Unexpected Relocation

I sold Jon and Mary a home only 6 months ago, in a brand new neighborhood that is still under construction. It was their dream home. A beautiful, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, on the water. They were so happy to be settled down after several relocations with the military, and they were certain that they would be there for at least 2 years. So, they bought the house knowing that the neighborhood would be complete, and the home would be easy to sell when they had to move again. Then, I got the call....they were being relocated...now! Being that there were so many brand new houses in the neighborhood, I knew there was a chance that they would have to take a loss on their "already lived in" home. They didn't have enough equity built up to pay for a Realtor or to sell for less than they paid. They were potentially going to have to pay money at closing to sell their dream home.

Most Real Estate agents would have told them to take the loss, that there are no other options. They would have had to pay about $10K - $15K out of pocket, and walk away in the negative. Instead, we talked about all of the other options available: renting, lease-purchase, etc. We decided that a lease-purchase was the right option for them. So, we offered the house for lease for 5 years with an option to purchase at the end of the lease. This ensures that they would get the price that they wanted and wouldn't have to pay a Realtor for services until the home is sold in 5 years and the home has more equity. As a result, we found a buyer before the sign even went in yard! It was a young couple with children that were dying to move out of an apartment and into a home, but were still working on their credit. It was a great fit.

Mary and Jon were ecstatic that we were able to come up with a solution that worked for everyone. As a "thank you" they referred me to a neighbor who was in a similar predicament and whose Real Estate agent had not shared that option with them. I have an appointment on Monday to list their home!

Who is a person that you know who is in a similar situation or is having trouble selling their home? Please contact me with their name and situation and I promise they will get the excellent customer service they deserve.