Many people question whether they should use their friends for real estate transactions.  One example in New York might help answer the question for many people. There can be advantages as well as disadvantages for having friends in real estate.  These come up depending on the real estate properties as well as the situation that the real estate buyer happens to be in.

Last year dear friends of one real estate agent decided that they were going to sell their real estate property in Queens and move to Warren County (Lake George) NY.  They wanted to find land for sale by the lake, and to maybe look into more acreage land for sale. 

Because the friend of the movers was full time real estate agent, their friends gave her the task of selling their real estate property.  At this point, she would have never thought that there would be any other reason for selling their property, other than she was a great Real estate agent.  She did not think for one second that they would have her sell their real estate properties and entrust their biggest asset to her because she could discount them or "give em a deal".   She felt that she was selling their real estate home because she truly was and is the best to represent them in the sale of their real estate home.   

She did all of the open houses with a great turn out and they actually had a few offers within the first week, although it was a low offer, it was encouraging that there would be a lot of activity on the real estate for sale.  Within 4 months from start to finish they closed on the sale. They got exactly what they wanted for the real estate and they did not have to give in one inch to the buyers.  She had done her job and had done it very well.  They were happy and she was happy that she could make them happy.

Within months of her selling their real estate, the parents of those friends decided that they wanted to be close to them, so they were going to sell their real estate properties, so she listed the home and again thinking it was because she was the very best one to represent them in the real estate sale, not because of the discount. But that was just the catch.

The parents lived in this home for 35 years and the way that they moved into the home, was the way that they were selling the property. After a few months of open houses and showings they hit the holidays.  The market quieted down and there was little activity on anything. 

By the day after Christmas they had an offer but the buyers had to come up on the selling price.  The buyers were looking for control on the real estate for sale any which way they could get it, but the control was not being given and the sellers remained on solid ground and only would accept what they felt was fair. 

The real estate agent did not feel that the end result was fair with one or two exceptions and she ended up feeling that on both ends, the seller and the buyer did not get what they wanted.  After all, the real estate agent did all she was asked to do.  She did not haggle, nor subject the sellers to the "great offer" speech.  She told them the facts the good and the bad and when they were ready, they accepted the offer that was the best for them.   

            Her relationship changed, but does doing every friends real estate maneuvers change every relationship? To each, his own.