Shady tactics by real estate agent? (Middletown: income, taxes, to live)

[still lookin' for "home"]

Originally Posted by heavyjay

On Sunday, July 20, we made an offer on a nice house in Pocono Mtn Lk Estates. The owners, who live in Pottstown, were on vacation, but the listing agent was able to reach them with our offer and came back with a counter the next day. We countered the counter, and on July 22 we had verbal acceptance from the seller, who also asked if we would be interested in buying some of the furnishings. The listing agent told our agent the signed contract would be faxed the next morning (July 23), but she considered us "under contract" and told her to tell us to go ahead and schedule the inspection. Sometime on the evening of July 23, I get a call from our agent, who had just received word from the seller's agent that another offer had come in and the sellers were going to continue showing the house. When our agent reminded her that we were supposed to have already received a signed contract, the listing agent said the sellers were unable to find a place to fax it and that they had decided not to accept our offer and continue showing the house. They never did show the house again and ended up accepting the other offer, which by the way, came from the listing agent's office, thereby keeping all the commission in their shop. So, was there intentional foot dragging here in order to try to push any in-house buyers toward this house for the purpose of keeping all the commission? I think so, although I can't prove it.

But wait, there's more.
Fast forward to Friday August 1. We looked at another house, same listing broker, different agent. The seller was up for the weekend from Staten Island so he was readily available. We again make an offer. The next day (Saturday, Aug 2) we get a counter offer, we counter the counter, and within 3 hours have verbal acceptance. Our agent faxes the revised contract to the listing agent who says she will take it to the seller the next day (today) to be signed. We make the 3 hour drive home expecting to be under contract by the time we arrive. About 3 hours ago, our agent called, totally p***ed off. The listing agent had called her claiming she never received the revised contract. Our agent told her it was faxed to her office and has the confirmation printout showing the fax went through. Of course, the seller is now back in Staten Island, so the contract has to be mailed to him to sign, and he'll have to mail it back to the listing agent. Even if she overnights it to him, we're looking at Wednesday or Thursday before it gets back to the listing agent's office. That leaves plenty of time for them to steer any potential buyers who happen to wander into their office toward that house and again keep all the commission in their shop. There are only two possibilities here: Either this is SOP for the agents in this realty, or I was struck by lightning twice in two weeks and am the unluckiest man in the world. I guess I'll find out by the end of the week.

I'd love to know what agency this is too....

Lookin'

[greentown]

Originally Posted by kwiktsi

You mean it was "better" than this at one point? I can't see how. It is the natives who are pretty damn simple and make you want to bang your head against a wall dealing with them, I don't think they were smarter before the housing boom . I guess it is a matter of to each his own. I prefer to live somewhere where you do more than sit around watching organic matter decay and waiting to get old and die since there is nothing better to do here, others like it. I need activity, hell- even the local bars are dives and not even worth going to in order to drink this place better!

In all seriousness, like I said, some people love it, some hate it. Personally, for myself and my wife, along with several others we have met, it just grates on you and depresses you living here. WE don't know anyone our own ave (late 20's to mid 30's), the ones we have met are pretty much dirtballs, and the rest- honestly, not trying to be cruel, are seriously retarded or something. I have never met so many people who just seem flat out drunk 24-7 when they are stone sober. Seriously- a couple of my neighbors, you'd swear escaped from some government project gone wrong- just honestly slur their speech and spit between their 2 good teeth when they talk kind of messed up. We've also never seen so many RUDE, overweight, sweat pants wearing dirtballs in our lives. Hell, trying to walk across the parking lot at Mr. Z's, people will damn near run down my pregnant wife rather than stop to let her cross- I guess they can't read to know "pedestrians first".

I don't know, maybe we are just a bit more "material" than others in this area, I don't know, but there is nothing here for us and we are honestly feeling more and more unhealthy- both mentally and physically- the longer we are here. We used to be much more active prior to moving here. It is just hard to get motivated when the local "hang outs" are dumps and the only decent ones are at least 40 minutes away (Middletown or Scranton). I joke that from our house to our mailbox (Conashaugh Lakes) is further than almost anywhere we'd ever have to go when we lived in NY, but in all honesty, it is pretty much true.

It's a shame that someone of your great intelligence didn't know enough to research the area before moving there.

[scrantonluna]

Originally Posted by returningtonepa???

lots of people i'm meeting here now seem to be gruff,abrupt,rude,not willing to share info(especially office personell--no matter what the business)

It's the salary

[kwiktsi]

Originally Posted by greentown

It's a shame that someone of your great intelligence didn't know enough to research the area before moving there.

I never said I was of "great intellegence", but come on buddy, if you don't know the simpletons I am referring to, then you don't live in my neck of the woods. We researched by asking people we met in the area, not realizing they were all drinking from the same water supply and didn't know any better either. We were in a pinch to move ASAP for my wifes career and it was here or North Carolina. Our Realtor told us about the how fast the area was growing and there will be plenty of shopping and other activities in the next couple of years and, unfortunately we took her word for it. A lot of our friends and family live in NY, so we came here figuring "it's only 30 minutes from NY, it can't be *that* different"- LOL, little did we know. Maybe the thinner air up here has deprived them of oxygen or something...

Down by Milford, Matamoras, etc., a lot of the people seem ok (with the exception of the far extreme again) and Milford itself is a nice little town, but a bit too "artsy" (to put it nicely) for our taste. But up in the "mountain", it is quite a bit different here. Walk into any "local" bar and if that's the crowd you want to associate with, then so be it. I need a cleaner cut crowd. I just can't take this ass backwards life any longer- keep your bugs, keep your rotten leaves all over the place, keep your Mr. Z's and their rotten produce, keep your inbreds, etc. I don't want it anymore.

It's ok though, after the baby is born (Horton Hospital in Middletown, of course, no local yokal is laying a hand on my kid..), we'll find our way out. Don't need to help me pack though, we've got it covered all our own. You won't be able to miss us though, we'll be the ones with the "NEPA can kiss my ***** on the back of the moving truck on our way out (wifes idea actually and I have to admit, it's catchy.)..

I'm not going to continue wasting my time trying to explain my point of view here. You either get it or you don't and judging by some of the people I've met and some of the PM's I've gotten here in the past about this area, I'm not alone in my thoughts. A few couples we've spoken to laughed and said "he/she says it must be something in the water also" while pointing to their partner.

You guys have your opinions of the area, I have mine and that's that.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Originally Posted by kwiktsi

I never said I was of "great intellegence", but come on buddy, if you don't know the simpletons I am referring to, then you don't live in my neck of the woods. We researched by asking people we met in the area, not realizing they were all drinking from the same water supply and didn't know any better either. We were in a pinch to move ASAP for my wifes career and it was here or North Carolina. Our Realtor told us about the how fast the area was growing and there will be plenty of shopping and other activities in the next couple of years and, unfortunately we took her word for it. A lot of our friends and family live in NY, so we came here figuring "it's only 30 minutes from NY, it can't be *that* different"- LOL, little did we know. Maybe the thinner air up here has deprived them of oxygen or something...

Down by Milford, Matamoras, etc., a lot of the people seem ok (with the exception of the far extreme again) and Milford itself is a nice little town, but a bit too "artsy" (to put it nicely) for our taste. But up in the "mountain", it is quite a bit different here. Walk into any "local" bar and if that's the crowd you want to associate with, then so be it. I need a cleaner cut crowd. I just can't take this ass backwards life any longer- keep your bugs, keep your rotten leaves all over the place, keep your Mr. Z's and their rotten produce, keep your inbreds, etc. I don't want it anymore.

It's ok though, after the baby is born (Horton Hospital in Middletown, of course, no local yokal is laying a hand on my kid..), we'll find our way out. Don't need to help me pack though, we've got it covered all our own. You won't be able to miss us though, we'll be the ones with the "NEPA can kiss my ***** on the back of the moving truck on our way out (wifes idea actually and I have to admit, it's catchy.)..

I'm not going to continue wasting my time trying to explain my point of view here. You either get it or you don't and judging by some of the people I've met and some of the PM's I've gotten here in the past about this area, I'm not alone in my thoughts. A few couples we've spoken to laughed and said "he/she says it must be something in the water also" while pointing to their partner.

You guys have your opinions of the area, I have mine and that's that.

Well, I agree with what you are trying to say and having moved from the same area you are entitled to your opinion and the truth hurts! I am glad your wife is having the baby at Horton, rather than Newton....that is a whole other topic.

I have posted my prospects on real estate agents, you must do your own homework, no exceptions. The area you spieak about I certainly understand your setiments but not all of PA is like that. The catch is really doing all the reseearch yourself.

I hope you find a better place and you are happy -

[kwiktsi]

Originally Posted by TheHighHat

Well, I agree with what you are trying to say and having moved from the same area you are entitled to your opinion and the truth hurts! I am glad your wife is having the baby at Horton, rather than Newton....that is a whole other topic.

I have posted my prospects on real estate agents, you must do your own homework, no exceptions. The area you spieak about I certainly understand your setiments but not all of PA is like that. The catch is really doing all the reseearch yourself.

I hope you find a better place and you are happy -

Thank you. Sorry for the rant, it just gets to me sometimes. Not to mention, as I said earlier- I just like to stir the pot a bit with the stereotypes and such, it's all in good fun. The area isn't all that bad, but it does leave a lot to be desired for someone like me- I have put on 25#'s and my blood pressure has sky rocketed since being here due to the sedentary lifestyle I have here .

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Originally Posted by kwiktsi

Thank you. Sorry for the rant, it just gets to me sometimes. Not to mention, as I said earlier- I just like to stir the pot a bit with the stereotypes and such, it's all in good fun. The area isn't all that bad, but it does leave a lot to be desired for someone like me- I have put on 25#'s and my blood pressure has sky rocketed since being here due to the sedentary lifestyle I have here .

Kwiktsi,
I can relate. The area you describe is very familiar to me. You may want to broaden your horizon and get involved with other folks. There are great people, you just have to find them and they have to find you. When you find your peace you will know it and will enjoy life and the great people you will meet along your journey.

[littlebunnie69]

Originally Posted by scrantonluna

It's the salary

About the salary. okay i been looking for a job out here. please tell me how somebody ( with the expensises we all have ) can survive on a $8.00 an hour job. I don't get it seems impossible!!!!

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Originally Posted by littlebunnie69

About the salary. okay i been looking for a job out here. please tell me how somebody ( with the expensises we all have ) can survive on a $8.00 an hour job. I don't get it seems impossible!!!!

You would be better off tutoring Spanish for $20.00 a hour. Consider substitute teaching where you can choose what days you want to work. $8.00 isn't going to cut it in this area for survival. That is why the majority here commute to NY and NJ -

Hat

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

LOL, but back to the shady real estate tactics.

I would suggest calling the Pike County Realtors Association and then if you really want to push things call the Office of the Attorney General. You can file a complaint on line and they will send an investigator out to your house. Realtors have a license which is a priviledge, NOT an absolute right. This is why they have governing agencies that monitor behavior. Remember, anyone with a license has to answer for their actions -

Good luck,

The Hat