About 1 month ago, my brother in law wanted to look for a house to move his wife and two small kids into. He doesn’t make a lot and doesn’t know much about real estate. He called a family friend,actually his little brother’s girlfriend’s dad who happened to be a realtor. So they go out and look at houses for awhile and he keeps telling me there are some really cheap homes in what I consider a bad part of town but he doesn’t really want to live there. Did you tell your realtor that I asked? No, but next time he will he said. Next thing I know, they actually make an offer on an absolutely horrid fixer home in that part of town. What happened? Knowing him as someone who avoids being direct at all costs(“pliable” is what I call him), I surmise that his buying agent somehow liked that home and B.I.L gave a positive reaction just to be agreeable and things spiraled out of control from there. So he brings his sister(my wife) to look at the house and she tells him “are you nuts? Did you even look at the 2 houses(short sales) down the street from us?. You are pre-qualified for what they are listed for.” So they wander in one of them, without buying agent (open house) and they are amazed- affordable home in move in condition in better neighborhood! They want that house and tell listing agent they gonna get their buying agent. Listing agent tells him, if they really want the house, offer $235K and she could make it work for them- only he would have to get rid his buying agent. She tells him she has two other offers on the house and if he gets his buying agent he might not get the house, also mentioning explicitly that she wants the other half of the commission. He is now scared sh@tless and calls me up about what to do. I tell him she’s rotten and to get his buyers agent and make an offer. I tell him she’s obligated to present all offers and if his offer is better he will most likely get the house either way. He calls his buyers agent and asks him, can you guarantee that I will get this house, the other agent is promising him the house based on his offer 0f $235K
if he goes with her in dual role. Of course buyer agent says no, can’t guarantee anything and so B.I.L
say’s he gotta do what’s right for his family and decides to hire the slimy agent in dual role. (B.I.L
never signed buyer’s agreement with his agent). Family friend/agent is hurt and angry now and me? I just gonna step back and not get involved anymore.