I know most people refer to the process of buying a house as "house hunting". But lately that phrase has sounded far too tame to describe the process our family has been enduring to procure living quarters. "House hunting" conjures up sleepy late afternoons in a comfortable perch waiting for the desired mammal to walk by, as it surely shall. "Stalking" involves peering through dense grass, guns at the ready for yet to be determined prey that may decide on you as their main course.
We started this odessey on Christmas day, when some Internet browsing caught some really good house prices in our area. We contacted a realtor, who promptly set up several houses for us to see. She said that as everyone already knew, the market was in terrible shape, with nothing moving. Nothing except the houses we were to look at. Between our contact and the day we went out looking, one of the houses on our menu developed a contract. After our first viewing, another of the group developed a contract. We looked at some other houses, which all developed contracts within 24 hours of our visitation. We looked a another, and decided to bid--only to learn that it had developed a contract while we decided. We got pre-approved for a mortgage (just in case we needed to act quickly). We found another house to look at--only to learn that in the hour it had been listed it had developed at least one contract. We bid on a house--only to learn that it had "multiple contracts" and eventually we learned our bid was declined. We saw our current option on a Tuesday, signed the bid on Wednesday, learned Friday that we were competing in a bidding war with at least one other contract, redid our offer on Monday (offering a higher price), and are waiting the outcome now. Will our hunt finally be successful?
Mr. President is of the opinion that the housing market is slow. I wouldn't want it any faster!
The house we currently rent is due to be listed on the market Thursday. The Wednesday before the house was listed, a realtor asked to show the house. We said yes. Now, if the market continues the way it has been developing, how soon will it be until this house sells?
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Maybe you should make an offer on our house in order to generate interest in our house! Ha! No, not really. I don't want to move. I don't even want to go to Blacksburg!
ReplyDeleteWell, this sluggish housing market reminds me of the global warming Winter we've had. What's next!? ☺
Well, there surely must be an important lesson to learn in all this for you guys. I already know you have a sense of humor, so it's not that... I'd love to hear what it is as soon as you find out-K?! Hang in there.
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