I am a Ninja

Well, I sold another house...hopefully. My client and I wrote this offer the second day of February and were supposed to close the forth day of March. Obviously, that didn't happen because I'm talking about it now. Anyway, we got a contract extension for the sixth of April, but hopefully we are closing Tuesday.

Almost two months ago I get a call from a young man looking for a house. He and his best friend are moving in together because he is currently going through a divorce and his buddy just moved to Wichita from Washington state. My client and his soon to be ex-wife have a daughter who is almost three. She is really cute. Anyway, he called me because he needed a house for himself, his buddy, and his daughter. I thought that was pretty cool considering how many guys are out there not thinking about stuff like that. I was also a little apprehensive about the situation because divorce is a messy thing and not knowing him well then, I didn't want to add to the friction and cause an explosion. With all the kooth I've had my entire life I told him I was just going to level with him and I asked, "So, when is the divorce final?" It was like a light switch turning on; he smiled, giggled, and then said, "Not soon enough."

I have learned that trying to be PC in this business will not make you money; being honest will. That actually makes me happy because I tend to have an issue with being PC all the time. It was comforting to see that I could be myself.

I show my client this house and he loves it. It is basically brand new with the bedroom/bathroom requirements he wants and for less than the top of his budget. I've never seen a grown man jump up and down over a house. He called his family on the west coast and immediately took pictures on his phone to send to his family while we were still inside. He was pretty excited. Everything was going well. The listing agent, lender and I were all in constant contact...until the lender decided to kind of drop off the face of the earth a week before closing. I called and called and called to make sure we were going to be able to close on the fourth of March. I got nothing until three days before we were closing. "Ugh, Christina, we aren't going to be able to close because the divorce is not final," the lender says. I say, "No problem, we ultimately have until the twenty-fourth of March to close. I will reschedule. What do I need to do to get this thing closed?" I was calm because we were still within the confines of the contract. "Well, I am not sure what you need to do." Seriously, you are a mortgage lender, how is it that you of all people do not know what you need from me to get this deal closed. So I asked my broker. In the state of Kansas, the rule is one to buy two to sell, unless you are already married. If you are married it is two to buy two to sell.

Since my client is not officially divorced, we needed to get his wife to sign a "quit claim deed." It basically says she won't claim anything he is purchasing during the separation and before the divorce is final. Neither my client's lawyer nor his wife's lawyer mentioned this to them, to me, or to the lender. At this point, I am posing as REALTOR/lawyer. I know more about Kansas divorce law than I care to think about. We get everything we need an that hurdle is cleared.

Days go by and I have been calling the lender at least twice a week. I am sure he hates me now. Oh well, it is not like I will be using him again for ANYTHING, not even to quote an interest rate. We are now to the end of the line and all I want is to be done with this deal.

I have decided that my new found ninja skills will come into play in the morning to make sure we close. I don't want my client homeless and I definitely don't want to have to put him up in a hotel. I hate for all the things I've done right, my client choosing the wrong lender could end this deal.

I have learned a lot and will never go through this again. The last seven months have been the biggest learning experience I've ever had. Keep your fingers crossed for Tuesday!

Building Building Building

The snow melted and the birds are chirping! All the signs of spring are upon us in the Midwest. The days are getting longer and the energy of the sunshine washes over me like the first little bit of water out of a garden hose that has been basking in bright rays all day. What a wonderful time to build house!

Josh and I are in the very beginning stages of building a house. This was the only way we could come to some middle ground in the purchase of our first home. See, I could honestly care less where we live; I would just like a garage, enough room for family and friends to visit, and a neighborhood where we won't get shot...oh, wait, we are in Wichita, it is pretty hard to get shot here (knocking on wood now). He on the other hand, would like something a little more modern, meaning in this century with a three car garage, etc. So we have compromised I did some research and the things we've come to love are not outrageous.

Now we begin! We wrote a check yesterday reserving the lot we've picked. All of this talk has become real. I feel like I just got punched in the stomach and like I just won a million dollars. The staff in my office always says "it is different when it is you." I thought they were shooting smoke up my ass, but I guess not. Now I know how my clients are feeling when I have them sign contracts and addendums and amendments. It is my job, with them, to stay calm and be their rock through the emotional process of home purchasing. When they say or do things that are completely irrational, I need to reassure them that things will be fine; they made the right decision.

Now, here we are. All of my expertise has been thrown out the window like yesterday's bathwater. I feel like I am in the ocean on a pool raft with my legs hanging above the shark infested water; it is the only thing keeping me afloat.

The roller coaster ride is just beginning, hopefully I don't puke before it is over.

On Fire

I think I am going to start a campaign here in Wichita to lay down road spikes or whatever they are called. You know, the rubber strips with pointy tire puncturing metal standing at attention, waiting for the squishy rubber to role over them. They curl up like a garden hose for portability; it would be very easy to sit in my lawn chair, role them out between the hours of 2pm and 4pm and see what happens.



I would like to place these spikes in school zones and for those who speed through these zones, they will suffer the consequences. The spikes should be speed sensitive so when someone exceeds the designated limit, POP! I don't think getting to your afternoon cocktail hour with the girls or getting to a tee time with the guys will be as important as possibly wrecking your car or having to replace your tires more often.



I am sure you have to be able to read to pass the driving test. How can you miss the words SCHOOL ZONE! I think it will be a wonderful incentive for people to slow down. If the speedsters cannot read, the big orange/yellow flashing light should indicate a slower speed.



All I can think about when people speed past my car is "what if they hit a kid?" I am sure they'd slow down then. Sitting in a 6x9 seems like a lot of fun, maybe that's why they speed. I know I love being on another persons schedule. I guess you wouldn't have to worry about whose cooking dinner tonight.

Just a little rant, I needed to get it off my chest.