We got an answer on the short sale that we have been trying to purchase... sort of.
Our real estate agent got a letter from the bank that said after they analyzed the numbers, they decided the house was not available for a short sale so they were closing the file. They did not turn down our offer or counter with a higher number, just "closed the file". The lady who still owns the house, in conjunction with the bank, had no idea and our real estate agent was having a hard time getting any answers either.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking away for us. We have to have a firm commitment on a purchase by September 18, or we have to go with a different loan option- pesky fiscal years. We also have to be O-U-T of our house the beginning of November. We went house shopping again this weekend, and turned up two very good possibilities- one that I really like and one that B really likes. Sigh. Decision time again.
House #1 (the one I like)
Pros:
-BIG! It could fit our current home in twice.
-CLEAN! Seriously. This lady's alter ego must be bald, wear an earring, and come with a spray bottle. I would have no worries about eating of this home's bathroom floor.
-WATER! The field is irrigated and seeded with an alfalfa mix. Lovely and green in our sea of desert brown.
-STORAGE! Shed, shop, 2 car attached garage, 2 car detached.
-Two fireplaces with blowers.
Cons:
-Not currently set up for rotational grazing or animals. The out buildings all have cement floors.
-I would have to clean an area twice the size of what I currently have.
-We do not have enough furniture for this house. Our couch, loveseat, recliner, chair and ottoman are not going to cut it for a living room, family room, and rec room.
-Older equipment. The house has been maintained to the nth degree, which is great, but it also means that the furnace, hot water heater, appliances, irrigation pipes, etc are bordering on vintage.
-One set of exterior doors to the house. Slightly strange. The "front" of the house is at the back, where there is one grand entry set of double doors. No other doors into the house other than the garage door. When visiting the house the first time, you find yourself wandering around to figure out where to knock. Wait! Maybe this is a pro? Forget about pesky solicitors... the Kirby sucked... well not really, and that was the problem.
-the house has a slight '70s feel to it. A bit Brady Bunchish on the curb appeal.
House #2 (the one B likes)
Pros:
-Full animal set up ready to go. Riding arena, 3 stall stable with room to add 4th, feed/tack room, lovely white rail fence paddocks, and chicken coop.
-WATER! Irrigated pasture. Also a lovely green field in a grass mix. Newer irrigation pipe.
-Country/ranch appeal. The main part of the house was built in 1915 and a lovely addition has been added. Everything is a sunny yellow color with white trim and rail fencing. Very charming.
-Huge Trex deck and pergola on the back of the house.
-Newer hot water heater, furnace, and appliances.
-Uses natural gas.
Cons:
-No garage. Have I mentioned we're in Colorado? I don't like shoveling and scraping at 5am.
-Everything is wood sided: house, stable, fence. We're talking paint maintenance here.
-The house has some rough edges, and still needs some renovation work. It also has a slightly weird lay out. The living room and family room are perpendicular to each other, but not connected. The "finished" loft room has a drop down attic ladder to access it. Not much bigger than what we have now.
-The barn/stable was also constructed in the early part of the 1900s. While in good shape for its age, it could use some structural assistance in the next year or two.
House #1's list price is 10k more than house #2. Although, house #1 seems to have more motivated sellers than house #2. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Oh, and just to add another twist to the saga, B met with the surgeon today. He is scheduled for a double hernia surgery the beginning of October, so guess who will be out of commission for moving day- again! This will be our 9th move in 11 years. This will be the 5th time he's gotten out of it. Although, I guess I'll give him a pass on this one...
