I need some ideas!

Took a listing 54 days ago. One family attached on Staten Island, NY, originally listed for $649,000 as per the comps, and in this area, this is the first time homebuyer/millenial price point.

I wanted to list at $625,000 because of the cemetery but my seller was adamant to list higher. I was optimistic and agreed to it because we were in the Spring market, low inventory, in a great school district, and the mortgage rates were coming down.

She was also adamant about not allowing any Open House sessions (I've sold several properties to buyers who came to my Open House...very popular on Staten Island). She claimed that others advised her that it was too dangerous. I also consulted with my Broker and another agent who had just sold a similar property that backed up to the same cemetery from a different street but with trees in the backyard. My colleague suggested that I tell agents/buyers ahead of time about the cemetery in an effort to not waste time because a cemetery is a major deal breaker for many. I took her advice and it yielded no appointments. Revised my strategy with a new goal....let all prospective buyers see the house and hopefully the house checks off many items on their bucket list, making the cemetery inconsequential.

Well, buyer after buyer, stated that if it wasn't for the cemetery, they would make an offer/buy the house. It's a very nice house with lots of windows for an attached house, full finished basement, garage, etc. The seller has been present for all showings and has heard the comments herself. If it wasn't for the cemetery, this house would be in contract already. 54 days, 23 showings, no offers.

When I took the listing, my seller had already entered into a contract for a new construction in Maryland, where her daughter lives. I asked if she needed to sell her current house in order to buy the new one, and she said no. I knew she had some money because I sold her mother's estate last year.

54 days ago, the mortgage interest was about 6-6 1/4% and teetering down until it shot up to 7+%. Two weeks ago, my seller says okay to an open house. Now she wants one every weekend.   She's obviously has people chirping in her ear. So instead of letting me do my job, and listening to my expertise, I have to wait for her to be convinced by outside sources. Ugh!

Last week, she tells me that the builder is requesting a signed contract for her current home. Now she's in a complete panic!!! Apparently, she needs to sell her current house in order to buy her new one. She has a specific amount in her head that she wants to walk away with and is reluctant to do any substantial price drop...but she needs to sell sooner than later. Ugh!  However, even though we reduced the price twice ($5,000 and $2,000) and even offered a $10,000 concession to one somewhat interested buyer, we still have no offers...not even a low ball, crazy offer. New list price is $643,000.

At first, I wasn't as concerned because the average days on market in May in this area has been 92 days (as per our MLS). And it probably even longer because of the cemetery. But now time is of the essence! I even did a historical sale spreadsheet for her development that backs to the cemetery, pre and post pandemic. The only time it was quick was 2021 and until November of 2022...that crazy ship has sailed.....and those houses did not directly back up to the cemetery. The average time was between 73 and 182 days for similar houses in her development that back up to the cemetery (between 2018 and 2021)

However, now she wants to speed up the sale without dropping the price by another $20,000 that I suggested to entice the new group of buyers and maybe bring some others back. She wants to speak to my Broker....she wants more alternatives of finding a buyer who is not concerned about the cemetery in the backyard. I have considered a Broker Open House, but I know that the reason it's not selling is because of the cemetary.

This is the view from the kitchen sliders!

It's on two MLS (Staten Island MLS and Brooklyn MLS). It's all over the internet on every major real estate site. It's advertised in a major Chinese newspaper, Sing Tao (strong group of Chinese buyers in this area). The third Open House will take place on Sunday 6/19.

I am open to all ideas...

53 Chess Loop, Staten Island, NY 10306

New York City, New York

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