Posted by Dawn Griffin
Holiday Closing Miracle
Real estate teaches you many things, but every once in a while it reminds you why trust is the most powerful tool we have.
This story began like many others. I was the listing agent on a mixed-use, fourplex building in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis. The buyer presented an offer contingent on FHA financing. Knowing the property’s mixed-use status could be an issue, I immediately contacted the buyer’s lender to flag it. The lender assured us, confidently, “No problem—we have a way.”
Six weeks later, right before the holidays, that same lender issued a denial letter.
UUGGGHHHH!?!?!! And Pivot
I quickly called my preferred lender. After a brief review, he confirmed what we feared: the property was never going to qualify for FHA financing. In fact, he explained that the original lender should have known this from a cursory review.
There was only one path forward. The buyer switched to a conventional loan—but that meant the seller needed to make improvements so the property would fully conform to conventional guidelines. The main floor needed to be a true residence and not just a commercial space which meant turning a half bath into a full bath and turning a kitchenette into a kitchen complete with a gas line for the stove.
We had 40 days to close, with two major holidays, and we couldn’t even start work until the appraiser confirmed the improvements would satisfy lending requirements.
Once we got the appraiser’s thumbs-up, the clock started ticking loudly.
Who did we call?
Our trusted contractors.
The out-of-town seller ordered fixtures to be delivered to the local hardware store. I picked them up, coordinated schedules, and managed logistics on the ground. Permits were pulled. Walls were framed and finished. Plumbing and gas lines were installed.
On December 29th, the appraiser returned for the final inspection.
Meanwhile, the lender and title company worked at lightning speed to coordinate documents for a December 31st closing, managing an out-of-town seller via remote online notarization. The buyer’s agent even stepped in to provide the gas range to ensure the building was fully compliant.
And somehow—despite the odds—we closed.
Why did this work?
Trust.
Every professional involved (after we moved on from the first lender) was a known, proven and trusted professional.
- The buyer’s agent and I have worked opposite each other many times over the last 20 years.
- The lender who revived this loan helped me with my very first personal mortgage and many more in the last two decades.
- The plumber has worked for me, the seller, and the buyer’s agent on numerous projects.
- The contractor has been part of our professional circle for more than ten years.
Nearly twenty years ago, I skimmed The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey and thought, “Well, duh.” Of course things move faster when people trust each other.
I am so grateful to these professionals who repeatedly step up, kick into high gear, and make the impossible possible for our clients—especially at the end of the year, when everyone is tired and stretched thin.
My sincere thanks to:
- Stephanie Noecker, the cooperating agent representing the buyer
- Sean Zalmanoff at Better Rate Mortgage, who pulled the loan out of the wastebasket
- Katrina Vincent at Elite Title who coordinated the remote online notary
- Igor Kratohvil, for framing, drywall, and finish carpentry
- Alberto Vushaj, for completing the plumbing and gas line
And congratulations to Lynn and Kelley on the sale of their beautifully renovated building, and to Eli on the purchase.
This wasn’t just a closing. It was a holiday miracle—built on trust.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling—and want to work with people who already know who to call when things get complicated—we’d be honored to be part of your story. Trust isn’t something you can rush, but it makes all the difference when it matters most. We’re here for you.
