Piggybacking on Claudia Newcorn’s Jan. 4 column regarding the heartlessness of banks and the greed in the current housing market, I’d like to share my experiences.

My adult children have been attempting to purchase their first homes. They’ve shopped in the price range of $100,000 to $155,000, looking mostly in northeast Modesto. Imagine their frustration as they find that perfect home, submit an offer at the asking price only to discover that they’ve been bumped by someone who has come in at a slightly lower price, but with cash.