My Realtor...

[Lisa Ryan]

Thought I'd share my story about my realtor because I find it amusing. I moved from the NE to the SE 4 months ago. I converted by NE primary residence into a rental and bought a new primary residence down here. I've had a few months to settle in and I think I'll be here for a while, so it's time to start looking at rentals.

 I sent an email to the realtor I used for my primary residence asking her if she could take me to see 2 duplexes but I gave her many outs - it's investment properties, it all boils down to numbers so chances are it won't be ask quick a transaction as buying my other house, the housing prices are less so the commission will be less, etc. She said she'd be happy to help, so that's that.

I meet her at the 1st property. I'm sitting there waiting, and she calls me and says she didn't feel safe so she drove to a convenience store and was there. I could walk around outside and go over to the convenience store. I thought it was a little funny - the duplex was tenant occupied with no showings, so it's not like I could go inside anyways. The 2nd duplex was about 15 minutes away and was not occupied. We get there, she unlocks the door, and then just stands there with this deer-in-headlights look. She said "I'm not sure if I should go in...". I'm like "okay...". Something tells me I need a new realtor! The houses are quite a bit different than the 200-300k houses we were looking at for my primary, but jeesh. She should have said no right off the bat, I would have understood. I'd rather her told me "sorry, I don't personally feel comfortable in those neighborhoods. Here's someone who can help you". I have been in all types of neighborhoods - ones where the houses are all 5+ M (got some rich family friends) and ones where they can't give them away. These were lower income neighborhoods, but they weren't scary.  She should have seen some of the places I looked at in south Philly.