Thursday, February 17, 2011

Township C of O can cause havoc on closings! Someone higher up needs to govern these people!

In our area of New Jersey we are required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy before closing. Years ago the mortgage companies required them as well as the Townships.




Today the mortgage companies (most of them) don't require them anymore. However that doesn't matter because the townships do.



It use to be (back in the day) that a C of O was for "SAFETY" issues. Then as the years went on we encountered more and more Township inspectors who were on such a "POWER TRIP" they started failing homes because they didn't like the color that the room was painted. No matter how much we asked nicely or argued, they didn't care. "Have it done or you don't close"!!



This attitude from the town became so horrific over the years, yet there was nothing we could do. I even wrote a letter to the Governor at the time (15 years ago) and 3 months later received a response saying "we can't help because we don't govern those departments of the townships".



I had an 89 year old woman with no money, and everything was going well and we were about to close...the C of O inspector came in (with his attitude that he was "God") and failed it because the rooms needed to be painted neutral and the carpets were old and needed to be removed and replaced. After explaining to him that this was ridiculous, he gave me the attitude that the more I argued with him the more he would put on the list.



Well, never won that battle and none of the battles that followed over the years.



Now when you go to get a C of O they even have a new system of "making more money". If you want it done this week, it will cost you $250. If you want it done in 2 weeks, it will cost you $150. If you don't want to pay the extra money then we'll be out to inspect in 3 to 4 weeks (knowing full well that we need to close). This infuriated me!!! The market has been slow, so don't tell me you can't come out sooner because your backed up with appointments.......................What a thing for our townships to do to homeowners. And the "We're the boss" attitudes just freak me out.



Well, maybe KARMA is coming around for those people. Just heard that because of lack of money, the jobs being cut are theirs!



So hopefully you don't live in an area where a C of O is required..........It's a JOKE!!!



Sandra Nixon



EverSand Realty Group

This year's change in the way HUD homes are handled - why can't they get it right?

As we watched 2010 come to an end, and read all about the NEW HUD site and management companies, my thoughts were "Wow, when it's broke, they can fix it"!



Well here we are in the second month of the new year and the new HUD layout, and my thoughts are "OMG, why are the same mistakes repeated and no one in charge can see it?"



In the past, HUD (or their management company) would chose 1 or 2 listing Broker's for each State and that listing Broker would receive 1%. Speaking for myself, I thought "Gee, that's why they never answer their phones and their listings are almost "empty".....no room sizes, interior pics, description of house/area". However, the selling agents had a great incentive to sell these homes because their commission was 6%. Agents were pushing these houses and going out of their way to sell them.



The goal for the revised HUD this year was to appoint several listing agents throughout each State. Rumor had it that the purpose was to make sure these homes were well marketed and handled with care, so as to have a good turn around as they came in. Someone here on Active Rain had even posted that they called HUD (when they applied) and were told that each new prospective listing agent would only be allowed 3 counties. I, myself, applied and the application made us express WHY our marketing and experience would benefit HUD.



NOW, here's what we have....the same thing we had before only now the listing agent gets 3% and the selling agents get 3%. So they took a bad thing and made it even worse. At least in the past there was an incentive to sell them.



HUD homes are just now starting to POP up on our MLS. The listings are almost "empty". No room sizes, interior pics OR remarks. The listing agents are over an HOUR away from the homes in my area and know nothing of their value or the area. They simply list them and collect their 3%................WOW they won the lottery!



Just yesterday I had been showing units in an adult community. My client was just slightly under qualified for the lowest listed price there. She just kept saying "if there was one listed for what I am qualified for, I would purchase it today" (mind you she lives out of State and was leaving last night). Late last night I just kept scanning the Internet for a different place, town, or development. Becoming desperate I went to the next county and even searched for non adult communities...........................AND THERE IT WAS!



That exact adult community had a HUD unit for sale..................listed in the WRONG COUNTY and WRONG TOWN! It had no room sizes, no photos, no maintenance fee or model type. No one will find this thing and that's why it's not sold......How is this allowed??? And this is who HUD has chosen to list all of their properties???



Needless to say, my client left town last night and won't be back for weeks. I look bad because she wanted to know WHY I didn't know about it while she was here.



WAY TO GO HUD..................................MAYBE IF YOU REVISE YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM AGAIN NEXT YEAR......YOU'LL GET IT RIGHT!



Sandra Nixon



EverSand Realty Group