“Who Ya Gonna Call?” (When an Offer Comes In)

As a Buyer’s agent, how can you tell if the listing agent (representing the Seller) is taking your client’s offer seriously?

They call the Buyer’s lender ” specifically, the lender on the Buyer’s Pre-Approval letter ” and verify key information.

Like, whether they’ve previously worked with the Buyer; the type of loan being applied for (conventional, FHA, etc.); and any other circumstances likely to affect that Buyer’s creditworthiness ” and therefore their odds of getting a mortgage.

Qualifying the Buyer ” and the Buyer’s Lender

When I’m the listing agent, I also like to vet the loan officer, their institution (if it’s not a “name brand” like Wells Fargo or U.S. Bank), and generally get a feel for whether they know what they’re doing.

As I tell my selling clients, when I receive an offer, before I call them, my first call is to the Buyer’s lender.

P.S.: A good omen is when you reach the loan officer on their cell, first time.

A bad omen is when . . . the number on the pre-approval letter is disconnected (that’s actually happened).

See also, “First-Time Buyers’ Handbook.”

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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