Recently I wrote a post about HUD wondering how on Earth one single agent could take care of over 400 HUD listings spread across an entire state. I for one believe that there is no way that one agent can keep up with them all, but I suppose HUD and all their glory disagrees. But enough about that bone to pick, let's move on to another strike at the lack of genius that HUD has displayed.
For those of you who are unaware of it, you have to be HUD certified in order to make an offer on a HUD listing. You can procure your own HUD key, and show the homes for sale, you just can't help your client make an offer without being certified. This takes about 8 to 10 wells to do.
Now with that being said, let's talk about a funny little thing called disclosure. Would it not seem only right that a HUD listing be required to disclose this information on their listings, so people are aware of this fact? I sure think that it would be a disclosure issue in my opinion, but I could be alone.
Well, when my good friend Suzanne McLaughlin decided she would check into this, her MLS told her that it should be disclosed. She was then nice enough to call and get a response from HUD on the subject and explain to them that they needed to disclose that information in their listings on the MLS or they would be subject to fines from her local board.
Their response was basically the title of the post. They were unconcerned about the rules and regulations that the rest of us have to follow. They feel as if they are about following the rules, after all they are HUD. So what do you think? Should they be above the rules?
I take real issue with the belief that Government run organizations should be able to ignore the rules that the rest of us must follow so closely. I flat out take offense to their answer to Suzanne, but it's exactly what I would expect out of a Government entity. Sad that I would.
So here's your chance to make a believer out of me. Tell me I'm an idiot for being offended, a fool for wasting your time while reading this post, or tell me that you don't like the people your tax money pays treating us like second hand citizens. Tell me something rather than looking the other way and letting it go.
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JL Boney, III - Columbia, SC Realtor - Russell and Jeffcoat Real Estate
I specialize in Columbia, SC real estate and the surrounding areas, including Blythewood, SC, Kershaw County, Fairfield County, and Lexington, SC. If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in Columbia, SC or any of the surrounding areas, I would love the opportunity to speak with to see how I can help. Thanks for reading and feel free to contact me if I can be of service to you.
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I wonder if HUD thinks it's 'enough' that you can look for a HUD broker in your area and if your agent isn't on the list...they're not one.
It can become a mess when a client wants a HUD home and the agent's neither knowledgeable or certified to make the offer or manage the transaction.
It's worth it to become certified... at any rate.
PS. HUD = The Devil (hahaha)
JL...HUD is a royal Pain. I was certified and the hoops to jump through is crazy. Not sure it is worth my time.
So HUD is officially worse than the banks are now. In the seller's market, I had banks tell me they weren't concerned with the closing date on my contracts because they had the money and there was nothing we could do about it. I never gave business to Wells Fargo EVER again!
Regardless, maybe we should start throwing temper tantrums with the NAR. It's about time we make them do something useful for a change!
JL, you're not an idiot nor a fool. Government will continue to take advantage until some one steps up and says no more! Unfortunately, it won't be the NAR no matter what we do!
I see stuff in Florida where agents 200 miles away have listings with HUD, Fannie, etc. Not only can't they market the property properly, but they go out of their way to let the property fall through the cracks so the price keeps coming down until it is low enough for them to send in a straw buyer to buy and flip. Even after contacting Washington . . . nothing was ever done.
JL You probably know how I feel about this issue. THEY SHOULD BE FINED! They are not above us and it really irritates me. Fannie and Freddie are just as bad!
JL - and HUD is run by the same government that is bringing us Health Care Reform.
Remember JL, HUD spelled backwards is "DUH"!
JL ---- I love Tom's comment --- DUH ---- To be HUD certified is ridiculous --- I agree that HUD should be made to disclose ---this is just one more thing that our "government" is getting by with ---I agree, why should we have rules and they don't.
JL - A little late to the party. But, thanks. We are working on becoming HUD-certified. But, it does take a lot, and is it worth it? We are complaining to our local MLS. One, because you can't show the damned properties unless you have a HUD key, and second, their payout is listed at 5%....but that is only if you are HUD-certified, which is not mentioned. Coopertating broker or not. SUCKS, all the way around. We are working to get them kicked out of our local MLS because of lack of disclosure.
Thanks again for the great post. People need to understand how their government is working (or not working!)
My broker is a first year HUD certified broker & did not realize that he had to RENEW 6-8 weeks in advance. SO................as I made an offer for a HUD home I realized we were within days of expiring. Thank GOD (I thought) my offer was accepted on the first bid before our HUD keys expired. (NAID)
Our expiration date was 11/5 and several of the agents needed to make offers. OOOPS. can't do it.
Well then imagine my dismay when NONE of our lenders will give my client (credit score 740) a loan. WHY? Because the lenders need a Closing Protection Letter to proceed. We are not closing at a title company but through an attorney's office and because they are NOT a title company they cannot provide a CPL. They only provide E&O which the lender does not accept on a manufactured home. When I talked to Southwest Alliance, they told me the denial of credit based upon the lack of a CPL is not sufficient cause to refund my client's earnest money. We have been to more than 5 mortgage brokers trying to find a lender who will take an E&O instead of a CPL. We have passed our window for inspections but finally found a lender. Now everything else has to follow HUD's wacky rules to complete.
We asked HUD to change the closing to a title company so we could proceed & our response was they would not. When I asked why not as we had a READY, WILLING and ABLE buyer, the response was that HUD was slow to change (ie, and they would not change to make this happen).
DUH is right.
HUD is simply practicing government of the people, by the people, for the people.
I could say plenty, instead, I agree with " don't like the people your tax money pays treating us like second hand citizens".
JL - Im a little late to comment.. but I think you shouldnt let it bother you much. Sure, they should follow the same rules... but they are HUD. They are not above the law, but at the same time who is really going to call them on it?? So, yes they should follow the rules but if they don't I would not be bothered too much by it.
Unbelievable. You can't make this stuff up. HUD, the governing agency for housing doesn't think IT has to follow rules, but all us minions do, right? This is part of what's wrong and needs to stop.
Ok. This is all very discouraging because I am pretty much on my own now, I decided to try to find out how to register and get HUD keys, which by the way, I cannot find out anywhere! Now I am wondering if it is really worth my while. Well, is it?