Buying our home

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

By the time we'd gotten to the 3rd place, we'd seen about 50 or 52 places. We decided that this was it - our last time out - decided that if we didn't hit pay dirt, we'd hold off for a while. It's not like we were in any rush anyhow ...

Then - out of the blue - our realtor calls us to look at this huge place on a huge lot.

I step thru the door and I love it.

Big bedroom, nice floors, roomy closets, fireplace.

A few drawbacks but, we'd compromise.

Roof wasn't so hot, basement was old, old - the biggest stumbling block for hubby was there were LOTS of trees in the fr and bk yards, and they were HUGE.

Price was great.

Was an approved short sale.

We go home and think about it - I do my own research - which I'd always done on any place that we'd been serious about.

I find the name of the owner and the 2 year old sale price.

Can you say OVERPAID!

But that's not what bothered me - it's the name of the owner. It's frighteningly familiar to me.

Bob Smith Bob Smith Bob Smith

Why is that name ringing in my head???

Then it hits me - that's the name of the MAYOR of the town!!!

Come to find out ...

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

... it's the mayor's SON who lived there and he had trouble and so was now out of it.

We put in a contract and do the GF deposit.

While we were waiting to hear from this house, our realtor had us look at 1 more because she warned, sometimes, well - you know how a short sale can go.

THEN - come to find out, there's a lien on the house!

A big time one.

We were crushed - not just because of the lien - which alone was a big problem for a whole slew of reasons - but because the realtor who was handling the sale wanted to "help" us by doing some bandoloo under the table mess, in order to get the house.

Our realtor told us that what they wanted us to do was illegal and it could cause her to lose her license.

Dang if we didn't run like the wind.

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

That took us on to house # 54 ...

[kia027]

Re: Buying our home

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">maplewood

i couldn't afford to live there - 30 years ago - grew up in essex county - sold real estate in essex county

now chantel - didn't say the kitchen didn't work, or the electricity didn't work, or there were major plumbing problems

she came out here asking for a contractor - which ANYONE - buying a new house might ask for



</div></div>

Actually Seveen the price is not as high as it used to be. I was not recommending the area, as chantal knows best where she wants to be, but using the house for sale as an example of what to look for. Taxes are higher than my county(slightly) but that is typical for the county the home is in.

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

... #54 was the place our realtor had us look at while we were waiting to hear back on the bandoloo house #53 that we rand from.

#54, funny enuff, was 2 blocks from #53.

It was perfect.

When I say perfect – I mean, PERFECT. You could eat off the floor.

MASSIVE master bedroom.

Spectacular appliances.

Decked out man cave basement.

But there was a catch – always is.

At first, I didn’t like looking at it while the owners were there but it ended up being ok. It was good they were there – to ask them lotsa questions.

I was all up in their biz.

Husband and wife and twins lived there. Wife’s brother was a contractor, which was why the house was TOTALLY hooked up up. I’m talking – HGTV styleeeee!

Hubby was a mtg broker!

House was a short sale.

Turns out, they over paid for the place 4 yrs previous.

They have 2 gorgeous young twins and wife is now pregnant, again.

It was clear why they needed to leave.

THE CATCH – originally, the house was a 3 bedroom. A decent master, a medium br and a small br.

1951, it was converted to a 2 bedroom.

The way it’s set up now, you’d be moving heaven and earth to change it bk into a 3 bedroom.

So with twins underfoot and wifey preggers again, they HAD to sell.

No way they could live in a 2 bedroom house.

We went under contract and the short sale wait began.

Realtor again, warned us about the wait ...

Even as we signed, we wondered, could we REALLY live in a 2 BR house ... ?

[Gen]

Re: Buying our home



uh-oh. rule # 95 from hgtv renovations

if you are going to convert bedrooms mek sure it can change back quick a clack when yuh ready fi sell oderwise yuh gwine salt fi sell ie caw people nuh normally want
<span style="font-weight: bold">less</span> bedrooms

dem want the option fi tun the room inna anyting dem want

[Gen]

Re: Buying our home

Yuri wah mek yuh a tek suh long fi post yuh adventures, come wid it nuh man

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 8pt"><span style="font-style: italic">Gen – dem ah kill mi wid werk ah di office – sarri yah!</span></span></span>

So we’re waiting and waiting and waiting to hear back on this mint condition 2 bedroom.

It dawns on me, why it is he’s having so much trouble selling the place.

Dude – who the heck wants to move into a 2 bedroom house????

Not too many people.

And – what happens if and when time comes for US to sell?

Hello! We’d have the same problem.

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

1 big master bedroom and 1 small 2nd bedroom ...



You gotta think long term sometimes ...

Tho it pained us – deeply, because this house was off the hook NICE – we killed it.

That took us to house #55, which, turns out was 1 block over from this 2 bedroom place.

We felt something stirring – felt like we were getting closer.

3 good places in a great area, all within 2 blocks of each other.

Smells good.

House #55 – well, well, well ...

[Yuriatin]

Re: Buying our home

Ok – so long azzzz story short – 55 was our lucky #.

Great yard – great location, 4 year old roof, easy to get to work.

Seller was made to replace the furnace.

A few issues and challenges but everything else was in pretty much good condition.

We’ve been happy as 2 peas in a pod.

Massive props to our realtor.

She never gave up on us, never gave face, shade, never had attitude, always patient.

All told, we house hunted for 8 months.

It was worth every minute.

We’re demanding – I gotta give her props. (she’s lucky – I put our lender thru HELL, but she deserved it)

The process was tedious but in a weird way, I loved it.

I learned so much.

I share all this to let you know Chantel – don’t rush it – don’t rush into ANYTHING.

It’s toooooo huge a commitment not to take your time.

There’s soooooooo many houses out there – you WILL find what is right for you.

Do your leg work tho. Don’t rely only on your realtor all the time.

ie, I can’t think of one week during our search when I wasn’t looking on PropertyShark.com

You find sooooo much info there – how much was paid for a house and when, the property taxes, owner’s name, etc ...

Every house we went into contract on, we visited it about 4 times and at all differing hours of the day.

The house we bought, we talked to 3 neighbors on the street.
People laugh but I don't care. <span style="font-weight: bold"> I'M</span> the one who has to live there.

Nothing beats due diligence.

Best of luck to you girl – you’ll get there.

But there’s nothing wrong with taking your time.

[Gen]

Re: Buying our home

agreed wid all dat yuh seh Yuri

visit the house several times all hours of the day fi see if mad people live pan the street a joke. fi see if yuh still like it

and no rushing into anyting.

[chantel]

Re: Buying our home

Yuri thanks for sharing your story. It's very encouraging.