Is it my issue or my agents?

[Alexis S.]

So I’m brand new to this and looking for my first deal. I found a foreclosure for 40k that needed quite a bit of work but the comps were around 200k. I asked my agent to take a look (I’m out of state) and he said he would go the next day because he was taking another client in the area. I checked in that evening and he said he couldn’t make it out but that he would go the next day, then right after, told me the property was pending. Admittedly, I’m a mistrustful person, but my first thought was that I’m a nobody to him and the house was a good deal which he probably passed on to a preferred client. Am I being overly suspicious? If not, how could I circumvent this problem? I’m working with an investor “friendly” agent that I found through BP, but perhaps it would benefit me to look for an agent who is not an investor or doesn’t have many investor clients who rank ahead of me. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

[Russell Brazil]

The fact is, you are not going to get good service on properties at this price point unless you are ponying up money. Agents lose money servicing properties at these price points. Out of state, and low price point, I only work on a $10k retainer to start so as to not waste my time or lose money. That weeds out 99% of out of state buyers.