House Continued...

Ok, so I was talking about the house I found.

The porch was a mess and oh, did i mention the first stair is loose, too? If it's all about first impressions, ouch. So he opens the front door to the largest foyer I have ever seen. I walk across stunning hardwoods to the railing of a deep walnut colored banister and look over almost two story windows. The first half of the staircase ends at the back door to the house surrounded by the huge windows which opens up to a small porch and a nice backyard that backs up to a golf course. Continuing down the stairs are the three bedrooms and two baths. The master bath is interesting looking with a step up as you enter the bathroom. Easily overlooked with the his and her walk in closets.

So back up stairs where the top floor is split into four rooms two on either side of the foyer. As you come up the stairs to the left is another room with a closet and a bathroom that could be the fourth bedroom. Next to the room is a another room maybe the living room? Cross the foyer into the formal dinning room and walk through the door to the kitchen. I love this kitchen! Tile floor with a bay window overlooking the backyard. One wall has a built in microwave and oven. The kitchen is huge I think it is the size of our kitchen and dinning room right now.

Once I was done staring at the kitchen we went over to the two car detached garage. Upstairs in the garage is a finished room complete with a bathroom. The driveway has a semi circle driveway, I have always loved those big driveways.

So I found it before it originally hit the market and our agent looked up what the last contract on the house was for which turned out to be in our price range. We started the whole find a lender thing and settled on a bank with a local branch. Once we signed the application we impatiently waited for the decision. Ok I think I was the one that was impatient. So the house is listed before we are approved and it is listed for $70,000 more than the last contract and almost $8,000 higher than what it was appraised for in 2005. The housing market has not stabilized here and there is some damage to the house as well as in a buyers market a house almost has to updated to keep up with the comparables in this area. The kitchen and all of the bathrooms are outdated. <- Yes I have been watching too much HGTV.

We put in an offer anyway with the hopes that they really wanted to get rid of it. Our offer was $100,000 less than the list price they countered $7,000 below list price; there were two counter offered ending with them still at $7,000 below list there last counter offer was higher than their previous one.

I had been told most foreclosures are lowered every 30days. We wait until the 30 day mark and Fannie Mae does lower the price $40,000 so I am thinking they are ready to deal. We offer $44,900 below their list and they respond if we didn't except the offer the last time why would we consider it now? I write a letter trying to appeal to their 'we help put families in homes' statement with the same offer and they counter $7,000 below their list. I think I am starting to see a pattern here. Two more weeks and it hits the next 30 day mark. Still no offers from anyone but us.


I feel like I am playing chess with them and I am getting pretty good at being patient...

Caitie's Prom Dress

my baby sister in her big girl dress :) my parents just emailed these pics. nice date stamp :0

Our First House... Hopefully

What better way to start blogging than with our first house experience. So this is how it all started...

Our lease was coming up soon so I got the usual pre-new lease itch to see what was on the market. A pretty two story house, with an amazing double porch, down the street was for sale. I decide what the heck, it's in a area I can't afford anyway might as well take a look. <- I hope my realtor doesn't read this. An thus, we meet Bobby the best agent we have had so far. So I take a look at the house which is absolutely gorgeous inside and out with a fenced in back yard, too!

Well, I have seen it now time to go sign my new lease, right? If only it had been that simple, but no. Right down from there is a house set on a corner lot with a goofy tin roof. For some reason I really notice the house this time as I wait for a break in the traffic. It has an empty look to it so I call Bobby to see if he knows anything about it. Turns out it is in the process of being foreclosed, but is not available right now.

So I quietly stalk my house for some signs that is will finally enter the market. At last! A paper tapped to the front door stating it was finally completely owned by Fannie Mae. So as soon as we can see it I take the grand tour. MMmm yummy mold or mildew or something all over the outside of the house under the porch roof and around the door. Oh, good my search is over I can go back to my comfy apartment dweller existence.