I guess it wasn't meant to be

"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
03/17/2016 at 12:25 • Filed to: None

Guess I need to pick up some Guinness today. Since last night the sellers rejected the first buyers counter offer and started negotiations with us. Some time in the past hour and a half someone came in and offered asking price. We weren't even given the option to match or beat. The hunt continues.

DISCUSSION (17)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 12:32

That sucks. Have a Guinness and keep looking, things will work themselves out.

My wife and I are just about to dive head long into the process of buying a home. Based on everything I’ve heard, I’m not looking forward to it.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 12:42

Just remind yourself - while buying a house is stressful and emotional and tiring, selling a house is 1000x moreso. You have that to look forward to.

Steve in Manhattan > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 13:08

Ugh - feel your pain. We’ve been shopping for an apartment on the Upper West Side for a year. ‘Lost’ one because we didn’t want to pay full price AND redo a kitchen and a bathroom for 75K. Someone else paid full price.

A long time ago I sold lots of a small houses to investors. It was cheating, but it worked in a hot market: I had 2 signed contracts in my bag - one at full price, one at maybe 2 or 3 or 5K over. More that once I called to tell an investor they got the house, and they’d say “Great! What did we pay?”

Regarding the house you ‘lost’ - you can always write a backup offer while you’re looking for something else. The other contract might fall thru, the loan might get rejected, etc. If you find a house you want, just withdraw the backup.

Funktheduck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/17/2016 at 13:30

Definitely a seller’s market here. Overpriced homes are going fast

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 13:31

That sucks. Where are you at?

BKosher84 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/17/2016 at 13:49

Home buying is probably one of the most nerve wrecking experience of anyone’s life.. But once it’s all over (barring any financing issues), it’s great being a homeowner.

Funktheduck > Steve in Manhattan
03/17/2016 at 13:51

I knew this one would be tough. I just wish we could've looked at it Sunday like we originally wanted instead of last night. Funny how things like that work out. The listing agent was the daughter in law to the seller so I figured they'd be tough on negotiations but wasn't expecting someone to swoop in with full price. The house needed some work but was move in ready. oh well.

Funktheduck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/17/2016 at 13:52

Atlanta area

Steve in Manhattan > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 14:18

Here’s one we might take a serious crack at - and before you freak out at the price, remember we have no kids, no car/car payment, no car insurance, no nuthin’. But she’s in Japan, and I’m headed there (for the first time) on Saturday for 8 days, so we can’t do anything about it. That building is the one where we got so close, the owner threatened to rent the apartment, and then we got sandbagged by a full price offer.

You’ll note that the sink is above the dishwasher, so it’s very shallow - this is how all the apartments came in the 80s, when it was built. But even with having to do a light redo on the kitchen, the location is perfect and the SigOther has already signed off on the building. But I would not be surprised if it’s sold by the time we get back. The price, in fact, is probably right on the nose. Sigh ....

Funktheduck > Steve in Manhattan
03/17/2016 at 14:27

Wow. How do people afford life there? Good luck. Maybe the real estate gods will hold on to it for you

BigBlock440 > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
03/17/2016 at 14:30

Buying a house is one thing, it’s not so bad after the first one. I’m getting ready to sell one, and I’m not looking forward to it. The process I mean, I am looking forward to the check.

Steve in Manhattan > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 14:45

I go down to MD to see my mom, who is now on dialysis, about twice a year. The prices at the Giant grocery store there are not really much lower than the prices at the Fairway here. If you know how to go about your business, this city costs no more than living anywhere else, except the Midwest (where, in my experience, everything is cheaper). Travel on the public system is still relatively cheap. I’ll spend a bit extra to take a town car to JFK on Saturday, but that’s my choice - I could save about 20 bucks with a taxi, but I want the certainty of a car that shows up. I will not miss that flight.

And there are free concerts, free days at some museums, and parks to walk in. Sure, we pay state and city taxes, but it’s still a fair price to pay for being able to walk to almost everything you need.

Steve in Manhattan > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 14:47

Oh - send a link to the listing - I’m always interested in real estate ... I’ve bought houses off appraisals sight unseen, sold real estate, and done appraisals. Now I’m a renter again, and we’re trying to change that!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Funktheduck
03/17/2016 at 16:13

We’re up in Northern VA, right outside of DC.

This market always sucks. The zip code we rent a 900 sq ft apartment in (for $1800/mo), you can’t buy anything for under $650k. And that gets you a house that’s barely bigger than our apartment on about an 0.1 acre lot that was built in like 1948. But she does have a 5 min commute, I have about 20 mins.

The reality is we’ll move further west, still spend $450k on a decent size home on a 0.2 acre lot. With luck her commute will be 30 mins or less and mine will be under an hour.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BKosher84
03/17/2016 at 16:14

Oh yeah, I’m fully looking forward to it. I just want to skip all the hassle. Can’t I just magically own a home (with a garage) with my stuff magically in it?

Funktheduck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/17/2016 at 16:33

Dang. That's why I don't like areas like that. Too expensive for what you get. But if that's the area you work in, not too bad I suppose

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Funktheduck
03/18/2016 at 10:57

She has a very good gov’t job so we’re pretty much stuck here. If it were up to me, I’d move to Montana or something, but we’re making it work.