Houselopnik, buying and selling edition

"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
02/06/2018 at 20:11 • Filed to: None

I’ve mentioned previously that we were getting the house ready to put on the market, which we did so about a three weeks ago. After two weeks on the market, four viewings and an open house, we got a strong offer on it. We countered with only very minor revisions to the money part of the contract, but a longer closing date to accommodate the fact that we had to then find a new house to buy. On Friday we inked the final deal and started the new house search in earnest. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 15xx square feet.

We originally bought this house in a bedroom/commuter subdivision half-way between Las Cruces and downtown El Paso to split the commute with one us working in each place. The house we really liked, the neighborhood only okay, but job situations have changed that results with us both working in Las Cruces. There is no longer any reason to live 25 miles outside of Las Cruces.

On Sunday we looked at our top six prospects in Las Cruces, and they ranged from ain’t interested in that project that wasn’t represented as a project in the listing to walking inside and felling like home. This was the house that felt right as soon as we walked in, and the location is killer. Biking and even walking to work is an option here for both of us. Even if we still drove everyday, this will drastically cut down on the mileage accumulation on the cars and will gain back like 45 minutes a day not commuting. My drive to work would involve seven stop signs and three right turns. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 15xx square feet.

Downsides: backs up to the frontage road, no wide side-yard access for trailer parking, is pink peach, is stepping back to 1990 inside (but was nice for the time), has the same carpet we just spent real money to replace in our current house.

Upsides: a fantastic back yard, big dog ready walls, ready to work for us as is, well-built, updated mechanical systems and converted to refrigerated air in 2006, new roof, nicely maintained, very good neighborhood where most of the houses are bigger and list for 100k more than this one. Frontage road/interstate noise is un-observable inside the house and quieter outside than our current house that isn’t much further from a the interstate and has truck stop behind us at the bottom of the mesa. Has an over-sized garage.

We made the offer on this one yesterday and came to an agreement this afternoon. We feel very good about this house, and I think around 10k and some weekends invested in updates over a couple of years (tile/laminate wood floors in the half of the house that is currently isn’t tiled, a more modern color palate inside via paint and new, nice counters in the kitchen and bathrooms) will add more than 10k in value to the house. This time around we were much, much pickier on the neighborhood and targeted older, well-established neighborhoods. I’ll gladly trade a less modern house for a better neighborhood and killer location.

Also, the garage is over-sized being about four or five feet longer than standard around here and a couple of feet wider than what we have now. This means that my car trailer should fit in the garage with the racecar stored on it most of the time. My shiny new bright red trailer ought to stay shiny and red for a whole lot longer this way.

We’ve still got the inspections and appraisals to do on both houses and a contingency built-in on the new one for the sale of the old before the deals are done-done, but everything is looking good so far.

DISCUSSION (19)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 20:20

How much are homes in your area? Just curious

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
02/06/2018 at 20:23

Old house listed for $136k, new house listed for $176k.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 20:27

wow. :( I am so sad now.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 20:28

My kingdom for those kind of house prices around here....

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
02/06/2018 at 20:30

I bought my old, run down townhome for $250K a few years ago. It’s worth $440K easily now.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 20:34

On an unrelated note, with no grass in the yard I would paint my house dark green.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
02/06/2018 at 20:46

The trade off for low cost of living is generally low wages.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
02/06/2018 at 20:47

It has grass in the back yard. I would totally make this house tan with dark green trim.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 20:54

I lived in Santa Fe and Bernalillo for a number of years and have been eyeing up Las Cruces to find a home to retire in. Good luck and hope you love it.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
02/06/2018 at 21:07

I’m from Albuquerque originally, and I went down South in 2009. Southern New Mexico is a little different from up North, but I like it down here.

RacinBob > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 21:33

Hmm nice driveway, I wonder if code would allow you to build a 16' deeper extension on the front if the garage.......

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
02/06/2018 at 21:42

Ah we aren’t back to bubble bursting so I’m still under what I paid even though I bought right before the burst. Thankfully the builder had dropped the price from what it was otherwise I would be like 100k under in value

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > RacinBob
02/06/2018 at 21:47

Not without a variance, as code is a 15ft setback.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
02/06/2018 at 21:52

Not sure to be honest. We have a huge, huge issue with overseas ownership where I am.

As long as the Chinese economy doesn’t shit itself, my home will just go up.

shop-teacher > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/06/2018 at 22:35

Congrats!

RacinBob > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/07/2018 at 08:14

Ok, how about 2 story?

Kinja'd!!!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > RacinBob
02/07/2018 at 09:16

I like the way you think. I don’t see anything that would prevent a 2nd story. I could also add on the back in the form of a new kitchen and laundry/utility room and expand the garage back into where those are now.

RacinBob > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/07/2018 at 14:23

As you indicate, the comps are good in your neighborhood. As long as you are staying 10 years, the costs of getting what you want really aren’t that hi.

h7gj > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
07/12/2018 at 01:09

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