Lots have happened since December. Left Bahrain Nov 6th, came back here to the States and settled in Ocala. Have been using the last few months to determine whether I want to settle here in Central Florida. Purchased a house over a year ago here so that’s sort of a pro factor. Also have a house in Jacksonville, may go there too, but after some careful consideration, not really sure we will go that route.
One think for sure is that I am/we are going to do the Real Estate thing. Have been using the last few months to study the industry in a whole and Ocala in specific. There are opportunities here, but cronism is rampant and been black is definitely a mark agains t yo ass in this lilly-white place. I suppose one would wonder, why would one want to go thru the bullsh**, but in some things you have to maintain a steadfast approach if you want to succeed – and we are steadfast and determined in this approach.
We have looked at about 50 or so houses already, we have made offers on 2. The first one was back in Nov-Dec. It fell thru at the last moment – there was a bit of regret there, but we have pretty much gotten by that. Basically, we trumped it up to learning the ropes. And we are still learning.
The second house we bidded on last week 3rd Feb. It is a nice piece of property close to the commercial district downtown in close proximity to 200. The structure on it is crap, but as far as we are concerned it is a diamond in the rough. A big plus is that it is currently rented out to some folks who really don’t take care of it. Now the downside is this – the listing agent is a weasel and a lying ass. She is working on behalf of an elderly couple who are up in Maryland. The couple asked to put the property on the market for 49,900. We offered 38,000. First we got no response and then after calling everyone and their son, we eventually got a response refusing the offer and saying that the seller will not accept anything less than full price. We then said ok, we will pay full price to which she (the listing agent) is throwing all kinds of roadblocks. I went over to her office last evening to ask her what’s up, her latest is that some Realtor called her a week ago, prior to my bid and offered to buy it above the asking price. She did not take his phone or any other information, but she told the seller about it (one of many lies). Anyway, I gave her until tomorrow to let me know what’s going on. I am meeting with a Real Estate lawyer tomorrow to see what recourse we have against these underhanded acts.
And yeah, for the record, I contacted the Broker at Foxfire Realty, the agency I am working thru to get this deal, and he was most unhelpful. All I was getting from him was, this is the nature of the real estate market. Even during our conversation it was clear that he had very little interest in tending my concerns – oftentimes conversing with other individuals while I was explaining my situation. I got the impression that not only was he not interested in helping me, eventhough he mouthed – “I will do what I can to help Diane (my incompetent agent from Foxfire) in this situation.
These realtors are underhanded, unscrupulous and downright nasty. I am gonna bust this wide open and I am gonna bust into this market like a mug. Yeah they will know me and know me well by the time I am done. That’s all for now.