Real Estate Agents Not Responsive

[Anonymous]

My husband and I wanted to look into buying a new house closer toward the city (we live in Montgomery County) to improve his commute.

The agents are so unresponsive that we actually have started talking ourselves out of a move that only two weeks ago we thought would be a great idea. Even after finding out our house was worth less than we'd thought because of the market, we still thought we'd look because we're not in financial peril like many are and have no reason to rush things. We had reconciled that we'd get a smaller house that isn't as nice as the one we have to improve our quality of life and help my husband spend less time on the road. Now, we are thinking that we should wait a few years until we have more equity in our house and just choose where we want to move and he'll suck up the commute for a while. I was always on the fence a bit with this move, so I'm not hearbroken but I am very confused. I thought agents needed work now. What is wrong with these people!?

[Anonymous]

It is very unusual that the agents have not been responsive. i would ask around for recommendations. We're in a very similar situation right now regarding moving. We have specifically not retained an agent at this time because we didn't want to be pressured into making a decision. Regarding whether you should wait until you build a bit more equity, I would make the move now if your quality of life will improve due to the commute and if you won't be loosing money on the house you are selling. Then again, we've found several houses in our price range but hesitant to buy not knowing if the prices are going to decrease further.

[Anonymous]

Strange. We're looking in Chevy Chase or Arlington and the realtors are like vultures trying to get our business. That said, there just isn't much inventory right now for the kind of house we want (at least 3 BR all on 1 floor, no more than 1 mi. from the metro, in MoCo or Arl Co school district). Maybe they aren't responsive b/c there aren't that many houses on the market right now?

I empathize with you guys wanting to move closer in. We had some heating problems with our house and were living w/ DH's mom for a week in Potomac. Commuting in was a NIGHTMARE...I was on the road an hour either way and was starting to eat both b'fast and dinner in my car. Ugh. We're hoping to sell our house in DC in the spring and pray that there will be more inventory in the area that we're looking b/c the LAST thing I want to do is move twice (we have a toddler and one on the way). I do believe that interest rates and prices will be good this spring and really want to get the whole move thing over with b/f #2 comes along.

[Anonymous]

We just worked with an excellent realtor, who helped us buy a home in close-in Rockville.
But she also knows Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, etc really well.
She was always responsive and extremely professional and helpful.
Her name is Tammy Thomas: email [e-mail], (office) 301-650-4400, cell [phone].

Good luck.
Gerri Baer