Almost a For Sale By Owner

I was blessed with a transaction not long ago where the buyer found the house on his own - and the seller owned the property outright. Wow.

The buyer lives down the street - and had been watching as the seller went about doing some remodeling. The seller had bought the house at auction, took on the job of deferred maintenance, replaced tile and carpet, painted - and took a neglected property up a few levels.

Buyer wanted the property for a family member who was willing to do a little of the repair work himself.

Long story short, seller engaged the agent who had helped him find the house in the first place. I represented the buyer. We negotiated price down a little in exchange for seller not doing some of the work he'd planned to do - and closed. Seller made a little money. Buyer spent a little less than he'd planned in exchange for a property that more than met his requirements - within a block of where he lives.

Another happy ending - or beginning, depending on your point of view.