Since we listed our house for sale nearly a year ago and successfully sold it in under 6 months in this crappy economy; some deluded part of me believes that I would be an awesome real estate agent. Not that I want to be one. No offense. But since the market stinks right now, its not exactly the "opportunity" I am looking for.
However, I just visited a new blog that has verified the fact that there are a LOT of really REALLY bad real estate agents out there and I could help steer people away from them?
Check it out: LovelyListing.com
Click on the actual listing so that you can see how awesomely bad each one is. Fantastic. This is why the real estate market is crap.
Showing posts with label buying a house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buying a house. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Pictures PICTURES Pictures!!!
I haven't updated with pictures in quite awhile so first:
We went as The Wiggles for Halloween this year. Can you say "easiest costume in the world" with me?
I went to visit my sister in New Jersey for four days without the kids. I slept in the most luxurious "temperpedic" bed with royal sheets. I felt like a princess every night when I went to sleep and I took my sweet time getting up every morning. It was bliss to travel without kids and to get to play with my niece and nephew (whom I love dearly and hardly get to see!)
We got to go see "A Tale of Two Cities" on Broadway and visited Ikea TWICE in two days! It was great fun!
Then I came home to see that hardwood floors were being installed at our house and so I can now post some pictures from the new house!
As our new homeowner gift to ourselves, we bought a new backpack leaf blower because we had to load 35 bags of leaves this weekend. For just the front yard.. Fantastic.
We went as The Wiggles for Halloween this year. Can you say "easiest costume in the world" with me?
I went to visit my sister in New Jersey for four days without the kids. I slept in the most luxurious "temperpedic" bed with royal sheets. I felt like a princess every night when I went to sleep and I took my sweet time getting up every morning. It was bliss to travel without kids and to get to play with my niece and nephew (whom I love dearly and hardly get to see!)
We got to go see "A Tale of Two Cities" on Broadway and visited Ikea TWICE in two days! It was great fun!
Then I came home to see that hardwood floors were being installed at our house and so I can now post some pictures from the new house!
As our new homeowner gift to ourselves, we bought a new backpack leaf blower because we had to load 35 bags of leaves this weekend. For just the front yard.. Fantastic.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Don't Even Get Me Started
Today we are moving!
It might come as a surprise to some of you, but I have not been posting about all of this because well...it has been a pretty insane process to sell our current house and buy the next house. I will break it down for you here:
Last year, we switch high schools for Young Life from the school where we were leaders for six years to a high school that has really strong Young Life. All of their leaders departed for grown-updom and there was nobody to head up the ministry. Matt and I knew that the Lord was calling us to this high school and so we started the long process of getting our hearts AND house ready to sell.
Early in the spring, we were approached by my sister-in-law's (Buffy) mother-in-law (Got THAT?) who lives in Asheville near the area we were looking to buy; and she expressed an interest to move near to her son and Buffy. Would we be interested in buying her house? She named a price and well...we were VERY INTERESTED.
But we knew that some crazy stuff was going to have to happen. Such as, sell our house AND her have a new job that started simultaneously with our closing date. But we knew that God had called us to this new part of town and this was not beyond his abilities to orchestrate.
We all agreed to try to make this happen, however bizarre it might seem.
So we listed our house and had a lot of traffic over the summer and even came under contract albeit briefly.
Right after our first club, I totally lost heart with this process. I was overwhelmed with high school kids I didn't know, the ones that I did know and the ones that want me to know them better. I just wanted very badly for us to get to move down near them because it is so much harder to have relationships when you don't shop, live etc. all in the same neighborhood as them. It is really a Jesus philosophy because he came to US and moved into the neighborhood of Jerusalem in order to speak directly to those he loved. We want to do the same thing and thought that it was never going to happen.
Mostly, I lost heart because the news that mortgage market was tightening up and nobody was getting loans. I saw the writing on the wall that would mean nobody would buy our house.
The very next day we had a second showing on our house and on the very day that the market plunged 700 points-we had a contract on our house! It was unbelievable! People are amazed that we were able to sell our house in this market, IN THIS MONTH. The worst financial month in history. Oh, and we needed to close in 21 days.
We have had no problems qualifying for our mortgage which is incredible too.
The biggest "X" factor was that seller also needed to get a job this month too. Not so easy. As soon as we told her that we had a contract, she freaked out. But a few days later approached her boss and told them the situation. They decided that it would be best for all parties if she continued her job via telecommuting. So she could go ahead, move to Florida AND be able to BUY a house since she still has her steady employment.
Seriously y'all? I can't make this stuff up.
So we are moving into her house this afternoon and tomorrow. Matt's mom and sister have graciously taken the kids off of our hands since Sunday so that we can make the move happen without them underfoot. And to tell the truth, that has made this seem like a vacation rather than the most stressful week of the Fall.
How 'bout them apples?
I will post pictures of the new house as we get settled. Stay tuned!
It might come as a surprise to some of you, but I have not been posting about all of this because well...it has been a pretty insane process to sell our current house and buy the next house. I will break it down for you here:
Last year, we switch high schools for Young Life from the school where we were leaders for six years to a high school that has really strong Young Life. All of their leaders departed for grown-updom and there was nobody to head up the ministry. Matt and I knew that the Lord was calling us to this high school and so we started the long process of getting our hearts AND house ready to sell.
Early in the spring, we were approached by my sister-in-law's (Buffy) mother-in-law (Got THAT?) who lives in Asheville near the area we were looking to buy; and she expressed an interest to move near to her son and Buffy. Would we be interested in buying her house? She named a price and well...we were VERY INTERESTED.
But we knew that some crazy stuff was going to have to happen. Such as, sell our house AND her have a new job that started simultaneously with our closing date. But we knew that God had called us to this new part of town and this was not beyond his abilities to orchestrate.
We all agreed to try to make this happen, however bizarre it might seem.
So we listed our house and had a lot of traffic over the summer and even came under contract albeit briefly.
Right after our first club, I totally lost heart with this process. I was overwhelmed with high school kids I didn't know, the ones that I did know and the ones that want me to know them better. I just wanted very badly for us to get to move down near them because it is so much harder to have relationships when you don't shop, live etc. all in the same neighborhood as them. It is really a Jesus philosophy because he came to US and moved into the neighborhood of Jerusalem in order to speak directly to those he loved. We want to do the same thing and thought that it was never going to happen.
Mostly, I lost heart because the news that mortgage market was tightening up and nobody was getting loans. I saw the writing on the wall that would mean nobody would buy our house.
The very next day we had a second showing on our house and on the very day that the market plunged 700 points-we had a contract on our house! It was unbelievable! People are amazed that we were able to sell our house in this market, IN THIS MONTH. The worst financial month in history. Oh, and we needed to close in 21 days.
We have had no problems qualifying for our mortgage which is incredible too.
The biggest "X" factor was that seller also needed to get a job this month too. Not so easy. As soon as we told her that we had a contract, she freaked out. But a few days later approached her boss and told them the situation. They decided that it would be best for all parties if she continued her job via telecommuting. So she could go ahead, move to Florida AND be able to BUY a house since she still has her steady employment.
Seriously y'all? I can't make this stuff up.
So we are moving into her house this afternoon and tomorrow. Matt's mom and sister have graciously taken the kids off of our hands since Sunday so that we can make the move happen without them underfoot. And to tell the truth, that has made this seem like a vacation rather than the most stressful week of the Fall.
How 'bout them apples?
I will post pictures of the new house as we get settled. Stay tuned!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Before and After
This was the best picture that I could find of my living room before we were "staged"
Doesn't it look great? Click on the picture to see all of the "details".
We are DONE with working on the house. I am going back tonight to watch TV, clean out the fridge and freezer and take the garbage down. We basically need a small dumpster for all that we have gotten rid of this week. Without freecycle, we might really be in trouble!
Please pray that the right buyer would find our house this month. I would LOVE to be under contract by the end of the month. I know that is a lot to ask in this financial climate, but our house is in great shape, we aren't there and it is priced well. PRAY!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Poop
Yep, that's what that is.
And it is how we are feeling about getting the house. Our realtor let us know this morning that someone else has already secured a contract on the house. They are taking back-ups so we are going to sign the contract in the morning. But it doesn't look good.
So disappointing! But hope is not lost until ownership changes hands, so feel free to pray for this. We just want to do what is right and not go down without a fight.
POOP.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
New House?
Matt and I went to see a house last with our amazing realtor Julie May. She heard about this property that was listed with an agent but was in foreclosure proceedings...so she wanted us to see it since it was going to be very cheap (compared with the rest of the market).
We went to see it and to make a long story short, it seems like a great opportunity for us.
Nothing is set in stone, but we did go to the bank today and they approved us for the financing. Now, we have to get our house in order to sell, make an offer, and hope that it comes through. We won't find out until right before Christmas if we get it or not. since it is in foreclosure, the decision belongs to the judge presiding over the case. But here are some pictures. (Click on the pictures to look at them in full-size)
The exterior is NOT CUTE. But with a new paint color, some shutters and new landscaping, I think it will make a huge difference. It is on over half an acre with huge trees, you can't see them here.
Feel free to pray that we get it. It is WAY in the budget. Also pray that we can sell our house quickly!
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