by "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
Published 09/10/2017 at 00:55
by "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
Published 09/10/2017 at 00:55
Tags: Personalopnik
STARS: 10
My wife and out went out for lunch, and then embarked for a scenic backroad drive. A for house-for-sale barely stuck out from beneath some large evergreen trees. “C’mon,” she said. “It’ll be fun!” So I turned around on the next block and pulled into the hidden driveway. I almost wish I hadn’t.
What we found was a beautiful little home, with a fully fenced property, only one neighbor, utter privacy behind giant evergreens, and enough parking for all my crap.
It has less square footage than our current home, but has a large unfinished basement (insulated and sheetrocked).
It’s right next to a very busy road, but in a highly desirable neighborhood. And a two minute walk from one of the best city parks in the county. It is the absolute antithesis of my current neighborhood.
The top floor has actually been remodeled since the millenium, but MAN it is small... The deck is in amazing shape, great landscaping, big ol’ rectangular backyard. It has no garage at all. And I don’t think I care. I already know where I want to build one.
Back to reality: this will be a heartbreaker. They are accepting offers until this Wednesday. Tomorrow is an open house. It’s listed for below estimated value. This smells of a bidding war scenario. My best friend recently got slaughtered in a bidding war in a worse house, for more money.
We’re approaching winter, and the signs of dwindling inventory are already here. Soon people will just hold their homes, and list them in June, where they are predicted to be 12% than now, whereas in winter home prices are predicted to drop 7%. I fear the homes in winter will only be ones that have sat on the market since summer (half of the ones now are). So basically I’m feeling like the time is now, or suck it up for 8 months, where homes will be even more stupid expensive. I also see NO other scenario for us to break into that area, because everything else is bigly and double the price of this house...
So tomorrow, I’m going to the open house. I don’t think we’ll get it, but I’m going to put myself out there and take a shot. I’ve already notified my realtor and my broker. I want it. But the second best outcome is a full “sour grapes” scenario. Like getting outbid by 50 grand. Or that basement closet being filled with the body-part trophies of a local serial killer. Something like that.
Anyway. Thanks for reading.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
09/10/2017 at 00:59, STARS: 3
Best of luck man. I just signed on my house on Thursday. Lucky we bought from family who gave up about a 30,000 dollar discount, and weave been living in the house for 5 years already.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
09/10/2017 at 01:01, STARS: 18
>Go to open house
>Bring brownies with a shit ton of laxative
>Don’t eat any brownies because you’re “On a diet, but love baking.”
>Be only bidder
>Win at life.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
09/10/2017 at 01:03, STARS: 4
You never know, it might not end up a bidding war. As long as you set your own walk point and stick to it, I’d let the chips fall where they may.
Good luck!
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/10/2017 at 01:16, STARS: 1
I would actually do this. And then if they complain I’d make them feel bad by being fake sad
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
09/10/2017 at 01:19, STARS: 0
put in an offer
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
09/10/2017 at 01:26, STARS: 3
I like this idea. House Hunters: Guerilla Edition.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/10/2017 at 01:27, STARS: 1
Before we (and I mean ‘she’) decided to buy the apartment we’ve lived in long term (me since 2001, her since 2014) we looked at other buildings. In a few cases, there were 40 or more people standing in line to look at one unit (588 West End I think). I was not, and ultimately she was not, willing to write a bid over asking price when so many others were in the running. With this apartment, we are in the running. That’s it, and they cut us a very fair price given there’s no broker and we’re taking it as-is.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/10/2017 at 01:29, STARS: 2
Make an offer. If you get outbid, oh well. If not, new pad. Nothing to lose, right?
"just-a-scratch" (just-a-scratch)
09/10/2017 at 01:31, STARS: 2
An offer with an escalation clause worked well for us. It’s something to consider if you expect a bidding war.
"PS9" (PS9)
09/10/2017 at 01:41, STARS: 1
You did it to yourself. You thought you’d be done after buying the luxury car? Hahaha. No. Now you need to buy the luxury lifestyle. RIP your wallet.
"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
09/10/2017 at 02:26, STARS: 8
Pro-tip: Go dump skunk oil around the property tonight. Don’t forget to pour some at the front door AND the master bath.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
09/10/2017 at 07:20, STARS: 1
Make sure to check if one of these is hooked to the water heater...
"TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts." (thebloody)
09/10/2017 at 08:49, STARS: 3
Good luck, if I were closer I’d offer to sit in a rocking chair on the porch petting a stuffed animal in a stained wife beater and tighty whiteys.
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
09/10/2017 at 09:03, STARS: 2
That’s how I got my house! There were three offers, one was the same as mine so I got it by $500 - spare change in the house-buying realm
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
09/10/2017 at 09:22, STARS: 0
Good luck friend!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/10/2017 at 10:01, STARS: 0
Good luck!
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/10/2017 at 10:05, STARS: 0
Did the FP hive mind actually figure out what this was? When I read the post all the comments were fuel saver jokes and criticism of Jason’s photo collages and captions with no real constructive input.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
09/10/2017 at 10:41, STARS: 1
I bought two houses in the winter. For us it didn’t make any difference.
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
09/10/2017 at 11:13, STARS: 2
Good luck - if it happens, awesome, if not, have a beer. We got out bid on the first couple houses we bid on, blowing way past our fairly generous escalation clauses. Tough and kind of exhausting.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
09/10/2017 at 11:14, STARS: 4
This may be the only way to buy a house that is safe to live in and within conforming loan territory for anywhere near list price in the greater Seattle metro area.
"Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadu" (joey-joe-joe-jr-shabadu)
09/10/2017 at 11:20, STARS: 0
My wife and I sold a house using this tactic, and yes, prepare thyself for a bidding war. The sellers of the home know exactly what they’re doing: creating more demand than the market actually dictates. And as a result, they will get way more for their home than if they priced it more accurately out of the gate. In normal circumstances, realators will tell you to write a heartfelt letter to the seller, include a family photo, start a blog or some shit, but no... the seller of this home cares not. This seller will take the top offer (even if it’s $1 over the next one), and even if the buyer has a last name like ‘Hitler’ or ‘Fierri’. When we sold that home I mentioned, we had 16 offers (all over asking). The top two were identical offers, so they bid each other up an additional $10k, and I took the offer that was $200 higher in the end. Here’s hoping that if you really want this place, you have all the swagger and cash to be that top offer. In our case, our house sold for about $100k over asking. Granted, this was San Jose in 2014... and hopefully your market isn’t a cash flush techie hellscape filled with Priuses and Teslas fueled on the owner’s sense of elitist superiority.
"Daniel H" (dhammerberg)
09/10/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 0
Don’t buy real estate on impulse.
"Barc7" (barc7)
09/10/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 0
Be interesting to know what “these” are, and whether they’re supposed to be crooked-looking. Or whether they’re supposed to be there at all.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
09/10/2017 at 16:50, STARS: 0
I thought you were going to suggest pot brownies for a minute
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
09/10/2017 at 17:39, STARS: 0
Nah, Then they’d never get around to accepting or making offers lol.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
09/10/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 1
You know man I like you, and like your offer sounds good, but... have you ever just looked at your hands
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
09/10/2017 at 18:04, STARS: 0
Dang. Good luck.
My wife has been prodding me to look at new homes. I just can’t see doing it until she’s back in the work force and we sell my mom’s home. She wants something bigger and closer to town, which means a 50 to 100% price increase over what we currently own. This is not making our bank account happy.
"Cvrator Insanvs" (cvrator)
09/10/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 0
I wish I had your problem, you elitist prick.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
09/11/2017 at 02:34, STARS: 0
Good luck. What metro area is this in?
"Audistein" (Audistein)
09/11/2017 at 04:19, STARS: 0
Bidding wars suck. I just went to look at an investment property today with a listing price that seemed a little to-good-to-be true. It’s under-priced by at least 10%, probably to generate interest. We don’t really take a hit in the winter in my area though.
My situation isn’t as intense as yours because it’s not a primary residence (I don’t actually own one) but they’re staring to take offers on Wednesday in my case. Things might get interesting.
Best of luck.
"RacinBob" (racinbob)
09/11/2017 at 07:49, STARS: 1
I don’t think so. I hope he breaks it down and provides a schematic. It seems worth a post. Whomever built it was probably in their manic phase.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 10:25, STARS: 0
Fingers crossed. Let us know.
"Deal Killer - Powered by Focus" (dealkiller-ii)
09/11/2017 at 10:40, STARS: 0
As an appraiser, I hate it when a Realtor or owner prices a property to induce a bidding war, especially if there are agents involved who know the buyer is paying over what the home is actually worth. Then, I come in and say the home is worth several $1,000's less than the contract price, and everyone is pissed at the appraiser who “Killed the deal”. Buyers and sellers should not assume the bank will finance prices over and above market value. If a buyer wants to pay more than fair market value, fine, just be aware that the difference is made up in cash, not loaned money.
"my car smells like crayons" (sonicthehedgehog)
09/11/2017 at 13:53, STARS: 0
It is crazy how fast and how little time is given to purchasing big ticket items. That new car you will be driving for four years can’t be fully vetted in a 15 minute test drive (unless it is a Vette). A 30 minute walk-through on a house that you will be living in for 5-10 years also has that problem.
All that said, good on you for applying the maximum of the smallest house in the nicest neighborhood. Just keep tabs on the open space and city planning trends in the area. Good luck!
"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
09/11/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 0
Good luck - if it happens, awesome, if not, have a beer.
Exactly. IMO no house is so nice it is worth going crazy over-bidding.
The first place I rather liked I put an offer based on my agent’s advice of fair market value (a bit below asking). We had a couple of back-and-forths with the sellers, and I did relent and came up a bit to try to meet their counter offers. I assumed they were also negotiating with a second interested party. But then at the last moment a brand new third shopper came in with a ridiculous offer way over asking. It was easy to walk away from that one. I liked the house, but not that much!