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| MORE PICTURES AS POPUP SLIDESHOW |
We put an offer on the house, upping the ante to prevent it from going into foreclosure. It took a couple of weeks for the seller's bank to approve our short-sale offer, and as soon as they did, we scheduled an inspection (and radon test), which didn't turn up anything of immediate concern. Even if there were, the seller would not have been able to fix them up because this is a short-sale. Our bank has completed an appraisal at par with the listing price., and underwriting is underway. We expect to close on April 11 and move in the following (Easter) week.
So how did we do given our long list of requirements? The requirements we didn't quite satisfy are highlighted in red below:
| BUDGET | ||
|---|---|---|
| List price | $180,000 - $230,000 | $240,000 |
| Short-sale, foreclosure, or flip house? | Would rather not | Short-sale |
| Monthly PITI | < $1,200/mo | $1,062 |
| Property taxes | < $1,300/yr | $1,075 |
| Sale history | Stable or increasing | Stable |
| NEIGHBORHOOD | ||
| School districts | D11, D20, D49 | D49 |
| Elem/high school ratings | 7+ | 8 |
| Homeowner association | None preferred | None |
| Community | Planned, parks/services | Ok |
| Character | Suburb, family-friendly, quiet, clean | Yes |
| Roads/streets | City/paved, maintained | Ok |
| Safety | Street lights, open view | Ok |
| Traffic/access | Lights, alt. routes | Ok |
| Crime | Low or none | Very low |
| Morning/evening walk/observe | Walkable, bustling | Ok |
| Night perspective | Quiet, safe | Ok |
| Other homes maintained | Well | Good |
| Who is around neighborhood? Kids? | Young families | |
| Neighborhood home comparisons | In same price range | Mid-range |
| City zoning | Not flood zone, residential | Urb. res. |
| Talk to neighbors | Not yet | |
| Any future regulation/zoning/development changes? | None planned | |
| PROXIMITY | ||
| Emergency services | Within 5 mi. | 2 hospitals, 2 firestations |
| Shopping center/restaurants | Close enough | Powers |
| How far from workplaces? | < 20 min. | 25 min. |
| HOUSE BASICS | ||
| Year built | 2002+ | 2004 |
| Whether new construction? | Would love newer | Preowned |
| Type | Single-family/detached | SF/d |
| External wall material | Masonite, stone | |
| Curb appeal | Must have it ... | Great |
| Orientation | Faces west/south | Yes |
| Floor plan | 2-story/ranch, open, not split-level | 2-story |
| Total space | 2000+ sq.ft | 2,777 sqft |
| Completed space | 1500+ sq.ft | 1,890 sqft |
| Bedrooms | 4+ | 4 |
| Bathrooms | 3+ | 2.5 |
| Kitchen | Big, with pantry | Great |
| Dining room | > 12x10 sq.ft, tile/carpet | Tile |
| Living room | > 13x15 sq.ft, wood/carpet | Wood |
| Garage | 2-car, attached, auto/remote | Ok |
| Additional parking | 3+ cars, street | 3/street |
| Windows | Vinyl, thermo. Low sills | Vinyl |
| Roof | Comp. shingle, <10yrs | Comp. shingle |
| Basement | Yes, insulated | 800 sqft unfinished with walkout |
| Office | Available office or possibility | Possible |
| Energy efficiency (heating) | 85+ | Good |
| Outside wall | 8" insulation | 6.5" |
| Other rooms in house? | None | |
| Heating/furnace (age?) | Modern forced air/2008+ | 2004, with house |
| What else is possible with the house? | Dog shed outside, basement bd+bath | |
| Immediate repairs in next 9 months? | None! | Sump pump, HVAC cleaning |
| UPGRADES/DISCOUNTS | ||
| Any upgrades/cost? | None/SSA | |
| Any discounts/promotionals? | Seller $6200 concession | |
| SERVICES | ||
| Electricity | Municipal | CSU |
| Water | Municipal, not well | CSU |
| Natural gas | Municipal | CSU |
| Sewage | Central, not cistern | Central |
| Trash service | HOA or local | Unknown |
| Cell phone coverage | 3G/4G signal | Good |
| Internet service | Comcast or better | Comcast |
| Home security | ADT or equiv. | Unknown |
| Average utility costs (elec+gas+sewer+water+trash) | $300/mo. est. | |
| PROPERTY/LOT | ||
| Lot size | Roomy | 5,628 sqft |
| Landscaping | Complete, sprinkler | Complete |
| Fence | Installed as required | Installed |
| Drainage | Away from house | Slope |
| Backyard | For outside dog + dogshed | Ample |
| BEDROOMS | ||
| Flooring | Carpet | Ok |
| Utilities | 2+ electrical, 1 cable | Ok |
| Location | All on same level (upper/main) | Upper level |
| Master bedroom | Own bathroom, walk-in closet | Ok |
| Nursery | Immediately close to master bedroom | Yes |
| Access | Locable doors, openable windows. | Yes |
| Size | > 13x15 sq.ft, master bigger | Ok |
| Rooms over garage | Prefer not = noise/fumes | 1/nursery |
| Ceiling fans | Installed | Yes |
| BATHROOMS | ||
| Flooring | Tile/composite | Yes |
| Amenities | Mirror, lockable door | Yes |
| Storage | Cabinets, linen closet | Cabinets, basement |
| Counter space | Generous | Yes |
| LAUNDRY | ||
| Flooring | Tile/composite | Tile |
| Washer/dryer | Installed/hookups | Hookups, elec. |
| Location | Same level as bedrooms | Main level |
| KITCHEN | ||
| Flooring | Tile/composite | Yes |
| Plan | Country sit-in, island | Yes |
| Cabinet space | Ample top/bottom | Ample |
| Counter tops | Granite | Granite |
| Appliance quality | Stainless steel | GE, plain |
| Refrigerator | Dislike vertical split | Vert. split |
| Sinks | 2+, garbage disposer | Yes |
| Microwave oven | Installed | Yes |
| Dishwasher | Installed | Yes |
| Stoves/oven | Not coils, gas better? | Range |
| Pantry | Reasonable | Yes |
| GARAGE | ||
| Access | Clear, not steep/obscured entry | Yes |
| Completed walls | Siding/frame, insulation | House sheet |
| House door | Lockable | No deadlock |
| WOULD BE REALLY NICE | ||
| Vaulted ceilings | No | |
| Fireplace | Yes, gas | |
| Porch/balcony | Deck, upper level | |
| Hot tub/jacuzzi | No | |
| Lots of storage (basement?) | Yes, unfinished | |
| Air conditioning | Yes | |
| Humidifier installed | No | |
| Floor-level ventilation | Yes | |
| SELLER/DISCLOSURES | ||
| Review seller inspection report | Yes | |
| Review seller disclosure document | Yes | |
| Previous resident (owner, renter, vacant?) | Owner | |
| Any federally-required disclosures? | Not req. in CO | |
| Drug activity on property? | No | No |
| Smokers or pets previous residents? | No smoking | Cats |
| Homicides/suicides or natural deaths in last 5 years? | No | None |
| Property/legal disputes? | No | None |
| Our impressions of seller | Honest, truthful, cooperative | Did not meet |
| Realtor's opinion of seller | Did not meet | |
| ZONING RULES | ||
| Allow home office/business? | Yes | Yes |
| Allow pets, sheds in backyard? | Yes | Yes |
| Allow external remodeling, landscaping | Yes | Yes |
| Allow visitors/RV/boat parking/streets | Yes | Yes |
| TOUR NOTES | ||
| Notes from touring the house | Good neighborhood, but on far east end of town. | |
3 comments:
Looks very nice Jubz! I think it would fulfill most of our requirements except we're hoping for lots of room for that grand piano :-P. You're getting a lot for your dollar there - the same house would probably run for $340k+ here in Halifax.
Thanks. Yes I think we scored with this house. With you, I suppose a larger living room on the main floor would be desirable? You might be considering something custom.
Congratulations, Jubz! What a fantastic home. It looks like it was well taken care of and very nicely decorated. Blessed family moments for you, Angelene and Bébé in your new home!
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