The Kat House

After looking at dozens of home listings, I finally found one that I’m interested in. It’s a very nice, all-brick home in the South-Doyle High School area. Having three bedrooms, two full baths, a large kitchen, dining room, two car garage, and sitting on nearly an acre of land, it would more than satisfy my needs. The lot on which this home sits is 347 feet from front to back! You should see the driveway that climbs to the house! Incredible.

I made an offer on the home yesterday. I offered the full asking price with several conditions. First of all, the seller would have to pay $4,500 toward my closing costs. She would also have to replace the old electric box (circa 1970) with a new breaker box, pay for a termite inspection, include the refrigerator (along with the other appliances that are already being left with the house), and pay up to $300 for any repairs needed at the time of the home inspection.

I got a counter-offer today. The seller agreed to all the terms but one – closing costs. She offered to pay $1,100 toward my closing costs. Not acceptable.

I have now counter-offered her counter-offer. I offered to add $1,000 to the selling price of the house, with the seller paying $4,500 toward my closing costs.

I expect that I’ll receive yet another counter, which is fine. I’m not the type to just accept the owner’s original terms. Just call me The Negotiator! Hopefully we will be able to reach terms that are acceptable to both buyer and seller. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, I will be selling my current home to my brother if and when this deal comes together. Seeing that The Money Pit’s plumbing issues will no longer be of my concern, I should be able to afford the extra $300 per month mortgage payment! Yippee!

Just kidding. With the amount of money I’ve spent on plumbing repairs over the last 7 years, that home should have almost completely new plumbing now!

Stay tuned for an update on the negotiation process…