Not As Excited

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.....