Last week we had temperatures in the 50s and 60s. If you have been raised in Wisconsin or anywhere in a northern climate, you know that this is considered a heat wave for March. Kevin and I decided to take advantage of the balmy temperatures by taking some walks after work. I absolutely love going on walks with my husband. We do some of our best talking on these walks.
Since our house still hasn't sold, we talked about the what ifs. Our real estate listing contract will expire at the end of May. The federal stimulus money for home buyers will expire at the end of April. What if we get an offer before the end of April? That would be the best news, but how will we coordinate the start of our volunteer camphosting position with cleaning out the house. Will Kevin have to stay at the campground, and I will stay at home to take care of details. That could work.
Worst case, what if the house hasn't sold by the end of May. What will we do? We discussed several options. Kevin is no longer employed. My job is becoming more unbearable by the minute. Could we make it work if neither one of us was working anymore? That's a huge what if. It seems like this is all we ever talk about.
We have had a nice couple interested in a lease to own option since last year. The husband is in graduate school and will be finished in about a year. He has a job lined up, but they can't get a mortgage until he is officially employed. It's a scary thing to contemplate. What if they didn't pay? What if they trashed the house? What if, what if, what if????
We are not irresponsible people. We have weighed every option from multiple angles. Financially, we could make it work until the house sells. But, do we take the risk? Is starting the dream now worth having less money for a rainy day? How safe should we play it? In this economy, it appears that thinking outside the box is required. Probably some risk-taking is also required.
We have now had 30 showings of the house. It is amazing what buyer's expect and want. Our home is older and priced to sell for its age. It is priced under assessed and recently appraised value. This still doesn't seem to be enough for buyers. They seem to want a new house at a used price.
What if the people who looked at it over the weekend make an offer? Wouldn't that just be great!!!!
Keeping my fingers crossed in "balmy" Wisconsin.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain
5 hours ago
My thought are with you and my fingers crossed for an offer to come in as soon as possible!
ReplyDeleteIt only takes one buyer. The right one.
We have owned five homes over the years, and each sale period was long and difficult. At the same time when we were looking for a new home, it seemed we were in competition with other eager buyers for each house we were interested in.
The present real estate market is a horror for buyer and seller alike.
The hard thing is to come to terms with the price. No buyer really feels the house is worth the selling price and no seller really thinks the selling price is enough.
The saying goes "The price is set buy the offer from a willing and ABLE buyer to a willing and able seller."
I was devastated in December when we refinanced for a lower interest rate. The appraisal came out at 38% LESS than the appraisal done a few years earlier. Who knows how low it will be when we are ready!
Can you afford to keep the house on the market and take some longer trips? If you quit, could you keep the house and rent it out?
I'm originally from Wisconsin. From my memory, the best time to sell was in spring or summer, so the kids could start in their new schools in fall.
Remember even with the stimulus ending, new buyer enter the market every week.
Love the quote by Twain.
ReplyDeleteWe're rooting for you.
Julie