Game-playing doesn’t help the housing market

To the editor:

I am fuming. My daughter is a first-time home buyer -- or, I should say, she would like to be.

The banks and mortgage companies are at it again. Playing the bidding war game. When, pray tell, are they going to get the message that the games they play are worsening the housing crisis?

My daughter is pre-approved for a mortgage, has her down payment in hand and is ready to do business. Shopping around for "location, location, location," she found several homes in Henderson, "A place to call home."

When she checked on them, they had multiple offers. No sense in wasting time. Move on to the next. She found another, made an offer, asked the bank to pay closing costs, and they agreed. They had it appraised and inspected. The appraisal came in a few thousand dollars lower than the asking price.

The bank reneged on the deal.

After a month went by, an agent for the bank had the audacity to call and ask "if she was still interested in the property." Do not forget, it was the bank that would not pay closing costs, as had been agreed to in writing.

The bank officials had the unmitigated gall to reduce the asking price after the contract was nullified. She lost about $500 on that deal. No refunds here!

She found another home, which was real estate owned, as soon as it hit the market. She had an offer written ASAP only to find out a few days later the property had multiple offers. The bank responded with, "Submit your best offer." What? Submit the best offer? The first offer was the best offer.

Whatever happened to a contract having one offer and maybe one more for a backup?

These greedy banks are waiting for cash buyers, of course.

Someone has got to stop this madness. People all over are going to submit offers only to lose their appraisal and inspection fees. Last time I checked, people aren't chewing tree leaves then spitting out money.

Occupy Wall Street? People are going to start to occupy homes.

If bank officials want to play games, purchase Monopoly. Don't play with real people trying to live in the real world. We Average Joes don't have the fortitude to keep up with your foolishness.

Evelyn Ali

Henderson

Where's the outrage?

To the editor:

I have been reading articles about how District Attorney David Roger is retiring from his elected position because he wants to spend time with his family. Most of the articles praise him and indicate he is an honorable man who has been a 25-year public servant.

Of interest, this 50-year-old "honorable" public servant is earning in excess of $200,000 per year -- and in retirement will receive three-quarters of his salary and health insurance for the rest of his life.

Why is Mr. Roger going to receive $150,000 per year and health insurance -- all from the taxpayers -- for life? Where is the outrage from the Tea Party, the Republicans and the Review-Journal editorial board?

Perhaps the outrage is reserved for less-honorable positions such as auto workers and union members rather than "honorable" district attorneys?

Roy E. Smith

Las Vegas