Yesterday, my "blog buyer" closed on a wonderful bank-owned foreclosure for sale in West Milford NJ - the Upper Greenwood Lake community. A totally renovated, 2 bedroom ranch in the Hewitt section; I knew it was perfect for Dr. Alvaro Alban; made him come from Manhattan - New York City - to see it within 2 hours of it being listed.
For 2 months, I've had this picture ready to use. Not a single aspect of the sale of 54 Cedarbrook Road, Hewitt-West Milford, went smoothly - from my perspective. While I didn't share this with Al until after closing, I had given up hope for this one! Called it my train-wreck deal and had visions of lawsuits.
Al had selected Sussex County NJ attorney Marleen Horlacher to represent him; she is a deal-maker with whom I do many, many real-estate transactions. Without the superb support of Marleen and her assistants Justine and Karen as part of our buyer team, the deal would not have closed. The train wreck would have taken place.
On New Year's Eve we submitted Al's highest-and-best offer of $151,000 to close January 29. My extensive experience with foreclosures for sale meant we crafted an offer with many terms attractive to a bank selling an REO. Among issues potentially leading to a train wreck with this lake community foreclosure for sale:
1. A scan found an underground oil tank. Fighting for my buyer, I eventually got the bank to agree to remove it. Turned out it was an abandoned water well, not an oil tank.
2. Time to dewinterize for closing and "the ground pipes were frozen," which shouldn't be. Al was pushed to close even though there was not a drop of water to the home. Weeks of touch-and-go during which I envisioned lawsuits. We triumphed. No pipes had frozen; the well was not correctly primed by the seller's handyman.
3. And last but not least was my buyer himself. A dedicated physician with an expanding medical practice and the devoted dad of a lovely young lady considering my alma mater, Duke, Dr. Alban didn't have time to handle a thing. (His New York City location didn't help.) Good thing I really came to like and respect Al because he made me work doubly triply hard! Our running joke was that getting me a commission check was both our top priority!
40 days after our original closing date, we did the final walk through and headed to Marleen Horlacher's for the closing. There we learned that 54 Cedarbrook Road, Upper Greenwood Lake appraised far, far above the $151,000 sale price. A great lake community home with instant equity for a buyer who found me from my blog posts - almost makes me forget the interim! We're all thrilled the train wreck was just a near-miss.
Much happiness and joy in your new home, Al!
Copyright © 2010, Irene Kennedy, all rights reserved. This blog post represents Irene's personal musings.
Considering selling a vacation home or looking to buy a NJ lake community property? Benefit from creative marketing, top negotiating skills and vast real estate knowledge by contacting Irene via the data to the right.
Awesome photo! Both of them, but especially the train wreck. So happy to hear it was only a near miss and even though it was a stressful transaction, it had a very happy ending.
Irene, there is something about a settlement that makes the pain it took to get there less significant! Glad you make it through!
Irene, isn't that wonderful! I am glad it wasn't the train wreck it could have been, and that all is well now. I bet your Dr. Al thinks you are the bees knees!
Irene - I LOVE good news like this!! Sometimes, despite the universe's best efforts, we get deals closed anyway. Congrats to Dr. Al....and boy wasn't he a lucky duck for finding you!! :)
Irene - The spoils always go to the victor. I love the dilligence. Great post
Congratulation Irene...well done in behalf of your buyer!!! The picture says it all..:)
Sharon - I'm a train nut, so I too loved that photo. The lower one IS better though!
Pat - Commission checks rock but sometimes the satisfaction of a job well done is equally nice.
Andrea - Dr. Al's dad used to be a real estate broker, so many times Al acknowledged just how lucky he was to have me as his agent.
Coleen - On his first call to me, Al said "you own the Internet" because everywhere he looked, there I was! Tasty Google juice from my AR blogging.
Claude - Diligence, tenacity, bitchiness, blind faith. I did 'em all on this one!
Cathy - I'll send Al a framed copy of that photo on which I also put the date.
Irene,
I am glad you were able to pull this off even though you had some road blocks. I am dealing with a buried oil tank issue right now and I hope the outcome will go well because my first time buyers really love the house.
Jennifer,
I'm so ashamed not to have greeted you promptly. For a few days, I was not being notified about comments. Hope your oil tank issue is resolved by now!