Special offer
Mimi Foster, Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor (Falcon Property Company)

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Rainmaker
4,572,314
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Stupid comes in all walks of life.  

Listing agent calls buyer's agent -- Thank you for your offer.  The seller has accepted another offer.  Good luck finding your client a property.  

End of conversation.  

Jul 15, 2016 02:32 AM
Rainer
231,224
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

omg... i put my fingers into my ears...to block them from hearing and hum mmmmmmmmmmm loudly

Jul 15, 2016 03:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Wow! That's a tough one to "let it slide". No proof she said it though and hard to prove. I think my buyer would be pissed and I'd be obligated to run it up the chain of command until I hit a solution or was shut down. That too blatent a violation of Fair Housing & NAR Ethics to ignore.

Jul 15, 2016 01:13 AM
Ambassador
5,049,466
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Yikes. Fair Housing smack in the face. Stupid. I would pursue it by advising the buyer they could file a complaint

Jul 15, 2016 01:26 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Well I believe the decision is your seller's to make.  But when I inform someone their offer wasn't accepted, that is where my statement ends.  I recently had one where the higher offer wasn't accepted, but it was of course the terms (cash vs. loan and timing of closing) that swayed my sellers, but even that was not part of my conversation with the other agent, simply that another offer had been accepted.

Jul 15, 2016 02:41 AM
Rainer
352,976
Teri Pacitto
Compass - Westlake Village, CA
Real Estate, Your Style...Your Home...My Specialty

Woah...seriously an agent would say that?  I think your buyer has a legitimate claim against the seller, the agent and the broker.  I hope that agent is aware that the line was crossed.  Do the right thing.

Jul 15, 2016 01:25 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I had a similar situation with clients once.  Sitting down at the table going over offers.  Seller did not want to accept the highest and best offer. The more I dug ... the deeper I found myself in the kind of crap I never want to be in.  I advised of Federal laws. I further advised that they would need to find a new listing agent. We had 15 offers ... some great offers ... and I would not be going back on the market so they could hand-pick the new owner.  I cannot believe this kind of crap is still out there!

Jul 15, 2016 02:52 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

If the milk has spilled...what can you do? Lap it up? Step over it? Move-on?

Jul 15, 2016 03:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

What I do is to find my customer another home. I don't need that much detail about the why just give me a yes or a no and I'm good.

Jul 15, 2016 02:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Boy, that was really dumb on her part. Seller cannot discriminate that's what I say. Now what to do though?

Jul 15, 2016 02:36 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

you're on to the next showing..... it's America....the seller can take whatever he/she wants....

Jul 15, 2016 06:03 AM
Rainer
66,409
Kartik Subramaniam
Adhi Schools, LLC - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Market Analysis--Educational Content, Adhi Schools

Since it is so blatantly a violation of the law (and NAR Code of Ethics if it applies to this agent), I would inform them and hopefully get them to see the risk and address their mistake without intervention from higher up.

If they snap out of it and accept your offer, there is a new dilemma. Do you say no harm no foul and rest easy with your success and re-education of the listing agent? Or do you still have an ethical obligation to pursue this in some way (contacting listing agent's broker, local REALTOR board, state real estate commission, etc.). Obviously you have an investment in the overall health of the real estate community. So very tough on multiple levels. 

Bookmarking this to keep in the stash of bad things happening to good people to encourage my real estate friends when they meet misfortune. 

Jul 15, 2016 02:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

WOW! Like Thomas said, that is a pretty blatant violation of the fair housing laws, but it is also hard to prove that the statement was made. I just read the answer given by Kenneth J. Jones and he really nailed it!

Jul 15, 2016 01:25 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I would mentione fair housing laws to the agent so she will not make the same mistake.

Jul 15, 2016 05:46 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Nothing much you can do... a seller can accept any offer they want for any reason they want. It's their home and their decision. There is no law that says a seller has to take the highest offer in terms of price. Was your client discriminated against per fair housing laws? 

That being said, I wonder about the smarts of the agent who made that call--why not simply say the seller reviewed all offers and made her decision.

Jul 15, 2016 04:19 AM
Rainmaker
1,574,666
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

I am inclined to advise buyer to file a complaint if they like however I am not sure the battle is worth the effort.

Jul 15, 2016 03:24 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

  That Listing Agent should have walked away from that transaction, cancelled any agreement, and instructed that Seller to see an Attorney about continuing the transaction.  That Listing Agent should seek their own legal counsel, in case it does get reported.

   Does the Buyer's Agent who got the rejection and the illegal reason for it report this to their Grievance Committee, to a government Fair Housing Agency, or what?

     Tough call...

    

Jul 15, 2016 02:42 AM
Rainmaker
597,572
Nancy Laswick
United Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
Your REALTOR® For The Valley Of The Sun

I agree with Michael Jacobs --- oh and Forrest Gump- "Stupid is as stupid does".

Jul 16, 2016 04:47 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

LOL - you can't fix stupid ;) Plain and simple

Jul 15, 2016 10:38 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Wow, that was not a very smart listing Agent.  I believe the Home Owner can take any offer they choose, but this one could be on the edge of discrimination?

Jul 15, 2016 01:39 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Sounds like a very foolish listing agent to tell you this.

Suggest to the agent the implications of  Fair Housing, then move onto the next project.

Jul 15, 2016 07:37 AM
Rainmaker
1,562,386
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

I would follow that up in an email, i.e., writing.  Reiterate exactly what the listing agent said.  I would cc' that to myself and the client and await response.  If the listing agent doesn't respond with "Oh, sorry, that wasn't what I said," or something along those lines, then I would seriously think about filing a housing discrimination complaint against the listing agent, the brokerage and the seller --since they remained silent  The offer from the buyer was discriminated against because of a preference of a "single woman," that's discrimination.  What was the familiar status of the rejected offer?  That would be interesting to know.  They can't advertise, "Single women only."  The listing agent did her client a disserve, and breached their fiduciary duty of "confidientiality" . . . they spilled the beans on WHY. And the reason the seller opted for a lesser net is due to a discriminatory reason.  

Jul 15, 2016 07:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Look for another home.

Jul 15, 2016 06:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

That is pure stupidity.  I've been on the receiving side of that before too.  "They wanted to sell to a family instead of a corporation that'll just make money off of it."

 

Can't prove it and not worth being "that guy".

Jul 15, 2016 05:47 AM
Ambassador
735,052
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

Climb to the highest hill and shout to the top of your lungs N E X T!!!! Always feels soooooo good!!

Jul 15, 2016 05:46 AM
Rainmaker
2,194,668
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I had to laugh at Michael Jacobs comment because he hit that nail squarely and quickly. There is no reason on earth for a listing agent to explain to a buyer's agent why the offer was not accepted. They can cry, weep, plead, beg, offer money, be belligerent, I don't give a crap; it's none of their business why the seller did not accept their buyer's offer. Period. End of Story. Game over.

Jul 15, 2016 04:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

We have a Vietnam vet who offered the lowest and got the house for the same reason-Airborn 101 purple heart.

 

In my case, I pledged to the listing agent we will deliver the promise. A single Google female wants a home. Agent came back stating your offer is in the middle. I had you checked out you are super. If we counter you will be out.  If you pay $5K more I will let you have the home. The buyer got it below the market on account of mostly my effort. Homestead High School near Apple spaceship 2.

Jul 15, 2016 04:21 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Ditto under Kenneth J. Jones and Michael Jacobs 

Jul 15, 2016 02:35 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,455
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

What was the purpose or benefit of that call.

Jul 15, 2016 01:38 AM
Rainmaker
440,656
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Sometimes agents think they are being helpful with information and they are not.  We all know there is more to an offer than price,  IE COE, asking for frig, washer & dryer (in Az these are personal property but often included in the negotiations) or even the amount of earnest money. I would let the buyer decide if they want to pursue this.  Hard to prove a phone conversation.  Go find your buyer a better house.

Jul 20, 2016 11:27 PM
Rainmaker
1,064,623
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Another case of over-sharing without oversight. Loose lips sink ships and ones reputation as a competent agent. 

Jul 20, 2016 06:44 AM
Rainmaker
466,778
Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308
Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. - Eustis, FL
Broker/Owner, SFR®, e-PRO®, GRI, AHWD, REALTOR®

Good afternoon Mimi Foster,

I agree with Michael Jacobs, a simple thank you for the offer should have been sufficient.

Jul 17, 2016 04:39 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,419
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Those decisions are up to the seller. Congratulations to the single lady.

Jul 15, 2016 10:07 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Mimi Foster - on one hand, I can say, seller has a right to choose the buyer.

On other hand, reason for choosing that buyer is NOT right. Ethical violation perhaps.

Now everything is not right, just because listing agent disclosed so much about your offer...

Jul 15, 2016 04:52 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Wow!  This sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen!

Jul 15, 2016 02:58 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Whoa! Whoa!Whoa!  Nothing else to say on that one.....good grief.

Jul 15, 2016 08:47 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

OK, now here is a can of worms that could be a real doozy

Jul 15, 2016 07:51 AM
Ambassador
2,061,914
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

"The seller has decided to accept a different offer.  Thank you for your offer, we'll let you know if anything changes."

My conversation with my seller, who says "I'd rather have a single woman be the buyer"... I'd respond with "We can't make a decision based on a protected class..."

Jul 15, 2016 07:49 AM
Rainmaker
280,599
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

I would agree with Barbara Todaro.  It IS still the seller's home.  In that last 3 months I have had several listings with 10+ offers on each.  I put the info in the spread sheet and sat down PERSONALLY ONE TO ONE with the sellers.  In all three cases, the seller's choice surprised me.  But, it is their home and they can do what they want to.  Now, would I spout something like that agent did NO-pretty crazy to do so.   (None of my seller's decisions involved any fair housing discrimination)  One of the seller's rejected an offer because she was leaving the house when the agent and the buyer showed up.  The agent was rude and condesending.  It's the seller's decision.

Jul 15, 2016 07:21 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

The seller can accept whichever offer they want. If seller preferred single ladies offer, not much buyer can do. Now if it was reversed, and seller said they rejected your offer and did something stupid like stated the reason they rejected it ( your clients offfer was rejected because seller didn't want to sell to a foreign family with kids ) then fair housing should be notified.

Jul 15, 2016 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Mimi,

My very wise friend Michael Jacobs  has given you the answer!  A

Jul 15, 2016 06:34 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Not much you can do other than move on.

Jul 15, 2016 05:32 AM
Rainmaker
290,969
Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

Yikes!  What a comment - though not in writing, but verbal.  Kind of a 'he said she said' situation, and I don't see how one could prove it, so I don't see how one could back it up, if they reported it.  Nasty to let that slip through.  Discrimination, Fair Housing Act Violation, and just plain rude Mimi Foster.  

Jul 15, 2016 03:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Hopefully someone says something so that they may be trained correctly.

Jul 15, 2016 03:37 AM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I have to agree with Michael Jacobs

Jul 26, 2016 02:29 AM
Rainmaker
206,062
Sandy Williams
eXp Realty, sandy@sandywilliams.com - Sarasota, FL

How would the buyer even know?  All I would have said was Seller has accepted another offer.  The terms are not disclosed until the MLS has been updated. 

Jul 25, 2016 05:56 AM
Rainer
216,904
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

I'm sorry, can you put that in writing, so I can pass that on to my client.  If they do it, your can inform your client of the violation and let them pursue it.  I would also inform the agent, in reply to their issue, of the violation. 

Jul 22, 2016 07:08 AM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Why in the world would you "out" your seller like that? That is confidential information between the seller and the listing agent. I can see a buyer of mine jump on that and sue the seller with the listing agent being brought into the suit! We don't owe the failed offers' agents any explanation.

Jul 22, 2016 12:03 AM
Rainmaker
805,909
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Mimi,

Say thank you and move on or offer a back up offer if your client really wants the house. There is not much you can do.

Jul 20, 2016 10:37 AM
Rainmaker
3,340,443
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Ouch....that is a worm can I wouldn't welcome.

Jul 20, 2016 07:40 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,977
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

The agent was stupid to say that

Jul 19, 2016 12:52 PM
Rainer
47,564
Youree Lundy
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty - Orlando, FL
Your Realtor For Life

I have had a seller to choose an offer that was VA financing and not the highest and best.  She said that when she and her husband purchased, they were just out of the military just at the buyers were.  He had passed and in honor of him, she wanted the house to be purchased as they did.  One of the agents who submitted a higher and better offer was upset, but I reminded him that it was not with my decision.  She chose what worked for her.

Jul 19, 2016 02:24 AM
Rainmaker
294,581
Robin Rogers
Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio, TX
CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

You can argue with logic, but you can't argue with emotion. And this statement from the listing agent would be hard to prove unless the seller made it in writing.

Jul 18, 2016 11:06 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

A little too much transparency here? 

Jul 16, 2016 10:19 AM
Ambassador
1,026,993
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

In the State of Colorado, 'Sex' is a protected class. Male buyer feels there was discrimination. 

Jul 16, 2016 01:50 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I would thank the other agent for taking time to explain the reasoning of the seller.  They didn't need to share this but seem to have respected the other agent and wanted to help them have a reason to share with their client.

Jul 16, 2016 01:22 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Seller's property, seller's choice. Next!

Jul 15, 2016 11:27 PM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Agent should have just stated that your offer was not accepted. Didn't need to add the other.  File a complaint or move on.. Did you share the reason with your buyer?  They may want to file a complaint.

Jul 15, 2016 02:53 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

No explanation is needed. It doesn't change a thing if your offer is the loser.

Jul 15, 2016 07:59 AM