Keep up the search. We’ve been looking for 9 mos (poor realtor) and are finally closing in on the best one yet. Hope it doesn’t take that long for you, but there’s plenty out there and plenty more coming.
And one other tip: if you don’t like the layout of a particular house, other’s won’t like it either. That can hurt when it comes to resale: lots of people come to look because of the pictures, but no movement because the “flow” isn’t right.
on the bright side, this will give us time to look at the last house since it’s a short sale, so it could be a long process if we like it.
One thing to add for anyone looking to buy a home.
GET AN INSPECTION.
I know it seems like a waste of money, but a good inspector is well worth it and can save you a lot down the road.
I nearly bought a lake front house/cottage, that had a newer addition that was pulling away from the main house. None of this was readily apparent from inside or out, but an inspection of the crawlspace uncovered it. Today that house has been demolished and the lot is to small to rebuild. Averted having a $190,000 picnic area by paying $300 for an inspection.
who buys a house without an inspection? I hear this mentioned all the time, but I can’t fathom someone being so cheap to pay $350 or so when buying a house.
[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
who buys a house without an inspection? I hear this mentioned all the time, but I can’t fathom someone being so cheap to pay $350 or so when buying a house.[/quote]
You would be surprised, a lot of times it is ego. The “what’s an inspector going to find that I can’t” scenario. Ask around for a reputable inspector, obviously they are not all the same.
Good luck with the short sale thing, it’s a long process that can take months before you hear anything, and more months to close. I bought a short sale house last year, and I think we initially put the offer in in late May or June, and closed end of November.
Also, every project around the house, whether it’s putting in a lawn or changing a light bulb, costs $2,000.
what kind of gun do you use to kill a house?
[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
Also, every project around the house, whether it’s putting in a lawn or changing a light bulb, costs $2,000.[/quote]
Yeah, pretty much!
[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
we decided (just tonight) to put an offer on the 2nd house.
wouldn’t you fucking know it 30 mins later I get an email update that it went under fucking contract. SOB!!!
[/quote]
I know the feeling. I had my eye on a place that was a bank owned default. Very nice features-brick construction, 2 car deep garage, 2 marble fireplaces (1 in downstairs game room, 1 upstairs living room), great space, etc.
The price was dropping 5k every month. It hit 48.5K and I called to get it under contract. Found out a local builder who likes to flip houses bought the place cash just a couple of hours prior.
That one was the worst, but there were a few others that had me kicking dirt and swearing too.