BAKERSFIELD,Calif. -- Michelle Hanssen was ecstatic to put her $5,000 deposit down on a home she loved in southwest Bakersfield. She was scheduled to close on her home in November, but she would never hold her first house-warming party.

During a walk-through by the appraiser, several things emerged that had to be completed before the report could be finalized. She said those repairs didn't take place in time to save her deal.

The lender said they couldn't close her loan because there were broken windows and the tile wasn't complete. With the deal falling apart and her dream home looking unlikely, Hansen requested her $5,000 deposit be refunded.

Burlington Homes declined.

"For me, that's a lot of money," she said.

Eyewitness News made a call to Burlington salesperson Beverly Ziros on Monday. Ziros characterized the matter as being "trivial" and then hung up the phone.

Hanssen said she doesn't think the situation is trivial, at all.

"I gave them $5,000," she said.