Finding a house is like riding a roller coaster – a lot of highs and lows. So we decide to put in our first offer on a house in Somerville (about half a mile from where we live, I don’t like change). We put in the offer and then take off for the Rhode Island baby shower for Baby Chase (this is one well feted baby). But before we leave, we drive by the open house to see if there is anyone looking at the house. We were close to sending in some spies but we held back. So we go to Rhode Island, ooh and ahh over the baby girl clothes, and all the while Brendan is fielding calls from our agent. Sellers had questions on our offer and such.
The next day (Monday) we learn that there are other offers on the house. And if this goes to a bidding war, we are going to bow out gracefully because we can’t win. By Wednesday we learn the house has gone to another buyer (a third one swooped in at the last minute). Needless to say we are bummed. But we move on and a week later visit a place in Cambridge that while small has the feel that it is larger. We really like it and decide not to wait and see. We call our agent to set up a showing so we can talk to her about it. That is a Sunday. On Monday we get an email from Alissa (our agent) who said they sellers accepted an offer but because they listed the open house in the paper, went ahead with it. I guess they should tell you when you get to the open house that there is an accepted offer on the house but no, they didn’t. So we are once again feeling like unless we won’t a complete gut renovation or to spend a ton, we are never going to find a house.
But then, Tuesday comes. Brendan comes home and says that the original house was no longer listed as “Offer accepted” but “Active”. We immediately call Alissa who calls the sellers’ agent. And sure enough, it is back on the market. The original buyers walked after the inspection (later intel would inform us that they had the inspection and then said “we don’t want it” and didn’t want to negotiate about anything. Everyone believes they found another house they liked better). So once again, we draft an offer and begin to negotiate. After three days of back and forth (during this time I have reversed look up the address, know who the owners and where he works. The internet is a scary place.), we drop off the “Earnest deposit” and then the chaos begins.
(Also during this time, my company was in the processing of being bought so I am hesitant to even look at places. However, before we signed the offer letter I was notified that not only was the company bought but I was being brought into the new company. Phew!)
The sellers accepted our offer on a Sunday and I was leaving for Europe (Germany and Switzerland for work of course) on Monday. This meant that Brendan was left to handle the inspection and negotiations for the P&S (purchase and sale) without me. Oh and in order to qualify for the tax credit, this all has to be done by Friday. And I have to figure out a way to sign the P&S. Stress! Brendan spends 3 hours at the inspection and I wait up in Europe for him (I was 6 hours ahead). Inspection brings up a couple of things so we are now going back and forth to get these items included in the P&S. We win on some, we lose on others. A P&S is drafted and accepted by all and I am picked up at Logan and taken home. Alissa arrives shortly later and I sign my name and initial in A LOT of places. My jet lag is horrible at this point and I feel like I am cross-eyed. We hand over a large sum of money and we wait for closing.
Now we just have to tell our landlady (the nicest woman in the world!)
For those interested, some info on the house.
The wording from the ad:
“Attractive SF with huge landscaped yard. Near Davis Sq Bike Path, new Albion Park, and future Green Line T. First floor open living with hardwood floors, fireplace, & lots of light. 3+ bedrooms, incl. large master on second floor, 2 full baths, and bonus finished space in basement. 2 car, side-by-side parking. Ample storage inside and out. Recent updates include custom closets, sprinkler system, kitchen counters, circuit breakers, & cedar fence. Celebrate spring in your new home. Walk score=85″
Well the closing is not until the end of June so we will not be celebrate spring in our new home, but we will be celebrating every other season for the next million years.
And a picture of our new, humble abode:
And here is the yard (a big motivator of our interest):
