Helping A Soldier Find A Place To Call 'Home'

David Zolldan and his dad came into an open house of mine on Olive Street last February, saying he really wanted to see a place on Eagle Ridge, but it wasn’t "open."

I suggested that I could get him in to see that home right after my open and we agreed to meet there that afternoon. The home was foreclosed upon and lender-owned and the agent remarks in the RMLS stated that all offers had to be submitted by 11am the very next morning.

What pressure! Typical of these bank-owned homes that are priced way too low that forces buyers into competing with others in "multiple offers." David was a bit nervous but wanted to pursue this home for his own. Well…he wrote $10,000 higher than asking price, but did not get it. We were told there were 12 other offers on the property!

This was my introduction to David Zolldan!

What a nice young man. He's been a soldier for five years and assigned to the Red Bull Infantry Division out of Stillwater (where he graduated from). He's an MP and presently on an Honor Guard Duty. We had something in common, as  I'm an Army Veteran myself.

I enlisted when I was 17 years old and joined the Active Army and became trained as a Medic back in 1974. I've been a realtor in Stillwater for the past 10 years,  and I can tell you it's not every day you get to work with someone serving. We quickly realized that he was eligible for the $8,000 tax credit that was extended for Active Duty Armed Forces personnel and got busy searching for a first home for David.

He wanted to keep his payment as low as he could, so we looked at many lower priced homes. There was one that flipped into "auction" status as he was about to write an offer on it and the extra 5 percent buyer's premium and new septic it needed prohibited a purchase on that property, even though it was only $150,000.

David started to branch out of Stillwater, even looking in Cottage Grove. One feature he really wanted was a fireplace … and the condition of these homes and fireplaces were a bit challenging in his price range. We finally found one that was in really great shape on Hamline in Falcon Heights. It was an "estate" and being sold by the family. The older man that had lived there was pretty much a perfectionist and had a wonderful shop area out in the 2+ heated garage.

David wrote an offer after showing it to his folks, and his mom said she'd even give him an extra $1,000 to buy it if he needed it … (she fell in love with it!). The next thing we knew is that there was another offer being presented with ours and we were in a "multiple offer" situation again. Ugh!

After not getting the last one, David wrote as high as he could to compete with the offer, and even suggested he'd write it $1,000 more than any competing offer up to a certain amount (smart realtor coaching)! The next day, the seller's agent said we had a "counter-offer"… and it was $15,000 LESS than the top number David offered!!!

UNHEARD of!

I had to ask the other agent to  repeat it, so I knew I heard him right …"Yes, the seller felt it was only fair, since the other offer was so low." This is a jumping up and down kind of story, and when I shared the news with David, I think we were both a little choked up. What a generous gesture on the seller's part.

I said to David, you know that this was "the one" when things come together like this. David had to close in 30 days after the inspection, as he was leaving for Germany and would be gone for three weeks for a tour to cover a furlough for another group of MPs.  (While he was there Bin Laden was killed, so it made for a heightened security watch I'm sure.)

Stories like this one, make you proud to be a part of a soldiers life, who is giving each and every day for the liberties we enjoy. I could sense the stress in his life, yet I got to share in a positive event becoming a first-time home-buyer and participating in The American Dream.

If you get a chance, hug a soldier this weekend and tell them THANKS! Thank-you David!  I was blessed to play a part in this very important event in your life.