View Full Version : There has been a change of plans...
I've mentioned here a few times that SO and I are lifelong renters and expected to remain so until we retire ten years from now and then move somewhere cheaper than San Francisco and would buy something.
Well, three weeks ago we went to look at a house on a whim. It was awesome. In a complex were a good friend lives, (and is also the HOA president, which is how we knew that a bank owned unit was about to go on the market). We found a buyer's agent and made an offer. And didn't get the place. But since we now had a real estate agent we looked at a few more places. And yesterday we made another offer on a different place. Now we have an accepted offer on a gorgeous 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath townhouse in Marin County, about 20 minutes north of the city. Barring some catastrophy in the escrow process (inspections have been done and financing approved already) we will be homeowners roughly 30 days from now!
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iris lilies
8-17-20, 8:56pm
Such exciting news! That’s wonderful! It is nice being a homeowner and you can do things to your house that you couldn’t as a renter.
I love that staircase. Congrats!
It is lovely and spacious. Enjpy!
frugal-one
8-17-20, 9:19pm
Very nice!!
Love that private patio space--and Marin County! Such happy news.
Congratulations!! The place is gorgeous!
Very nice -- love that patio!
Thanks you all for your kind words. We are both excited beyond belief.
There is another unit for sale there where we had placed a successful backup offer (it already had a contingent offer when we viewed it but we would have gotten it if that had fallen out of escrow). It had an even better, and bigger since it was an end unit, patio but not the super cool staircase that this one has. And one less bathroom. Honestly I think this one is better. it’s slightly bigger and has one more bathroom.
Honestly I’m still kind of dumbfounded at the speed that this whole process took place. And terrified at the prospect of packing up and moving after ten years in our current place. Need boxes. Lots of boxes... if this were househunters it’s just be a quick commercial and then “[ding dong] JP and SO Have moved into their new place. Let’s see how they are adjusting.”
Go to U-Haul for good boxes. I’ve read they will buy back unused ones. Crappy boxes make a move miserable.
Go to U-Haul for good boxes. I’ve read they will buy back unused ones. Crappy boxes make a move miserable.
That’s our plan. We’ve used them before. And we will definitely be hiring movers. There’s no way we could move all our stuff ourselves.
When I moved into current place 12 years ago, I got movers. Easiest move ever.
Given the money we’re dropping To buy the place the cost of movers is pennies. We’ve used movers twice now and I would never consider doing it myself again.
Teacher Terry
8-17-20, 11:24pm
Your condo looks great. Congrats ��!
It's so pretty! And Marin County is gorgeous. Good job!
That is a gorgeous place. I love everything about it!
rosarugosa
8-18-20, 6:06am
How beautiful! It has a sleek and serene vibe that seems like it would suit you very well. Congratulations!
early morning
8-18-20, 9:17am
Beautiful! Enjoy!
happystuff
8-18-20, 9:46am
Very nice! Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! And Bravo for taking this huge step!
Just wired $22,000 to the escrow account. This is getting real now!
Given the money we’re dropping To buy the place the cost of movers is pennies. We’ve used movers twice now and I would never consider doing it myself again.
I can only recommend to declutter as much as you can before moving. It makes a huge difference.
I can only recommend to declutter as much as you can before moving. It makes a huge difference.
Thanks. I definitely plan to. We just have too much stuff. There's a whole storage room in the basement with stuff we never use.
Is this your first home purchase? Mine was over 40 years ago but I still remember how exciting that was.
I remember buying my condo--at an open house during the 1977 NBA playoffs (Which Portland won). After looking at MANY properties, I knew immediately that it was The One. And I got home in time to watch the end of the game.
Is this your first home purchase? Mine was over 40 years ago but I still remember how exciting that was.
Yes. One of the few downsides of having lived in or near the two most expensive US cities for all my adult life is the cost of real estate. If anyone had ever told me I’d one day sign up for an almost $600k loan for anything I would have assumed them to be crazy, yet here I am. But yeah, it’s quite exciting.
iris lilies
8-19-20, 4:41pm
Yes. One of the few downsides of having lived in or near the two most expensive US cities for all my adult life is the cost of real estate. If anyone had ever told me I’d one day sign up for an almost $600k loan for anything I would have assumed them to be crazy, yet here I am. But yeah, it’s quite exciting.
They will probably make you sign an acknowledgement that spells out exactly how much you will be paying the mortgage company over the full life of the loan. DON’T LOOK AT THAT FIGURE, JUST SIGN IT!
—signed iris, still having nightmares over that figure for my first $45,000 house.
They will probably make you sign an acknowledgement that spells out exactly how much you will be paying the mortgage company over the full life of the loan. DON’T LOOK AT THAT FIGURE, JUST SIGN IT!
—signed iris, still having nightmares over that figure for my first $45,000 house.
Actually I’ve already seen that. Only 45#% of the purchase price. And we plan to pay enough towards principal to have it paid off by the time we retire in ten years.
Yes. One of the few downsides of having lived in or near the two most expensive US cities for all my adult life is the cost of real estate. If anyone had ever told me I’d one day sign up for an almost $600k loan for anything I would have assumed them to be crazy, yet here I am. But yeah, it’s quite exciting.
$600K? Dang.
frugal-one
8-19-20, 8:13pm
Actually I’ve already seen that. Only 45#% of the purchase price. And we plan to pay enough towards principal to have it paid off by the time we retire in ten years.
That is really wise.
$600K? Dang.
No kidding. Purchase price is $727 and we're putting 20% down. But if real estate prices here continue what they've done the past 20 years it'll be worth 1 1/2 to 2X that when we're ready to retire.
No kidding. Purchase price is $727 and we're putting 20% down. But if real estate prices here continue what they've done the past 20 years it'll be worth 1 1/2 to 2X that when we're ready to retire.
Ha, my first house was $35K, my VA loan required no down payment and I still lost money on it when we sold. Wishing you the best of luck!
New condos around here are creeping toward those prices, too. I'll settle for an older one.
Ha, my first house was $35K, my VA loan required no down payment and I still lost money on it when we sold. Wishing you the best of luck!
Thanks! Worst case scenario I can imagine is that we've tied up $145k for ten years, spent the same as we were spending on rent every month, and when we're ready to sell a decade from now we sell for somewhere in the neighborhood of our purchase price and walk away with somewhat more than $145k. With today's interest rates and my lack of desire to put more money in the stock market at the moment I will be fine with that outcome.
If our outcome is significantly worse then the world will have truly gone to hell in a handbag. This is a really nice suburb with decent schools and the development appears to be run by a top notch HOA. They are already reserving for the anticipated 2038 roof replacement as well as every other major upcoming expense.
We have been so happy this summer to live in our house. We had been in condos and apartments since 2005, until 2017. It’s great to know that we are not sharing HVAC with neighboring units (Covid concerns?) and it’s nice to have a fenced backyard for outdoor time during quarantine times.
rosarugosa
8-20-20, 6:08am
We have been so happy this summer to live in our house. We had been in condos and apartments since 2005, until 2017. It’s great to know that we are not sharing HVAC with neighboring units (Covid concerns?) and it’s nice to have a fenced backyard for outdoor time during quarantine times.
Agreed, we've felt especially fortunate to have our own outdoor space this year.
flowerseverywhere
8-20-20, 7:00am
The inside is beautiful but I especially love the outdoor spaces. I imagine you will have many happy times enjoying the serenity and beauty of nature. It sounds like something that was meant to be.
The month will fly by as you decide what to take and what to sell and donate.
when we bought our first house we were young kids Ourselves with two babies. We felt like we were signing our lives away. The owner had gotten fired for embezzlement and had somehow landed a job and escaped to a new city. His wife showed up to the closing drunk and ranting how we got the house for a steal, but we managed to get everything signed. I can’t imagine that happening today. When we sold that house Ten years later (it was paid off) to move for a job and we made a tiny profit, but in the long run paying rent would have been a total loss.
We have been so happy this summer to live in our house. We had been in condos and apartments since 2005, until 2017. It’s great to know that we are not sharing HVAC with neighboring units (Covid concerns?) and it’s nice to have a fenced backyard for outdoor time during quarantine times.
Shared a/c? Guess it depends on the type of condo. I’m in an apartment style condo (rented) and I have my own central a/c unit (and furnace).
I’ve had to move twice with little notice from apartments because a smoker moved in next door and the second hand smoke goes through shared wall space. Both times my asthma flared and I lived with open windows in the Phoenix summer heat until we could move.
If smoke can do that, I wonder about viruses. But it’s only my speculation.
I’ve had to move twice with little notice from apartments because a smoker moved in next door and the second hand smoke goes through shared wall space. Both times my asthma flared and I lived with open windows in the Phoenix summer heat until we could move.
If smoke can do that, I wonder about viruses. But it’s only my speculation.
And Quite possibly a reasonable concern. Personally I installed weather stripping on our front door to an inner hallway in March because we often got drafts through the cracks and I didn’t want the virus potentially entering from the hall.
Status update. Our loan has been approved and the appraisal came in at our offer price. All systems are
go!
Now the only question is how quickly we can close. SO’s hotel is still planning to reopen on October 1st. In a couple weeks he’ll be working 12 hour days if that doesn’t change so the sooner the better. Otherwise I’ll be doing all the packing and move by myself... Although as it stands I’m the only one who has started packing. SO has been too busy picking out furniture...
As of ten minutes ago we are officially first time homeowners!
Teacher Terry
9-16-20, 6:25pm
Congrats!!
Huzzah! Have fun with it!
Congratulations! Do people still do carpet angels?
Yay! I wish you many years of happy homeownership!
iris lilies
9-16-20, 8:09pm
As of ten minutes ago we are officially first time homeowners!
Exciting times!
I am sure that the five places I have owned do not equal in price your new place. I’m sure it’s much nicer!
SteveinMN
9-16-20, 10:29pm
Congratulations! I hope it's the site of many happy memories.
dado potato
9-17-20, 1:03am
This is exciting news. Good luck with everything.
"... May the sun always shine upon your window pane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow every rain..."
rosarugosa
9-17-20, 6:08am
Congratulations, JP! That is great news!
This is exciting news. Good luck with everything.
"... May the sun always shine upon your window pane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow every rain..."
I wish you enjoyment in your new home, Jp1.
What a lovely phrase, Dado!
happystuff
9-17-20, 7:35am
Congratulations! Have fun turning the new house into your home!
Adding to the congratulations! May you build many happy memories in your new place.
dado potato
9-17-20, 9:34am
What a lovely phrase, Dado!
razz,
It is part of a longer Celtic blessing, which begins:
"May there always be work for your hands to do..."
A new home will involve some work! <wink>
I like the first line very much!
Killer deal in Marin. Congrats and happy moving!
frugal-one
9-17-20, 1:41pm
Hope you have many happy memories there!
Thank you all for the kind words. We already had our first visitor. A dear friend who lives 10 minutes away brought over a bottle of champagne and we sat out in the patio to enjoy it! The previous owner left two patio dining room type chairs and we had brought over a step stool so we could even sit down! The neighborhood is so quiet. There’s a wilderness park behind us and the street is a dead end so no traffic noise at all. I have literally never lived anywhere this quiet.
Today the painters are tackling the popcorn ceiling. Moving day is Sunday so hopefully they will be done by then.
Peace and quiet is a precious, rare commodity. And a nature preserve!
Peace and quiet is a precious, rare commodity. And a nature preserve!Agreed, and a commodity I sometimes take for granted. We're at the end of a cul-de-sac with heavily treed borders all around and in-between the houses on the street. We never hear the noises of civilization or even see our neighbor's homes until the leaves fall, as they soon will. That makes it a forever home.
I live between a golf course and a state park, and it's still the noisiest place I've ever lived. :(
I live between a golf course and a state park, and it's still the noisiest place I've ever lived. :(
FORE!
FORE!
Haha! Not quite that close--that would have to be a record-breaking drive. But I did have three deer in my driveway yesterday, presumably visitors from the park.
Update now that we’ve been here a month. We still LOVE it. We’re mostly unpacked. SO has installed pullout shelves in the pantry. And we’ve had a few friends over for socially distanced brunches in the back yard. We’ve been able to cook and eat outside probably three times per week. And when I’m done working for the day I’ve come outside almost every day to read. The wildlife has been fun to watch too. I didn’t expect to see too much in the park behind us since it’s pretty small and surrounded by residential developments but it’s been great. Today we almost had an episode of murder! The wild turkeys were just outside the fence eating dinner when they all started talking. There was a coyote up the hill stalking them! One went to investigate and then he (she?) gave the alert and the all flew up into the trees just as the coyote made a failed attempt to catch one for dinner. (I didn’t know turkeys could fly. They looked clumsy but they got up into the trees. And for the next twenty minutes they kept chatting before the leader flew down, took a good look around and then gave the all clear and they all came back down and went back to eating dinner. .
rosarugosa
10-19-20, 5:41am
Update now that we’ve been here a month. We still LOVE it. We’re mostly unpacked. SO has installed pullout shelves in the pantry. And we’ve had a few friends over for socially distanced brunches in the back yard. We’ve been able to cook and eat outside probably three times per week. And when I’m done working for the day I’ve come outside almost every day to read. The wildlife has been fun to watch too. I didn’t expect to see too much in the park behind us since it’s pretty small and surrounded by residential developments but it’s been great. Today we almost had an episode of murder! The wild turkeys were just outside the fence eating dinner when they all started talking. There was a coyote up the hill stalking them! One went to investigate and then he (she?) gave the alert and the all flew up into the trees just as the coyote made a failed attempt to catch one for dinner. (I didn’t know turkeys could fly. They looked clumsy but they got up into the trees. And for the next twenty minutes they kept chatting before the leader flew down, took a good look around and then gave the all clear and they all came back down and went back to eating dinner. .
Such drama - I love it! Saturday morning I got the best, closest longest look at a coyote right in front of our house. It was very beautiful.
Love seeing nature in action! It balances out the human madness.
iris lilies
10-19-20, 7:49am
Love seeing nature in action! It balances out the human madness.
It does, doesnt it? Thats a good way to put it.
SteveinMN
10-19-20, 2:26pm
the all flew up into the trees just as the coyote made a failed attempt to catch one for dinner. (I didn’t know turkeys could fly.
Aww, somebody had to do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3mgmEdfwg
That was such a great episode of a great show!
In the woodlot area on our farm, there was a section with large high trees where the turkeys would fly and rest for the night. Early in the morning they would fly down to begin their day. We found buried nests, then the hatched young and watched the youngsters line up behind their mother and aunts to make the walk behind our shed and across our one field on a regular basis. This pattern continued for a number of years. I had forgotten about that so loved being reminded.
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