A few months back, I posted that I had decided that I’d had enough of renting and was going to embark on the daunting tast of buying a new home. Much worthy advice was received, and I headed off to begin the search.
About two months ago, I found The Absolute Perfect Home. The only problem was that it was a little bit more than I’d planned to spend. The home was a foreclosure and was owned by the bank, so I hoped that they’d be willing to accept a bit less than their asking price just for the sake of getting the home off of their books. I discussed it with my realtor (whom I hate, but that’s a whole other story) and when I told him that I wanted to bid $9k less than the asking price, he said “Well, that seems reasonable to me, but let me run it by the listing agent and see what he say.” I said OK…let this henceforth be known as Mistake The First.
He calls me back and says “Mr. Agent claims that the bank won’t even entertain an offer less than $X (my bid was $2k less than $X) and not to even bother writing up a sales agreement at that price.” I’m crushed, but I decide to think about it for a while rather than insisting that they write it up anyway…let this henceforth be known as Mistake The Second.
I waffle over things for a few weeks, and by the time I decide that I should insist on putting in a written bid in spite of what the listing agent claims they’ll accept, the listing is gone. It’s under contract with someone else. I’m crushed. I pretty much stop searching. This home was The One…it felt like home, and I could see myself living there for a long time. Everything else I’d seen in my price range was either in need of major repair, or so hopelessly outdated that I’d have spent scads of money remodeling. We’re talking red & black shag carpet matted down so bad, you couldn’t even rake it back up, houses that had been in the 1972 Agnes flood and hadn’t been remodeled since and hence had lime green carpeting and faux wood paneling throughout. Just ick.
Last Monday, a friend of mine at work who has also been looking for a house, and who has an aunt in real estate who occasionally sends her listings, calls me over to her cube. She says “Jadis…isn’t this the house that you wanted?” and points to her screen.
[sup]Cue harp music as the clouds part and a ray of light descends on Jadis’ world…[/sup]
My house, The One, is back on the market after 2 months. I immediately call Nicole’s aunt and tell her the whole story. On Tuesday, she agrees to show me the house one more time (just to make sure nothing’s changed since the last time I saw it)…it’s as perfect as I remember, and we fill out the sales contract. In the course of seeing the house, Mr. Friendly Neighbor drops in and reveals to us that the people who had the previous contract got the house for only $3k than I’d been willing to bid originally with Mr. Jackass Realtor. So, I bid what I had originally wanted to, thinking that the bank is now over a barrel…not only did they waste 2 months on the previous contract that fell through, but it’s almost winter and if they don’t unload it, they’re going to have to start heating it again.
My realtor submits the bid on Wednesday. We’d given them until Tuesday (the day after Labor Day) to respond. I was a nervous wreck. Waiting through the weekend for news was going to make me insane, I was sure. They called yesterday. They accepted my offer. No bickering. No counteroffer. Nothing. They said yes. They said yes to my offer that was $9k less than the asking price. They’re desperate, and I win.
In approximately 6 weeks, I’m going to be a homeowner. Imagine that. My satellite is now perpetually tuned to HGTV. I need all the advice I can get. 
[sup]Doing a silly little happy dance…[/sup]
Who’s up for a Dopefest at Jadis’ house? Woohoo!!
