It’s tough finding a home for a mother & her daughter

[Albert Pena]

Real Estate Agent (3.5 months experience)

RE/MAX Prestige Properties Bronx, NY

Albert Pena

I have a client (mother) who’s desperate to move from where she is now to another home... I ask her where to? And she says ANYWHERE!

When I ask for her income and credit score:

$15,000/yr and no credit. No Good.

And to add to that, she has a cat and dog.

She tells me she gets assistance from the government, I believe HRA or HASA. Ive told her to get me a voucher; or go to their office and get me a representative on the phone...

Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing!

I should let her go or pass her on to another agent, but I really want to help. When she sounds defeated over the phone, I want to help even more.

If anyone would like to join me in this process, or guide us - I would greatly appreciate it. We can split 60/40; ill take 40.

Also welcome any tips.

Thank you!

IG - Albert.penaremax

[Nathan Gesner]

Albert, it's very nice of you to try and help but you've got to be realistic. This woman makes $1,250 a month. 50% of her income would only qualify her for a $625 rental yet she's living in a City where an average 1-bedroom apartment is nearly $3,000 a month. It's unrealistic and she's got the typical poor-person mindset that she loves New York and she loves her cat and she loves her dog and she just has to stay there...which is why she will always remain poor.

You want to help her? Convince her to lose the dog and cat, buy her a one-way Greyhound ticket to Columbus, Ohio. You can find her an affordable apartment before she steps off the bus. She can have a job within a week. She could be self-sufficient and off all government welfare within three months and, if she's really willing to work hard, could even have some money saved up. With a few years of work experience and education, she could take her time to find something in NYC.

But you and I know it won't happen. You're wasting your time trying to help someone that doesn't really want to be helped.