two parties interested in same house

[kbargr]

We're interested in buying a new house in our town. We have been to an open house and talked to a woman who is helping the builders with marketing. She told us to talk to the builder. About a week later we did, saying we were ready to write a contract on the house. He then told us that someone else had put a $500 deposit on the house with the marketing woman, thereby reserving it so that they couldn't write a contract. The marketing woman never informed us that we could put a deposit down to hold the house. We would have gladly done so if we knew it was an option. Now they say we have to wait to see if the other people want the house before we can make our offer. Is there anything we can do?

Thanks,
Renee

 

[loudrich]

YES there is something you can do......offer them more money....

The housing situation here in new York City is so bad that NO ONE will dare offer LESS then the offering price of a house or apartment.

So raise your bid $1000 or 2000 and you should get the house!

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kbargr:
We're interested in buying a new house in our town. We have been to an open house and talked to a woman who is helping the builders with marketing. She told us to talk to the builder. About a week later we did, saying we were ready to write a contract on the house. He then told us that someone else had put a $500 deposit on the house with the marketing woman, thereby reserving it so that they couldn't write a contract. The marketing woman never informed us that we could put a deposit down to hold the house. We would have gladly done so if we knew it was an option. Now they say we have to wait to see if the other people want the house before we can make our offer. Is there anything we can do?

Thanks,
Renee<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[kbargr]

That's the problem -- the builder would not discuss it any further with me, because he had this other deposit. In most cases, a larger deposit and a contract in hand would beat out the $500 down. But he says that the $500 reserves the unit for these other people. I think that the fact that we weren't informed that we could do that means something. Does it?

 

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kbargr:
We're interested in buying a new house in our town. We have been to an open house and talked to a woman who is helping the builders with marketing. She told us to talk to the builder. About a week later we did, saying we were ready to write a contract on the house. He then told us that someone else had put a $500 deposit on the house with the marketing woman, thereby reserving it so that they couldn't write a contract. The marketing woman never informed us that we could put a deposit down to hold the house. We would have gladly done so if we knew it was an option. Now they say we have to wait to see if the other people want the house before we can make our offer. Is there anything we can do?

Thanks,
Renee<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Check to see if this marketing woman has a real estate license. It may be a licensing violation if she is unlicensed and acts like a real estate agent ie. showing the home, taking deposit money etc.

There is little else you can do because the sale of real estate in this case is based on a system of whomever puts a deposit down first gets to be first in line.

Next time you see a home that you really like, ask if you can sign a purchase agreement. Better yet hire a Realtor to represent you.