I sought the services of Chris Tran in June 2019, and I feel it's time to write a review about my…read moreexperience. Initially I was impressed as I sent him an email on a Sunday afternoon, and he responded quickly and got the ball rolling. I had just moved to the area and needed to get some financial items in order but was ready to view homes in a couple of weeks. I pretty much knew that condos were going to be the vast majority of options in my price range and expressed that to him as well as the mortgage broker he referred me to, and I received push back about it, mostly from the latter.
I was still open to condos, and luck was on my side as there was one below my price range that had been on the market for a couple of weeks. After seeing it in person, I knew I wanted to make an offer. Chris even suggested that it was over priced, which made it sweeter. I left with the expectation that he would write an offer at the terms we discussed and felt confident that it would be considered if not accepted.
However, my hopes were dashed as I received a call from Chris a couple of hours later discouraging me from this property. He had been in contact with the mortgage broker and described fees and other hurdles with condos. Chris himself did not seem very sure or confident about this type of real estate in my opinion, and he should have mentioned these things WHILE we were viewing the property and not call me hours after being instructed to write an offer. After hearing his arguments, I decided not to make an offer and resumed my search with him focusing on townhouses and single-family homes.
My confidence in Chris eroded from that point. For example, we went to an open house for a townhouse that reeked of cigarette smoke. He said they would have trouble selling it, but it was under contract after that weekend. Also, I made an offer on a separate townhouse, which he said was competitive. It was not accepted. This same property went back on the market, and I contacted him about it, but no new offer was made. The original offer had expired, so I don't know how I was even in the running for it the second time. Then again, I'm not a real estate agent. Finally, he showed me a property that was tens of thousands above my price range, which he said was to show me what a single-family home could buy at a higher price, but I was not willing to go that high. If that was the point, why not show me million-dollar properties?
All the while, the original condo was still on the market, and I continued to express my interest to him. Although Chris might have been somewhat receptive to it, the mortgage broker shot down any hopes I had. Finally, after about another week of fruitless searches, I told Chris I wanted to make an offer on that condo. Period. Imagine my shock when literally an hour or two if not moments before I had e-signed my offer, it went under contract. I was furious and devastated. From my initial viewing to other attempts to express how much I liked that condo, it fell on deaf ears until it was too late.
I was finished with Chris and his mortgage broker at this point. He tried to get me to continue with him, but fool me once . . . He even had the audacity to say that I didn't tell him I wanted the cheapest property available. That's insulting because a) finding out the needs/wants of the buyer is his job as a real estate agent, b) I had expressed my needs/wants if not explicitly then during the viewings, and c) I was very clear that I liked that condo and wanted to make an offer. Never once was my sole intention the cheapest place. If that was the case, I would have bought a tent and camped out under the 202.
My mistake was not demanding that Chris make an offer or releasing him sooner as there were red flags. If something was structurally wrong with the property, I would have had the inspection to determine that. Moreover, while I can understand the arguments that condos are not as good of an investment as others, I saw the value in this property in particular. If the market tanked, I would be in much better shape with a lower payment.
I found another real estate agent who helped me get into a condo, and even though I like my new home, I'm disappointed with my experience with Chris. That first condo was the perfect mix of size, price, updates, and location for me, and I feel that he and his mortgage broker were the main reasons I am not in that place today. This review is part therapy and part warning to others to do your homework when searching for an agent. Sure, listen to their concerns, but ultimately, you're buying and living in the place. There's always the inspection too. Remember - real estate agents work for you, not the other way around. I learned this lesson the hard way with Chris.