Ken Tritle at DreamWell Homes Realty just closed escrow for his buyer at Ocean Hills Country Club, and this is her remarkable journey to homeownership in this 55+ community.
A Buyer with a Home to Sell: Starting the Ocean Hills Search
We received a text message from a lady inquiring about homes for sale in Ocean Hills Country Club and asking for a tour of the community. During this first meeting, we learned that she needed to sell her existing home in LA County in order to free up the capital for her next home. Her home was not yet on the market.
Ken explained that in order to get a contingent offer accepted, her home would need to be Active on the MLS. Our new client liked several homes during the tour, and we ended up making an offer on one of them. The offer explained clearly that her home would be Active on the MLS within 48 hours of acceptance. Because she was a widow handling all the planning, document signing, and packing herself, she needed more time than usual to make this happen.
When Compressed Deadlines Break a Deal
The seller responded with a counteroffer that severely compressed the time periods, which was unworkable for our client, and the deal fell apart. So, the search began again.
A Second Chance: Discovering the Perfect Ocean Hills Property
After two more home shopping sessions, we found another home she liked, a St. Tropez floorplan — one Ken had recent experience with another buyer. This time, the offer was at the current listing price, which was $40,000 less than his previous client’s offer, as the home had been on the market for a while and reduced in price. Because the sellers were motivated, we also asked for a credit toward installing a central air conditioning system and for the same longer escrow period. To our client’s delight, the seller accepted.
Winning Concessions: Air Conditioning and a Flexible Timeline
Although we requested a longer escrow, we assured the sellers we would work as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, we kept in touch with her LA listing agent to monitor progress on the sale of her home. Her LA property quickly found a buyer and went into escrow, which made it look like we could close sooner. With this good news, we asked the Ocean Hills sellers to install the new central air conditioning system instead of simply providing a credit, and they agreed.
Three Buyers Down the Chain: How Contingencies Complicated the Sale
This is where things became especially complex. The buyer of her LA property also had to sell their home to qualify. And that buyer’s buyer faced setbacks when a death in the family forced them to redirect down payment funds, requiring a new loan product and approval. This delayed the entire chain of closings — three buyers deep.
Managing Deadlines, Delays, and Emotions with Empathy
Unfortunately, these delays were not well received by the Ocean Hills sellers. Frustration grew with each missed deadline, and their anger was directed at us, even though the delays stemmed from buyers down the chain. Ken managed this carefully, reminding them that our client was also living out of boxes, frustrated, and doing everything in her power to move things along. We also made concessions on utility costs to help ease tensions.
Patience, Communication, and Expertise Pay Off
Eventually, the chain of sales aligned: the buyer’s buyer closed, funds transferred, and we were able to close escrow on our client’s Ocean Hills Country Club home. This was a true testament to open, honest communication and persistence. Even when delivering bad news, Ken focused on empathy and problem-solving — and it worked.
Lessons Learned
This transaction highlighted why experience matters. With three buyers down the chain and multiple contingent sales, it required strong communication, market knowledge, and creative negotiation. Having a local expert like Ken Tritle made all the difference.
Work With Ocean Hills Country Club Realtor® Ken Tritle
If you’re considering buying or selling at Ocean Hills Country Club, work with a Realtor® who has been specializing in this community since 2010. Ken Tritle, Realtor® and SRES®, knows the floorplans, the real estate market, the negotiation strategies, and the lifestyle as an Ocean Hills Country Club Realtor® specialist.
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Ready to Find Your Forever Home in San Diego?
Contact Jean and Ken Tritle, the husband-and-wife real estate team behind DreamWell Homes Realty— your trusted guide to traditional construction (stick-built) premier San Diego 55+ communities real estate.
Whether you’re downsizing, relocating, or searching for the perfect active adult community, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
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