huh ? How is that almost commission working for you ?)

   If your buyers are not prepared to wait...can't rent month to month...bunk in with whomever for a little bit to gain the benefits of a great house at a below market price....let's save the tree for the paper it will take to write the offer, addendum, etc.  The seller doesn't need to take the property off the market and have it be "active with offer" in MLS for your buyers on day 22 to say they have waited long enough and are on to another house as their new home.  They are closer to foreclosure with time on market lost...and all the "I told you so's" won't change the mess that has been created because you weren't listening in the beginning. 

   Patience CAN be a virtue....you will be paid with the opportunity to own a wonderful home at a great price...if waiting is not an option for whatever reason....Moooove on please and let someone else grab this opportunity.

  Did you ever notice that when e-mail, you tend to give it a voice ?  You decide because....you know the person....and don't like them...that there is a snicker, some hidden meaning only YOU know...there must be a problem....You lend your own interpretation based upon your pre-conception ...or more simply..."Ya like it or Ya Don't" cuz you think you already know whether you do or not.

   E-mail is both a blessing and a curse...it is an outstanding way to communicate (thank you Al Gore :) ) because you can:

• Communicate day or night...anytime and know your recipient (or at least be pretty sure) has the message almost instantly (There is that dead letter office somewhere in the blogosphere...)
• Not have to have a fax machine that my blur words...unable to send images in color...Can be clear, crisp communication !
• You can send to more than one person at once...an e-mail to your sphere, an offer to parties in 2 different locations, broadcast a listing...invite people to an open house
• "Talk" when you have laryngitis....instant message if you like...
• Reference other sources with links
• Showcase your listings
• Teach the world what you know from your experience
• Become an expert with your blog...choose your own voice

                                                          It can be a curse because:  

• What I meant, is not what you understood...now we have created a barrier not a bridge in our communication
• The receiver has a pre-conceived notion of what is communicated because of the title, the sender, the urgency...the_______
• Not being able to see the recipient's reaction allows "Brewing/Broodng" time to make sure you store up all that nastiness to spew at the next available opportunity
• You judge the person by how well they write, spell, illustrate, use graphics when maybe blogging is not their best thing....they talk better than they write...you misunderstood their tone
• TONE ...now there's a word...you choose to perceive it as you wish....

    E-mail is a wonderful thing...not sure what we did without it...but we also need FACE time...and the opportunity to make our communication understood....personal...professional....Know that not all you write, blog, e-mail is understood the way you wrote, blooged, mailed....and you may just want to phone, visit, talk to make sure everyone knows what you said is what you meant.  ENJOY !

  I know that many gals that wear earrings have pierced ears...and I would guess from the lack of clip on earrings available in retail stores.....one could safely say...MOST people...men and women who choose ear jewelry have pierced ears.   Then there are folks like me who have an allergy to nickel...wearing earrings that have nickel on the clip portion instantly produce red, swollen, itchy inflamed "elephant ears"....not quite the fashion statement I was looking to create !

                                      Soooo...what's a gal to do ?

   Cute on this dog...not sooo cute on me !  Sooo that is when I discovered the wonderful folks at CLIPTOMANIA...they have a great collection of clip on earrings...AND they get it....they also have a part of their collection that is "Nickel Free"....Sooo...you can wear dots, hoops, chandeliers, glitter and glitz and never have to worry about swollen, itchy and less than fashionable ears to match your jewelry.  They ship very quickly...their customer service is outstanding...they have specials seasonably and fashionably....you gotta love it,...AND if you get on their customer e-mail list, they'll let you know when you can take advantage of all the best buys they have to offer...Step into Spring with a new look...colorful...gold, silver, bronze...Call the folks at Cliptomania...easy to remember...fun to wear....a fashion statement you'll enjoy !

 Remember the song..."I think that all.....have beans in their ears....".....and sometimes I think that there are agents who have that same vegetarian mallady....be they office mates, managers, co-brokes...the art of listening is sometimes lost. Or..the ever popular...hear what you want to believe.  We find this to the case most especially with short sales. Wehen we got a call from an agent about one of our short sale listings....we used to begin the conversation by saying: "Do you understand that this listing is a short sale...? Are you familiar with short sales?? The answer always YES OF COURSE I KNOW ABOUT SHORT SALES.  Then the conversation continued and the longer it went on....the more we knew...they didn't know anything or at least not enough to work with a buyer on a short sale. The comments were..

• My buyer has a house to sell
• Aren't the sellers going to_____________re-paint, Fix the______________
• We need to close in 30 days.....
• Of course if it's a short sale, it must be vacant_______-
• Well, that means the lender will take anything we offer....

  We've stopped letting agents embarrass themselves and ask a few probing questions to determine if their buyers could possibly be qualified....Know what you don' t know....No harm in saying you don't know...we are happy to answer any questions you have about a short sale...Call us anytime: 414-525-0563....Prompt service, proven results.

 There once was a short sale seller who

•  Didn't want to leave the state before closing on her short sale even though she had a  good over asking offer....at the very great risk of losing her new out of state job
• Paid a lawyer to tell her exactly what we already told her...paying him with money she didn't have made her feel better.
• Was sure if we lowered the price no one would feel any urgency to buy her once very over priced house
• Was sure, as a former real estate agent, her short saled house would sell in a blink...not understanding the "Let's make a deal" market
• Thought it would better to punish er ex husband and go into foreclosure...whoops there goes his job requiring security clearance...and her child support

Fears are usually unfounded...these are just a few examples....Education is available...we are happy to answer your questions...and help you avoid the very real horrors of foreclosure. Give us a call...i

414-525-0563                                                                       

it will be the best advice you never paid for,                                                    

 The day finally came...our e-mail gal pal arrived from Iraq and we have begun our "tour of southeastern Wisconsin" which she is finding more pleasurable than the one in Iraq.  She arrived at the Country Inn in Brookfield, and we made sure that the purple basket (we share the same favorite color) of goodies which included every pampering thing for her first good soak in a whirlpool was in her room. From scrubs to bubbles and potions and lotions...and a relocation kit with maps, brochures full of local information....our card of course and leisure reading material about the area.  The manager at the Country Inn, promised us, they would help be on the wRelcoming committee...and they too had a basket of goodies...more eatable and palate pleasing..Thank YOU Country Inn  we will recommend you highly for anyone we have visiting the area !

     Teresa brought us a magic genie lamp and camel as our treasures from Iraq....we know rubbing the lamp will help fulfill all the magic wishes we both have !

   We decided we would ease in gently mindful of the jet lag....and picked Teresa up Monday and whisked her to Matty's since we had e-mailed her the menu and she had been dreaming of Jack Daniel's chili....mmmm nothing better to take the damp chill out of the Wisconsin spring air.

  Teresa is a very kind and very determined lady...we got along as though we had known each other for a lifetime....an instantly comfortable relationship.  And spending the next day touring homes...and dinner at our house with her favorites...toasting blue Hawaiians...smoked brussel sprouts (ewww), pepper crusted beef tenderloin with marsala mushroom sauce, pasta with cream sauce, kiwi fruit salad and strawberry pie for dessert....I think we may just be her realtor for a lifetime...we have made it about her....and we are honored she has chosen us to represent her in making Wisconsin her home.

Today, my father would have been 88....and  I know that he is sending guidance from another place...that he wishes prosperity for us...and for everyone we know..that his strength and wisdom has helped each of  his three children become the people they are.

   That we appreciate what he knew and what he did and what he taught us more now than we ever did and hope that he knows that.  That we miss him today and every day....being a parent is an awesome responsibility....not just genetically...but as a teacher, a provider, a role model...and Barbara Kate Repa, John J. Repa and I had one of the very best....thank you Dad...Happy Birthday.

   No one likes to admit "they don't know"....it gets in the way of sounding professional ....or that is what some folks would say....and we think it is just the opposite...Know what you don't know...find out...refer...research.....You are more help to the seller, buyer, general public, the image of the industry, the credability of your company...whether you are a realtor, lender, appraiser, attorney....you can never know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.

   We don't quote mortgage rates or claim to know every program for lending avaiable...OR when a particular person goes for financing what that person's options are for financing....lending is not our field that is why we have professionals who ARE in that field that we refer  to...for buyers or folks who wish to re-finance.

      We have been to Short Sale School....we are CDPE certified....we have the education, successful experience and we attend seminars every month as well as network with other realtors who do short sales so that our information is as current as possible.  We distribute literature to people who want to learn about short sales...to our sphere, to people who attend our open houses at short sales...we blog...we want to teach realtors, buyers and sellers about short sellers...when you know more, you are less afraid and more apt to buy, sell...familiarize yourself with a concept you may not have understood.

   Investment real estate...we have owned it, remodeled it...grown up with it...attended courses in Commercial Real Estate...we get it...we can help you Mr./Ms Buyer or Seller...price a property to sell so that it is buyer-friendly....and profitable for the buyer as well as the seller.

   We have made Wisconsin our home for a lifetime and lived throughout the state from northwestern Wisconsin to Southeastern Wisconsin...we know it, we love it...and if you want to make it home...now is the very best time....!  Homeowners are competing for your purchasing dollars by putting their homes in the very best possible condition....Lenders are competing for your mortgage with outstanding rates...The selection of  homes is wonderful....Realtors are happy to help...find one that has gone the extra mile to get the education to be the best possible asset to youn  in the purchase or sale of residential or commercial property....Come on in....the buyings fine...Learn it....Know it....Invest it..ENJOY IT !

 When we decided to build the house  of our dreams in southeastern Wisconsin we went on a mission...we research every major decision from where we go on vacation, the car we buy, our investments, etc, and certainly choosing a community...a neighborhood....a lot...was no different. 

   Initially, my husband would have opted for a community farther west....Delafield, Pewaukee...     Waukesha County is dotted with lots of little "burgs" that have their own personalities and local flavors. I was a city  gal...born in Milwaukee County and looking at walking to the mailbox as opposed to having it dropped inside the door as a major change in my life. Hmmmm...what to do....can't build two houses....wanting to blend the convenience of a location close to "what's happening" in the City with a little more relaxed atmosphere of the country....we found it...we found it...New Berlin ! 

   New Berlin is the "gateway to Waukesha County"....bordered on the east by 124th Street...the west side of the street is New Berlin and Waukesha County...the east side of the Street is Milwaukee County and could be Hales Corners, Greenfield, West Allis...depends where you are in the city.

   New Berlin calls itself..."A Little Bit Country"....and it is that...it was like a Three Bears tale for us...not too much, not too little...Just right !  We still have city water and sewer...no well to dig or septic or mound system....though some people farther west in New Berlin have these kinds of things.

  Come and tour the new website....www.NewBerlin.org....they didn't ask me...but you would think they did...I LOVE Purple !  New Berlin is the largest Waukesha County suburb in terms of area with a population 38,220 according to the 2000 census.  We have lots of kinds of living options....Condos...Single families are the most of what you will find here with apartments but very few duplexes or four plexes. It is the kind of community where you can go to City Hall and talk to someone who is likely to know you by name...where you can enjoy the farmer's market summer into fall sprawled over the parking lot...visit a tree farm...go to any of several nurseries and greenhouses and choose your favorite annuals and perennials. Enjoy one of the best 4th of July celebrations this part of the state has to offer due to the dedication and pride in the community that the hard working volunteers assemble each year.  We have an industrial park with varied kinds of employment...a super park system....and easy access to everywhere...

   If you think you may want to make New Berlin your home...give us a call...our home office is at home in New Berlin and we are happy to introduce you to all we have to offer....a little bit country...a lot to enjoy !

    We have had the great good fortune to come to know....and refer a roofing company you will want to call "your own"....they ARE our own....but we welcome you to use them, call them and know that you have contacted people very knowledgable, reliable and responsible in a field where that is not always the case.

  This is the kind of company that you will come to know and recommend with the family pride that you will appreciate...

 Southeastern Wisconsin homeowners trust Shelter From The Storm's innovation, expertise and job site cleanliness for peace of mind that they've made the right choice for their exterior remodeling needs. Shelter From The Storm has grown into a legacy of quality, reliability and unmatched beauty in all aspects of the services they provide. 

Shelter From The Storm has been built on a 10 year reputation devoted to their essential business values:

• Treat all of our customers, their homes and their yards with complete respect
• Provide our finest work with flawless attention to detail on each and every job
• Practice the highest integrity and business ethics in every aspect of our work
• Treat all of our employees with dignity and respect
• Maintain a commitment to our communities and local charities

As a family owned business, Frank, Jean and their sons Michael, John and Daniel have worked together to build strong relationships with product manufacturers and professional business associations throughout the area and the nation to make absolutely sure we are offering the best of the best to all of our customers.  For example, as qualified experts in every facet of ventilation requirements (proper venting is the single most important aspect of your roofing system) you can be rest assured that your home will maintain a balanced system.  The balanced ventilation system will keep air cooler in the summer while eliminating moisture in the winter both adding extended life to the shingles.

  People you can trust, quality you will appreciate and the service you deserve.

 We hear it everywhere...AR is no exception...."Short sales take sooo long to close...." and the whine goes on and on and on....and the agents who have waited tooo long who didn't bother to learn if the listing agent had any short experience or was sitting at their desk waiting for the lenders to call back....add to the chorus...more whine....

     If you as a lister...have listed a short sale and turned it over to a non-communicative third party "negotiator".....you have lost control of the transaction and may not in the end, be saving the seller from foreclosure or the buyers get the home they thought for the price they thought...when was the last time you heard from them...,?

     If...Short Sale listing agent...YOU are charging yourself with the responsibility of keeping in communication with the lender or lenders...do you have time to do a thorough job ? How often do  you talk with them ? Are you persistent and get the kind of answers that let you know the transaction is actually making progress and not being stalled ?

   Are Realtors who do not do short sales well....actually giving the process a bad name ?  You can BUY a listing...even a short sale listing....and when you don't know what you don't know...you hurt everyone in the transaction and the reputation of the profession....and the housing market.  If you can't do it well..just Do Not....Refer it to someone who can.

Dear Lender.....

   This is a difficult time for many homeowners...and I am working harder than I have ever worked before to help homeowners who for reasons of hardship cannot pay the mortgages and home equity lines that they have borrowed from you.

     At the time you lent them the money...You believed that they were capable of making the payments. You believed that their home was worth the amount of the mortgage and very often, the additional second mortgage or HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) that you extended to them. 

       The homeowner, as the borrower, believed that they would always be able to work...they didn't plan on cancer.  They thought their company would always need their skills, they didn't ever think they would be employed.  When they got married, they vowed for "better or worse" and did not plan on ever getting divorced.  They never realized to get re-employed they could not remain in the state and they will have to start their lives over thousands of miles from the only state they have ever called home.  When their mortgage "adjusted" they did not realize it would be at the same time that their hours at work were also "adjusted" to fewer so more expenses and less pay has made it impossible for them to remain solvent and in their home.

     Mr. Lender, no one planned on having the economy be what it has become in many neighborhoods...no one planned on not paying you the amount they borrowed....and you Mr. /Ms Lender must not have planned on that either...or you would not have lent them the money. 

      Life happens, not always as any of us plan it to happen.  When I call you to tell you that I have an offer for one of your mortgagees....know that I have done the very best I can to market it. I have spent hours in the night worrying about the sellers and helping them to cope with their situation. I have sent their dinners, dried their tears and gotten you the very "highest and best" offer I could. I know to you it is a business transaction, to your mortgagee and our sellers, it is their life...know that we have all tried to do the best we can given what there is....and I ask  you not to continue to ask for one more piece of paper which in the "big picture" does not matter...it delays the closing and adds to the taxes and other expenses that you are being asked to absorb in this transaction.  Know that I brought you an offer from people who will take care of this home...you won't be paying the maintenance, taxes, insurance, repairs. It won't be left vacant with a possible opportunity for vandalism, for the power to go out and the sump pump not to function and the basement to flood. The roof won't leak and the ceiling fall with no one there to notice...the grass won't be left uncut and the snow unshoveled.  You won't have to foreclose and incur legal expenses and more months without payment adding to your debt burden and making your balance sheet less than you your business plan designed it to be.  Know that we tried our best...that our sellers tried for as long as they could....and life happens.  Thank you for accepting the highest and best short sale offer I could possibly bring you and thank you for understanding that we all did our very best.

It's neat....it's got outstanding curb appeal....a great private backyard....a family room with a fireplace and a whole wall of built-in display and storage...3 bedrooms and a bath and a half....Entertainment and Family Friendly layout....just a hop from schools in the ever so charming community of Wales, Wisconsin. It is where David Hanson grew up....and as we drove through town....the buildings that were once the corner grocery store and one room school are still there...just having taken on their now "highest and best use."

    Welcome to this tri-level at: 212 Llamberris Pass ....spelled correctly...2 L's named after a town in Wales that according to Wiki-Pedia:

Llanberis is a town in Gwynedd, North Wales, lying on the southern banks of Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, an early Welsh saint.

   Great curb appeal...and an attached garage all on the .7 acre lot...come on inside and let's show you what just $217,800 will buy you....a tremendous value on this short sale...your patience will be rewarded.

 Dining Room                                        Living Room

     Family Room

  Master Bedroom

      Come on over to the open house on Sunday, March 22nd  Noon - 2 pm...OR if you would like a personal tour at your convenience...Call the Hansons: 414-525-0563 or TOLL FREE: 877-525-0563 ...here when you need us with prompt service and proven results !                                        

  You  just knew that Matt Anderson would be rolling out the green carpet on St. Patricks for patrons old and new....and do it with style and a BUNCH of fun besides....come on over....and see what a little green will do to celebrate the holiday in New Berlin...Matty's outstanding food with an irish flair to please the palate...music to awaken the Irish in you ...and plenty of green beverages to quench your thirst whatever your nationality......

Greetings! Visit Matty's Bar & Grille Tuesday, March 17th for St. Patty's Day 2009 and enjoy the following specials:

Live Performance by The Dave Fitzpatrick Band @ 6pm    "A tune is more lasting than the song of birds. And a word is more lasting than the wealth of the world." -An Irish Proverb     Great Irish Food Specials  Try one of the following specialty items:   *O'Matty's Reuben Boxty *Shepherd's Irish Stew *Traditional Reuben *Corned Beef on Marble Rye *Corned Beef & Cabbage   Awesome Irish Drink Specials Drink Specials: Green Beer, Irish Car Bombs, Irish Coffee, Nutty Irishman, LEPRECHAUN BOMBS  Irish Beer: Beamish, Smithwicks, Guiness, Harp, Half n Half Irish Whiskey: The Knot, Tullamore Dew, Jameson, Bushmills

Matty's Also Featuring: Stevie the Scotsman "The Friendly Piper" Come hear the tunes of a REAL piper!! OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: Thursday, March 19th - Monday, April 6th - MARCH MADNESS:Catch all the college games on Matty's 15 HDTV's! Join our 'FREE' NCAA Tournament Bracket! Great Prizes!

We came  back from an appointment this evening to  2 offers on a  newer short sale listing...that should be a good thing...urgh.....

The  first offer 30% under asking had "instructions".   The claimed to have 5 years of short sale  experience.....(records indicate she had been licensed for less than half that time)....and all we had to do was submit thei offer to the lender.....and eventually the lender would let us know if we were "in range of an acceptable price."  As  MLS requires...we will indicate the offer is active with offer....and we'll wait weeks with the offer tied up and a buyer not qualified to buy it while the foreclosure clock runs.....hmmmm...

The second offer not only included things the seller should pay..gap insurance...closing costs but also that the listing agents will buy the home owners warranty.....Now there is a novel idea....I think that besides doing ten times the work...which we have done and will continue to do happily.....now we should further pay a bonus to the buyers..gee golly whiz....why didn't we think of that....

     What ARE they Thinking ?

     If you are unable to pay your mortgage...calll us no matter where you are....we can help or refer you to help in your area AND know how to do a  short sale !

R-E-S-P-E-C-T ....FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO ME...

What does it mean to YOU ????

  - Mr/Ms Co-broke....will you keep the showing appointment you made on a timely basis ?

- Will you give me an honest evaluation of the property so that I may report your findings to my sellers ?

-Sellers...will you be truthful on your condition report...tell me the reason you are selling and let me know your financial condition as it applies to liens on the property you wish me to list ?

-Mr/Ms Co-broke did you list that house/lot/condo based upon the 3 month old comps in the neighborhood or did you BUY the listing at the price the seller wanted to use for the listing ?

-Mr/Ms fellow realtor....did you honor my buyer as promised at your open house ? 

-Mr/Ms Realtor did you ask that caller, buyer if they were working with a realtor or were you planning on "using" procuring cause later in the transaction against the listing agent ?

Find out what it means to me...to You...to be honest...respectful....buyers, sellers, co-brokes, managers, associates....that's where it starts...with that one word...don't leave/sell/list a home without it !

 We always say that my mother's phone is either busy or she isn't home.  We have suggested a number of times that she consider getting call waiting.  She has put her now 87 year old foot down firmly declaring "I refuse to put people on "ignore" while I talk to someone else."

  I know there is a school of "time management" in Realtor-dom (dumb?) that says you should have an updated voice mail message that lists every activity in your whole life and eventually gets around to telling you that they will, if they have time and you fit into their very busy schedule....."be returning calls between 4 and 5pm." Oh lucky me....My question, my buyer or seller has been put "on ignore" and I get to hear all about your busy day...you are on a listing call from this to that, showings from here to there...oh pullllllllllllleez....spare me....just return the call...sooner than later would be great....it's called customer service...professional courtesey...don't disguise it as time management...I don't have time to listen to your busy schedule....grrrrr.....

 I  am fond of making lemonade out of lemons....and new recipes...add a little cranberry or orange juice, swirl it in a blender with crushed ice....and add something stronger if you wish....might want to wait till afte at least noon for that kind of celebration....

   We declare it is a day to celebrate...Change your luck if it has not been "going your way" and Celebrate it if it has....it's easy...it's fun...put on your best positive attitude and let's make it a national celebration founded by AR members...the best news is...it can come EVERY  Friday the 13th and we are already one behind from last month ! 

    Ways to celebrate can include but not be limited to:

• Invite your favorite lender, plumber, carpet retailer, HVAC, inspector for

                                          Lunch

                                         Happy Hour

                                          Coffee

•   Call that co-broke who wrote on your last listing....or will be closing on the one you have now and them you want to treat them to a....soda, coffee, ice cream cone...yogurt...or ......
•  Pick up the phone and call the seller who has been SUPER about showings on short notice, turned     the lights on....never balks at open house times...always has the house spotless...join her/him in a  cup of soup for lunch....a cup of coffee....a shot of.............

• Who was last buyer/seller referral from ?   Surprise them....tell them you just want to drop by with a Krispee Creme....early Corned Beef sandwich cuz every one will be Irish in a few days...

                           Get Lucky....we'll let you count the ways....Make it a GREAT DAY ! 

                  Be Creative...Create Your Own FRIDAY the 13th STIMULATING

                                            CELEBRATION !!!!

                           Tell us how you choose to celebrate ....

 A few years ago, when the market was a bit different..."Jason and Jennifer" (their names are changed to protect us...their nasty former realtors) were about to be married and bought a condo with of course, no money down.  They became part of our sphere....and got our mailings, calendars, holiday presents...and their family grew....one daughter and they started thinking about a house and selling their condo.  So last summer we looked at houses and they told us that they could sell their condo on their own...we explained that there was some liability there...and if was our position that any profession that the state said should be licensed and had errors and omissions insurance was not one that someone unlicensed should practice..but if they wanted to try it, they should set a time limit.  We did not get it of course...they knew they could sell it....how hard could that be...apparently too hard...they didn't sell it.

    We continued to keep them in our sphere and now daughter number 2 came along...we sent a baby present and congratulations and again, they decided to start house hunting. We said list now...the closer it gets to spring, the more units will be listed in your complex, the longer it will take to sell and at a lower price to match the competition.  Once again, we were wrong....and they waited.  Now...they decided was the "right time"  and  better then that they weren't going to "give it away" after all,  a few months ago, a neighbor sold for a few thousand more than they wanted with a discount  realtor so of course they could do likewise. Key words...a few months ago. Looking at the complex today there are now half a dozen for sale, one a healthy five figures less than theirs...which of course, how did we know is not "nearly as nice" and anyway...they really need to sell. ...and they will take anything.  I explained the concept of an appraisal... and that the longer a property was on the market, the less the purchase price....NO, I was wrong, they would wait for the "right buyer." (It must be the one with cash who wants an over priced condo I thought.)

  Then the e-mail had 2 last straws....didn't I know that 5 other realtors "really believed in their sellers and the worth of their condos and listed them north of the price they wanted." Oh yeah....only 5 who bought a listing...buying a listing and selling one...hmmmm...not the same thing.

   THE FINAL STRAW...."We know you sell short sales you probably just want a quick sale."  Short sales, as most of you reading this know, are dear to my heart....and this ___________has just hit me where he can't afford to live....so time to say good bye, wish them well and know that they will find someone who will buy their listing....and if they are really lucky....at a reduced commission besides.