Found out that the house is in "short sell." The long and "short" of what I read online that it is a very drawn out process and can keep you waiting at the least 3 months for an answer on if the house is yours or not.
Not sure what I'm getting into by going and looking at it tomorrow. Hopefully I won't fall in love and can keep my head about me.
Shucks - good price, good location, possibly wrong circumstance.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Excited ?????
A house came on the MLS listings today that looks like a good possibility. Buyers Agent can't take me to see it until tomorrow, hope I can sleep tonight waiting.... =)
Offer
Well we did put in an offer on one of the houses. The decision about which one was made for us. The larger house/red door house was taken off the market. Too bad, that one was my favorite.
We put in an offer on Thursday afternoon. It was less than the seller's asking price, but we thought the neighborhood supported. We received a call that night asking for a counter price. We increased by $5k, but the sellers were still not interested. We were told that their was another interested party. They had more $, but we had a better closing date.
My head says to wait and offer the same price again in a week or so. It is difficult waiting. I am of course still looking, but the inventory is very slim picking at the moment in our price range. We may end up renting for a while.
I also stopped by my favorite house (red door house) and left a note in her mailbox, saying that if she puts it back on the market to let me know. I have no idea if that will happen, or what she may think of my letter - but worth a try.
I'm going to try to plan a non-real estate activity today, to take my head out of my uncertainty.
We put in an offer on Thursday afternoon. It was less than the seller's asking price, but we thought the neighborhood supported. We received a call that night asking for a counter price. We increased by $5k, but the sellers were still not interested. We were told that their was another interested party. They had more $, but we had a better closing date.
My head says to wait and offer the same price again in a week or so. It is difficult waiting. I am of course still looking, but the inventory is very slim picking at the moment in our price range. We may end up renting for a while.
I also stopped by my favorite house (red door house) and left a note in her mailbox, saying that if she puts it back on the market to let me know. I have no idea if that will happen, or what she may think of my letter - but worth a try.
I'm going to try to plan a non-real estate activity today, to take my head out of my uncertainty.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
House Offer????
We might put in an offer on a house tomorrow, but the funny thing is that we don't know which one. Attie and I will take a drive around the neighborhoods and see what the kid outlook is in each - that may help us decide. I don't want to move on something too quickly, but I don't want to loose out either.
This one is going to be interesting.
This one is going to be interesting.
Quincy Visit
Had the most wonderful visit back to Quincy (except for the dental surgery - but we won't go into details here about my dental woes).
Started with Josh's bday party. So GREAT for Atticus to see his friends again. What great boys they are. Started at Ellis Gymnastics (with Atticus swinging off of the rings like a monkey) then back to Josh's house for wii and cake (the Star Wars "rainbow star" instead of the "death star") and ice cream.
Then to Martha's home to stay overnight.
Monday morning Martha watched Attie for me, while I went to BU Dental in Brookline.
Then back to Quincy and now to Jack's home. We called around looking for people to come and join us at the pool, but since it was last minute we didn't have any takers. Atticus talked away LIKE CRAZY to Jack and I so we couldn't carry on a normal conversation. Luckily Margaret and kids were available at dinner time, so they came and joined us at the pool. Atticus just played with the kids and didn't bother us a bit - Jack told me to remember this when choosing a house to make sure it had lots of kids around.
On Tuesday we met up with Josh and his mom and brother at Hollis Playground and swung on the swings together and played for quite a bit. A couple of other families from MHMS were also at the playground, so it was SO NICE for me to reconnect with my mom friends. After the playground, a run to Hingham to pick up work paperwork, and calls along the way to arrange the rest of the day. We picked up Kelly Lau at her aunt's home, then picked up Stacey and Kevin Gallagher to join us too. A quick call to Margaret Hall rounded out our fun afternoon. Sharon and Bob Gallagher joined us too after Sharon got home from work. It was Bob's bday so we celebrated with strawberry margaritas (booze in a bucket).
After they all left, Josh's mom and brother can to swim for a bit.
After Josh left, it was time for me to take Kelly back to her Aunt's house. Was sad to say good-bye, but so nice that she was able to visit with us for a while. Safe trip back to California and hopefully, you and your brothers can come and stay with us for a month next summer.
We finished the night with the DVD - Race to Witch Mountain, which was pretty good considering that it got tons of bad reviews. I thought it was fine for a $1 rental from redbox.
Wednesday was french toast day and Jack watched Atticus as I drove back to BU Dental only for them to tell me, that they couldn't do anything today, but would need to schedule something a couple of weeks out.
Then back to Jack's to visit with his daughter-in-law and grandson and then pack up and head back to Holyoke.
Can't wait to go back again. SOOOO LUCKY that Jack let me invite others to use his pool. I think he liked the pool being used and the sounds of kids laughter. He really appreciated the company.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday house shopping
Went out again today with Buyer's Agent to look at homes. So nice to go with Bob and get his opinion this time. I know that I am the one that gets to choose our home, but still nice to have other input (I think).
We went into 7 or 8 homes today and than sat down to evaluate together. Of course, Bob really likes one home and I really like another. A bit of a price difference now, but not after we put extra $ into one of the homes to fix up the basement and add a nicer porch.
One feels like a starter home and the other feels like a home that would be your next move up. I think that is where I am stuck; we have already had our starter home. It would be difficult emotionally to stay on the same level and buy another starter home. However with a starter home comes young families and young families = kids. Which would be great for Atticus.
Obviously I'm too conflicted and not ready to make an offer yet.
Attie and I are heading to Quincy today for a b'day party and for a dentist appt for me tomorrow. I will be seeing friends and talking with them and that may help me in my decision making process.
Also when we get back out to the Valley on Tuesday or Wednesday I think I'll do some door knocking and speak with some people about their neighborhoods and get a vibe from that as well.
Wish me luck!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
House Decisions
I think my expectations of our Western MA home have to come way down or our budget has to go up $20 or $30k.
Torn between neighborhood with kids for Attie or nice quite home in nature for Bob and I. Leaning towards neighborhood home, especially with Attie being an only kid and going to private school. He needs some other way to connect with kids then being driven around by mom all of the time. However fewer homes in this "country setting" that meet that criteria.
Also not horribly difficult to find a home for our family of 3, but more difficult with the thought of hopefully hosting friends w/families often. Need a big enough space for parent and kids to come and feel comfy so they come back often. =)
We will see where this process ends up.
Currently looking in the towns of Amherst, Hadley, South Hadley, Belchertown.
Also the inventory isn't high, but supposedly we can get more for our money since economy is down. SCARY. Would hate to see what our budget would get us in a seller's market. Not in a huge rush to buy, but would hate the market to change to a seller's or to get into the fall/winter and for all of the inventory to go away.
Saw one house that we like in Amherst, but it is so early in the decision making process. Do we jump this quickly? Not sure what else will be coming on the market in the fall/winter.
Decisions, decisions.....
Friday, July 31, 2009
Schools (again)
Well I think we have THE ONE. A close friend is visiting this weekend, so I will talk things over with her, and I have my sister-in-law from Texas visiting on Sunday and she is always a good one to bounce ideas off of as well, so after that I think we are ready to sign a contract and commit to a school. It is big $, but fortunately we received some financial aid, and we only have one kid, so we are able to swing it a bit better. (however I do daydream about other ways that I could spend the $, a couple of family vacations, a newer car, some savings, etc.)
Took the afternoon and drove around to see some home listings and neighborhoods. Didn't go into any homes, but checked out the neighborhoods. Since Attie is an only kid, as much as we would like a more rural setting, I think it is important to try to be in a neighborhood with other kids his age. Found one neighborhood today that I really liked that had a home for sale in our price range. It is for sale by owner, so I have to decide if it is better to call them on our own (and maybe keep the price down by them not having to pay a buyer's agent and thus passing on the savings to us) or to call in a buyer's agent that knows the ins and outs more than us. I think I'll sleep on this one. Only one big decision per day allowed. =)
Took the afternoon and drove around to see some home listings and neighborhoods. Didn't go into any homes, but checked out the neighborhoods. Since Attie is an only kid, as much as we would like a more rural setting, I think it is important to try to be in a neighborhood with other kids his age. Found one neighborhood today that I really liked that had a home for sale in our price range. It is for sale by owner, so I have to decide if it is better to call them on our own (and maybe keep the price down by them not having to pay a buyer's agent and thus passing on the savings to us) or to call in a buyer's agent that knows the ins and outs more than us. I think I'll sleep on this one. Only one big decision per day allowed. =)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Schools
I think we are (finally) going to be in a good spot with the school situation, but it is still a daunting task - to choose the correct school (which leads to the right community) for Attie and our family.
Do we choose rural, suburban? Valley or west/south of Springfield? Private, public or home-school (but just for a bit, not long-term home schooling)?
It is in my heart that everything will work how it is suppose to work out - I'm just not 100% sure how that will be at this moment. And I probably won't know, even when we are in the middle of it. I just have to follow my gut and go from there.
When a kid visits a school and says, "please, please, please can I go to this school." Do you listen to him? Even if he hasn't met the teacher or seen the school work. Has just seen the awesome outdoor space and realizes how close nature is to him.
Nature was one of the tops on the list why we were moving. It wasn't to find a more academic school - the school that he was in was great - to be equal to what we had would be wonderful. Just writing these two sentences and putting them down on "paper" instead of sitting in my head has helped me lean towards one of the three schools over another one.
Now I think it will come down to location, location, location.
Bob wanted to move to be back in THE VALLEY. I put that in caps because I guess THE VALLEY is just that special. I haven't come to appreciate it fully yet myself, but everyone I speak with talks about how much they love it here, for those that have moved away everyone would love to move back at some point. So I guess if you have the opportunity to live in THE VALLEY, why go somewhere else?????
Of course a lot of the decision will also come down to $. Attie has been accepted to 3 schools. We need to wait to hear back on financial aid packages. That of course will be a huge factor. Also the type of house we can afford for each area.
I am just rambling along, but it is nice to put some thoughts down and to know that he is accepted to 3 private schools, so we have those options as well as plan c and d (Wilbraham public and homeschooling).
Time (and financial aid letters) will tell where we end up.....
Do we choose rural, suburban? Valley or west/south of Springfield? Private, public or home-school (but just for a bit, not long-term home schooling)?
It is in my heart that everything will work how it is suppose to work out - I'm just not 100% sure how that will be at this moment. And I probably won't know, even when we are in the middle of it. I just have to follow my gut and go from there.
When a kid visits a school and says, "please, please, please can I go to this school." Do you listen to him? Even if he hasn't met the teacher or seen the school work. Has just seen the awesome outdoor space and realizes how close nature is to him.
Nature was one of the tops on the list why we were moving. It wasn't to find a more academic school - the school that he was in was great - to be equal to what we had would be wonderful. Just writing these two sentences and putting them down on "paper" instead of sitting in my head has helped me lean towards one of the three schools over another one.
Now I think it will come down to location, location, location.
Bob wanted to move to be back in THE VALLEY. I put that in caps because I guess THE VALLEY is just that special. I haven't come to appreciate it fully yet myself, but everyone I speak with talks about how much they love it here, for those that have moved away everyone would love to move back at some point. So I guess if you have the opportunity to live in THE VALLEY, why go somewhere else?????
Of course a lot of the decision will also come down to $. Attie has been accepted to 3 schools. We need to wait to hear back on financial aid packages. That of course will be a huge factor. Also the type of house we can afford for each area.
I am just rambling along, but it is nice to put some thoughts down and to know that he is accepted to 3 private schools, so we have those options as well as plan c and d (Wilbraham public and homeschooling).
Time (and financial aid letters) will tell where we end up.....
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Getting Ready for Cub Scout Camp
Packing for Attie's first sleepaway camp - I'm not packing the good stuff. I'm having flashbacks to his first day at YMCA camp, where they went swimming.
He got in the car at the end of his first day and said he was thirsty - I asked where his water bottle was - "I don't know I lost it."
I looked at him in the backseat and noticed that he only had one sock one... "where is your other sock?"
His, reply - "I don't know I lost that too." And then with a huge smile on his face he said" ...and I'm going commando"
The boy lost his underwear sometime in changing into or out of his swimsuit.
That wasn't all there was. Every day was something else.
I wonder how many items will be lost at a week-long camp????
The great thing about his camp is that it is a sleep-away camp, but that parents can stay too and help with dinner and teeth brushing and then have the rest of the time to themselves. Since camp is now 2 1/2 hours away from where we are now living, I didn't feel comfortable having him that far away for his first time. So this will be the perfect situation. I'm bringing a book and the directions for the library so I can get some work done during the day.
It will be great for Atticus to be independent and do things on his own. I know that I/we do WAY too much for him, so it will be great that he gets to be at camp for a week and get some independence.
Best of luck to Attie's camp counselor. I am sure that it will be an interesting week. =)
He got in the car at the end of his first day and said he was thirsty - I asked where his water bottle was - "I don't know I lost it."
I looked at him in the backseat and noticed that he only had one sock one... "where is your other sock?"
His, reply - "I don't know I lost that too." And then with a huge smile on his face he said" ...and I'm going commando"
The boy lost his underwear sometime in changing into or out of his swimsuit.
That wasn't all there was. Every day was something else.
I wonder how many items will be lost at a week-long camp????
The great thing about his camp is that it is a sleep-away camp, but that parents can stay too and help with dinner and teeth brushing and then have the rest of the time to themselves. Since camp is now 2 1/2 hours away from where we are now living, I didn't feel comfortable having him that far away for his first time. So this will be the perfect situation. I'm bringing a book and the directions for the library so I can get some work done during the day.
It will be great for Atticus to be independent and do things on his own. I know that I/we do WAY too much for him, so it will be great that he gets to be at camp for a week and get some independence.
Best of luck to Attie's camp counselor. I am sure that it will be an interesting week. =)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Holyoke
Well we are out in Western Mass officially now. We left Quincy on Tuesday morning and all of our items (except for one last car load at our neighbor Martha's home) out either with us in our rental home or at storage. I have to go to the storage unit to find some items. Bob says that it is so overloaded that I won't be able to access anything. I hope that isn't the case. I have a lot that I need to find.
Schools are still up in the air, therefore, home location is still up in the air. I have to get out one more application to a school in Amherst and we have an appointment with a school in CT next week.
This week I have been around the rental house most of the time, so haven't gotten a "feel" of the area yet. This weekend we are in Wilmington at the Lovine's for the 4th of July and then I have a dentist appointment on Monday in Boston, so won't be around the area again for a while. I think it will take me a while to adopt Western MA. I have a lot of commitments that are keeping me going back to the Quincy area, so even though we aren't living there, leaving is not so easy.
Schools are still up in the air, therefore, home location is still up in the air. I have to get out one more application to a school in Amherst and we have an appointment with a school in CT next week.
This week I have been around the rental house most of the time, so haven't gotten a "feel" of the area yet. This weekend we are in Wilmington at the Lovine's for the 4th of July and then I have a dentist appointment on Monday in Boston, so won't be around the area again for a while. I think it will take me a while to adopt Western MA. I have a lot of commitments that are keeping me going back to the Quincy area, so even though we aren't living there, leaving is not so easy.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Back Again
Well it has been quite a while since I did a post to this blog. A lot has changed since then. Bob accepted a job at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on February 13th. That same evening my favorite cat Stray Kitty passed away. (was she trying to tell me something??)
So we began the odyssey of moving to Western Massachusetts. We listed our home for sale on March 18th and sold it (the first time) on March 22nd. Then came the home inspection, finding radon in the basement - to those buyers backed out. Then we listed again on April 6th and had our second (and final) buyer on April 10th. We closed the house sale on Friday, May 29th and rent back for 30 days so our last day in our Quincy home will be on June 29th; however we are tenants at the moment in Quincy.
We also have a summer rental in Holyoke that began on June 1st, so that is where we will have our start in Western MA.
I am a reluctant mover. Things have gone very well for me in Quincy. I am afraid of the unknown. I keep telling myself, things will turn out as they are suppose to turn out. The problem is I just don't know how they are suppose to turn out yet.
The house in Quincy is a mess, I have to get a plan in place to get everything boxed up. I would love to have my act together and just take June as a nice going away / saying good bye to friends time.
Attie's last day of 2nd grade is this Friday. I will really miss his school families and staff. It has been a wonderful place for us to be the past 5 years. Thursday night is the elementary pot-luck, I know it will be a tearful night for me. (do I admit that I am getting misty-eyed writing this now?)
My last Quincy Mother's Cooperative planning meeting was last night - another group that I am going to miss. What great mom friends I have made in the group.
Children's Sunday at East Congregational Church will be on Sunday, June 14th. That will probably be our last Sunday there too. Another group of terrific people to say goodbye to.
So we began the odyssey of moving to Western Massachusetts. We listed our home for sale on March 18th and sold it (the first time) on March 22nd. Then came the home inspection, finding radon in the basement - to those buyers backed out. Then we listed again on April 6th and had our second (and final) buyer on April 10th. We closed the house sale on Friday, May 29th and rent back for 30 days so our last day in our Quincy home will be on June 29th; however we are tenants at the moment in Quincy.
We also have a summer rental in Holyoke that began on June 1st, so that is where we will have our start in Western MA.
I am a reluctant mover. Things have gone very well for me in Quincy. I am afraid of the unknown. I keep telling myself, things will turn out as they are suppose to turn out. The problem is I just don't know how they are suppose to turn out yet.
The house in Quincy is a mess, I have to get a plan in place to get everything boxed up. I would love to have my act together and just take June as a nice going away / saying good bye to friends time.
Attie's last day of 2nd grade is this Friday. I will really miss his school families and staff. It has been a wonderful place for us to be the past 5 years. Thursday night is the elementary pot-luck, I know it will be a tearful night for me. (do I admit that I am getting misty-eyed writing this now?)
My last Quincy Mother's Cooperative planning meeting was last night - another group that I am going to miss. What great mom friends I have made in the group.
Children's Sunday at East Congregational Church will be on Sunday, June 14th. That will probably be our last Sunday there too. Another group of terrific people to say goodbye to.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)