We made an offer on a DR house through a real estate agent and confirmed it in writing with an email, since we had already returned to USA.
Agent submitted our offer via email and telephone to seller, who was also in USA. Seller accepted verbally to agent and then sent email to his attorney in DR, stating terms of sale contract and instructing him to accomplish the sale. Seller carbon copied this email to the agent, who then sent it to buyer. All this happened on Day 1.
Buyer retained DR attorney on Day 2. Buyer attorney contacted seller attorney, informing of this arrangement.
Buyer retained a builder for home inspection which was completed at buyer's expense on Day 2 after offer accepted. Sale was "as is condition" and buyer accepted the defects found.
Seller communicated with agent by email on Day 5, just before paying retainer to his attorney, essentially making sure the buyers intended to complete sale after the inspection, because he had to pay non-refundable legal fees. Agent reaffirmed by email that buyer was moving at all possible speed to close as soon as seller's attorney finished with paperwork.
Inventory was accomplished by agent and finalized by seller on Day 10, then emailed to seller's attorney for inclusion as part of closing paperwork.
On Day 12 closing was confirmed to agent as set for Day 16 after offer accepted by seller. (a weekend in the middle here).
On Day 14 seller notified agent by email that he would not complete the sale and was selling to someone else who made him a better offer! Too bad for the buyer and the agent who were acting in good faith!
And he's not even embarrassed that he admits his word is no good and will not reconsider! Does this kind of thing happen in DR all the time??? We have spend thousands of $$ starting to close our house up here, buying a car in DR, changing phones, etc., etc.
What can we as buyers do anything about this about this? I am shocked that a seller can do this and cheat a real estate agent out of a commission as well.
Agent submitted our offer via email and telephone to seller, who was also in USA. Seller accepted verbally to agent and then sent email to his attorney in DR, stating terms of sale contract and instructing him to accomplish the sale. Seller carbon copied this email to the agent, who then sent it to buyer. All this happened on Day 1.
Buyer retained DR attorney on Day 2. Buyer attorney contacted seller attorney, informing of this arrangement.
Buyer retained a builder for home inspection which was completed at buyer's expense on Day 2 after offer accepted. Sale was "as is condition" and buyer accepted the defects found.
Seller communicated with agent by email on Day 5, just before paying retainer to his attorney, essentially making sure the buyers intended to complete sale after the inspection, because he had to pay non-refundable legal fees. Agent reaffirmed by email that buyer was moving at all possible speed to close as soon as seller's attorney finished with paperwork.
Inventory was accomplished by agent and finalized by seller on Day 10, then emailed to seller's attorney for inclusion as part of closing paperwork.
On Day 12 closing was confirmed to agent as set for Day 16 after offer accepted by seller. (a weekend in the middle here).
On Day 14 seller notified agent by email that he would not complete the sale and was selling to someone else who made him a better offer! Too bad for the buyer and the agent who were acting in good faith!
And he's not even embarrassed that he admits his word is no good and will not reconsider! Does this kind of thing happen in DR all the time??? We have spend thousands of $$ starting to close our house up here, buying a car in DR, changing phones, etc., etc.
What can we as buyers do anything about this about this? I am shocked that a seller can do this and cheat a real estate agent out of a commission as well.