Giving In

The timing is terrible for us to buy a house.  We are leaving for a long time to go to Eastern Europe.  This weekend we will make a short sale offer on the house we live in, for what we feel is a screaming deal!

I think we will be fine on the details of the transaction, because it will take a long time to deal with the bank. So there you have it!

I really don't like to be pushed for time on a huge decision.  I have already made some decisions about what I will do to this house if it is mine.  I've had a year to think about it!

The first thing I will do is cut down the evergreen topiaries that flank either side of our front door.  I have posted a photo, so that you can agree with me.

HOA

My mind is racing a bit with questions about buying the house we live in.  The main one is doubts about the home owners association.  We don't know the details of membership.  What we do know is it may be a community, but it is not neighborly.  Or, our experience so far has not been warm and generous.

Does that matter?  Will it be okay to have the 'trashy' house on our street?  Can I survive wondering if folks are judging me as they walk to the mailboxes?

Though I had nothing to do with the pink toilet in my yard, it exposed the nature of several neighbors.  It's good to know that how our block looks, is something people care a lot about here.  I care a lot about being a steward of my stuff as well.  I hope to be generous with it, and cling loosely to it at the same time.  I know it was weeks ago now, but I'm putting into the category of things to think about if we really do want to buy this house.

The time crunch on the decision ins't really helping.  I have to pack to go to Europe for 5 weeks!!

I was raised down a country lane, without a neighborhood.  The only neighborhood I knew about was Mister Rogers'.  It didn't seem so confusing when I was a pre-schooler.

Oh Bother!!! or Adventures in Missing the Point.

As my favorite stuffed bear might say, "OH!! Bother".  

In lieu of foreclosing,  starting Friday, our landlords are short sale-ing ("short saling" the verb has not been invented yet) this house.  Since they are not paying for this house, they are kind enough to ask us not to pay rent, which is nice for now.

So, Friday.......  That is the day that folks will start tromping through my house.  Next Wednesday will be the day I leave to go to Europe for the rest of the summer to teach English (don't worry, my house will be occupied, by bouncers and armed leprechauns).

We recommended our realtor to our land lord, so now our realtor is selling our house for our land lord, while we are hoping to buy this house from our land lord/B of A.  He did short sale our other house without a hitch.  What is not recommendable about that?  Here's what:  Now, the person helping us find a house is selling our house.  He said we need to make an offer before we leave next week.  NEXT WEEK?  I'm busy next week.

I though, sure, great, whatever.  Really though, I am not sure I want to run our side of escrow from Europe.  I don't want the pressure of financing, and inspections, while I am away.

It seems before you do something big in your life, there are always distractions.  Your best girlfriend decides she HATES you the week before she stands up for you in your wedding.  Your dog gets expensively/mortally sick before a big trip.  Life is an adventure in missing the point.  I want to go teach English at camp for the next several weeks and not think for five minutes about the roof over my head.  Of course I have not been thinking of it much, but now that I am leaving for a LONG time, it seems pressing.

Real estate stinks.  Plain and simple from my perspective.  If this house we live in is still for sale when we get back, then we will make an offer.  I will be sad to miss an opportunity to live in this house for longer.  I also will wonder if I missed an opportunity at another place somewhere else.  There is no winning at the game during this state.  Prices will still go down in the next year, and we will wonder if we could have something better somewhere else.

Every time I go teach English abroad, I have come home a different and better person.  I am banking on that this year especially.  I am okay leaving, knowing I might not get to buy this house, as someone else might beat me to it.  It is uncomfortable, yes.  If you read this blog at all, you know I am getting better at letting myself be uncomfortable.  That feeling is not fatal, just difficult.  Mostly it requires fortitude and integrity.  I've got tons of those!