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My first experience with a Realtor

By edvard2   Follow   Sat, 31 Mar 2012, 5:52pm   3,879 views   35 comments
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So today was the very first time I have ever dealt with a real estate agent. There is a house not far from where we live that has been for sale for several months and seeing as how it was somewhat reasonably priced ( for Bay Area standards) I figured I'd call to see if we could take a look. Keep in mind this is the very first time I've even had an inkling of an interest in looking at a house as we have rented for around 12 years so far.

Anyway, the house was apparently pending. But the next few minutes were spent with the agent telling me what sounded like canned realtor fear-speak: That the market was poised to go up up up, the bottom had been reached, people were now getting into bidding wars, and that prices were going to go up up up. This was sort of interesting to me seeing as how there are quite a few houses for sale and many seem to have been sitting for quite some time in our area. I didn't say anything about this. But the experience left a bad taste in my mouth: That basically we'd better buy now or we would be priced out forever.

I've been on housing forums for years and we've all talked about this sort of attitude that exists in the Realtor world, which is to use these tactics to I assume cause buyers to worry and whatnot. But to hear it myself was sort of weird and surprising in a way. I found the whole conversation aggravating and annoying.

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1. SJ Follow Befriend 18 threads 166 comments

   1   6:50pm Sat 31 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I've had mixed experiences with realtors- most not good- most of the ones here in bay area pay little attention to potential buyers. The real estate market needs to fail so they actually have to do real work.

2. justwantaniceplacetostay Follow Befriend 6 threads 48 comments San Jose, CA

   2   7:12pm Sat 31 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

3. Nomograph Follow Befriend (1) 104 threads 2,851 comments

   3   9:15pm Sat 31 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike (2)   edvard2 says My first experience with a Realtor RE agents sell real estate. Does that surprise you? Are you taken aback when you walk into a clothing store and the clerk tries to sell you clothes? Do you expect the clerk to tell you not to buy because they will eventually go on sale or will wear out anyway?

4. rootvg Follow Befriend (8) 1 threads 792 comments Danville, CA Premium

   4   9:31pm Sat 31 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (1)   Protected   justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. Where do you live and what do you do for a living?

5. rootvg Follow Befriend (8) 1 threads 792 comments Danville, CA Premium

   5   9:34pm Sat 31 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike (3)   Protected   SJ says I've had mixed experiences with realtors- most not good- most of the ones here in bay area pay little attention to potential buyers. The real estate market needs to fail so they actually have to do real work. The realtors on both sides of the deal were really good to us.

6. CrazyMan Follow Befriend 449 comments Boulder Creek, CA

   6   9:41pm Sat 31 Mar 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. There are an immense amount if NODS relative to what's for sale in both Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Just give it time.

7. justwantaniceplacetostay Follow Befriend 6 threads 48 comments San Jose, CA

   7   12:46am Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   rootvg says justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. Where do you live and what do you do for a living? Wireless semi industry research scientist, rent in an apt complex in sunnyvale

8. justwantaniceplacetostay Follow Befriend 6 threads 48 comments San Jose, CA

   8   1:14am Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   CrazyMan says justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. There are an immense amount if NODS relative to what's for sale in both Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Just give it time. Hope that does happen. This type of school rezoning crap is really irritating. Basically to have a kid goto a good school you need to buy an overpriced house or rent from one of the underwater home debtors. One of the senior guys at my work managed to sell his cupertino home $150K above asking when it was already prices low 1.x million. So I think in the places people really want to stay in things are not easy for buyers.

9. B.A.C.A.H. Follow Befriend (6) 5 threads 2,368 comments

   9   11:38am Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. This is the kinda stuff I am hearing in recent weeks from some of my immigrant coworkers. Among that demographic, there is a renewed surge in the frenzy for access to the public K-12 in The Fortress, or at least the Fringe Around The Fortress, with the highest possible API's than can be secured with their wealth and or borrowing power. It's about that, and not much else.

10. PockyClipsNow Follow Befriend 19 threads 1,536 comments Los Angeles, CA

    10   1:13pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   When i was working 'undercover' in a RE office as RE agent they said "show people 3 houses and if you cant get them to make an offer on one they are wasting your time and drop them". Its probably true.

11. FortWayne Follow Befriend (13) 106 threads 3,863 comments

    11   6:56pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   PockyClipsNow says When i was working 'undercover' in a RE office as RE agent they said "show people 3 houses and if you cant get them to make an offer on one they are wasting your time and drop them". Its probably true. That was probably during real estate bubble when houses sold themselves. Today they'll kiss your ass and follow you around just to get you to make an offer.

12. bg Follow Befriend (13) 43 threads 322 comments Pacifica, CA Premium

    12   7:07pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike (1)   Protected   Nomograph says Are you taken aback when you walk into a clothing store and the clerk tries to sell you clothes? I am irritated when I walk into a store and am descended upon by a sales girl. it turns out I don't need to chat with you to make my selection. I don't want to say hello or discuss what brings me in. If I need help, I will ask. Leave me the fuck alone. It feels like a violation of my space to have them chat me up. Routinely when buying a car, I tell the sales person that if they try to pressure me, I will walk out. I tell them not to ask me, "what will it take for you to buy this car?" or our relationship is over. I should explain that I don't mind "hello" at the mall, but more than that is irritating.

13. Nomograph Follow Befriend (1) 104 threads 2,851 comments

    13   7:14pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike (2)   bg says I am irritated when I walk into a store and am descended upon by a sales girl. I would LOVE to be descended upon by a pretty young sales girl. Normally I have to pay 40 bucks for that. bg says I should explain that I don't mind "hello" at the mall, but more than that is irritating. You sound like a real people person.

14. bg Follow Befriend (13) 43 threads 322 comments Pacifica, CA Premium

    14   7:16pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Protected   The last two weeks have been my first time in open houses for a while. The first two a couple of weeks ago in Pacifica were very busy, so the real to couldn't get a hold of me. That was really nice. Today, we drove out to Dublin and Pleasanton. It wasn't busy and they were all over me. They are assertive with the questions - what are you looking for? are you working with an agent? Are you pre-approved? I rarely tell them the truth. I don't want to have that conversation with a stranger who is in many ways working against me. I have a made up name that All of this in the 1-3 minutes I was willing to give them. I always lie about my name and give them a spam e-mail address that I use for these things. Since I have been reading here for a while, it is hard for me to see them is anything more than opportunistic leaches. Why would I talk to that person about my finances?

15. waiting_for_the_fall Follow Befriend (1) 3 threads 114 comments Half Moon Bay, CA

    15   8:19pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I agree that realtors are leaches, but they aren't less than human. Everybody has to make a buck someway.

16. rufita11 Follow Befriend (3) 10 threads 171 comments San Ramon, CA

    16   8:26pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Nomograph says edvard2 says My first experience with a Realtor RE agents sell real estate. Does that surprise you? Are you taken aback when you walk into a clothing store and the clerk tries to sell you clothes? Do you expect the clerk to tell you not to buy because they will eventually go on sale or will wear out anyway? Actually, I was going to buy some pricy dinnerware and the clerk told me to wait until the following week when they would be 50% off. She probably doesn't work on commission.

17. bubblesitter Follow Befriend (5) 10 threads 2,329 comments

    17   8:31pm Sun 1 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   rufita11 says he probably doesn't work on commission. Bingo!

18. edvard2 Follow Befriend 38 threads 2,300 comments

    18   8:32am Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I guess what I find frustrating about this is that after I talked to the agent I went and looked at the latest DQ news report and looked up sales and price activity for our area. Its about the same as its been for a few years. Sales are up, but prices are still depressed from a year ago. So in other words what she was trying to tell me was contrary to my findings.

19. dellman Follow Befriend 20 comments

    19   10:43am Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Quite simply, in BA fortress areas the demand for homes is high. So you need to be prepared to pay a lot of money for a house that may not be worth it; otherwise you won't get it. The rental complexes are routinely increases the rent and they know a) People can afford to pay more b) They can always rent the same apartment for higher rent when schools determine the housing costs, there will be politics determining the school boundaries

20. edvard2 Follow Befriend 38 threads 2,300 comments

    20   11:04am Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I'm not talking about the BA fortress areas. This is in the East Bay.

21. dellman Follow Befriend 20 comments

    21   11:16am Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike (2)   I was trying to answer some other post - forgot to quote Anyway probably east bay is becoming a new BA fortress - people priced out of normal fortress area are beginning to move over there - just a guess

22. gregpfielding Follow Befriend (9) 43 threads 288 comments Danville, CA gregpfielding's website

    22   2:06pm Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   edvard2 says I've been on housing forums for years and we've all talked about this sort of attitude that exists in the Realtor world, which is to use these tactics to I assume cause buyers to worry and whatnot. Even during the worst parts of the downturn this was the prevailing attitude within real estate offices. But I don't think it is a calculated evil. I think most agents actually believe it. “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” - Upton Sinclair

23. Tom Stone Follow Befriend 34 threads 62 comments Sebastopol, CA

    23   6:28pm Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   gregpfielding says edvard2 says I've been on housing forums for years and we've all talked about this sort of attitude that exists in the Realtor world, which is to use these tactics to I assume cause buyers to worry and whatnot. Even during the worst parts of the downturn this was the prevailing attitude within real estate offices. But I don't think it is a calculated evil. I think most agents actually believe it. “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” - Upton Sinclair East Bay Real Estate Agent and Blogger Greg, I have seen that attitude at some offices, but the culture of the office makes a big difference. Someoffices focus on sales and some on service. Agents who focus on service get a lot more referrals and those are golden.

24. burritos Follow Befriend 52 threads 269 comments Newbury Park, CA

    24   7:10pm Mon 2 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   PockyClipsNow says When i was working 'undercover' in a RE office as RE agent they said "show people 3 houses and if you cant get them to make an offer on one they are wasting your time and drop them". Its probably true. My sister looked at like 100 houses over 3 years before she bought with her realtor. I guess you could say he earned his commision.

25. rootvg Follow Befriend (8) 1 threads 792 comments Danville, CA Premium

    25   7:20pm Sun 8 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike   Protected   justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. You need to get away from there. For the money you would spend down there, look at San Ramon, Danville or Alamo. I think Walnut Creek would be too far away. You could also go to Pleasanton. Problem is, it's getting very yellow there and of course that means prices of property and everything else are going to the sky. Danville or Alamo would be better.

26. APOCALYPSEFUCK is Shostakovich Follow Befriend (28) 182 threads 4,601 comments Premium

    26   7:46pm Sun 8 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Protected   It's the same as being in a subway late at night and the only other person on the car is an organ broker who, in a moment of candor, tells you he is too tired to beat you to death and take your kidneys, eyes and lungs.

27. RentingForHalfTheCost Follow Befriend (8) 40 threads 2,062 comments Pleasanton, CA Premium

    27   9:19pm Sun 8 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Protected   justwantaniceplacetostay says None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it. I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school. Go ahead buy then if you have no patience. It'll just make the second wave of foreclosures that much worse. Rents are cheap cheap cheap. Amazing how people think $3k is expensive but 1 million is okay. Crazy.

28. bubblesitter Follow Befriend (5) 10 threads 2,329 comments

    28   9:21pm Sun 8 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   APOCALYPSEFUCK is Tony Manero says kidneys, eyes and lungs. Are you sure you can do lung transplant? Instead you should add liver,face,heart etc. for which there are successful transplants. :)

29. APOCALYPSEFUCK is Shostakovich Follow Befriend (28) 182 threads 4,601 comments Premium

    29   11:45pm Sun 8 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Protected   You don't expect a Realtor® to care if an actual transplant works. It just wants to tear the organs out and sell them to the desperate. bubblesitter says APOCALYPSEFUCK is Tony Manero says kidneys, eyes and lungs. Are you sure you can do lung transplant? Instead you should add liver,face,heart etc. for which there are successful transplants. :)

30. bubblesitter Follow Befriend (5) 10 threads 2,329 comments

    30   7:06am Mon 9 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   APOCALYPSEFUCK is Tony Manero says You don't expect a Realtor® to care if an actual transplant works. Ah,I see,I forgot you are referring to Realtors. It makes sense now.

31. Mick Russom Follow Befriend (2) 7 threads 542 comments Belmont, CA

    31   9:58am Mon 9 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Its time to LEAVE. Austin, RTP area, etc, who cares. You cannot have quality of life if your house cost you $500 sq ft. Its time to go. I know people who have a third the income and live better. More free time, more quality of life. The bay area dream is now a nightmare. And the landed gentry are going to fight every attempt to fix housing by resisting every attempt to zone new homes.

32. freak80 Follow Befriend (4) 52 threads 4,416 comments Corning, NY Premium

    32   9:59am Mon 9 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Protected   Mick Russom says And the landed gentry are going to fight every attempt to fix housing by resisting every attempt to zone new homes. Yep. And they'll do it all in the name of protecting "Mother Earth."

33. Mick Russom Follow Befriend (2) 7 threads 542 comments Belmont, CA

    33   9:59am Mon 9 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike (1)   edvard2 says when schools determine the housing costs, there will be politics determining the school boundaries Here is a secret. The schools range from garbage to nightmarish. The clamoring for good schools is a sad joke. Home schooling is far more effective in this day and age.

34. rootvg Follow Befriend (8) 1 threads 792 comments Danville, CA Premium

    34   10:15am Mon 9 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Protected   Mick Russom says Its time to LEAVE. Austin, RTP area, etc, who cares. You cannot have quality of life if your house cost you $500 sq ft. Its time to go. I know people who have a third the income and live better. More free time, more quality of life. The bay area dream is now a nightmare. And the landed gentry are going to fight every attempt to fix housing by resisting every attempt to zone new homes. The rent we were paying in Danville was only a little bit higher than what we paid in Santa Clarita and we make more money up here. The place works for us. For others, it doesn't. I would tell you to check out Austin, RTP (affordable but no longer cheap) or possibly Columbus. Disney built a data center in Dublin awhile back, land is cheap, good people are hard to find, etc. Leave the leftist politics and politically correct doublespeak at home. Ohio isn't California. The adults are in charge there.

35. rootvg Follow Befriend (8) 1 threads 792 comments Danville, CA Premium

    35   10:19am Mon 9 Apr 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Protected   Mick Russom says edvard2 says when schools determine the housing costs, there will be politics determining the school boundaries Here is a secret. The schools range from garbage to nightmarish. The clamoring for good schools is a sad joke. Home schooling is far more effective in this day and age. Effective? Yes. Easier said than done? Same answer.