We Want a Baby

Some transactions stay with you your whole life. This occurred almost 2 years ago and seems like it was last week. The clients lived in Orange County, an exurb of NYC about 40 minutes north of White Plains. They were desperate, and their situation was compelling.

First, they were restoring an older Georgian. Even in an incomplete state, it was a magnificent place. As with many younger couples in the multi-tasking pursuit of making a family, they were also trying to have a baby with little luck. Then, she got pregnant.  Their daughter was born prematurely, and never made it home. Language limps in describing such a tragic event. She became understandably depressed, and then he lost his job.

I met her at the house on a cloudy day. She was back on her feet, physically and mentally, with a fat file filled with research on short sales on the kitchen table. She knew everything I was talking about. She educated herself. Unlike many people with overwhelming financial problems, she was not paralyzed with fear. I’ll explain.

While she was showing me the house, explaining what was completed and not, we came to what was the baby’s room. The poor Little Soul never slept in it. Briefly, she was sad again. She became depressed when she was told she couldn’t have a baby. I am blessed with 4 rugrats- what could I say? Have you thought of adopting, I asked. She looked me right in the eye. “Of course. But they won’t let you adopt if you have a foreclosure.” How dumb of me! Adoption agencies weigh finances very heavily!

And THAT is why she was on her feet, lucid and fighting. She wasn’t fighting to save her credit; she wasn’t fighting for sheetrock and plumbing;  she was fighting for motherhood. She was on her toes for a child who wasn’t even in her life yet, a child who was just an idea.

I am proud to say that there were multiple offers on that house (it was expired with a prior broker who tried to sell at a higher price because they didn’t know short sales). The lender approved the short sale, an offer about $15,000 over asking price as I recall, and it closed successfully. Was it easy? Hell no. Did I care? Hell no.

They mailed me a photo of their daughter later that year. You can’t make this stuff up.