There was a time—not so long ago—when a buyer walking through a home with me, wide-eyed and holding a pre-approval letter, meant business. These days? Let’s just say I had a more serious conversation with my Uber driver last week, on my way home from a wine-tasting event. Maybe it was the wine.
Welcome to the era of the flaky buyer. They ghost faster than a bad Tinder date, fall in love with a house on Tuesday, and then decide by Thursday that maybe they’re “just not emotionally ready” to commit… to a mortgage.
So dear fellow agents, let’s break this down.
A Few Signs You’re Dealing With a Flake:
- Says “this is THE ONE” and then asks, “But do you think it’ll still be available in 3-6 months?”
- Is pre-qualified… by their mom.
- Thinks Zillow’s Zestimate is more accurate than your market analysis. (Don’t worry, their cousin who sold a house in 2015 agrees with them.)
- Books a showing, then cancels it, then rebooks, then no-shows, then calls you from another state asking if you can do a video tour “just in case this is the ONE.”
Red flags are flying everywhere, and as their agent, it’s time to set some boundaries.
What’s Causing All the Cold Feet?
- Rates are unpredictable. Some buyers are waiting for the unicorn 2.5% interest rate to return—right after gas drops to $1.99 and Blockbuster makes a comeback.
- Analysis paralysis. They’ve seen 40 houses and they’re still unsure. That’s not house hunting—that’s a hobby.
- TikTok told them to wait. Never mind the fact that TikTok also thinks you should quit your job and raise alpacas.
Dear Buyers: A Word of Advice
Let me help you. We get it—this market is weird. But homes are still selling. Good ones. Great ones. Ones that could be yours if you stop treating real estate like speed dating. So if you’re serious, get your financials in order, trust your agent, and stop waiting for the market to send you a handwritten invitation in gold foil.
Otherwise, Zillow will keep leading you on with filtered photos and fake square footage, and your dream house will be living happily ever after…with someone else.
Time for a Realtor Confessional:
Listen, I’m not mad. I’m just emotionally exhausted.
The other week, I drove 8 hours a day for three days to show houses to an out-of-state buyer who just KNEW Bella Vista, AR was the place for them. Until he decided it was time to realize his childhood dream and buy a horse ranch in Texas.
Here’s another one. I have a house listed that has had 25+ showings in about five weeks. I’ve had at least 3 buyer’s agents tell me they were “95% sure” they’d be submitting an offer, then proceeded to ghost me harder than my 7th-grade crush after the spring dance.
I’ve started rating my real estate transactions like dates:
🏠 Cute house, great potential… buyer brought their entire family, including Grandma, who now has questions about the neighbor’s dog.
🏠 Beautiful views, solid price… buyer didn’t realize they shouldn’t quit their job while attempting to get a loan.
🏠 10/10 curb appeal… client canceled mid-drive because Mercury was in retrograde and they “just had a feeling.”
Y’all. I love helping people buy and sell homes. But if I had a dollar for every time someone bailed on a showing because it “just didn’t feel right,” I could buy the house myself….cash.
🎤 Final Thoughts:
So to all the buyers out there: We love you. We’re rooting for you. But please, if you’re not ready to commit, don’t drag us—and our emotionally invested sellers—through the home tour equivalent of a five-season slow burn romance that ends with “I think I need to work on myself first.”
Because while love might be patient… real estate agents are not.
The Overly Caffeinated Agent 