I thought I would share another great tip - "how to save one jillion dollars." All you need to do is put in an offer in to buy a short sale house from a bank. You know that it is much larger than you need but you also know that it is a bargain and the idea of renting out the basement (in a college town) makes it quite attractive. Tell your realtor that you want to make an offer contingent on the home being zoned for an accessory apartment. The realtor assures you that he is sure that it is zoned correctly "renting won't be a problem" but he'll put in the contingency clause to please you.Wait. and wait. and wait.
Get a bee in your bonnet and contact P town zoning yourself to find out if it really can be a legal rental unit. After the two minute phone call realize that um really your realtor should have done this 1.5 months ago. No, it can't be legally rented. Back to the drawing board. Congratulations - You just saved yourself a jillion dollars.
Needless to say - at this point we think we are just going to rent for a bit. Ugh.
8 comments:
I think all that saving deserves a vacation - maybe even a post-bar cruise. Any suggestions?
Is this the same realtor who stood you up??
Oh! I'm so sorry! You had a lot of anxieties about the house anyway--there must be the perfect one still waiting out there for you. At least you won't have the horrible commute. Bright side right?
blah! that stinks :-(
do you have to go through a realtor?
i know nothing about buying a house, but I do know that you're A LOT smarter than your realtor...this is true :-)
I think this whole situation is causing one jillion headaches.
And Greg, my in-laws are professional cruise customers (not that they've ever taken us). I think you should definitely go.
Good luck, guys.
I am so proud of all of your money saving. You know what else I just realized? You guy also passed up buying a private jet, zoo, a casino, an American made luxury vehicle (let's face it--these don't exist), and a ski boat. I'm really proud of all of your restraint. You're a great example for me.
Ross--if you're looking for a fun vacation, I think definitely one where you get to sit around without guilt is the key. KT deserves a nice little recovery from the trauma of bar taking. A cruise or the beach would be my suggestions. Or an IMAX theater--you just can sit there and watch, but some times it's 3D.
Sorry you are having such a hard time finding a house! I have started to feel the urge to buy a house, but I just can't bring myself to do it until I am out of debt, especially in this economy. I hate paying rent and knowing that I am basically just throwing money away, but for now I think we just have to hang in there and it will all work out in the end.
I can solve both your housing problems and your vacation dilemma in two letters...RV.
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