Home? Wait-and-See Mode Activated.

 

We're narrowing in on a forever home. Our top pick is in Bellaire. Homes there range from $40k up to $300k. The one we want is $70k (we have a verbal offer for $72k if sellers pick up closing costs). 

This well maintained home is waiting for you to breath new life into it! It has been exceptionally cared for and includes all furniture and appliances shown in the photos. Original woodwork adorns the entire house and it is believed that most of the original hardwood floors are underneath the carpet. The first floor has the old world charm of a separate parlor and living room with beautiful wood beam ceilings along with the kitchen and side porch entrance to the side deck. The original staircase to the second floor leads to the three bedrooms; one of which is captured and one full bath. There is an attached garage that pulls into the basement as well as a driveway on the side for additional parking. There was a survey completed by XXX Surveyor on August 8, 2021 that split parcel number XXXXX in two so the total taxes are to be determined at closing. The property lines are clearly marked with orange stakes in the ground. Central Air is approximately 10 years old and siding was completed about 15 years ago.

With the exception of not having a tree, this home does cover the features, external and internal, that we wanted.

It also has a flaw, and a major one at that. Water doesn't seep into the basement to make weensy puddles on the floor. No. This one makes rivulets that flow from one side of the basement to the other.

Nobody expected this much water. We had heavy snow and horrid rain. So, as our realtor was turning on the light to launch our journey into the bowels of this house, he offered a polite, "These old homes usually have damp basements."

He went first, and stood there in a state of shock once he reached the bottom. I joined him and stood there in a state of shock. 

I think we both shared a silent OMG!WTF?! moment.  He apologized for not knowing there was this much fucking water. I told him it was okay, that these things sometimes happen, that our current home has water pool up all the time.

He is the sellers' agent. He walks a tightrope between us and them. He's doing a very professional job with it, and I would certainly use him as my agent if things don't work out for this house. He had warned me that there was a bid on the house already but, if I were to guess, it was insultingly low. So he went to bat for us, explaining to the owners how much we loved the house, and how much we wanted to preserve its history.

So now we stand in the dry patches between the streams. "Well," I said. "Um, well... would they be willing to make repairs?"

He's honest. "They want to get the house sold ASAP. Let me see what they want to do now."

tl/dr They don't want to invest in the repairs but they like us so they're willing to wait until I get some estimates in for the cost. If the price is beyond our means, we can walk away without losing a dime.

Justin is waiting for the first contractor to send over a quote. We have a second contractor going to the house on Wednesday.

If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be. If I could get my hands on $70k, I wouldn't need to move. I could put on an addition with downstairs bath and bedroom, fix the upstairs bath, and get the sewer line done.