Buying property

[Lindsey]

I just happened to be browsing some websites this morning and came across a new listing for a 780 sq ft split level in a great neighborhood on a 50x140 ft lot AND in my price range
It's a definite fixer upper, but has original oak hardwood floors under the ugly old carpet that could be refinished. It was built in 1912 but has a full height basement with a lot of windows. The basement walls have been reinforced over the years (I don't know if it's good that they have been reinforced, or bad that they had to be reinforced... future problems?) Anyways, the rooms are all huge! And the basement could possibly be finished (it is unfinished) and a third bedroom could be added... it is currently a 2 bedroom/3 bathroom home. I think 3 and 3 would make it more appealing to families when I decide to sell!
Lucky for me, my brother is an electrician, and my cousin is a plumber. The back yard is all rock, which I am not a fan of. I like grass! But one of my good friends from back home just happens to be a landscape architect, and her dad is a carpenter
I emailed a realtor to go have a look... I don't want to get my hopes up too high in case the house is beyond repair. It looks like an old man had been living there... The basement was used as a workshop and the house looks very cluttered. The master bedroom had a single electric adjustable bed. Maybe the man passed away and the family wants to get rid of the house as soon as possible (with the real estate market this slow, the low price would make sense) or maybe he was put into a care home... I'm just hoping the price isn't so low just because there is so much wrong!

[judy]

Good luck Lindsey!

[Lindsey]

The realtor just said they got 2 offers the day after it was posted and they accepted one of them.
But I did find another just down the street from my grandma's house... it's a much smaller yard, and there are no pictures of the inside, but it's a beautiful 1912 1-1/2 story house right across from the high school my dad used to go to The back yard has a 2 car garage with back alley access, and a nice sized garden.
This whole house-hunting thing is pretty exciting for me

[Blueyes]

Hold out for exactly what you want Lindsey! House hunting is a lot of fun, but it's also stressful. You are smart to look for something before you HAVE to have it

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

The realtor just said they got 2 offers the day after it was posted and they accepted one of them.
But I did find another just down the street from my grandma's house... it's a much smaller yard, and there are no pictures of the inside, but it's a beautiful 1912 1-1/2 story house right across from the high school my dad used to go to The back yard has a 2 car garage with back alley access, and a nice sized garden.
This whole house-hunting thing is pretty exciting for me

This sounds much better than the last one. Let us know how it all works out!!! Wishing you the very best in your search!!

[Lindsey]

Thanks I'm going to look at the house tomorrow evening and probably two condos tonight

[judy]

Originally Posted by Lindsey

Thanks I'm going to look at the house tomorrow evening and probably two condos tonight

I was told today by some of my writing group friends that we don't call where I live
"the condos." We call it "the townhouses." It makes us sound fancier.

Keep us posted.

[Lindsey]

So far, so good! I got to look at the smaller 2 bedroom condo today. I really liked it. Everything has been redone, it's just ready to move in! The floors are really nice, and the super soft carpet was heaven on my feet Of course, it would probably also be Layla's favorite pee pad Anyways, the only downside is that it's a condo and there's no yard.
After seeing the condo, the realtor wanted to go for coffee to explain the whole buying process to me. She even bought my coffee! There was a bit of stuff I wasn't expecting... first of all, the closing costs would pretty much equal exactly the amount of money I have saved up for my Europe trip The second was a downer about buying a condo... that if the condo owners decide they need a new roof for example, they can go to each person and say "We need $2000" and you have to pay up. I just don't think I could handle the unexpected costs. Scott told me that just happened to one of his friends.... she bought a condo and the condo people decided it was time to replace all the windows so she had to cough up $4000
AND about the house... the tenant needs 24 hours notice to get his big angry dog out of the house before people go inside. My realtor tried calling him a few times today and he won't answer his phone. She talked to the owner of the house and he said the only reason it hasn't sold yet is because the tenant is being very uncooperative about letting people in to see the place. He doesn't want to move.
Anyways, she did leave a message saying we want to look tomorrow night. We will hopefully also be able to see the larger 3 bedroom condo tomorrow night. We couldn't get in tonight since the two people living there have the flu.
Oh yeah and she said her big concern is about basements in old houses like that. She asked the listing agent and she was told that there are no major problems at all with the basement which is great news! She also told me "If you're going to live there all by yourself you might want to get a bigger dog.... I just don't think your yorkie will offer much protection!" lol... I have been looking into that too!