Not Every Good Deal is the Right One

There are moments in real estate that look perfect on paper, and this was one of them.

A price that was nearly $700,000 less than the (very similar) house next door. An opportunity that, at first glance, felt like the kind of deal you don’t pass up.

But ultimately, that’s exactly what we did.

A couple weeks ago, a past client reached out about a home in the Cays she was interested in purchasing. She used to live in Coronado, so she knew the area well. A few years ago she moved out of state, but now she was ready to come back.

Coincidentally, the listing agent and I had been playing phone tag on another topic, so I told my client I’d connect and get the details.

The property had been through escrow before. Not once or twice, but three times. Early on there had been some title issues, but those had since been resolved. The Seller had a full home inspection report and the disclosures were completed.

The condition of the home felt… known.

My client was excited to write an offer, so much so that she did it based on a FaceTime walkthrough since she wasn’t in San Diego at the time. It reminded me of COVID days.

When we submitted our offer, there were two other offers on the table. We structured something strong enough to win, while still accounting for the work we knew the home would need.

Because it did need work.

The home had been a rental for years. We expected a new HVAC system and a handful of repairs. That was part of the equation, and she was comfortable with it.

So when our offer was accepted, she was thrilled.

But before moving forward, I encouraged her to do one more thing.

Another inspection.

It would have been easy not to. We had a full inspection report. We had disclosures. We had enough information to keep going.

But this is the part of the process where experience matters. And thankfully, she trusted me.

During the inspection, we found moisture in the wood floors in three areas.

In the living room, there was a possible explanation. The area sat near a window and door. Maybe at some point water had come in during a storm. Even then, the home had been vacant for months, so you would expect it to have dried.

The dining room was different.

The floor was wet in the middle of the room with no obvious source.

No clear reason.

And that’s when things shift.

Because moisture isn’t just a surface issue. It’s usually the beginning of a deeper question. Where is it coming from? How long has it been there? What’s behind the walls or under the floors?

It’s all solvable. These are not uncommon issues. We talked through what it would take to move forward.

Leak detection. Opening up sections of flooring. Addressing the source. Possible mold remediation. Then putting everything back together.

But when she wrote her offer, she believed she had a clear picture of the home. This introduced a level of uncertainty she hadn’t signed up for.

So she made the decision to walk away.

And I supported her in that.

Because a good deal is only a good deal if you understand what you’re buying, or you’re comfortable with the unknown. And she wasn’t.

My role isn’t to push a transaction across the finish line. It’s to help my clients make informed decisions, even when that decision is to step back.

Especially when that decision is to step back.

There will always be another opportunity. What matters is that when you move forward, you do it with clarity.

What This Means for Buyers

If you’re thinking about buying, especially in a competitive market, it’s easy to feel like you need to move quickly or take shortcuts to stay in the game.

But this is where having the right guidance matters most.

Even when information is provided.
Even when a home has been through escrow before.
Even when it feels like everything has already been uncovered.

There is still value in taking a closer look.

And sometimes, the most important decision you make is the one where you choose not to move forward.

Thinking About Buying in Coronado?

Every home comes with a story. Some are just easier to read than others.

If you’re considering a purchase and want to understand not just the opportunity, but the full picture behind it, I’m always happy to be a resource.

Reach out and we’ll talk through what you want your story to be.