View Full Version : House hunting
Well, we are in the market for a home. The wife just separated from the military after 12 years, and we are finally able to settle down long term. No more moving. No more deployments. No more ********.
Except for that whole moving thing. My god. Everything is bank owned. Everything is "AS-IS". There have been places where if the bank was willing to put $200 (as in HUNDRED) into having an illegal immigrant, er um, day laborer crew come in and physically clean up the trash, maybe they property wouldn't be on the market for 8-10 months with no end in sight. I would think when the place has been on the market for 8 months, AND you had an auction with a starting bid at 25% of what you are asking and you didn't sell it, maybe it is because it looks like ****? Nah, couldn't be that. That has no bearing on a home sale.
Of course, if the ****ers would actually put the fact that there is mold and water damage in the basement in the description , then I wouldn't have to waste my ****ing time driving over there, looking, then setting up an appointment to be shown the house, only to be knocked over by the stench when the door is opened. On a $400k home.
Four-****ing-hundred-****ing-thousand. Not some little ghetto shack in the middle of BFE. Considering that price is pretty consistent with the other houses in the neighborhood without the damage, what the **** are these people smoking?
Then, when driving around and doing some initial looking (so we do not waste our time, or the real estate agent's), and I stop to take a couple photos and check the neighborhood out, getting accosted by the owner is not the best way to try to sell the home. Today, I pulled up, got out, took a picture of the front, walked to the back fence, took a picture, walked to the other side, took a picture and got back into my car. As I am sitting there writing notes, an older assclown, um, gentleman walks out and informs me that going into someone's backyard and taking photos is a good way to get arrested 'round here. No ****?
I didn't walk into your backyard. I walked to the fence, lifted my camera up and took a picture of your shitty little dog kennel. I didn't jiggle the gates, I didn't push on windows to see if they were unlocked. I was on your property a grand total of 3 minutes and you threaten to have me arrested? Let alone that no police officer in his right mind would cite me for ****, as I didn't stand there and refuse to leave, but damn. Did momma not teach you any tact back in the 1940's? I tried to be nice, explained what I was doing, and didn't tell him to go **** himself like I wanted. But he had to inform me Bubba was coming to haul me away. I really felt like parking on the street, getting out, and then taking photos from every angle while flying him the bird. So that house was scratched off the list.
Then, when in the description you mention the "spacious" backyard, please don't consider a 10x15 strip of grass spacious. I mean, damn, you have rooms inside of the house bigger than that so called yard! Just put your yard had a brazilian and at least then I wouldn't crinkle my nose when I see your description is utter ********!
Needs cosmetic work? On a $500k house in a $500k neighborhood? WTF? Get off your ass, put $10k into the place for new carpet and a neutral paint job you lazy mother****ers.
Charming? Dilapidated. Cozy? Card board box big. Spacious back yard? The dog can take a **** twice before walking in it for the third trip. I won't even look at a place where it says "Needs cosmetic TLC" or "Just needs a little work to bring out its true potential". Bank owned, short sale, or third party approval anywhere in the description makes me want to skull**** the nearest clown, with a rusty wrench.
I could go on, but **** it. No wonder the housing market sucks so bad right now.
Have some clown trauma as a child?
It's the way houses are always being tented for termites. They look like circus tents, but really they're colorful tents of death. You can see how the mind suddenly puts 2 and 2 together and realizes that clowns killed you favorite cat when you were 7.
Loreleli
01-15-08, 12:03 PM
Move to Georgia! :)
1) Find a house that's been sitting on the market. I got 8.5k shaved off my place because it was on the market 5 months w/o a nibble. A divorcee who could not make the payments and was facing foreclosure.
2) Are you using a realtor? As a buyer, the realtor works for you and can make sure the owner is not home so you can tour it in peace. Same with home inspection when getting ready to close. My first home inspection took 4 hours and they guy found 33k in repairs! Tahnkfully, I got my earnest money back w/o any problems.
3) The prices are bloated right now. The market has not corrected itself in the private sector with home owners. if you can, buy new. The home builders are sitting near defaulting on loans and have cut $100k off of $500k home here in Georgia near where I live. These are subdivisions sitting at anywhere from 3-20 + houses that are not moving. 3 story homes - 3600 sq feet+.
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Clark Howard has great tips on home buying.
http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/4/125/
Nov 28, 2007 -- Maximize home resale value in a tough market
In the latest session of Clarkonomics, our favorite penny-pinching guru offered tips for homeowners looking to maximize their resale value in an increasingly tough market. The latest data shows that housing sales are definitely down, but not as much as you'd think. Some 5 million people (at an annual rate) closed on homes last month across the nation. But from the headlines, you'd think that number should be zero. Prices are definitely around 5 percent down, but all real estate is local. Areas such as Tampa, Miami, San Diego and Detroit are down over 10 percent, while Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles may be down between 15 and 20 percent. Yet if you're in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Portland or Seattle, you'll find that home values are fairly stable. Also, keep in mind that widespread housing recovery probably won't come until 2009.
So what should you do if you're trying to sell your home? First off, consider owner financing if you own your home free and clear. You'll take on the role of being the bank, and you may get a better price and a quicker sell, plus a higher rate of interest back from the buyer. But beware that you have to get between 15 and 20 percent down to protect yourself. Second, be realistic about your listing price or you'll scare people away. Finally, try doing a FSBO (for sale by owner). Just know that sellers will come looking for a real steal, so be aggressive in sticking to your pricing. It might be better to hire an agent.
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A co-worker is closing on her house in 14 days. I just found out she is paying the termite inspection - that's a problem with her realtor, the seller should pay for that as it's their residence and required to sell a home in our State.
Oh, my county has an ordinance that the property has to have a distance of at least 20 feet between homes. This is how I ended up with 1 acre lot, when elsewhere people only get 1/3 to 1/2 an acre!
On topic!
Where are you looking at? Here in the San Diego area, there are a lot of neighborhoods where you'll see half a dozen houses on single block for sale, all of them rundown, none of them taken care of, and all in the $500-$750k range. It almost makes me feel bad for the banks...almost. By the time they start dropping the price to try and move the property, it's in bad enough shape that nobody wants it.
Just as a slight derail.. I just moved to San Diego and started to look into the housing market. (Have an apartment for now, but thought in a few months to move into a house) All I have to say is the market here scares the heck out of me in comparison to Dallas, where I moved from.
I am really thinking there is no way I am going actually be able to afford what these people are asking for some of these places. A 500k starting point is just nuts.
Sorry, I would have to Veto Georgia. Anything further south than we already are is a no thank you at the moment.
The houses have been on the market for 8-10 months everywhere I have looked. Prices have dropped up to $250k off the last purchase price (damned speculators).
We have a realtor. But I still like to go look on my own time and at listings myself instead of having a single person spoon feed me results. I have that option during the day most of the time.
Prices are correcting themselves around here and in drastic manner in some cases (see the $250k above). It is obvious that some places are still drastically overpriced, but a lot are getting into the realistic area for this area (Northern Va). Being so damned close to DC ****s up the prices in a major way. As to new construction, there isn't any, and what there is happens to be on $750k+ homes, after a downward adjustment. Finding a new, $400k home here that is less than a 2.5 hour commute is next to impossible. I really do not want to move out to WV :pulid
After that old ****ing coot threatening to call the cops on me, I needed to rant a little. We would ideally like to move into the new place by the middle of March, but at the rate we are going, I am not holding my breath. I did see one today that has some potential, I guess I need to talk to the realtor to make an appointment.
Patience.
It still is a buyers market, you just need to find what you want to buy.
"Bank owned" does suck, but it can work for you too. The banks want to get it off their hands as quickly as possibly because its not making them any money. So you may be able to get them to shave off nice chunks of the price if you go about it correctly. The downside you've already seen, the banks are already taking a loss on it(its almost a guaranteed foreclosure) so they don't want to put anymore in to its upkeep and maintenance. If you find a bank owned property that could be a nice buy except for a paint job and some clean up, go in with an offer that includes either a price reduction and you pay for them or have them do it and you agree to the price.
Its all a waiting game, but youve got the advantage at the moment. They need you far more than you need them.
yeah real estate is $$$ in md/Virg/DC area. But it is indeed a buyers market. I got lucky I was born in rochester NY where they have alot of large companies (kodak, zerox, bausch and lomb ,U of R medical center) and cheap housing market. Taxes are a bitch but you cannot beat it for housing.
I paid 195k for 2100 square ft 4 bedroom home on a cul de sac, and 3/4 of an acre yd with new inground pool.
I talk to my buddies and they spend 500k on the same sized older house with no yard in MD/DC area or Florida.
yeah real estate is $$$ in md/Virg/DC area. But it is indeed a buyers market. I got lucky I was born in rochester NY where they have alot of large companies (kodak, zerox, bausch and lomb ,U of R medical center) and cheap housing market. Taxes are a bitch but you cannot beat it for housing.
I paid 195k for 2100 square ft 4 bedroom home on a cul de sac, and 3/4 of an acre yd with new inground pool.
I talk to my buddies and they spend 500k on the same sized older house with no yard in MD/DC area or Florida.
So what youre saying is you want us all to come live with you rent free?
I do like you guys....but I think my wife is going to have issues!
Is it appropriate to say DHITP here? This may be the one and only time I've ever said it.
Is it appropriate to say DHITP here? This may be the one and only time I've ever said it.
Quite appropriate. Trolo, you get your DHITP badge. Wear it proudly.
Loreleli
01-24-08, 05:27 AM
Sorry, I would have to Veto Georgia.
hehehe, just wanted to let you know my property value just shot up:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/northfulton/stories/2008/01/23/forbes_0124.html
UPDATED: 5:57 p.m. January 23, 2008
Forsyth lands on Forbes' richest county list
Northside county ranks 13th
By NANCY BADERTSCHER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/23/08
Forsyth County has made Forbes' list of the country's wealthiest counties, rubbing elbows with some of the posh suburbs of Washington D.C. and New York City.
The rankings, based on data from the 2006 Census, put the North Atlanta suburb at No. 13 in the nation in median annual income.
None of Georgia's other 158 counties made the list, which identified Fairfax County, Va. as the nation's richest county.
Forsyth is listed with a median income of $83,682 — $33,000 higher than neighboring Fulton County.
That came as a surprise Wednesday to Charles Laughinghouse, chairman of the Forsyth County Commission.
"I know we are considered the most affluent in Georgia, but I would not have put us 13th in the nation."
Laughinghouse said there's an upside and a downside to the distinction.
"It puts us back in the news and our name back in front of people looking to locate industries," he said.
But Laughinghouse said higher-priced housing also has forced some to move out of the county and local businesses to import workers.
"I know I couldn't afford to buy a house here if I didn't already have one," he said.
Forbes.com said the nation's wealthiest live in three D.C. suburbs -- Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Va., and Howard County, Md.
Fairfax County, home to many high-ranking government officials and businesspeople tied to Capitol Hill, ranked No. 1 with a median annual income of $100,318.
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and yes, my water bill is only $12.00 a month ~ suck it D.C.!!!
Notice those afluent counties are also tiny. The county of forsyth is similar is size to the city of san diego. At 247 sq miles, its roughly 1/18th the size of san diego county.
No wonder it's got a high median income, it's only got enough room for 150000 people to live there. With a population density of 436 per sq mile, that seems like some pretty big lots for a suburb (1.5 acres per PERSON on average).
My water bill is $13 a month. I have no idea why you think the DC water bills are so much higher :pulid
Not to try to e-peen, but the county I live in is the 2nd wealthiest in the USA supposedly, and the one we are moving to is the wealthiest.
Of course, all that means it is one of the most expensive, as well :( Trust me, we are not loaded by any means. My wife is a senior consultant with a government contractor, I am a Gold Brick, and we just happen to be pretty good with our money (2 bonuses via the USAF and no personal debt outside of a car lease help). Things have just happened to come together.
We really like the house we are moving to (assuming everything is OK on the Seller's end), but it is sad to think the down payment here would buy a house with 3 acres and leave $30k extra where we grew up. Actually, it's ****ing pathetic.
My water bill is $13 a month. I have no idea why you think the DC water bills are so much higher :pulid
Not to try to e-peen, but the county I live in is the 2nd wealthiest in the USA supposedly, and the one we are moving to is the wealthiest.
Of course, all that means it is one of the most expensive, as well :( Trust me, we are not loaded by any means. My wife is a senior consultant with a government contractor, I am a Gold Brick, and we just happen to be pretty good with our money (2 bonuses via the USAF and no personal debt outside of a car lease help). Things have just happened to come together.
We really like the house we are moving to (assuming everything is OK on the Seller's end), but it is sad to think the down payment here would buy a house with 3 acres and leave $30k extra where we grew up. Actually, it's ****ing pathetic.
And don't forget growing up in a rich environment is the best way to create a one ticket to "out-of-touch-ville" for children.
Yeah, I have seen that a lot around here. So many children, so much self-entitlement. It isn't as bad as the stereotypical junk you see on a lot of TV, but it is definitely here. I know when growing up if I acted like that, I would have had a nap granted via the back of my Dad's hand.
But hey, the first house fell through. The couple is getting a divorce, and the wife is now being vindictive and not wanting to take on the 50/50 debt. So she is trying to squeeze the house out of the husband in the settlement, screwing us in the process. Of course, the Realtor had 6 months in that place as well.
Part of me says the woman/couple wanted a little more than what we were offering. They only had the house for a year, and had put it under what they paid for it (tax records are fun). We offered under that, and the husband had secured a loan to pay for his half of the difference, and now the wife refuses to go forward.
I am not interested in making yet another offer, then in two weeks' time, she decides it was not enough. Again. Basically I told the Realtor to move forward as if it is no longer an option. I also had her tell the other Realtor that if they are willing to give us a true floor to what they are willing to take, we would listen, aka, no more of this offer/counteroffer crap.
*sigh* It was a really nice place, too.
Loreleli
01-25-08, 08:03 AM
My water bill is $13 a month. I have no idea why you think the DC water bills are so much higher :pulid
Not to try to e-peen, but the county I live in is the 2nd wealthiest in the USA supposedly, and the one we are moving to is the wealthiest.
Of course, all that means it is one of the most expensive, as well :( Trust me, we are not loaded by any means. My wife is a senior consultant with a government contractor, I am a Gold Brick, and we just happen to be pretty good with our money (2 bonuses via the USAF and no personal debt outside of a car lease help). Things have just happened to come together.
We really like the house we are moving to (assuming everything is OK on the Seller's end), but it is sad to think the down payment here would buy a house with 3 acres and leave $30k extra where we grew up. Actually, it's ****ing pathetic.
lol... e-peen away!
I was impressed and hence mentioned it, because we still have horse, chicken and dairy farms here that I drive by daily. It's a fairly pastoral enviroment considering the home growth we've had in the short time I've been there. To be listed as #13 is odd considering the 2 mobile homes that were w/o doors that were finally turn down last year (which I've mentioned in other posts). The last 1 is still standing, but I expect they'll get onto that landowner soon as it's a safety hazard because anyone can enter the trailer. Compare that to any location on the list and that's pretty mind boggling.
Water bills the next county over are $46.00 +, which is why I mentioned it.
I'd be curious what the tax burden is in DC area though. property tax here is about $1300.00 for 1 acre lot, 1765 sq foot house.
/sings movin on up!
Be prepared for that tax burden to increase more than likely. I have no idea what the actual city/state rate happens to be, but for example on the home we were/are looking at, it was appraised at $443660, and the property tax was $5018 for 2007.
Whoops, there it was, the tax rate is 1.13 for that county (Fairfax County).
Assessed:
2005: $401k
2006: $490k
2007: $444k
Silly assed housing market. That 2006 jump is nothing compared to some of the others we have seen. It is also sad to find something nice, you have to start at $375k, and that is not downtown or anything along those lines. Just suburbia.
Vilkata Tasavalt
01-25-08, 01:45 PM
when we bought the house 2 years ago...it was assessed at 249. Now, it is assessed at 204. *sigh* So much for refinancing out of the ARM we got stuck into :(
Vilk
Santril
01-25-08, 03:59 PM
Be prepared for that tax burden to increase more than likely. I have no idea what the actual city/state rate happens to be, but for example on the home we were/are looking at, it was appraised at $443660, and the property tax was $5018 for 2007.
Whoops, there it was, the tax rate is 1.13 for that county (Fairfax County).
Assessed:
2005: $401k
2006: $490k
2007: $444k
Silly assed housing market. That 2006 jump is nothing compared to some of the others we have seen. It is also sad to find something nice, you have to start at $375k, and that is not downtown or anything along those lines. Just suburbia.
Property tax burden woulda been worse too, had the Farifax County taxpayers not demanded a property tax inflation cap be passed once everyone saw the **** flying towards the fan. My understanding is most houses were gonna see 10k property tax per year if no change was made by 2015.
That said, the FC government is a bad dream - it's like an overzealous HOA with several million people to watch over. Fairfax is still not a bad place to live tho.
I will soon be able to join whole heartedly in this conversation. Wife and I were preapproved today for a mortgage. Yay debt!
Actually since the median price of a house in my town is only $129,000, and we're looking at houses well under that we should end up paying about what we already do for rent.
Well, for us, the house payment will be approximately 45% higher than what we pay in rent, now. But, once you deduct the interest from the mortgage and the property taxes from the Federal Income tax, it should squeeze it back down to a 10% difference, maybe a bit less. Since we are going to need to itemize from here on out (no more EZ form, R.I.P. BHA), at least we can try to adjust how much comes out a little better.
Being able to own your own place in this area for a 10% difference vs rent is not too bad. Of course, we are going to low ball our brains out on this next house. It has been on the market for 358 days. Time to see if the fishies will nibble and save us some moolah.
Well, for us, the house payment will be approximately 45% higher than what we pay in rent, now. But, once you deduct the interest from the mortgage and the property taxes from the Federal Income tax, it should squeeze it back down to a 10% difference, maybe a bit less. Since we are going to need to itemize from here on out (no more EZ form, R.I.P. BHA), at least we can try to adjust how much comes out a little better.
Being able to own your own place in this area for a 10% difference vs rent is not too bad. Of course, we are going to low ball our brains out on this next house. It has been on the market for 358 days. Time to see if the fishies will nibble and save us some moolah.
If you look at it that way we should save quite a bit of money annually by buying a house.
I calculated how much we've wasted in the crap hole over the last 10 years and it actually made me depressed. We've done nothing but make our landlord better off.
Being able to own your own place in this area for a 10% difference vs rent is not too bad.
Especially since renting is money thrown right into the fireplace, while owning is equity.
NoVA sloooooooooowly appears to be becoming more reasonable...might actually be able to move out of a townhouse and find a -house- in Fairfax County one of these years! ;p
Especially since renting is money thrown right into the fireplace, while owning is equity.
NoVA sloooooooooowly appears to be becoming more reasonable...might actually be able to move out of a townhouse and find a -house- in Fairfax County one of these years! ;p
Finding a house in Fairfax at a decent price isn't the problem. Finding said house in good condition and a nice neighborhood is. We are looking in Herndon/Chantilly/Reston, and the prices still make baby Jeebus cry, even with a 20% drop.
Loreleli
01-29-08, 07:56 AM
when we bought the house 2 years ago...it was assessed at 249. Now, it is assessed at 204. *sigh* So much for refinancing out of the ARM we got stuck into :(
Vilk
IMO- Get out of the ARM anyway. Get a fixed rate, many banks are offering a .05% reduction because they are hurting. You win in the long run w/ a fixed rate anyway.
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Clark Howard:
http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/4/82/
Jan 09, 2008 -- Great time to refinance your mortgage
The exit polling from New Hampshire told us that the economy was a big issue for people. The slowdown affects us in a lot of ways. For example, hourly employees may find their hours diminishing. There are always winners and losers in any economic scenario. Right now is a great time if you're in the market for a refinance on your mortgage. The loan originators practically have no customers. But it's not uncommon for people to hear the headlines, watch the news and still miss the opportunity. Try refinancing if you're current in your mortgage and have an interest rate that's 6 percent or above. Also try refinancing if you have a floating rate.
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he says something about property taxes ( flip flopping) too:
Jan 17, 2008 -- Hints for appealing your property tax reappraisal
A lot of us got a lump of coal from our own government this past year. Your home may have gone down in value in 2007 and may continue to do so this year. But talk about rubbing salt into the wounds; people are getting property tax reappraisals that are way up from where they were before. The Washington Post reports that Maryland residents are seeing property tax increases of 33 percent, yet property values are down in much of the state. This scenario is being repeated all over the country. The appraisals are out of date and use faulty data from boom-year sales. The net effect is that your local government is ripping you off. There's no other way to say it. Do you have to take it? No, you can appeal your appraisal. The rules for appeal vary by jurisdiction. There may be an informal process before the formal one. Never gripe about the government during the process, just present the facts about recent sale prices of homes similar to yours. These figures, often called "comps" in real-estate lingo, are the smoking gun that will help you get an appraisal price rollback. Search out comps on the Internet or consult a local real-estate agent for help. If you can get comps for foreclosures in your neighborhood, that's like having extra ammunition. Clark suggests dressing business casual if you have to appear before a panel as part of the process. The idea is to dress nicely -- but not too well -- and people will respond to your appearance.
Vilkata Tasavalt
01-29-08, 02:01 PM
I wish we could get out of the ARM. I've been trying for a year now, but because we are financing almost 100% of the mortgage, as we've only owned the house for two years...no one will refinance it. And now that the house was appraised for so much less, they won't even talk to me basically.
I will have to look into the tax appraisal though. That bears looking into.
Vilk
Gah, I do not know who taught these people how to haggle, but this is ****ing absurd.
So we are looking at another house. The first house the owners are dragging their feet (even though we currently have a verbal agreement), as they are going through a divorce and the wife has decided to take the husband down with her. Anywho...
We find another house in which we have some interest. List: 425k. It has been on the market for a calender year (362 days). The windows are originals (31 years old, and pure junk), the master bathroom needs to be totally redone (as in removed and expanded into the hall bathroom), and the kitchen needs updated. Other than that, is a nice property. It needs 40k-60k worth of work, but after that, it would be spiffy. So we make an offer at 385k, expecting counteroffers and the haggling process to begin. Let me preface this with the fact that I know you want to get as much as possible.
The dumb son of a bitch counters with 420k. WTF? That is not even a serious counter. The response also said (paraphrased): Yes, we know the windows are ass, the master bathroom is crap, and the kitchen needs CPR. But everything else works and our offer is still 35k under what it assessed.
O****INGRLY?!?!?!!? Since when are city tax assessments used as a yard stick? Give me a ****ing break. There is a reason this property has been on the market FOR A ****ING YEAR asshat! Then to add insult to injury and basically act like 385k is an insult (add the 60k worth of repairs needed before you judge the price, that brings it into line of the prices in that area) with all the **** that needs to be done is ridiculous.
We aren't asking for closing cost help. We aren't asking for them to make the repairs before we move in. All we want to do is sign the contract, have the bank write the check and move in.
I have seen the tax records. It went for 170k when he bought it in '88. I bet he hasn't put a serious dime into the place. Then to act all insulted at our offer with the **** that needs to be done just pisses me off.
*sigh*
I am sure most of this anger revolves at around the fact we thought we had the first house wrapped up last night. I shouldn't even have to worry about an offer today. Why is it, in relatively affluent neighborhoods it seems like the only houses we have liked are either owned by *******s or vindictive people who trash the place before they move out? You signed the ****ing contract, dickhead, don't lay it exclusively at the bank's feet.
/coronary averted
For now.
yeah people dont look it at that way with real estate. IE its going to take X amount of dollars to get this house where we want it so Price - fix ups = sale price. Best you can hope for is about half.
yeah people dont look it at that way with real estate. IE its going to take X amount of dollars to get this house where we want it so Price - fix ups = sale price. Best you can hope for is about half.
Yeah. The thing is, we were willing to accept about 400k and go from there, but a 5k counteroffer (and it being a year on the market, and the tone of the response) tells me it isn't going to happen. Oh yeah, "My sellers would like to make this work."
Good luck with the next offer.
Kehvrynne
01-31-08, 05:26 AM
More like, "Let's see if I can get this Sillis character to pony up 420k so my commission will pay off my boat."
Remember, kids, realtors are seller's agents unless specifically contracted as a buyer's agent. This almost never happens, and means that the realtor listing the house doesn't give a rip about YOU, the buyer. (S)He's getting paid off the commission from the sale and will happily take you for all you're willing to give.
Realtors are slightly above lawyers, in my opinion.
Oh, I am quite aware of that. Our Realtor already gave us that spiel when we first signed (I work for you, I don't give a **** about them), and I am a untrusting bastard anyway.
I would just think after a year on the market, the other Realtor and the owner would be grateful to get an offer they could work with. Meeting us halfway isn't too much to ask, I wouldn't think.
Unless they make some great real counteroffer, we are done with them, anyway. Their loss.
More like, "Let's see if I can get this Sillis character to pony up 420k so my commission will pay off my boat."
Remember, kids, realtors are seller's agents unless specifically contracted as a buyer's agent. This almost never happens, and means that the realtor listing the house doesn't give a rip about YOU, the buyer. (S)He's getting paid off the commission from the sale and will happily take you for all you're willing to give.
Realtors are slightly above lawyers, in my opinion.
Hiring a buyer's agent was the most awesomeness thing ever. Have to credit the wife with that wise decision. They played house finder, negotiator, and closing agent. I highly recommend finding yourself one. It doesn't cost anything extra and the peace of mind is invaluable.
Edit: Our house was already sold and under a contingency contract (buyers were trying to sell a home). We never would have gone after it if it wasn't for our agent. The owners were carrying two mortgages (they had already moved out 6 months prior). We came in pre-approved with a $10K check to wave under their nose, low-balled the contracted buyer by about $50K and were signing papers a week later.
Loreleli
01-31-08, 07:51 AM
Hiring a buyer's agent was the most awesomeness thing ever. Have to credit the wife with that wise decision. They played house finder, negotiator, and closing agent. I highly recommend finding yourself one. It doesn't cost anything extra and the peace of mind is invaluable.
I agree. The agent I used thought of stuff I never would have - like a 1 year home warranty paid by the seller!
She knew the original price of the model (built 1999) and knew what the mark up was. Hooked me up with best home inspector ever!
The first offer we made the seller relator said he was not going to tell the seller because it was 'insulting.' My realtor laughed at him and said that's the offer. =P
That's illegal, too. They must present any offer made on paper to their client. Then they can laugh at it if they want, but they can't decide not to show them an offer.
Buying a house is about the only thing more aggravating than commuting or dealing with car salesmen. Good luck.
braincandy99
01-31-08, 11:04 AM
I agree. The agent I used thought of stuff I never would have - like a 1 year home warranty paid by the seller!
those are a joke. They are purely and simply unregulated insurance. The insurance part eases your mind (psycho-semantic), the unregulated part means they don't have to do **** for you, or they can hire any joe snotnose to do the work.
If you look up any (every?) home warranty company on google, all you find are complaints.
Good luck with them. I called for a 'simple' "I turn on my faucet and it makes a vibrating humming noise" and it was NEVER fixed. Diagnosed, sure. Parts determined, sure. Pipes covered under 'home warranty' yup. Fixed. no.
I'd hate to see how much bull$hit it would be if I needed my hvac or something more substantial money-wise.
I'd hate to see how much bull$hit it would be if I needed my hvac or something more substantial money-wise.
I have a story about doing a few home warranty hvac jobs, its just not horrible for you, its horrible for the good contractors that dont know about working for home warranty companys.
I'll see if I can write it up by the weekend.
those are a joke. They are purely and simply unregulated insurance. The insurance part eases your mind (psycho-semantic), the unregulated part means they don't have to do **** for you, or they can hire any joe snotnose to do the work.
If you look up any (every?) home warranty company on google, all you find are complaints.
Good luck with them. I called for a 'simple' "I turn on my faucet and it makes a vibrating humming noise" and it was NEVER fixed. Diagnosed, sure. Parts determined, sure. Pipes covered under 'home warranty' yup. Fixed. no.
I'd hate to see how much bull$hit it would be if I needed my hvac or something more substantial money-wise.
Not to be nit-picky, but im gonna be nit-picky. It's psycho-somatic.
Qtip4urMamma
02-01-08, 06:14 AM
Not to be nit-picky, but im gonna be nit-picky. It's psycho-somatic.
"Breathe the pressure
Come play my game I'll test ya
Psychosomatic addict insane
Breathe the pressure
Come play my game I'll test ya
Psychosomatic addict insane
Come play my game
Inhale, inhale, you're the victim
Come play my game
Exhale, exhale, exhale"
Well, let's see how long this lasts.
Yesterday, I meet with our Realtor to look at properties. The first order of business was that I told her to withdraw the offer on the house. She agreed that it was ridiculous, and once she got back to the office, she would fax them the official **** off letter.
As the day goes on, she receives an e-mail, which she shows to me. It basically said that the wife was ready to sign the papers and could move out by the end of February. I rolled my eyes, said No, and we kept going.
Then our Realtor gets another e-mail and it says the wife can move out the 19th. I still said no. Why? Because I did not have almost 3 weeks to waste, only to have her say 3 days before the settlement date that she changed her mind and needed more time to move out. It was reeking of desperation on the seller's part, aka she ****ed up, knew it, and was scrambling.
Then our Realtor gets a phone call. It is the other Realtor (who has dumped almost 6 months of her life into this couple). My Realtor put it on speaker phone without telling the other, and she started off with "The wife is in a MUCH better mood today, she seems like a totally different person". Without thinking I said, "What, she is on her meds today?" and my Realtor about choked and slapped my shoulder. Luckily, the other Realtor didn't hear me or chose to ignore it. My Realtor informed her that we didn't trust the wife, but she would talk to me.
We really like the house. I mean, we REALLY like the house. So I swallowed my pride (anger) and said, OK, we will do it under one condition. The move out date is the 8th of February. I knew this was OK because our lender originally went with that date when we sat down with him. So my Realtor calls her back.
The other Realtor's response? "I don't give a **** if she has to move in with her Mom, she is going to do this, I am tired of representing them. This is a good offer, and it beats the hell out of foreclosure. Her soon to be ex-husband is getting ready to take her to court over this, too."
So we ratified the contract last night. I have her signature on a document. The home inspection and radon test is set for Monday, with close on Friday. I swear to God, if that bitch backs out again, well, I shouldn't finish that sentence.
Our Realtor agreed with me when I said I still want listings to keep looking while this is on going. We saw a couple houses that have potential (one foreclosure, but was in surprisingly good shape, one was owned by smokers, but was very nice), so my patience is gone.
I hope to God if we get this house we live in it for the rest our lives. This **** just isn't worth it. I haven't been this stressed (having the queezies for a week straight sucks), well, ever.
8 days and counting.
It's all worth it when you hold the keys. Congrats in advance. :thumb
Dragynphyre
02-01-08, 09:12 AM
Oy, sounds like you have had a rollercoaster of a ride. Here's to a non-eventful closing. :beer
Loreleli
02-01-08, 11:14 AM
Speaking of keys...buy really good locks! That woman sounds nuts!
Here's hoping the crazy psycho shows up at closing! :thumb
Any good realtor in that situation would have added to the offer sheet some language like;
"If the seller can not vacate the premises by Noon February 8, 2008 the seller will agree to pay $XXX. Each additional day the seller delays the vacate date of the premises at (insert address) the seller will agree to pay the buyer an additional $XXX. Likewise, if the seller delays the date of closing from the originally agreed upon date of February X, 2008 they will agree to pay $### for additional fees accrued by the buyer."
Why? Because this woman is costing you money. Once you close, normally selelrs get a few days to vacate (gather belongings, pack, move). While they are doing that, IT'S THE BUYERS HOUSE! Make them pay you if they miss the vacate date.
Similarly, all the charge her if she delays the closign in any way. The cost of your financing could go up, there's a thousand things that could happen while she's playing dodgeball with her soon to be ex.
The only thing that should ever screw up the timetable of a closing is the Home Inspection. There should be a clause in the offer sheet about all repairs deem necessary from the Home Inspection are the responsibility of the seller, AND MUST BE DONE BY A LISENCED PROFESSIONAL - RECEIPT OF WORK ORDER/INVOICE TO BE FAXED ASAP AFTER ANY REPAIR TO BUYER (last thing you want is for her to take a roll of duct tape to fix a drain pipe in the basement). All repairs are to be done prior to closing unless waived by the buyer.
All the home inspection shenanigans are already written into the contract, so no worries there. Also, if they are not out on the settlement date, I will call the police and have her arrested for trespassing, simple as that.
And yes, we are having a locksmith come in ASAP :pulid
See if she's listed.. or to help check any place you're interested in
www.rottenneighbor.com
braincandy99
02-08-08, 08:31 AM
I have a story about doing a few home warranty hvac jobs, its just not horrible for you, its horrible for the good contractors that dont know about working for home warranty companys.
I'll see if I can write it up by the weekend.
I can only imagine. They are a sham. As long you don't rely on them being saviours you'll get what you expect.
This is how the last home warranty job went for me, my last one forever as well.
We get a call from the home owner I have a home warranty and need my a/c looked at they told me to call you. Dispatch sets up an apointment for me, I find out its warranty so before I come out I give them the first of many prep talks. First we have to tell him that we have to accept payment upfront and then you have to collect from the warranty company, the guy does not like that. I say ok well you can find someone else, warranty companys will not pay on average for about 6 months. Some have not payed us before till we took them to court. After a few call backs to his home warranty company they tell him they will pay him back.
So I head on out, and meet the guy friendly bit irritated. He says he's had another company come out and said he needed a new a/c unit. So I'm the second contracter to see it. Unit is 25 years old, way past its life expectancy, beat up and trashed. I find its got two leaks one in the coil and one at the service ports. I call up to see if I can get a new set which was doubtfull, and carrier comfirms it. Not that it matters since the leak in the coil isnt repairable. So An hour and a half later I'm wrapped up and he calls the warranty company, they put him on hold for 15 minutes, ok i'll stick around and see if we get the ok to replace it.
He finally gets ahold of someone they talk and then the guy wants to talk to me about it. So i get on the phone and it goes crazy from there, I tell him whats going on and he goes well I have to esclate it, I go well its your dime I'm on the clock. On hold for 15 minutes. Manager comes on I tell him whats going on, he says repair it, I say no, he says why not, I say its a pos and its not repairable and carrier doesnt have the parts, he goes well just hack something in, I go you got the wrong guy. Then he says well just collect your diagnostic fee of one hour and leave. At that time I've been there for two and a half hours now, I tell him I'm collecting for that he goes well we cant give you that. I go like hell you cant you dont just to get to waste my time and not be billed for it. So then I get put on hold for another 15 minutes while he talks to someone else.
15 minutes goes by and another person is on the phone and makes me describe the situation again and what the others have said, blah blah blah. She goes thats fine we'll pay it and we'll get someone else to come out to do the repairs, I go thats fine but its been three hours now since the last guy put me on hold and this talk. She goes fine, and the home owner goes apeshit on the home warranty person. Saying this was the second replacement recomendation and you're still not doing anything about it? he says he will take them to court. In the end I collect for my three hours and aplogize for not being able to do anything and drive off.
I never heard from that warranty company again, nor that home owner, I hope he got his unit working.
Loreleli
02-08-08, 11:42 AM
see, for me, home warranty worked out ok.
I hear a thump! thump! thump!
I'm worried cause it's where the gas furnace is... I call, they send a guy out. I'm freaking cause it's Feb. and my pet bird will die w/o heat. Guy comes out and the air purifier thing got caught in the system and was wound around it, hence the thumping! Guy cleans it up, I thank him and pay him the $45.00 for the visit.
10 to 1, someone else would have told me I needed a new gadget because the old gadget died.
I sympathize that people expect a 25 year old machine to work :crazy but I lucked in and the warranrty was free for me, as the seller paid the $400.00+ for it.
The house is officially ours now.
Now I just need to change the locks, and start the escrowed repairs. Then we need to do the things that weren't escrowed.
I am excited and scared to death :pulid
Diziet Asahi
02-09-08, 01:09 AM
Big round of cheers for Sillis....
I remember when I bought my place, I thought this would be the stupidest thing I ever did... but it turned out pretty ok, and I'm pretty sure I've done worse mistakes since then.
Once again, /grats and enjoy
Loreleli
02-09-08, 06:09 AM
Congrats and best of luck with your new home!