In love with a house
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In love with a house
| Thu, 07-10-2008 - 6:10pm |
Oh lordy. Today I was going into houses and feeling nothing and then went into the last one and damn near peed my pants. it was so lovely and it was old but semi renovated victorian and with all wood stained crown moldings and vintage touches everywhere like mirrors built into the walls and redone and stain glass on the tops of door frames and and and.....oh god I could go broke. But I am smiling so big around here. I would love to go broke and live there. Peanut butter sandwiches here we come. It needs SOME work but it is totally livable and SYB got all teary eyed because it looks like his old house from the UK. It really has a lot of character with the rooms in very distinct shapes and a claw foot tub in the bath. They must have kept a lot of the house original when they redid it years ago. It needs a good clean and the owner is a slob but I didnt care a whit about that. I wish wish wish I had taken pics so I could show on here but alas I cant. We would be buying in a transitional neighborhood in DC which means I would have to reread all of your recent posts so I could be down with the lingo if you know what I mean. But it also means it is a fine investment and that we would be putting our money somewhere where it is bound to grow. The market is a buyers market right now and this neighborhood is moving up for sure. It is full of old victorians and you can see that 60-70% are al in new ownership and being renovated now. The street we would be on in particular is treelined and less in the hood then a street down for example so that is good. Also, there is a HUGE deck, a very large unfinished basement I could make into a studio with a separate entrance already there and ....wait for it......an original antique mirror with new glass RIGHT in front of the master bed, LOL. I saw the mirror before SYB and I just looked at him and winked and yes, rubbed up against him as I walked past him before he saw it. He had the biggest grin on his face. I plan on being the naughtiest home owner on the block....that is, IF he accepts my bid which is going to be a bit on the low side but my fingers are crossed. I think the house is up for too much based on comps and he has already rejected one offer months ago but mine will be significantly higher than that. The house has been up for over 90 days so my feeling is he might have been right at the cusp of reducing the price anyhow. Here's hoping!!! Send big positive thoughts!!
Also, I am being reviewed for one of my performances ( last night) by a major newspaper tomorrow so send good thoughts for that too. The thing was in a huge hall but for some reason VERY poorly run and I dont know really what the reviewer is going to say exactly. It was a tough circumstance even though I was proud of myself.
Aw screw it - save all of your good thoughts for the house, screw the review!
Can you tell I am excited?
Also, I am being reviewed for one of my performances ( last night) by a major newspaper tomorrow so send good thoughts for that too. The thing was in a huge hall but for some reason VERY poorly run and I dont know really what the reviewer is going to say exactly. It was a tough circumstance even though I was proud of myself.
Aw screw it - save all of your good thoughts for the house, screw the review!
Can you tell I am excited?



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Oh wow City!
This is exciting!! I love the sound of it. And when you see a place that just feels good you know it is right. Let's say he takes your offer..do you get to have it inspected beore signing? I only ask because victorians are beautiful yet old and if the owner was negligent then the inpection will be key. It sounds really great...I am sending postive thoughts!!!! So this is an up and coming neighborhood? That is good- as long as you can be happy and feel safe there right now as is.
And I'm sending postive vibes for your review too! You don't have to chose where the good vibes go, you can have as many as you want. I am sure you blew their socks off. Please tell when it comes out!
I have been looking online & in the papers at houses to get an idea of what's about & prices. I end up either excited or depressed! It's expensive where I want to live. Oh well we haven't even started settlement yet so I have a way to go.
Fingers crossed you get it for the price you are offering!
CL of
~ Aussie & Kiwi Mums ~
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Tracy
The house really does sound perfect.
I am very excited for you! I live in a similar type of neighborhood--across from me there are old ladies (the gossips) that have lived in their house for 60 years and behind me there is a group of rentals that blare hiphop all day (my daughter is down with that though!)
April
Sounds like the seller is "difficult" according to his own agent and the house was up for sale more than a year ago for less money, went off the market, then back on again for 75000 MORE. WTH? I guess he made repairs or did work or the neighborhood maybe went up? Either way, if he were looking for the old price we would be done already. The new one is about 50k more than what we are comfortable with - hence the possibility of going broke and even still he wont get his full asking price from us because, well , we dont have it! Also, I feel I must mention that the house was in a total state of stuff everywhere most of which look like antique possessions from travel maybe? Certainly very eclectic and I am sure a source of constant angst for this guy's real estate agent who seems much less than pleased with the guy. I mean in this market, you should tidy up....anyhow, so we know he is stubborn and he is eclectic - fantastic, right? Only SO AM I. LOL I just have to decide how to make an offer and whether I should make ONE offer my only offer, all my eggs in one basket so he sees a larger number or should I make a series. I certainly dont have money to waste and it occurs to me I should sleep on it. Keep in mind he already rejected one offer a few months ago for a bit less than what I was thinking so I dont want to turn him off. He clearly isnt considering horribly low bids but my opening bid should I play a series of bids game with him would only be 10000 more than the one he turned down flat without even countering them with something. He simply repeated the sales price to them like they couldnt see it. He ignored them - no response. I am sure his agent LOVED that in this market.
The good news is my agent is a very dominant African American woman who said if it gets too ridiculous she will just flat out ask him what he would need to stop the insanity. At that point I either have what it takes or I dont. And as she told me - at least she knows what turns us on now. Everything about us lit up like little kids at christmas at this place and it will help her help us find another one priced lower that will have the same effect. It made me feel good to hear her talk like that.
So now we wait. SYB is at work. I am here just waiting. I love waiting. NOT. LOL
If he's really difficult and an odd ball, maybe the previous offer was rejected not because of $ amount, but because of who presented it, or who was trying to buy the house.
I know exactly what you're going through! I'm set to close on my condo July 31st and it's been a hell of a ride!
Your broker can give you good advice as to what to offer. I would start low, but not too low as to be insulting, and then work your offers up in slow increments, and hopefully you'll both meet eachother half way.
Me and my seller went back and fourth 3 weeks, before we finally
Good luck City!
My parents have gone through this rather recently. They had a good realtor, too. It did make a difference..when the realtor takes note of what really lights you up, you know they are really working for you! (oh yeah and a commission but at least they are earning it!)
The owner/seller does sound quirky so try not to be crushed if he does not budge. Some sellers are like that because they don't need to sell at all, they just wait for full price. I pray he will come down for you though! I'm excited to hear the outcome..keep us posted!
Oh and speaking of Victorians. We went to San Francisco a couple weeks ago and drove through the Pacific Heights district. O..M..G. Those Victorians are incredible., Apparently the rich and famous live in that district. So beautiful!
Fingers crossed here!!
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