The Buyer Who Tried to Go Around Me

A RE/MAX ARYA client story · Oct 27, 2026 · @RJ Armas

Some client stories start with a handshake. This one started with a stranger at a subdivision gate, someone who, for a while, was trying to go around me.

A house that needed to sell fast

We were handling a house in a Baguio subdivision. The seller's parent was in the hospital and needed surgery, and the family urgently needed the funds. So the property was priced well below its value. Our job was simple: find a serious buyer, fast, and protect the seller while doing it.

The man at the gate

One day, a man showed up at the subdivision gate asking to see the house. He didn't expect agents to be there. The guard did what guards usually do and sent him to us.

So we showed him the house. But something felt off. He kept asking to speak to the owner directly. I told him politely that we couldn't do that. We represent the owner, and part of that job is protecting her privacy.

I was also honest with him: another buyer was coming that same day. If they liked the property in person, they would pay the reservation on the spot and pay in cash within a week.

Two offers, one clear choice

He pushed hard for me to choose him. His offer was full price, but through bank financing. That meant waiting for loan approval and the release of funds, and from our conversation, he wasn't familiar with how long that process takes in the Philippines.

The cash buyer arrived, liked the house, and made a cash offer with a plan to close within the week.

The man stayed behind in the subdivision and found another way to reach the seller. She didn't engage. She had already trusted us to negotiate for her.

I'll be honest: I didn't appreciate it. But then he told me why.

The reason behind the distrust

Not long before, he had been scammed. Through a relative, he paid a down payment to an "agent" for a house. The deal never happened. The agent promised to return the money, then disappeared. I'm not even sure that person was licensed.

Suddenly his behavior made sense. He wasn't trying to cheat anyone. He was trying not to get hurt again.

I told him I was sorry it happened. Not all agents are like that. It's like any profession: there are good doctors and bad doctors, good lawyers and bad lawyers. Then I told him, "Give me your offer, and I'll present it to the seller."

A "no" that opened a door

I presented his offer. As expected, the seller chose the cash buyer, and we closed quickly.

I gave him the seller's written answer in person. He was disappointed, but he understood. Then he opened up more. He works abroad, and he didn't want to go back without owning a property in Baguio. He wanted a home near a particular school, because his son was going to study nursing there, and he wanted to know his family would be okay.

So I said, "Okay. Let's try."

The right house, not just the first house

I recommended another property near the school. On first look, it wasn't impressive. It was old and full of the previous owner's things, which made it look smaller than it was. It was also a little above his budget.

But the location was exactly what he needed. I told him to make an offer and see what happens.

The seller accepted. We secured it right away with a down payment so it was reserved, then started on the closing process. Eventually, he closed on the house.

Today, the house is within walking distance of the school. That matters more than it sounds. The first house he wanted was far from the school, and his son didn't want to drive. He might have had to sell it again within a year.

What I took away from this

This buyer started out trying to go around me. He ended up becoming my client.

It helps to remember that most people don't set out to do the wrong thing. Often, they're carrying something we don't know about. In his case, it was a bad experience with someone who broke his trust.

Our job wasn't just to win a deal. It was to protect our seller, stay honest with him, and when the timing was right, help him find a better option than the one he was chasing.

That's the kind of real estate we want to practice at RE/MAX ARYA.

Buying or selling in Baguio? Talk to a licensed RE/MAX ARYA associate, and always ask to see a PRC license before you hand over any money.