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The House Hunters Thread

Whew NEL! What a whirlwind! Hang in there - you''re almost done!!!
 
Wow NEL! Please come back with an update!

Sorry that the sellers won't give you one extra day. That is a bit odd, but I guess I can understand if I were in their position. Eventhough we know you, they don't, and to them, giving one day could turn into 5... you know the whole "Give a mouse a cookie" fiasco...
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We drove by our lot yesterday ... Nothing. We will go back by after New Years, I assume nothing will be done then either.

ETA: It has been a month since we met with our general contractor/project manager. He said that he was going to look at the listing and see where our house "fell" in line... to which we have heard nothing back about. I have an email in to him as of 15 minutes ago.
 
NEL congratulations! I have to say that house looks beautiful/gorgeous/amazing! My husband and I have an older home, and yeah I know what you mean; we have been living here for 10 years and still have projects on our list. The main thing is structural (foundation, roofing, etc). Unless it''s structural you can space out the projects to give yourself and your budget some breathing room. For us, what we focused on (this was a fixer-upper) before moving in/first 6 months was tearing out all the fake walls and ceilings, rewiring whole house, redoing main bathroom, creating a kitchen (seriously there was a single sink and a dorm fridge in the area), replacing much of the plumbing. We waited on and did later: putting more footers in basement area, installing central air and heat, resanding/refinishing the wood floors, painting the outside of the house, replacing the main stack, putting in new windows and I''m sure other things I''ve forgotten. If someone gave us a list of all the stuff we have done to the house before we bought it, not sure if we would have said yes. But it wasn''t too bad in retrospect and now have a house we really like in a location we love.
 
Thanks again, all!

Meresal, I''m so frustrated for you!! I cannot believe that it''s been MONTHS since you signed the P&S agreement and they haven''t even given you any estimation of when they are breaking ground. Heck, they aren''t even telling you of where you are on the priority list. Please keep us updated, I am continuing to keep my fingers crossed that they break ground ASAP. I know that with the holidays it won''t be in the next several days, I just want for them to get the ball rolling.

PG, it sounds like you and the hubby are handy! PSers all have handy husbands, I don''t know how I missed out on that! We are feeling very good about the structure of the house--we had a structural engineer, electrician, plumber and a few other specialist come out after the home inspection and there are only a few minor issues, most of which will be resolved before we close. I''ve promised DH that any remodeling projects can wait 6 months so we can figure out what we want to do without rushing into anything. I had to laugh when you said that you weren''t sure if you''d have bought your home if you''d known everything you needed to do. I have a feeling we''ll say the same thing in a few years :)

I''ve been in the midwest for the past several days and trying to manage all the legwork from here, which has been hilarious. The good news is that everything is checking out. I reached out to our lawyer today to make sure he could review our P&S this week since we sign on Sunday. There are a few things we are adding to the P&S based on all the recommendations of the specialists we hired, but I can''t imagine the sellers'' wouldn''t meet the terms.
 
NEL that''s great news! Crossing my fingers for you!
 
Date: 12/21/2009 9:48:04 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady

I''ve been in the midwest for the past several days and trying to manage all the legwork from here, which has been hilarious. The good news is that everything is checking out. I reached out to our lawyer today to make sure he could review our P&S this week since we sign on Sunday. There are a few things we are adding to the P&S based on all the recommendations of the specialists we hired, but I can''t imagine the sellers'' wouldn''t meet the terms.
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I was wrong to assume that they would accept the terms of the P&S agreement. Essentially what happened was that we found out their sump pump system is not adequate and we requested that it be remedied before closing. They came back and said that they would pay for half of any repairs and I told them that wasn''t acceptable and they would be responsible for all repairs. They didn''t agree, so we walked away. D was more upset about it than I was because he''s more attached, but I told him I wasn''t willing to take on all the things we needed to do in addition to the sump pump issues, which could be costly. He reluctanty agreed and we were content with the decision of letting the house go.

There were 2 backup offers on the house, so the sellers'' agent called the first one to tell them they were accepting their offer. They had actually made an offer before we did, but they had a house-selling contingency in the offer, so the sellers didn''t accept. When their house went under agreement, they put another offer in, but the sellers had already accepted our offer at that point. Unfortunately their sale fell through, so they once again had the house-selling contingency and the sellers passed up that offer.

The second back-up offer was for full asking under the condition that any and every repair be made on the house that was found in the home inspection. Because we''ve had so many specialists and contractors come in, the sellers know just how much that would cost them and they decided not to move forward with that offer.

So late last night they called us to tell us they''d agree to our terms. We might have to push things back a bit, but I do think that from this point on it will be smooth sailing. We just have to hammer out the language of the P&S, sign it, then focus on getting all of the mortgage stuff done in 30 days and pack, pack, pack!!

I''m so excited!!! At this point I don''t see anything that would be a dealbreaker. I really think the toughest part is behind us...unless there is a blizzard the day we move :)
 
Congrats NEL!!!! That house is gorgeous and you''ve really worked hard to get a great deal on it. I pulled my DH over to look at the pics on this thread and we agreed if we ever leave NYC and move back to the Boston area that''s exactly the type of house we''d want to buy, so it''s been great following your thread to see your due diligence!
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Wow, what an ordeal!! You are one tough cookie, NEL!!! Congratulations on your new home!!!! And, a very delightful one at that!
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YAY NEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so so so happy for you guys!!!

FWIW my parents live in the Berkshires in a 300 year old farmhouse. There are TONS of things that technically need to be done and the house has yet to fall down around their feet.
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So just because an inspector says something should be done does not mean that it's essential to do immediately! Our new house is only 40 years old and our inspector said there were a lot of things that needed to be done "very soon" that we haven't even touched yet. It happens!
 
NEL!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you
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What a Christmas gift!!!
 
Merry Christmas to us.... WE HAVE DIRT!!!!
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I got an email back from our guy and he said that due to a slight slope they were going to have to add soil, and even out the lot. They were waiting for the ground to dry enough, so that they dirt would lay and dry out correctly.

Apparently that happened as of yesterday, because my friend texted me and said that they have dropped the soil on the lot. We will probably drive by next week sometime, and I'll take a picture to show any progress that is made.

Isn't it funny how something always gets done right after I decide to contact the builders...
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FYI... We had a horrible thunderstorm last night that lasted from at least 7pm thru about 4 in the morning, so I have a feeling that all the soil they laid out is now a big pile of wet mess.
 
NEL -- I''m SO excited for you and D! That''s great news!
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I thought I posted, but it''s not here? Must have been eaten.

In any case, CONGRATS NEL...and what a roller coaster. I''m surprised they let you know that much info on the counter/back up offers! They were so cage about that with us, probably was made up in our case! Do you guys qualify for the 8K tax credit too...so lucky if so (we missed it...)

Meresal: Yay for dirt!!!
 
NEL- So glad that they came to their senses!!!! Congratulations to you and your hubby!!!!
 
Congrats NEL! I''m so glad that there''s nothing crazy any of your inspectors found, and that they''re agreeing to your very reasonable offer after realizing how appropriate it really was. Whew! When do you close and move in? Must be close to our moving date, if you''ve got a month to go.

I can''t remember what I last posted on here, but we signed with the first contractor last Sat. The second guy never managed to get us a written quote, even though he''d given us a verbal figure that would in the end have been about 30% less than the first guy. But with the problems communicating with him and things dragging out in terms of getting the quote, and him not being able to start work until about a week after we wanted him to (to try to be sure all''s done before the baby arrives), we figured we''d spend the extra money for the guy we trust.

The seller and his agent told ours we won''t get all the mechanical drawings, plans, surveys etc until we close, even though that''s absolutely not how I read the agreement. Luckily our contractor has lots of experience with renos and what you do and don''t need permits for, and he doesn''t think we''ll need permits to get started on the work. We''d love to see what''s in the plan about the HVAC system, which is the only thing we''re concerned about, but I guess that can wait. (me wanting the plans earlier and pestering him were the reason that he told his agent to tell us to not contact him directly again).

So then last week our agent told me the news about the surveys, and then says that she''s pi$$ed because his agent also told her he''s intending to take the light fixture (one of those cable-track-suspended multiple halogen fixtures) out of the large office in the basement. And wanted to know what we''re intending to do with the built-in headboard and bed frame, floating bedside tables, and master bath and one master bedroom mirrors. His agent had initially said he''d want $500 for the bedroom stuff, and he told us $600 for the "custom-built" mirrors. We''d thought the bathroom mirrors were included, and to remove the headboard, he''d have to rip it off the wall and repair and repaint drywall. Built-in wall units and all ELFs were included in the purchase agreement. And that track system is the only thing (it''s hardwired in) lighting over half of that big room in the basement. Of course when we do the reno, we''re intending to take it out and put in some halogen potlights like there are in the rest of the house, but since he doesn''t know that, we told our agent to talk to his and try to swap the mirrors and bedroom stuff for his "expensive" light fixture that he so desperately wants. Hopefully he''ll go for it, or we''ll just have to pay a couple hundred instead of over $1000 to keep the other items that we do want.

Whew. Now we just have to pick an insurance company, an alarm monitoring service, and organize hydro and cable for the new place. And figure out internet. We''re slowly getting there. Just praying for no nasty surprises when we get into the house!
 
You ladies are the best--this thread has been so helpful for me and I thank all of you for that!

NF, I have no doubt your parents' house in the Berkshires is amazing. I absolutely love the Berkshires and have a new appreciation for old farmhouses. I was just reading a magazine centered around restorations in New England and they had an article on an old Berkshires farmhouse. The house was so beautiful and they photographed it in the fall. I swooned.

The only thing on the "critical" list is roofing on one small area because the wood is exposed and if we don't take care of it soon we might need to replace the wood. Nothing else is really that critical, not even the temporary posts in the basement. We can take care of that over the next year or so.

Meresal! They are finally working on your lot!!! This is fantastic, I know how frustrated you were getting. If you need to call in order to get them on the ball, then you may as well put them on speed dial :) I'm just so glad that they are getting started--be sure to take pictures to post, I can't wait to see the development!

drk, I don't mean to be rude, but the owner of this house sounds like a real piece of work. I can't believe that he did not list that these things would be excluded from the sale. Seriously, his is ripping out a built-in bed? What is the point! I would be so annoyed.

On the other hand, it sounds like your contractor is doing a great job, which is great. I think anybody who can make this process easier for you is much appreciated! Do you move in mid-January? Our closing is still set for Jan. 29th.

Janine, I have to admit that I was surprised that the sellers' agent was so forthcoming as well. I even wondered if she was telling the truth about the other offers, but then realized there wouldn't be a point of telling us since we ended up with the house, anyway. She has always been very forthcoming about what she knows--she even said she tried to talk the sellers into lowering the price because she thought it was too high...and that was the first time we met her. I think she really wants this one sold.

About the tax credit--when we started looking we didn't quality, however under the new conditions I think we might. I'm not counting on it, but it would be great if we did! We'll know when we get our W-2s.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for anybody who is still hunting (and Gecko, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you find a fantastic apartment!).

(BTW, interest rates went up again, blah! Maybe they'll dip again before we lock anything in.)
 
There is BRICK in our font yard (aka, front "Mess")!!!!

I am going to drive by tomorrow and get a picture! I''m so excited!
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Hey ladies (and gents?), I think I''m going to join in on this thread! DH & I are re-starting our home search after a half hearted attempt this past spring. I doubt I''ll have much to share, as we''re just starting to work with our realtor, but it''s certainly helpful to read about all of your experiences! Off to start at the beginning
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And some additional congratulations are in order for NEL & Mere! NEL, your home is just gooorgeous! I''m so happy that everything worked out in the end. And Meresal- hooray for bricks! You''ll have to snap some photos for us!
 
Mer, I''m so excited to hear that they''ve laid some brick!!!! Let us know when you have a pic to post!!

PnP''smom, congrats on starting the hunt! Let us know how it goes!

No big news here. We were scheduled to sign the P&S two weeks ago. Then it got pushed to last week. Now it is pushed until tomorrow. The issue is that we are not buying the entire 3 acres, only half, so the land has to be sub-divided. The land was previously sub-divided (maybe 80 years ago?), though nobody ever built on the second lot. Since then, every owner has just bought the entire lot, so the issue of keeping it sub-divided has not come up. My FIL went to the town hall to make sure this was not going to be a legal issue and was told that the second plot (not ours) does not have enough street frontage to be sub-divided (new standards). There is a court date to make the sub-division legal later this month and D wanted to extend the P&S signing until after the court date, but the sellers won''t allow it. They want us to sign, then if they can''t legally sub-divide, then the P&S would be null and void, anyway.

At this point, the house is nothing but a headache for me. After all the negotiating, then paying every type of inspector under the sun to assess the house, then walking away from it, then getting it back and now realizing the sub-division may not even be legal is too much. Also, the 2010 assessment for taxes was just finished last week and the house dropped about 15% in value, which I think is VERY significant and am wondering if we overpaid at this point. I really feel like the market is continuing to decline (especially if rates do start to climb, which is going to push prices down even lower). Sometimes I wonder if we should have waited another 6 months.

If this still falls through, I''m done for a long while. We''re going to take a chunk of our downpayment money and apply it to something else, then start looking again in 6 months or a year. At that point it will be getting close to when we''ll start trying for a family, which might be a little stressful, but it will work out. Maybe the next time it won''t be such a source of frustration!
 
NEL, I''m sorry to hear this! Hope that it works out for you!!!
 
Thanks. We backed out. We love the house and had become very emotionally attached to it, but were not happy with the way things were panning out and realized it was likely not in our best interest to move forward. The sellers had covered up several issues and I think it would have caused huge headaches for us down the road. We are completely drained from this, so we''ve come up with a new plan for 2010 and won''t be house hunting anytime soon.

Good luck to you all!!!
 
NEL.. I''m sorry to hear it hasn''t worked out. How crazy that it''s dropped 15%. What a shame that the seller''s covered stuff up... I feel your frustration on that. I hope things work out for you this year - I''m sure the spring/summer is probably a much better time to buy, as far as homes becoming available for you. And re: TTC/house buying at the same time - you''ve already been through the ringer with this house. I''m positive with the next you will be uber prepared, and would have NO trouble juggling the two at once
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Mer - Yay for bricks!!

PPM... welcome, and good luck!
 
Date: 1/1/2010 2:46:15 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
Mer, I''m so excited to hear that they''ve laid some brick!!!! Let us know when you have a pic to post!!
LOL! Not in the least. The brick has only been put on our lot. None of it will be laid for, I would guess, about a month from now.

NEL- I''m so sorry to hear about the house falling thru, but I can understand backing out. It seemed that the red flags were becoming endless. I have no doubt that the owners realize your offer was probably the best that they were going to get, ever. They will wish they hadn''t been such jerks to you and your DH. I hope your new plan from 2010 is an exciting one!

Lynnie- Thank you!


DH and I drove by the lot today! It is so nice to see that thing are actually getting done. I was also able to verify that the brick was the correct color, which makes me feel good as well!

(I''m going to try to post a few pictures. I have a new laptop and am having some issues with the uploading and saving.
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NEL I''m sorry it didn''t work out. After what you''ve been through with this house, i doubt TTC/having a baby and housing hunting will hold a candle to this experience
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NEL.

Sorry it didn''t work out, but that subdivision story would have scared the heck out of me too. All the best, the right house will come for you.
 
NEL - damn, that sucks after all you went through with the negotiations. Hope the perfect house (in all respects) pops up quickly next time you are ready to start looking.

I''m getting a little more nervous now we have so little time left to go before closing on the 15th. Hope everything works out well in the end!
 
Date: 1/2/2010 9:18:52 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady
Thanks. We backed out. We love the house and had become very emotionally attached to it, but were not happy with the way things were panning out and realized it was likely not in our best interest to move forward. The sellers had covered up several issues and I think it would have caused huge headaches for us down the road. We are completely drained from this, so we''ve come up with a new plan for 2010 and won''t be house hunting anytime soon.


Good luck to you all!!!

Blah! I''m so sorry, NEL, but your attitude is really fabulous. I''m sure that after a break you''ll be ready to get back out there with your DH & find a lovely house with some honest sellers. Best of luck to you!! And who knows- maybe the perfect house will find YOU when you''re not even house hunting!


Meresal: I think you might have mentioned this a few pages back, but at what point do you need to be at in your home building to benefit from the first-time buyer/builder credit? Is it just breaking ground?


We did a home walk-through today.... a cute late 50''s ranch literally walking distance form where we currently live. For the past couple of years it has been used as a church (
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) & the congregation members met in the basement. As the congregation grew, the church moved out and wants to use the profits to help build a new meeting space/sanctuary. As always, the online photos looked better than the home in-person. The layout just doesn''t make much sense, and while the home isn''t in awful shape, there are quite a few ceiling and wall cracks (though none on the exterior brick). The location is perfect convenience-wise. 15 min from where I need to go to school, and even closer to where DH works. This home is a bit more costly because it''s in Denver- and Denver home prices are inflated.

We also looked at a home far south from where we currently live. I L-O-V-E the location, and the home is really beautiful (though in need of some aesthetic updates... very 90''s country/mountain home). The issue is commute: It will take DH 30-35 min to get to work... and could potentially take me an hour
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I''m trying to think long-term- that I''ll only be making that drive for 12-14 months and a home is a long-term investment, but I''m not sure I''ve convinced myself
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They''re asking 20k LESS for this home than the Denver home, but it''s newer, larger, and definitely has more character... and is in a gorgeous location!

Wow. Sorry for the novel
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Searching for homes is just as stressful as it is fun.
 
NEL sorry to hear the news, I kept hoping to hear the good news that it all got finalized, but then never seemed to get to that point. How disappointing. And frustrating, especially hearing how there was a legal problem that they needed to resolve before they started this whole process with you that they never did.
 
Aww NEL I''m sorry! And congrats on the progress Mer!

As for us in 2010, we are currently pursuing the foreclosure house, although not actively. We''re keeping an eye on it. The bank has not put a price tag on it as of yet, but electric, water, and gas inspections, as well as a full home inspection has been done and passed initially. Now all utilities will be turned on and re-inspected. Lets hope no problems.
In the meantime, we are going to see other houses. I just added ten more to my list and we''re going to try and see some this week or next week - both our agents are busy over the weekend unfortunately. However all these houses there is a compromise on something: not as much land, a smaller garage, so on and so forth. So I''m not hopeful, but who knows.

Good luck to everyone still hunting in 2010.
 
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