Buying a House--Guarded with a Sprinkle of Apprehension

. . . is about how Erik felt upon getting an agreement with the buyers of the house that was first on our list this weekend. Negotiations are over.

I can't say that I blame him. After all of this, we will most likely have an executed/ratified contract by Wednesday morning. (Things just do move slower here; much to our irritation. What can I say? We are still on east coast timelines and time expectations.)

But, holy alleluia, we don't have to spend 100% of our time driving through neighborhoods, scouring the internet, analyzing satellite images, and frantically juggling two babies while looking in houses. YIIPPEEE! I feel a bit freer, because as Erik is feeling, nothing is done until all is signed . . . and I mean all signed in several weeks at closing.

Now, I need to go set up utilities for our next apartment, which we'll be in at least a month. I did suggest to Erik skipping those amenities because I have to go through it all again for our house (I hate repetition). He wisely vetoed my idea.

Buying a House--Long Story Short

We decided to not put the offer on the house. sigh. sigh. sigh.

Result of irritating real estate agent, and the type of loan we would have needed to obtain for repairs was chock full of unnecessary fees. In Texas, the buyer cannot leave the table with money. That means that the buyer cannot leave the table with money for repairs, for appliances, for being good looking or having a nice personality.

So, you look to other types of loans like an FHA 203K. Not for us. It would cost us more because we are responsible, have good credit, and aren't willing to throw away $6,000 upfront $70 a month in lending fees.

Back to square one.

I started packing this morning.

Buying a House--Status Update

So, we are putting a contract on a house today. Repair costs are at $20,000. We are praying that the bank is motivated to get the property off their books and will accept our offer.

Put on your prayer socks, good vibe hats, and wish us luck!

Buying a House--Foreclosures

Foreclosures make me sad. We have seen several, and if you look carefully, you'll see past the mess that most of them are in and see the investment that many families had put into their homes.

One home had young fruit trees in the back with garden plots. In several years, the trees will be bulging with fruit and the owner will be able to take advantage of those trees. I bet the trees' original gardeners had no idea that they would never see that day in that home.

Some foreclosures are dirty with the typical dirt that comes with people moving and not sending in the cleaners. Some foreclosures are showing signs of extended neglect from not having occupants to care for them with weeds crawling everywhere, leaves settling in places that should be clean, and mounds of ant hills in the back (I'm in Texas, people). Some foreclosed properties were abused and show terrible signs of anger and sadness--holes in walls, walls burned above the fireplace, banisters blasted from their supporting places, and blatant physical abuse and neglect.

Some of these properties are in such disrepair and need so much help that I am afraid it will be a long time before someone has the vision and bank to buy, clean, heal, and rebuild those homes.

I think I am drawn to foreclosures because of the sadness I feel for these properties and some sadness for those that lost their homes. Homes have always have held a human personification for me. I don't know why. Maybe it is because when you walk into someone's home you can immediately get a sense of how happy the homeowners are . . . .

I am drawn to foreclosures party because I want it to be a happy home. I want someone to take care of that home before it rots away becoming the haunted house of the neighborhood overrun by plants, rodents, and other pest-y creatures.

Today I saw a foreclosure that has great potential for our family. (Don't get me wrong, we are seeing lots of homes, just not foreclosures.) It is a bit further out in the country than I am currently comfortable with . . . a kind of discomfort that comes from moving from a BUSY part of the world to a not so busy part of the world. A bit of sadness though, as I opened the door to the garage and saw a Radio Flyer red wagon all alone in the middle of the floor like it momentarily abandoned by its owner who will return shortly.

I hope the reason they didn't take it with them was because the kids had outgrown it.

Maybe it is a sign that the home is right for my boys--and, wouldn't you know . . . we don't have a red wagon just yet.

Buying a House--Huh?

So we are looking to buy a house. One of our options is to buy a foreclosed home and repair it. Foreclosed homes make me so sad.

Anyway, I've been doing some research on some of the more major issues that are common with foreclosures . . . one of which is cat pee. Doing the research I came across a guy who did find a great company to get rid of the odorous issue. In his explanation to give credibility he says, "……they used the same method on my house that they use when cleaning up after the human corpse had been in the house for a long time………"

WHAT? A HUMAN corpse was in your house?

I'll be sure to be more cautious when going into homes now.