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I am in the middle of moving 1000 miles back to a fairly rural area of the Northeast, about 3 hours either way from NY and Boston. I lived there several years ago while in school and still visit fairly often, so I know the area quite well.
I have been in touch with buyers agent up there for about a month now and will be heading up within the next few weeks or so to start looking in person; I am using cash only, which she is aware of and looking at places roughly in the 150K-250K range, which is average for the area. I could go somewhat lower or higher out of that but right around 200 is mostly what I have been interested in.
I had told her I really am looking to buy something older (ie before 1900--very common there), 2 floors and 3 bedrooms, 1 or 2 baths---very reasonable for the price/market---something in need a fair amount of work is ideal as whatever I get I will want to make it the way I wish, so turn-key houses are not at all necessary for me (and the added premium you pay is not either). Foreclosures are very rare in that area, btw so that is not being considered.
Well, even with my prodding she seems reluctant to send me listings of that category beyond very minor issues (cosmetic ones apparently). I could easily handle a place in need of $50,000 (though I did not tell her that, only a fixer upper etc). When I do inquire of various listings I like I am told, "its a nice house, etc etc but always with a warning it probably needs X amount of work, etc etc"....I know that, I expect that!
But yet the listings being sent to me keep on as turn key tiny little ranches and other places that just do not interest me for various reasons--I wont want to pay a premium for some house I will probably be making various changes to in any case. I give feedback, always politely.
I am in my early 30s, own and have owned houses before in that region (where I am native to). Is there some kind of embarrassment some agents have in showing certain houses? or is it more just trying to push up the purchase amount I'd be likely to make? (honestly many of these I have asked about are in the lower $200s, but would be more in the lower 3s if in pristine condition, so not sure what is going on here).
Tell her if she sends you one more listing that is not what you have already told her to send you that she is fired and look yourself or find someone else who will do as they are asked to do.
Last agent who didn't listen to what I said I was looking and kept taking me to houses that were not what i wanted I simply called her and said her services were no longer needed.
( I was looking or ingle story she kept taking us to. Single story with MB upstairs. I wanted a single story only no stairs)
It sounds to me that your definition of "fair amount of work" and "fixer upper" and her definition are 2 different things. Some people think changing a light bulb is too much work. Or upgrading fixtures is a "fixer upper".
Tell her specifically, if you haven't, that you are looking for something that needs a complete rehab, not just minor upgrades. Perhaps if you get that cleared up she'll look for those for you.
Years ago, I came to this area looking for a little property to buy. I only had x amount of money to put down. Everything the agent was showing me was just a little too expensive, so I told her to just find me a small piece of land, and I would go from there. At least Id be able to afford it.
She started showing me land that was STILL priced at the same price that she was showing me homes for. I dont know if she figured it just wasnt worth her time to find cheaper properties, but I fired her, and on my own found a beautiful piece of property for just what I could afford, that Im still living on now.
And the funniest thing is that it is not 1/4 mile down the road from the agent that wouldnt find me what I wanted.
I started a thread a few days ago about out of town buyer difficulties. They just won't listen! And I am even finding the properties, because like you, I am familiar with the areas. Been waiting over a month for inside photos of a home listed by her own brokerage, and she actually sold it in 2006. Instead, I get semi-automated emails like, "now is when you should pre-qualify for a mortgage." That's fine, except I am paying cash and have the statements to prove it. Oh, and did I mention I am living in a hotel? Really annoying.
It sounds to me that your definition of "fair amount of work" and "fixer upper" and her definition are 2 different things. Some people think changing a light bulb is too much work. Or upgrading fixtures is a "fixer upper".
Tell her specifically, if you haven't, that you are looking for something that needs a complete rehab, not just minor upgrades. Perhaps if you get that cleared up she'll look for those for you.
I think this is your problem. Unless the agent works with investors, so they get the whole fixer upper thing, many don't get that there are those people in the world that want the junkers. She clearly isn't understanding what you want when you say fixer, so send her some listings to educate her about your definition.
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