Should buyer get deposit back? WWYD?

SqueakyMouse said:
What's the point of her giving you a deposit if she can get it back if she changes her mind about the deal?

I agree. I'm surprised she's asking for the deposit back! That's like saying all the time your house wasn't on the market was a "favor" to her.

It's nice that you can understand her hardships. Does she understand yours?
 
the kabuki said:
I realize that the chances of something going bad are less when using an agent and/or lawyer, but they can go bad. The buyer of our deal had an agent and a lawyer and so did her buyers' and yet the deal still went bad.

But Kubuki, your deal went bad for you - not for her
 
the kabuki said:
In the contract it states- "If a firm commitment for mortgage cannot be obtained within 20 calendar days from the date of Acceptance, at Sellers' option, (upon written notice) this agreement can be declared null and void and deposit shall be returned. If Purchaser is rejected for the mortgage, Purchaser shall furnish the Seller with the lenders' written verification of mortgage denial. Upon Seller's receipt of such denial this agreement shall become null and void and the deposit shall be returned to Purchaser"

So I take from that, since she did obtain financing within the 20 calendar days and did not furnish a notice of lenders' denial , then default would apply here?

Sounds like it to me. The wording of that, is very similar to our financing addendum. You snooze, you lose.


Not that I have anything against agents, most are very good at what they do, but I am curious at this point what could an agent have done differently? I don't think it's a matter of letting things slip on by. Our deal was not contignent on her home selling, so legally one had nothing to do with the other. I've used agents in the past and the only time they ever received any info regarding the buyers' current home sale is when our offer is contingent upon their home selling first.We don't have the laws about property contingencies like they do in Texas. I personally spoke with her mortgage officer ( a local office) and financing was all set. Again, not to be snippy, just wondering what I could've have done differently.

You mean you don't have anything against agents??? Man, you're an odd one, aren't you? Just teasing! Considering we ranked one below used car salesman and one above lawyers, in the "least trusted" category of a Gallup poll, I'd say a lot of people think we get paid for a whole bunch of nothing. The money may be great, but let me tell you, this is no easy job. The stress can be a killer.

First, when I posted that, I thought the sale had a contingency and she failed to follow up on her end of it. Since it wasn't contingent on the sale, then there wasn't much an agent could do. She is in default, plain and simple. Agents can do a lot of things, but we can't predict buyers who're going to walk. What we can do, is offer advice based off of real estate law. The very questions you're asking on here, as a matter of fact.

Since I don't know how real estate works in your state it would be hard for me to justify you using an agent. I can tell you that in Texas, we have very strict contracts and there is a lot to keep up with. 90% of my job kicks in after an offer is accepted. I have to handhold the contract the whole way. If something happens to it, either I, or the listing agent, can be held liable. We actually have to carry what is called E & O insurance, which is basically like malpractice insurance.

So, to answer your question, there wasn't anything anyone would have been able to do in your case. Nobody could have prevented this, but your buyer. No attorney, no agent, no seller. However, this isn't always the case and an agent can be a very valuable asset. I've had deals almost blow to smithereens, and they only held together because I busted my rear doing what I do and knowing what I know.

How about this one...her deal fell through due to what may be fraud. At least it sounds like it may be. Her buyers' were both bank employees'. They sent an appraiser , one that I'm sure was well known to them being in the banking/mortgage industry. Evidently, the appraiser valued the home at $70,000 less than purchase price, which coincendentally was about the same amount less they had put in their original offer.

This kind of fraud is rampant right now. Appraisers and lenders are getting in trouble left and right. My husband is a Professional Real Estate Inspector, as well as a career Firefighter. Even he, as an inspector, has gotten snarled in one of these deals. And the buyer was a minister of all things!

If you suspect mortgage or appraisal fraud, go to the FBI. They're all over this stuff right now.

Of course, they start bringing up to the agent (yes both buyer and seller had agent's) that they think the home price should be lowered. Obviously the seller (my buyer) didn't agree with this and had an independent appraisal done, which came back correct to the purchase price.

Well, somehow this 2nd correct appraisal never made it's way to the underwriting dept of their bank, just the one valued at $70,000 less and underwriting would not approve the loan. Of course, this only was brought up the day before closing, when the buyers' are well aware that she has already purchased a home, packed up belongings, and is anxious to move, especially because her divorce is being held up by the sale of this home. I guess they figured she'd be so desperate to close that she'd accept $70,000 less. When my buyer told me about it, it all sounded rather fishy to me. A month later, neither party could agree and get this-She ended up keeping their deposit. Yes, the buyer who is now demanding I give her back her deposit, kept her buyers' deposit!!

I am sitting her shaking my head. Something stinks. I say take it to a lawyer. It sounds like your deal busted, because her deal was rotten to the core. What a mess!
 
Cindy's Mom said:
But Kubuki, your deal went bad for you - not for her

Isn't that the truth! She wants to come out smelling like a rose! Heck, she made $$$$ in all of this!
 

chrissyk said:
It can't be used as a comp because it was FSBO? Wow, I didn't know that! That stinks. I wonder why not, though. I mean, a sale is a sale, right? The buyer did have an agent, too. I guess that that doesn't matter, since we were FSBO sellers though.

Not that I can see, because it was a cash deal. Appraisers use sales statistics and if yours wasn't made a statistic, they can't use it. Was it in the MLS? I ask because some limited brokers will put it in there for a fee. If that's the case, then yes, it can be used as a comp.


It was definitely an unusual transaction. I've never encountered someone who was so in a rush to close before. The entire thing was literally 2 weeks from start to finish. He had the inspection just a couple of days after making the offer, and he was chomping at the bit to close after the inspection. I still have no clue why, because this was purchased as a 2nd home. The only thing that I could figure was that he was doing a 1031 exchange :confused3

He wanted his money, or he wanted to avoid paying taxes I guess.
 
Am_I_There_Yet said:
You mean you don't have anything against agents??? Man, you're an odd one, aren't you? Just teasing! Considering we ranked one below used car salesman and one above lawyers, in the "least trusted" category of a Gallup poll, I'd say a lot of people think we get paid for a whole bunch of nothing. The money may be great, but let me tell you, this is no easy job. The stress can be a killer.
So you're an agent too, huh? I had no idea we were so poorly thought of until I got in the business - I guess because the agents I had used to buy and sell were great. I hate the industry's reputation!!
 
the kabuki said:
I realize that the chances of something going bad are less when using an agent and/or lawyer, but they can go bad. The buyer of our deal had an agent and a lawyer and so did her buyers' and yet the deal still went bad.

Oh, things can still go bad! But is less likely, and if they do go bad it's A) easier to fix and B) if it can't be fixed, my agent and/or lawyer can advise me on what to do next. If something went wrong and I was on my own, I'd be lost (and possible sued if it was caused by something I did wrong).
 
Am_I_There_Yet said:
Not that I can see, because it was a cash deal. Appraisers use sales statistics and if yours wasn't made a statistic, they can't use it. Was it in the MLS? I ask because some limited brokers will put it in there for a fee. If that's the case, then yes, it can be used as a comp.

It was in the MLS :) I paid $399 for a 6-month MLS listing, although it was only in there for like 2 or 3 weeks before the deal was closed and we had it removed. Maybe it can be used as a comp then? I think that we're very lucky that we didn't have to have it appraise out, because I seriously don't think that it would have.
 
chrissyk said:
It was in the MLS :) I paid $399 for a 6-month MLS listing, although it was only in there for like 2 or 3 weeks before the deal was closed and we had it removed. Maybe it can be used as a comp then? I think that we're very lucky that we didn't have to have it appraise out, because I seriously don't think that it would have.

I guess it would all depend on the broker. If he/she entered the sales statistics like they're supposed to do, then yeah, it would be a bonified comp!

It would just go in as a sale with no loan. At least that's how our MLS works.

An appraiser would be the best person to answer though. AFAIK, they don't eliminate cash sales.
 
So you're an agent too, huh? I had no idea we were so poorly thought of until I got in the business - I guess because the agents I had used to buy and sell were great. I hate the industry's reputation!!

Yeah... I'm one of the hated ones. :duck:

It's the bad apples out there, and goodness knows they're there, that have done this to the industry.

And to top it off, I'm married to another hated one! An inspector! They're licensed here in Texas, but they're known as deal busters.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cindy's Mom
But Kubuki, your deal went bad for you - not for her
Well, this went bad for everyone. She didn't sell her home, didn't end up with ours, her divorce is being held up by her home not closing and I didn't sell the home
Isn't that the truth! She wants to come out smelling like a rose! Heck, she made $$$$ in all of this!
Actually the $5000 deposit didn't come close to expenses that were incurred while waiting to close.
Cabinets that she ordered on my account: $700
Carpenter to install above cabinets: $ 250
Lawn maintenance for 3 months: $540
Fall clean-up: $150
Sprinkler winterization: $50
Interest on loans on property: $2000 per month
Property taxes that are now due: $4000
Water Bill: $600 (new sod installed, had to be watered every day)
Misc Utilities: approx $500 for the 3 months

In addition, I lost our first buyer and am now looking at trying to sell during the most difficult time, going into the holidays. So no, I'm not trying to come out smelling like a rose and surely didn't make any money on the deal

If you suspect mortgage or appraisal fraud, go to the FBI. They're all over this stuff right now.
Would love too, but it was her deal not mine that had the alleged fraud, I didn't have anything to do with that so I'm pretty sure I can't report it.
 
the kabuki said:
In addition, I lost our first buyer and am now looking at trying to sell during the most difficult time, going into the holidays. So no, I'm not trying to come out smelling like a rose and surely didn't make any money on the deal

Oh, gosh! I hope you didn't think I was referring to you when I made the comment about "smelling like a rose"! I was referring to your buyer, who kept her buyer's deposit and is now asking for hers back.

You most certainly lost out!

Just wanted to clarify that. :blush:
 
:guilty:
Am_I_There_Yet said:
Oh, gosh! I hope you didn't think I was referring to you when I made the comment about "smelling like a rose"! I was referring to your buyer, who kept her buyer's deposit and is now asking for hers back.

You most certainly lost out!

Just wanted to clarify that.
Actually, I did think you were talking about me

Glad to know that you weren't. I'm already so wired up about this whole mess, I jumped the gun on that one. Sorry to get snippy :guilty:
 
the kabuki said:
:guilty: Actually, I did think you were talking about me

Glad to know that you weren't. I'm already so wired up about this whole mess, I jumped the gun on that one. Sorry to get snippy :guilty:

I'm glad I said something! I'm too new here to irritate people. That should take at least a month. :earboy2:

Real estate transactions can either go well and be the best thing that ever happened to you, or bust and make your life miserable.

Here's to a happy ending next time and a quick one at that! :drinking:
 
It's not going to sound kind, but you should keep the deposit. As you said, you've lost the second buyer (though they did sound a bit flakey if they literally didn't have anything to put down), and you've lost in some other ways.

She, on the other hand, should be able to go to her real estate agent and demand to know WHY the professional didn't have enough sense to write in a contingency. If she'd done that, I'd be answering differently.
 
MrsPete said:
It's not going to sound kind, but you should keep the deposit. As you said, you've lost the second buyer (though they did sound a bit flakey if they literally didn't have anything to put down), and you've lost in some other ways.

She, on the other hand, should be able to go to her real estate agent and demand to know WHY the professional didn't have enough sense to write in a contingency. If she'd done that, I'd be answering differently.

The buyer didn't approach me with her real estate agent, just a FSBO. She used an agent to sell her home, but not to purchase mine.

Second buyers were getting an 0% interest only loan with no deposit offered, so yes, when she came in at the same amount but was able to offer a deposit, that was the deciding factor in accepting her offer.
 
Nope! Doesn't get it back. Your home was off the market all that time while other potential buyers could have been looking at it.
 


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