During the escrow period, part of a real estate agent's job is to follow up with the other parties. The tricky aspect: as a listing/seller's agent I have more difficulty following up with the buyer’s lender. To circumvent this difficulty, I have special verbiage signed by the buyer allowing me as the seller’s agent to follow up on loan status.

RE: my listing on Saticoy with the cranky appraiser – escrow canceled but we are once again in escrow.  Fortunately another full price offer.

I phoned the buyer’s lender to follow up on the appraisal. Good thing I phoned! The lender’s call center (in Illinois or was it Indiana? It was an “I” state, but not Iowa...)....The call center estimated the buyer’s property taxes on this $260,000 sale at over $600 per month.   Apparently the buyer nearly had a heart attack, I explained to their lender that in California property taxes “are only” 1.25% annually or $271 a month.  Living in California has advantages other than our lovely climate!



Note to home buyers: Do not call the main number for any bank and end up with a call center. Go directly to a branch or ask your Realtor for a lender or mortgage broker recommendation.