[Farmgirl22]

Originally Posted by jesseem

Good luck FG and ya know I'll be praying for you. I kinda feel that if it works out for you, it just might work out for me. Don't know why I feel that way. Weird. No pressure or anything.
HUGS sistah.

YIKES!! More pressure?!

So here's the update: we didn't get that house....3 other contracts went in on the same day, and one of them must have been for more than the asking price, because we offered the asking price. On the upside, we did find a teeny apartment (think efficiency apt. with extra walls in the way) that we are going to be able to rent until it goes up for auction at the end of April. So that's something at least.

We'll have to rent a storage unit for the rest of our stuff in the meantime (the apartment has all the appliances--washer, dryer, stove, fridge...and a wall-mount fold out table) and it's still going to be a bit of a tight fit for all of us (think clown car... ) but at least it's a roof over our heads, and the price is definitely right (especially nice since we'll be paying extra rent to a storage unit).

[poochee]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

YIKES!! More pressure?!

So here's the update: we didn't get that house....3 other contracts went in on the same day, and one of them must have been for more than the asking price, because we offered the asking price. On the upside, we did find a teeny apartment (think efficiency apt. with extra walls in the way) that we are going to be able to rent until it goes up for auction at the end of April. So that's something at least.

We'll have to rent a storage unit for the rest of our stuff in the meantime (the apartment has all the appliances--washer, dryer, stove, fridge...and a wall-mount fold out table) and it's still going to be a bit of a tight fit for all of us (think clown car... ) but at least it's a roof over our heads, and the price is definitely right (especially nice since we'll be paying extra rent to a storage unit).

Sorry you didn't get the house, but there is one out there that you may like even better! The apartment sounds, price and all, great until you find another house. Keep cool, all will work out!

[hannab]

I think it sounds good, too. This way it takes the pressure off just jumping into a house that isnt' right for you and maybe save a little money too

[Speakersrock]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

It's official....my hubby got a better job!! Yay! We don't know that the financial situation is going to be much different because the cost of living there is higher than here by a bit--and he's only getting a bit of a raise....but there's somewhere for him to move up to, and more opportunities for raises and such.

So I've been on the phone nearly all week talking to realtors, mortgage lenders, etc. because there aren't many (if any) rental prospects in the area that we are looking to move to. We've tried to be smart about the mortgage thing--knowing that it's a huge debt that has to be paid off eventually--so we are sticking to a range that we are comfortable with. It's making our house hunt harder, because we are limiting our budget so much, but we don't want any nasty surprises. The bank says we'll be able to afford a lot more than we think we can, but like I said--I don't want to find out that they are wrong the hard way.

So anyway, be on the lookout for posts asking how to remodel bathrooms/kitchens/etc. in the home-improvement forum....because we are probably going to end up with a "fixer-upper". Which is OK with me....I like the work--it'll be a nice change from from what I'm doing now.

sorry im a bit late!!!..If you havn't already moved; good luck with it!

If you have, congrats! , hope it went well!

[grandma77]

Will keep praying for the right house to come along. It is great that you are willing to put up with some inconvenience until the right one comes along.

[jesseem]

Sorry abt that FG. Again story of my life. But what grandma said is so true for me. I'm putting up with this inconvenience (neigbors broke both the salt water and the drinking water motor - so end result 3rd consecutive day no water at all - paying 2 bucks for a bucket of water) so that someday something good will come along my way, hopefully eventually. *sighs*

[Speakersrock]

Oh right, Didn't ralise you are still waiting on it. Hope the right house does come along very soon.
But It can take a very long time!!...and you have to have the paitence of a goddess; so good luck with that.)

(Just taken my Grandma 4 months to get moved, and its not over yet!)

[Farmgirl22]

Originally Posted by Speakersrock

Oh right, Didn't realise you are still waiting on it. Hope the right house does come along very soon.
But It can take a very long time!!...and you have to have the patience of a goddess; so good luck with that.)

(Just taken my Grandma 4 months to get moved, and its not over yet!)

Yes, we are still waiting to find the perfect house (or just a house in general) to come along.

LOL! Did you mean saint?? Because either way, I'm in trouble. Patience is NOT one of my many virtues... I'm more of an I need/want it YESTERDAY kind of gal....

Anyone know anything about getting financing for an auction house? Is that the same as what you get for buying a house through a real estate agency/FSBO?? Anyway, I really have to get...too many things to do, not enough time to do it.

[Speakersrock]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

Yes, we are still waiting to find the perfect house (or just a house in general) to come along.

LOL! Did you mean saint?? Because either way, I'm in trouble. Patience is NOT one of my many virtues... I'm more of an I need/want it YESTERDAY kind of gal....

Anyone know anything about getting financing for an auction house? Is that the same as what you get for buying a house through a real estate agency/FSBO?? Anyway, I really have to get...too many things to do, not enough time to do it.

Same here all the way!!! (Accept prehaps the 'Kindof Gal' Bit!!)
Good luck with it, again.

I don't know, But I will ask meh Dad, He's a property developer/builder, so he's sure to know!

[grandma77]

Farmgirl...I know when you go to an auction they usually require a certain percentage down at the time of the auction and people are usually preapproved for the remaining part by a mortgage company so that the money is readly available if their bid is approved.

My oldest daughter got her home through a bank forclosure. They got the house much cheaper than it was worth and they got a mortgage pre-approved with enough room to fix up the things they wanted done before moving in. Now her house is worth almost double of what she got it for. She did this about six years ago ...it was the right time and right place. Did you ever think of seeing if there were any like that in your area?

[jesseem]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

Yes, we are still waiting to find the perfect house (or just a house in general) to come along.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

LOL! Did you mean saint?? Because either way, I'm in trouble. Patience is NOT one of my many virtues... I'm more of an I need/want it YESTERDAY kind of gal....

Ditto .... and I'm a gal ...... well, that's what it says in my birth certificate.

[Farmgirl22]

Originally Posted by grandma77

Farmgirl...I know when you go to an auction they usually require a certain percentage down at the time of the auction and people are usually preapproved for the remaining part by a mortgage company so that the money is readly available if their bid is approved.

My oldest daughter got her home through a bank forclosure. They got the house much cheaper than it was worth and they got a mortgage pre-approved with enough room to fix up the things they wanted done before moving in. Now her house is worth almost double of what she got it for. She did this about six years ago ...it was the right time and right place. Did you ever think of seeing if there were any like that in your area?

Well this house (if it's salvageable/anything close to what we are looking for) isn't a bank forclosure, but it was tied up in an estate--all those properties are going up (including our clown car apartment) in that same auction. The trustee says that house won't bring anything, so we're hoping that it's salvageable enough to fix up and sell later--like what your daughter did. This is an area that is growing more quickly than houses can be built...which causes some problems. However, if there is any potential at all to this house, hopefully it can be found and we can fix it up. We are actually hiring an inspector to walk through the house with us...if it's worth saving, he's going to let us know.

We are nervous because this house is being sold on an "as is" basis that there may be more problems than we can fix on our budget...but you never know. It could just be since it's an old farmhouse that people won't want it because it won't be efficient at first, and it's not very pretty on the outside. I think it would work in our favor that the people who live there now are like "trailer trash" that got relocated to this old farmhouse--since the yard won't be pretty and stuff maybe people won't see anything past that and miss the potential completely.

I wish we could look at it before the auction--like sometime next week--and see if it's even close to what we want. It would be nice to see if it's something to get excited over or if we should just plan to keep looking elsewhere. *annoyed smiley* I don't know....the situation is so....something, we have been getting excited about every little thing.

I did find out yesterday that I can also get about a 50% discount (read: just above cost) on supplies like plumbing/wiring/flooring/lumber/shingles/lighting/etc. So that would help a LOT! Having connections with the right people is SUCH a bonus!

[grandma77]

I will definitely pray for you and this house deal. Will the inspector go in before the auction? If the structure is sound and the repairs are more cosmetic that would be great.

The biggest thing my daughter had to do was replace her heat pump. She was able to hold it off long enough for her and her hubby to build on a small addition so that could be incorporated into the heating system. They had things set up pretty good. This winter they decided they wanted to make some changes so they are replacing linoleum in the kitchen with tile. She is also putting up wainscotting. But first they are having a friend come over and poor concrete counter tops. So her kitchen is going to be amazing. She called me this morning and said she picked out her tile yesterday...got it on sale at a great price. Her hubby and his friends all have jobs in the construction industry so they help each other out with their homes. My daughter even learned how to hang drywall when they were doing the addition. And she did a marvelous job. The more you can do yourself the cheaper it is. They did everything themselves except the electric and heating. They have five children so the extra space really made their home comfortable. My daughter has other plans for her house too but she said the other stuff will wait till next year.

So I know it can be done and it might take a while. But then you can look back at all you did and see what you and your hubby accomplished with pride.

[hannab]

Wow, Grandma77, can your daughter come over and hang some sheet rock for us? that would be so helpful I am so envious of people who are good with their hands - if I get around sharp objects and I usually end up bleeding or something We have a lot to do still on our house, but I hate having things turned upside down, so am just ignoring it all for now

FG - I think it is a great idea to have an inspector with you - sometimes you just get too caught up in wanting the house that you don't see the negatives - sorta happened to us when we bought - first time buyers , but at least you've been in enough rental houses that you should know what issues to look out for.

GOOD LUCK!

[grandma77]

My daughter said when they get through laying the tile in their kitchen, if I want it done she will come help. She also wants me to get concrete countertops. But I told her I will need to rob a bank before all that happens. She and her hubby are very talented that way. It is nice as when you have that advantage. She gets a lot done around her place. And much much cheaper than hiring someone to do it.

Have a nice evening Hannab... just got home from grocery shopping and need to fix dinner. Talk more later...