houses

The adorable 1955 vintage house countered. List price was $209,000 down from $235,000. We offered $185,000 or 81 dollars a square foot, which is what Tom and I figure is basic replacement value on a house these days, if you wanted to build. The vintage had laminate counters and vinyl and carpets. The bones and layout were wonderful, but it needed cosmetic work. It was a 1955 house. There would be issues. I felt the price was as if the work was already done, so I offered low. They came back at $199,900. I am letting it go. It was a one shot deal. One reason to let it go was in the same day we heard a verbal acceptance from Bank America. Maybe BA heard we had offered on another house.


Bank America, the big house has accepted our offer. The bank accepted our offer, but it is only a verbal yes so far. Nothing in writing. Now they have to settle with the second bank and make the second accept the deal. Time whittles away from us. But I am hopeful that the second will go much more quietly and swiftly than the first bank. Bank America has a bad reputation as being slow as a snail. They are telling us the first week of August, the 5th. They did make the June 15 deadline, even though we wanted it sooner, so maybe they will live up to the August 5 dead line, even though we want sooner. The wheels of power move slowly and they can't be rushed.

The vintage house was a one shot deal for us. Tom didn't love it and it was a bit small. We would have had to convert the garage to living space. The house was half the size which also meant half the return on our investment. Park hill will be lovely. If I convert that basement, it is big enough to be a rental unit or mother in law suite. It has lots of potential. You could set the house up so we could grow old in it. Even have a live in assistant downstairs in a pretty glamorous apartment if done right.

Bottom line is I think we can pull this off. The problem is timing. We are out of here in two weeks with no where to go. Putting our stuff in storage just makes me want to role my eyes. But I am living with boxes now. Today is the garage. I need to make a big dent and re pack all that stuff out there. The lids need to be able to close and breakables need to be wrapped. It is what it is.

Trevor has football day camp starting the day we originally have scheduled to move. He has to be in Longview. Otherwise we could go to the coast and stay the month at my Mom's beach house. Camp out and enjoy. His camp is Monday through Thursdays. We could go to the beach every weekend. I could pull that off. We are looking at 6 weeks in limbo at this point. Unless the banks agree early to the closing.

We can't close without free and clear title on the house. It has the two bank leans. Otherwise I would say lets just close with the owner, but then the banks could still come after the house. We have to wait for everyone to agree.

To the garage now. I can't put it off any longer.