All Forum Posts by: Bridget Johnston

So I’m feeling really bad right now.

I’m a first time home buyer who is interested in buying my first investment property. I love bigger pockets! and all I hear is try to house hack your first property. I’ve been wanting to pull the plug and dive into real estate for the past 3 years now and finally got the courage around March to go look at some properties. I really wasn’t interested in a realtor, just wanted to go look around and shop. Long story short Zillow matched me with a realtor who I have been working with since.

We have looked at a total of 3 properties since March and haven’t put in an offer. A duplex popped on the market that I was really interested in listed for 300,000. It was listed “AS IS No Repairs” and it dropped from 350,000 to 300,000 after sitting on the market for 3 months. I told my realtor I was interested and we scheduled to see the property which we were only able to see one side. It was obvious the house needed major work but still had good bones and charm. Some of the problems I say was foundation, roof, electrical, no driveway and that’s not including cosmetic work for the kitchen and bath. And because it was an older 1930s duplex I was worried about potential lead paint and asbestos. The owner was definitely doing the bare minimum when it came to the upkeep of the house.

I wanted to put in an offer but the price I was willing to offer was a low ball offer. Which my realtor keep telling me, would be disrespectful to the seller. I wanted to make an offer of 255,000 my realtor wanted to offer 288,000. I didn’t think going in with an offer of 255,000 was a big deal since it’s been sitting on market for an additional 2 months and needed some major repairs but I guess I was wrong. We went ahead and put in an offer of 255,000 which my realtor text me stating that the listing agent told him the owner felt it was a bit low and cannot accept it at this time. Which my realtor text me, “This is why I said don’t put in a low offer the seller now doesn’t even want to counter! What would you like to do!” And I responded, “we can either wait or pivot I’m not sure what other options are there”. Which he reply “I guess”.

Up until this point my realtor has been amazing, very high energy upbeat positive energy. He has connected me with an awesome lender.  He has been coaching me throughout the process of investing since he owns investment properties himself. And I am grateful for all the time and knowledge he has given me over these past months. But with the shift in his tone and response via text, I’m not sure how to feel. I feel bad because I’ve been extremely transparent with him during this process. And I always would tell him I’m not trying to waste his time.

I really don’t know how to pivot from here. I really don’t know how to respond to the text. I really don’t want to respond because it sounds like he doesn’t want to represent me anymore. But now I’m bonded to him after signing an agreement when putting in the offer.

Am I in the wrong for asking to put in a low ball offer?