Diana Paquette

Hi Bobbie, I'm sorry you're going through this. Selling a home as part of a divorceaEUR"especially when it's court orderedaEUR"can be emotionally and legally complex, so finding the right Realtor really does matter. Here are a few suggestions that may help: 1. Start with personal referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, or trusted colleagues who have bought or sold a home within the past year. A recommendation from someone who had a positive experience is often the best place to begin. 2. Ask local divorce attorneys. Attorneys who regularly handle divorce cases often work with Realtors who understand the unique challenges of court-ordered sales. If you hear the same Realtor's name mentioned more than once, that's usually a very good sign. Professionals who have experience with divorce transactions tend to be patient, neutral, and skilled at navigating the additional communication and legal requirements involved. 3. Do a little online research. Search for terms like "best Realtor in Rockport, IN" or "Realtor experienced with divorce home sales in Rockport, IN."Read through Google reviews and see if clients mention words like divorce, court-ordered sale, professional, fair, compassionate, or great communicator. Those reviews can provide valuable insight into how an agent handles sensitive situations. Finally, don't hesitate to interview two or three Realtors before making your decision. Ask how many divorce-related or court-ordered sales they've handled, how they communicate with both parties, and how they remain neutral throughout the process. You deserve someone who not only understands the real estate side of the transaction, but also appreciates the emotional challenges that often come with it. I wish you all the best as you navigate this process.

As a long-time Realtor, I wanted to reach out to share some candid, real-world perspective. First, I'd like to highlight something critical: it is genuinely rare for me to hear buyers say they've found their "dream home." Most real estate purchases involve significant compromises. If you have found a house that checks all your boxes and genuinely feels like the one, that is a massive win in today's market. I completely understand why you feel stuck over the remaining few thousand dollars, but let's take a step back and look at the big picture: You Already Won a Major Concession - You strategically agreed to a "no repair request" clause to win this house in a competitive market. Contractually, when you went back to ask for a $10,000 credit, the sellers had every right to say "no." Instead, they agreed to pay for the radon mitigation system. That was a substantial, good-faith concession on their part. Radon sounds intimidating, but once a system is installed, the issue is permanently solved. The Math vs. The Big Picture -You are currently stuck over a difference of roughly $2,000 to $3,000. On an $830,000 purchase, that is about 0.3% of the total cost. The remaining items from your inspection sound like standard home maintenance costs associated with owning a luxury asset. At this stage, your only real leverage is walking away from the deal entirely. Is it worth losing the house you love, forfeiting your time and inspection money, and starting your search over in a tough market just to prove a point over $2,000? My Recommendation would be to accept the seller's offer for the radon system and move forward to closing. In five years, you won't care about a $2,000 difference, and it will have zero impact on your monthly mortgage or long-term wealth. But if you walk away now, you will almost certainly regret letting your dream home slip through your fingers over pocket change. Wishing you the absolute best with your new home!