Got the House!

Making an offer on a house right after it goes on the market can result in a lot of waiting while you wait for the owner to catch up to the reality of the situation. In this economically-tough buyer's market, not all buyers are created equal, and sellers need to be realistic about the price a house can command. After two and a half weeks of showings and an open house while my offer was on the table, and after me saying my offer was coming off the table in two days, the sellers finally saw the light. We agreed to a purchase price and they accepted my offer. Yea!!

I just bought the "worst house in the best neighborhood." The house had been lived in by two generations of the same family, and ultimately the kids had grown and moved on to their own homes and families and their mom lived in the home she had raised her kids in until she passed on. The house shows the wear and tear of decades of deferred maintenance and needs a new just about everything. Through listing and selling the house, at least, the sellers have run a new electric service from the street, upgraded the fuse box to a panel, and updated some of the knob and tube wiring. They are also going to remove the underground storage tank, switch to natural gas for heat, and upgrade the Volkswagen in the basement that passes for a furnace.

Its a sweet home, a gambrel on a small corner lot in a neighborhood with streets named after colleges and universities. Its the kind of neighborhood you feel absolutely safe walking your dog in at night, or having your kids play in the yard or riding bikes on the sidewalks. Finishing the floors, taking down the old wallpaper, and painting will go a long way to highlight the simple elegance of the home.

It was very empowering to buy a home on my own after separating from my husband. There is no doubt in my mind that I negotiated a good deal on a great house and that with some hard work on my part (and my contractors!) I will have a fabulous home. Even better, in the short term, I have found a home for me and my kids that I will feel proud to live in, and considering all that has happened in the past year, this is an incredible place to land.

The inspection is on Monday and we have agreed to close on 12/15. Wow! Keep your fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.