22 posts tagged “selling house”

I probably won't be able to blog (outside of possibly some moblogging) as we get into the middle of this week, so thought I'd write an update this morning. Should be fully back online again sometime next week.

Here's the latest:

Soon-to-be home: The sellers agreed to repair all but one item we asked for, so that is a blessing. The termite/moisture inspection is on Wednesday afternoon. We are still slated to move in on Saturday (with a walk-thru on Friday). Closing has been moved up to Sept. 19th at 10 AM.

Current home: The home inspection here was Thursday night. We still haven't heard a word back from the buyer, which I admit does make me nervous! Not sure if they've scheduled the termite/moisture for here yet.

This week's crazy schedule: Rob and I are finishing up at our current jobs today and tomorrow. On Wednesday, the movers come to pack us up. They load the truck on Thursday. We will probably crash somewhere in the area Thursday night so we can finalize any cleaning on Friday morning, then drive down to the new place for our walk-thru at 5 PM. Then our stuff is delivered on Saturday. And we begin our new jobs on Monday! (Not to mention needing to finish enrolling the kiddos in their new schools that week...)

Pray for us over these days as we set aside the things the movers won't take, continue to purge a few things here and there, and finish cleaning the house once everything is moved. Also pray that everything goes smoothly with the packing, loading, transport, and delivery of our household goods.

Again, I thank you immensely for all of the prayers and encouragement!

This weekend was such a whirlwind, now that I have a few minutes to breath, I want to jot down what God has done so far.

1) Sold our house here.  Today, it hit me.  God did bring us a buyer in July*.  She just wasn't ready to purchase until August.  We now have a ratified contract, and everything is moving along well.

2) Found a house there.  Even though we had a verbal confirmation of a contract here, on Saturday we still stuck to looking at rentals and for-sale rentals.  And we liked one of the also-for-sale-ones enough to make an offer.  And since it was for rent too, they have no problems with early possession.  So, we move in on August 23rd!

You know, I really didn't think we'd get to buy, and we'd have to move again in a year.  But God not only gave us a place to live, He gave me the desire of my heart.

His tender care and concern still amazes me.

(And remember, 1 & 2 came to pass in less than 48 hours!)

3) Inspection there.  No major issues.  Not sure what they are going to fix, outside of the roof (which they agreed to already).

4) Appraisal here.  At this point, no formal appraisal is needed.  We were pretty certain it would appraise well, but there is always that bit of wondering, and it looks like we won't have to wonder on that side of things.

5) The work begun in The Daughter.  Since that night back in May when we told here we could be moving, God has continued to mold and shape her and help her grow and blossom.  She is making good decisions, even when it is hard.   She is growing up to be a young woman whose passion is God.

6) I get to sing on Sunday!  *Gulp*  I haven't sung in front of the church here - the entire congregation, that is - even once in the three years we've been here.  I am a bit apprehensive, but I am excited too - and trying to have the right attitude (to see Him honored).

The count will continue, but that ain't too bad so far, eh?

*I am pretty sure I already mentioned it, but our buyer is the same person who submitted the contract in July that we rejected.  She removed the contingency on Friday, we countered with a bit higher price (she'd come in lower, of course), and she accepted.

A few hours before we headed out of town last night to look for a place to rent, we got a phone call for a showing.  They said it was a "third showing", which was kind of odd because we didn't know of anyone who had come to see it more than once.  We rushed around to make sure the place was ready, loaded the car, and headed down the road.  A couple of hours later we got a phone call: we had an offer.

Turned out to be the same person who made an offer in July.  This time, the contingency was removed.  We countered on price, and now have verbal confirmation of acceptance.  We should have the actual paperwork finalized by the end of the weekend.

We started looking at homes this morning. We found one that we liked that was for rent and sale.  Long story short, we now have verbal confirmation on a contract for that one, along with early possession, since our closing date won't be until the end of September and we are moving in 2 weeks.

Thank you ALL for your prayers, thoughts, and encouragement.  And for allowing me to rant and go on and on about this stuff.  It has meant so much!  As you think of us in the weeks to come, please remember the upcoming inspections and appraisals on both sides, and that all dates fall into place as needed.

After an entire week of fussing and stressing and fuming and almost-crying, I approached my morning prayer time with a decided weariness.  And as I prayed, I remembered.  I remembered January 9, 2004.  I remembered sitting in our van while Rob drove, feelings of dejection, desperation, and fear a tempest in my head and heart.

Rather than try to retell the whole story, I am pasting the account from my old blog:

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004 || Waiting Game

I wasn't able to get online yesterday to write about this. Not that I even wanted to. I actually just wanted to curl up and go to sleep and wake up sometime in April.

So, we are here but we do not have a house.

Yes, you read that right. No house. No loan.

Yet. The loan is actually on hold. Problems with employment verification. We found out 2 hours before closing that it was not going to go through unless we came up with more income or off-loaded about 17K in debt.

I was devestated. We have utilities turned on, gallons of paint waiting, kids enrolled in school and starting on Monday!

As we drove back to where we were staying, Rob got a phone call, a job offer he probably never would have considered. He went to an interview last night; it went really well. The interviewer wants him on the job; we are now awaiting official word and a contract (it is a temp position, but the interviewer was very firm that it could move into a more permanent position quickly and easily). We should have a final answer tomorrow or Monday.

At that point, we can send that as employment verification and we should be able to close on the house. Our other options are paying off the 17K in debt or I find a job quickly.

Like say, Monday.

It has been a really emotional time. I realized today that praying all week that He increase my faith must be much like praying for patience. God always answers our prayers, He just doesn't always do it the way we want or expect!

As for this current job opportunity, the start pay is low, but it has a lot of overtime and mileage paid. If he can work this one job for 50-60 hours a week plus miles, rather than 2 at 80 hours a week, that would be much easier on our family and the pay would actually be comparable.

Once the initial shock wore off and the dust seemed to settle a bit, I realized something interesting.

Had this not happened with the loan, Rob would not have even considered this job oportunity based on the info the recruiter gave. When he got to the interview, the interviewer was very upbeat and really stressed how much he liked Rob's resume and that he could quickly advance with the company. As we were leaving (the guy had seen that I was going to wait in the car and had told me to come in to wait), he said to Rob, "I see Jesus in you."

Interesting, eh?

So, now, here we sit at a hotel on the loan company's dime (for their horrible timing and lack of communication), watching the Rams lose (so far), our life a bit on hold. Who am I kidding, it is a lot on hold, but it is out of our hands at this point.

All we can do is wait. And pray.

I am praying the prayer that never fails. A lot is at stake, but I am learning that I have to, have to, have to trust that He is still on the throne and what He has called us to do, He will complete in us and for us.

Monday, Jan. 12, 2004 || He parts the waters when we step in

This morning as I was praying, I realized that while I thought the best answer would be for Rob to get the job he interviewed for on Friday so we would have the income qualifications for the home loan, His will could very well be for us to utilize our reserve fund to pay off debt in order to qualify for the loan. This scared the fire out of me, but as I prayed and read His Word, He gently reminded me that it is all His anyway and no matter how I try to hold on to it, it really isn't mine to hold onto.

Okay! Okay!

I confessed my unbelief, lack of trust, and self-sufficiency and told Him I wouldn't hold back that part of me anymore.

I went into the start of the day feeling a sense of peace that I hadn't experienced until then. We took the kids to their new schools, based on the address of that house. A small step of faith, perhaps, but a step nonetheless, right?

A few hours later, Rob spoke to the interviewer. He told Rob he had called in his request on Saturday for the recruiter to offer Rob a contract (but the office was closed). A bit after noon, we got the call from the recruiter that he would be next-day-ing the contract to Rob. (He will start next Monday.) Rob asked if he would verify employment with the underwriter, and he said he would.

Waiting game number two commenced. After several calls to the loan officer and underwriter (ACK to voicemail!!), the underwriter called to ask Rob a few questions. He told Rob he had a few things to go over and would then call us back.

By this time, I have to admit, I was beginning to feel a bit nervous. Like this guy had our very lives in his hands. How quickly one can forget...it was as if I could hear the Father saying, "Silly girl, haven't you learned anything?"

The call came about 20 minutes later. I could hear the underwriter say to Rob (his cell phone has some major volume), "Congratulations, you have your loan."

We close tomorrow at 10 AM. Since Rob doesn't start the new job until next Monday, we will be able to paint and work on the place together. Yeah, it will be tough to go another week without a paycheck, but I am so learning that this is not in my hands or for me to worry about.

As a bonus to the day, the kids liked their new school and had a good day today. The Middle will be tested for the gifted program this year. It will be good to know if his boredom is just boredom or not being pushed enough.

~      ~      ~      ~     ~

God did what God does in His time.  Not mine, not Rob's, not anyone else's.

Do I understand this current dilemma, this seemingly unending delay?  Nope.  Not at all.

I didn't understand why our loan was pulled like that either.  Not at first anyway.

This I do know:

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

This process is not easy, and you'd think I'd have learned my lesson the last time!  But here I am again.

It's amazing what a change of focus will do.  I began my day thinking about what God is going to do rather than thinking about all that He has not done.

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." (Job 13:15a)

Neither of the homes we were looking at in the new city are going to accept contingency offers or early possession (though both said they'd consider it, which is why we went to look at them in the first place).  So, with 15 days to go, we have no home to go to.

Every prospect for our house here has also fallen through.

Please pray as God leads.

Here's the going's-on 'round here!

Our current house: We had an Open House on Sunday.  Seven parties came through.  One family loved it, especially the daughter, but they may have a home-sale contingency.  Another potential buyer, a single banker, saw the sign on the road and came in.  He too expressed some interest.  He is a first time home buyer, so there wouldn't be a contingency issue.  Then our agents talked to his agent today who said that he is leaning toward a newer home.  His agent still thinks our house would be a good option for him because of the updates and plans to talk to him some more about it.

Our agent was disappointed that the 2 agents who were supposed to bring clients to the Open House did not, but they could still want to see the house, just at another time.  No word about the out-of-state client that another agent wants to show the house to.

We have not had a scheduled showing since last Wednesday either, but all things considered, about 20-22 parties have come through in the month it's been on the market.

Our next home: On Friday, our agent found 6-7 homes that would consider contingencies and early possession.  So, we looked at those, and then even a few others that popped up later.  Last night, we wrote a contract on the one we thought would be the best fit (Possibility One), and also wrote a second back-up contract just in case (Possibility Two).  If either of these go through, it could mean we will be paying rent and a mortgage for an undetermined amount of time.  But it gets us to our destination so that we can start our new jobs and get the kids registered in school.

To say I am stressed would be an understatement!  But I am trying to hang in there and have faith that things will fall into place.

OH, and did I mention that I gave my boss a final date today?  So, I could also be out of work for a week or two during the transition while we ramp up to pay for two homes at once.

Uuuuuuggggghhhhhh.

The folks who submitted the contingency contract yesterday will not remove the contingency (though they could), so we are not accepting their offer (our agent agrees).

We had a broker's open today; 15 agents came through and gave mostly excellent feedback.  I few tweak-y things we could do (will likely work on at least one of those tonight).  Almost all said it is priced at market value.  So, that's good news.

Two plan to bring their clients back to the Open House on Sunday.  Another is sending her client in NC our brochure.

Our buying agent is talking with the agent of the house we like to see if they would accept a contingency contract and rent us the property until we can close here (it is vacant).

Any and all continued prayers appreciated!

(I know this is all I've been writing about, but it is pretty much occupying every waking moment!)

Of course they came in with a contract that would be best-case for them.

Their initial offer is is almost 10K less than our list price, contingent on the sale of some property they have, and taking possession end of September.  Our agent is finding out if they HAVE to sell that property for financing.  We won't know that until tomorrow.

And so we wait some more.  We plan to counter, but just not sure with what.  The price they offered is too low, so that will definitely be countered at a minimum.  Not sure we can accept a contingency contract either, as that would affect our own search.

The other couple aren't ready yet - are still looking - but they do like our house.

Broker's Open tomorrow, so that could drum up some interest too.

And so it begins...

Things that are good concerning our housing situation:

- We have had 3 showings in the past week.

- All have had good feedback.

- Tonight's is resulting in a contract to be submitted by 10 AM tomorrow morning.

Things that are not so good concerning our housing situation:

- The folks who are writing a contract tonight/tomorrow morning don't want to close on the house until late September.  We need to be moved in mid August.

Things that could make for an interesting twist:

- Our agent is going to contact the agent who showed the house Sunday, whose clients were seeking pre-approval to see if they might also be ready to make an offer.

We finally received feedback from Sunday's showing:

"Hi [insert our agent's name here],
I was going to call you today with feedback.  VERY NICE HOUSE. Buyers did like it. Getting preapproval right now. Possible interest.  Thanks so much!  M."

Rob's comment to this was: "Good.  Now, WHY THE #(*#_ would someone look at a house without pre-approval?"

I wholeheartedly agree!

But it is still good to hear there is some interest, and that folks really do like the house.  Because I like the house too, and the silence has been deafening.