Ever have one of those days?

[badseed1980]

I decided to be productive today and go to an open house, even though pierceheart is otherwise occupied. I was going to see 24 Fellsway West in Somerville, a smaller place than I was generally looking at, but I wanted to see about how various layouts can affect livability of a smaller space. So. Unfortunately, there were open houses at both 14 and 24 Fellsway West. I stupidly went to the wrong one because it was the first Open House sign I saw, and I didn't remember that I was looking for 14 and not 24. I thought, "HOLY CRAP, this place looks bigger than I imagined! And I thought the place I was looking at was a very different style of place. But I looked at a bunch of stuff online this morning, so I must be getting confused with a place I decided NOT to look at." I adored the place. It was so nice. I didn't even realize until I got home that I'd made a mistake. THIS place was down the street from the one I'd been aiming for. THIS place was going for $100K more than that one.

Ah.

Well, this place had an offer put on it this morning anyway, so I didn't actually think it was a possibility as soon as I found that out. But now I feel like a moron, because I was thinking about chatting more with this agent (who works for buyers as well as sellers, and doesn't require a contract with buyers, though I'm not sure what to make of that). But if I say, "Uh, yeah, that was the wrong place and I'm looking for something $100K cheaper, and YES, I realize that will not get me anywhere near as nice a place, and I'm resigned to that," I'll feel like a total idiot. Ugh. Oh well.

Edit: I think the worst part was realizing, "Ah, I should have known a place this nice was too expensive for us. We can't afford anything this nice." :(

Comments

buying agents

[dee-cee.livejournal.com]

I know two that I can recommend.

The first one is P, who we had dimsum with. He is good, and treats his clients like gold.

Another is Steve Karlgren, who piercehearts should know. He was ours when we got the condo (P wasn't licensed yet), and he was awesome.

Re: buying agents

[roaming.livejournal.com]

I'll take these names down myself, especially the "awesome" one. Because Tom and I should start paving the way to our new place sometime THIS year. We keep procrastinating, but seeing as how it will take a few years to find it, the sooner we start a plan, the better. I might meet with SK for a paid consult to put us on the right track. When I see you Friday I'll ask forhis tel #.

Re: buying agents

[dee-cee.livejournal.com]

Ah, but P is still young in the game of realty, and hungry. And is a geek like us.

I will give you both info, and I say you meet with both and see which you like!

-D

[roaming.livejournal.com]

That's the problem with looking at places you can't afford: it makes what one can afford look even worse than they really are. Besides, once you do buy a place -- especialy in a depressed market when it's cheaper -- you can look forward to trading up some day and earning money on that first fixer-upper.

Don't worry about feeling like an idiot. It's YOUR money, you're in the driver's seat, and the agents are working for you. (Though you don't really NEED a buyer's agent. They are useful, especially if there's something about the house you want to buy that the seller/seller's agent is trying to hide. They're not legally obligated to point out that, for example, the basement floods regularly during heavy rains. An inspector should find visible signs of that. And you can lower the offer if you have to install a sump pump.

There's tons of advice about what to look for in homebuying on the web. And I have a "Home Buyer's Organizer: Step by Step Guide to your new Home" I can give you. It's a spiral notebook with advice, and places to put in the info you collect and notes. So you won't feel all over the place.

[nepenthedreams]

Think about all the things you can still afford if you buy a less expensive house and that will make you feel better. Imagining sitting together in a big empty house, not being to afford to go out for dinner, let alone buy a refrigerator...

Or buying a house in your range, maybe smaller, but full of life, plenty of money leftover to decorate, also the fun of getting to decorate/fix up your own place, and still be able to go out for dinner.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd really rather not have to deal with much fixing up. Dear gods no. I want a place that's half-decent when we move in. Smaller, yeah, but nice enough to have company over.

[nepenthedreams]

I just meant stuff like painting or changing out knobs and stuffs...you definitely do not want to have to do any major work!

actually I was kinda sad that our house was so "perfect" (but boring, in white) because it felt kinda wasteful to paint over it. Whereas, if you're painting over someone else's puke green, there's a satisfaction to it.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Understandable. :) I certainly wouldn't mind painting, just to make the place more ours. But yeah, kitchen overhauls? New flooring? I'd really rather not need to do that kind of thing in order to make it nice. The money and time put into repair work wouldn't be worth the money we'd save on the sale price, more than likely.

[nepenthedreams]

btw I did NOT know you were buying a house ! Congratulations!
Anyway, comparison shopping is good - looking at things both above & below your range just to know what's out there. And you can always offer less.

Neat, good luck on all this.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Ah, we are definitely not looking for a rehab, but good luck!

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

We're basically looking at single families, row houses, or condos with at least 1000 square feet and at least 2 bedrooms, preferably on separate floors or at least not sharing a wall, for $200K-$300K.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Wait, by "rehab" do you mean "has BEEN rehabed" or "NEEDS rehab?"

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. Damn, prices are cheap where you are! For us, that much square footage would usually be upwards of $400K, in a half-decently maintained place.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I don't think Baltimore's likely to get me, I'm afraid! I AM making a pretty darn decent salary up here, fortunately, and the boy's is better than mine.