Picking Up Stakes Part II

[Lauri D]

So, the thing with the neighbors didn't work out; their best offer vs. my bottom line still ended up between 30-50k off, which is about 15-25k in profit that I can't bring myself to part with. No harm, no foul; I'm still glad to have explored the option with them as it prompted me to do more research and get a firmer idea of a good price in my mind.

So I met with a realtor on Saturday, who by coincidence knows and had done business with my grandparents (some 15 plus years ago) and my bio-dad apparently worked for him a couple times before I was born even... so it was a trip when he walked into the house and said "Do you happen to know D. or G. Gilbert?" :eek: It made me feel even better when my grandfather (post-stroke) not only remembered him but highly recommended working with him.

Met with him tonight again (the realtor) for his formal analysis of the property and proposal for listing with him. Went swimmingly. Took all the info and Chinese food over to the gp's, discussed (me being a little snappish and irritable after a long effing workday and un-fucking-comfortable shoes). In the end, my gpa agreed with my instinct on what to do; the realtor laid out options for either a low sell (1 week) or high sell (6 weeks), both "as-is", and I have opted for splitting the difference and seeing what happens. I am seeking to balance a good selling price (which will undoubtedly be a total coup for the buyer willing to invest "sweat equity" in this place) with speed of sale - meaning I could list for 575k and take two months to sell or 550k and potentially sell in 3-4 weeks.

Any way you slice it, I am feeling quite optimistic about the whole thing, as one way or another I will be making out like an effing bandit on this transaction. Anyone know a good tax attorney? :doh:

P.S. For some reason I feel it necessary to give huge :bow2: to my gp's at this juncture, despite the fact that they will never see it; they rock the house, and have helped me along immeasurably with getting to the (hopefully) stepping stone that will get me where I need to go.

[LadyShea]

Thats awesome Lauri, sounds like you do well no matter which way you go.

[viscousmemories]

Congrats, Lauri. I'm glad to hear the sale is moving along.

I'll give props to your gp's too. They brought up a fine young lass. :)

[JoeP]

Sounds great! Rake in those $$$! Will the holiday season slow things down - are you keen on closing before things get quiet, if they do?

[livius drusus]

Whenever it happens it's going to be an awesome score, Lauri. Congrats! :thumbsup:

[Lauri D]

Thanks guys :vibes:

Hey JoeP - it's kinda weird, the realtor was mentioning that the escrow companies he works with report the last two weeks of the calendar year as being their busiest. For tax purposes, people who need to reinvest $ are eager to close a sale before Jan 1st. Personally, I would prefer to close escrow AFTER the 1st to give me the extra year to figure out the best way to reinvest the profit (leaning toward another real property and diversifying the remainder) but if the right buyer needs to close prior to year end I would consider it.

[pescifish]

WOw, big doin's for you! I hope you get the offer and the time frame you wish!

[Lauri D]

Thanks fish! :)

Update. House was listed for 1 day and 2 potential buyers insisted on coming to see it RIGHT NOW. I told the showing agents "hey, I planned on cleaning this weekend but if they know it's not 'ready to show' and still want to see it, be my guest". They both rushed over on Friday.

The second lady had a formal offer written up within a couple hours. My realtor came over around noon today and we collaborated on a counter-offer, which if she accepts, means I will be OUTTA HERE 'roundabout December 21st. :yup:

And about three people drove by today (as I was helping the ex-roomie move a few final things from the garage) asking "how much?" (The realtor's shiny flier in the front yard doesn't have the price on it yet). I was tempted to jack up the asking price :chin: (ok not really....)

Anyway, I'm totally stoked. 2 showings scheduled for tomorrow in case the first chica ixnays the counter. It's like a freaking circus around here.

[viscousmemories]

Great news, Lauri. Congrats. :)
:woohoo:

[xorbie]

Great news, Lauri. Congrats. :)
:woohoo:

What he said. :yup:

[Petra]

Fucking hell! That's like $NZ1million!

What kind of house is this? Buckingham fucking palace?! Man, that's a lotta dough.

Anyway, best of luck with the sale, Lauri - may the perfect buyer with unlimited funds arrive just at the right time. :yup:

[Lauri D]

Thanks guys :) Luna - that is the sheer lunacy of the Southern California real estate market. Far from a palace (as some of those here who have visited can attest!) - it's being sold as a fixer upper. Seriously it's like Alice in Wonderland how inflated prices are here. BUT...

I am not complaining because I just got off the phone with my realtor and....

:drumroll:

The house is SOLD :D (well, you know, in escrow; the lady immediately accepted our counteroffer and made her deposit, so the games have begun. Wish me luck for an uncomplicated and on-time 30 day closing.) *fingers crossed*

[JoeP]

Yay!

I'm going to use my smilie on this news! :bliss:

What price did you agree on? More than R3,000,000 I'm sure...

[pescifish]

Congratulations, Lauri!

[livius drusus]

That's great news, Lauri. Now don't spend it all in one place, young lady. :spend:

Thank you for giving me a sensible context in which to use a new smiley.

[Lauri D]

Thanks, guys, and those smilies are great! :yup:

Joe, I don't know what R3,000,000 is :blush: It sold for just a hair under the full asking price though. I am totally :bow2: my realtor.

[Petra]

:woohoo:


So, like, now that you're all rich an' that, when are you coming to visit? :D

[Roland98]

I hate you. :)


Okay, okay, congrats and all that shit. Beer's on you when we party Midwest-style. :D

[JoeP]

Thanks, guys, and those smilies are great! :yup:

Joe, I don't know what R3,000,000 is :blush: It sold for just a hair under the full asking price though. I am totally :bow2: my realtor.
iirc your full asking price was $575,000. A hair under ... say $570,000 in case you don't want to 'fess up. Today's exchange rate is R5.975 to $1 (weak dollar...). So that is :drums: about R3,400,000.

On to more important things - when do you move out? And where to?

joe

[Lauri D]

Luna - hopefully I will be travelin' as soon as I get settled at my new "home base" and start turning some of the profit from the sale into other investments :yup:

Roland - hell, fuggedabout the beer, the chocolate-infused vodka shots are on me when we party Midwest-style ;)

Joe - we ended up actually listing at 549 (as is, nothing, no work, buyer inherits my dustbunnies and all) and it sold for 548. It is such a huge :relieved: to not have to do a goddamn thing other than move my shit out. Oh, and I am moving to St. Louis.... a pretty big change. Right now I am stressing more over Dempsey's adjustment (my dog) than mine... I've visited there about 7 times and liked it a lot. They have fireflies and cardinals and thunderstorms :vibes::

[Brimshack]

Stop by Arizona, and I'll buy the choco-liquor for both you and Roland. Wait a minute. What am I talking about. You just made how much? Come to Arizona and buy me a beer dammit!

[wei yau]

Congratulations on your good fortune!

As wonderful as getting close to your asking price must be, I think that the value of not having to do anything to the house is a better deal.

Around Northern Virginia, you couldn't sell "as is" for that kind of money. That kind of money buys you a McMansion in most areas.

Well done!

[JoeP]

Luna - hopefully I will be travelin' as soon as I get settled at my new "home base" and start turning some of the profit from the sale into other investments :yup:

Roland - hell, fuggedabout the beer, the chocolate-infused vodka shots are on me when we party Midwest-style ;)

Joe - we ended up actually listing at 549 (as is, nothing, no work, buyer inherits my dustbunnies and all) and it sold for 548. It is such a huge :relieved: to not have to do a goddamn thing other than move my shit out. Oh, and I am moving to St. Louis.... a pretty big change. Right now I am stressing more over Dempsey's adjustment (my dog) than mine... I've visited there about 7 times and liked it a lot. They have fireflies and cardinals and thunderstorms :vibes::
/me hunts for St Louis on the map
/me narrows it down to
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
St. Louis (county), Minnesota, United States
St. Louis (river), Minnesota, United States
St. Louis (county), Missouri, United States
St. Louis, Saskatchewan, Canada
St. Louis, Georgia, United States
St. Louis, Michigan, United States
St. Louis, Oklahoma, United States
St. Louis, Oregon, United States
St.-Louis [Saint-Louis] (neighborhood), Montréal, Québec, Canada
St. Louis (census subdivision), Prince County, Prince Edward Island
St. Louis (census subdivision), Division No. 15, Saskatchewan
St. Louis, California, United States
St. Louis, Louisiana, United States
St. Louis, Virginia, United States
St. Louis City (county), Missouri, United States
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, United States
St. Louis Downtown Airport (airport), Missouri
St Louis Field (park), Massachusetts, United States
St. Louis Park (city park), St. Louis, Missouri
/me still confused

/me finds that:
St Louis, MO is the 34th largest city (pop 397000) and 15th largest urban area (pop 1.9m) in the US (885th and 130th in the world respectively)

/me finds that MO is Missouri

Does that mean you'll be (kind of) close to Roland?

Hey, we have thunderstorms. Cardinals as in birds? We have bishops (red and golden). No fireflies though.

joe

[Roland98]

Does that mean you'll be (kind of) close to Roland?

Not real close, but not incredibly far. About a 5-hour drive, from what I understand.

[noblesavage]

Close enough to share chocolate-infused vodka shots, I'm sure. :yup: :wink:

*D'oh - this is Lauri D posting, someone commandeered my laptop while I was sleeping apparently... :doh:

[Dingfod]

St. Louis is a half-days ride on my motorscooter from Tick Ranch, Oklahoma.

[noblesavage]

St. Louis is a half-days ride on my motorscooter from Tick Ranch, Oklahoma.
Woohoo, I sense a gathering in the works!

(Still Lauri posting ;) )

[Lauri D]

Yay, I am me again!

/postslut

But for reals... we gotta plan some kind of Midwest shindig. I am excessively nervous about the big change... it could help... :blush::

[Dingfod]

You bet. When are you moving?

There is that "World" Infidels thing coming up this spring. Or, I could BBQ a horse or something.

[Roland98]

I can't remember who I mentioned it to before, but I was thinking about having a shindig sometime this coming year, either late spring or summer probably. I know I've mentioned it in passing to several of the Iowa infidels, and some other folks in the area like Gooch's dad (who is roughly 2 1/2 hours NE of Iowa City). I was thinking total white trash fiesta--bonfire, keg, maybe some garbage can dinner* and, of course, s'mores and stuff. Figured people could just bring tents or something--if we're not literally a mile away from the next house, it's at least gotta be pretty close, so it would take quite a bit to disturb someone.

In the meantime, I'm always up for a road trip, but it would probably have to be with kids in tow. Not quite as much of a party.






*Peel several bags of potatoes, add a few cabbages, and a buncha pounds of sausage, throw it all into a (clean, of course, and generally reserved for this occasion) metal garbage can with some water, cook in garbage can over fire until the potatoes are soft and the sausage is cooked. Chow down.

[Godless Dave]

I could hack a drive to Iowa for a gathering, but St. Louis would be too far for me.

[viscousmemories]

Congrats, Lauri. :)

I strongly suggest you see a financial advisor (Merrill Lynch or someone) to help you figure out what to do with all that cash, if you haven't already done so. I see mutual funds or something in your future. ;)

[Lauri D]

Congrats, Lauri. :)

I strongly suggest you see a financial advisor (Merrill Lynch or someone) to help you figure out what to do with all that cash, if you haven't already done so. I see mutual funds or something in your future. ;)
Thanks vm :) I will definitely be consulting both a good tax attorney and financial advisor once the sale goes through, and putting the lion's share of the proceeds into safe and stable investments until I have a better sense of certainty as to what I will do in the future. I'm strongly considering a "US Freethinkers Tour" of travel, though, as there are so many people from 'round these parts that I would like to visit (or re-visit).