Did you get your house painted yet?

Just finished vinyl siding it. Now the window wrappers are starting up. Close. Oh so close!!!!

Did you do it yourself?

Yep. Started the first weekend of May and finished yesterday. :shake: ROFL

I will post pictures when we are completely done.

EDIT Geez - had an illiterate moment there. :shake:

Outstanding! :thumb:

Original owner...house free clear.?

She may have time to get her price. or may want to move before school starts.

Go with your gut she may have thrown you a bone coming down a bit.

Her pay your closing? Maybe... I doubt it.

the real estate fee drove the price up some (seller payers but it goes into the price) so figure it out.

ROFL Cruel. ROFL

http://appraiser.jocogov.org/

Again, this information is one factor to consider in your decision. Rain Man made the valid point that people do not complain when their property is undervalued for purposes of property tax and thus the value might be lower than actual market value. But it gives you one more piece of information not only about your home but the tax assessment of that of the neighborhood. If there have been recent real estate transasctions in the neighborhood then the County appraisers valuation should be pretty consistent with what the property sold for as they use that as one of their factors in evaluating the property...or so we were told by the County.

If you like the house quite a bit then move on it immediately. That $1-2K is going to be peanuts on the monthly payment. Hire a good inspector and you can negotiate further if they find problems with the house all while under contract. That's a much stronger negotiating position.

Your agent should be able to tell you of the other houses sold in the same area and specs from within the last 2 years.

That should tell you if you're in the ballpark or not.
Give me the address (and/or subdivision name) and I can get some comps for you

Agreed. That's a strong angle to work the price.

If she has maintained it well. You know immediated problems won't exist.

Age of furnace,AC, WH.....

Does she have records of her utility bills. Water won't tell much 1 person.

rule of thumb... every $1k is equivalent to $7-$8/month.

There are a lot of things that you could ask her to throw in rather than lowering the price. Especially if it is an older woman moving into a small apartment, you could agree to the $2k higher price, on the condition that she leave the dining room set or riding lawnmower. You can agree to the price and try to save some out of pocket expense. For instance, have her agree to have the chimney cleaned, hottub serviced, or ducts cleaned prior to closing.

Thanks for the advise everyone,

I think we will take her counter-offer, and hurry up and move on to the Inspection's.... I'm sure something may turn up that will lower it down maybe a bit.


Thanks everyone this has been one helluv a process, this house we see our selfs in for a very long time

we just went through this Thursday & Friday of this week. Our house is listed for $111K; initial offer to us was - $101K (9% less), we pay $3K in closing, include a home warranty, and all of our appliances stay, and wanted to close by 07/26

We countered with $108 (4.5%), we pay #3k in closing, include the warranty & appliances and close 08/09.

They countered again...$104K,...and all the other terms above. His agent is apparently is a cocky SOB; he told my realtor "I can go down the street and get the same deal tomorrow; anyone would take it. I need an answer tonight". Well, hate to break the news to him, but the other homes that are still up for sale are not that great, etc. If he's going to let $4K mean the difference between a great house (mine has all new carpet, stainless appliances less than 2 years old) and a turd, fine with me.

I told my agent "Fine...here's the deal; if you want, I'll counter with $105 and he gets nothing else mentioned above (no closing costs, appliances, warranty, etc), or my original counter stands". I'm not the one who has to move - he does (his lease is up 08/01). This guy was not even negotiating. I met him 1/2 way on his offer and all of his other demands, and he STILL counters. Essentially moving up $3K from his original offer.

Pain in the a**. I realize it's a buyers market right now, but I"m not going to sacrifice 9% in equity for this guy.F that.

The house I'm in now, I made a pretty low offer, because I knew they'd already bought a much more expensive house and were nervous. They countered, and I re-countered their counteroffer at the midpoint of the 2, but $500 in my favor with a "we'd like the house, but this is our final offer, take it or leave it"

They took it, I got a good deal.

If you're going to play poker with them, you have to be willing to walk away. Sometimes, even after they decline, they'll come back. They may be in a pickle, or they may not...but you have to be willing to lose the house. They make alot more of them anyway.

IF they decline your 2nd counter.....you can always come back in a week or two and see if they'll still take that price.


If you decide to accept their counter.....push for them to pay the closing costs. I sold a house this year, and had to pay that to make it happen. It pissed me off a little, but I still signed the papers and sold it.

I'm a fairly tough negotiator by all accounts to date....As a seller, I don't move alot, but I price things fairly. As a buyer, I don't want a deal unless the seller makes that "uhh" sound as he's accepting my offer.

When they do that(just like a Rb getting hit by LT)...you know you've got a good deal.