CLOSED!!!

Great news, I've closed my first deal as a real estate agent! It's been a long road and I'm very happy to have popped my real estate cherry. I've done many closing before but as a mortgage banker. The buyers were referred to me by a loan processor at my former employer. Any buyer that gets pre-approved for a loan BEFORE speaking with an agent definitely has their act together. We started the search for their first home in early November of 2009 and they told me they wanted to close in Mid April. Five months later I got them closed on 4/15/2010 - right on the dot!

We saw a number of homes in Smurf Village and even made a few bids but those situations weren't quite right. So when a home came up for sale in Solana Village and the seller's agent was a fellow Coldwell Banker it all just clicked. We were under contract on 1/2/2010. This was a short-sale.

Fast forward two months and we had a "verbal approval" from the seller's lenders and then another month later we got it in writing. The seller had what I call "cement shoe syndrome" and became very lethargic about helping close the deal. My buyers on the other hand were rip-roarin' ready to go! Polar opposites, guess we should say they had "itchy feet syndrome" and felt the need to plow ahead with all sorts of plans, schedules and deadlines having to do with the home they didn't own quite yet. When the time came for an emotional seller to beg for "just a few more days to move out," the buyers were anxious about their own time line and upset. Emotions ran high on both sides, I got yelled at a bit but remaining calm proved to be the best strategy because in the end, it all worked out.

One down, thousands to go! I really do enjoy my new career. For the record, in the end my buyers were very happy with me and the service that I provided. I've gotten multiple thank you e-mails stating, "We couldn't have gotten through this without you!" They really were happy with me in the end which is a relief. Let's hope they send me a few referrals!