Posted Jan 24 2012, 12:01 am
I’m deviating from my usual topic of health and fitness to share some exciting news. My husband and I just closed on our new home! Under normal circumstances, you might think, gee, that’s great, Lynda. And? And, the circumstances behind this particular house sale were anything but normal. Please allow me to explain:
Our story begins in August of 2010 (no that’s not a typo) when my DH and I walked through a house on Simons Drive in northwest Reno. The house had a number of challenges, including a gutted kitchen where the built-in appliances had removed and a color scheme from hell. (Orange vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom and lime green with black trim in the master bath. *shudder*) The landscaping was past dead—except for the weeds, of course—and some of the fencing had been vandalized. However, this house was also over five hundred square feet bigger than our current residence with an open floor plan and (be still my heart) seven closets. It sat on a third of an acre; more than enough room for our puppies to run and play. But it was the spectacular 180 degree view of the eastern Sierra mountains which captivated our hearts. We were in love and thus made a short sale offer on August 30th, 2010. Again, that’s not a typo.
DH and I were thrilled. We started planning what we would do when. How we would finally have truly matching furniture. How DH would finally have a whole man-cave room to himself. It was just a matter of time….Uh. No.
We knew we were in for a bumpy ride when it took the sellers—who live in Colorado—almost a month to accept our offer. No problem, we thought. Everything will be fine. But over the course of the following months, when we heard nary a word from the sellers’ realtor, which was very unusual for a short sale, our angst increased. Our realtor, who’s a totally awesome lady, stayed in touch, keeping us apprised of the progress, or lack of progress. She made it known that she was ready to show us any other listings that caught our fancy, but none did. Any other house was compared to Simons; the floor plan wasn’t as roomy, the yard not as big, the view not as stunning.
I won’t go into blow-by-blow detail of all that happened like the sellers filing bankruptcy or their agent losing the listing or the bank ignoring our realtor’s request for a foreclosure sale date. (We weren’t sure what that meant either.) It suffices to say we were frustrated beyond words that nothing was being done and that we were helpless to change the situation.
Finally last summer, we started looking again. Still, Simons was the house of our hearts, our “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree” house, as I like to call it. Yet we continued to view other listings. But we came only kinda close once to considering another house. It was a pretty sad time for us.
Then our realtor (have I mentioned how totally awesome she is) sent a letter to the sellers in Colorado asking if they would consider notifying the State of Nevada that their former home was vacant. Hopefully that would prod the bank to set a foreclosure sale date. Her letter went unanswered. So what did our totally awesome realtor do? She resent the letter. The sellers (who must not have received the first letter) then contacted her and we were able to move forward with the short sale.
This happened at the end of September last year. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of preapproval papers, loan docs, inspections and appraisals. Now, almost eighteen months from when we made our initial short sale offer, the keys to our new kingdom are in our hot, little hands. The next month or so will be filled with cleaning, painting and remodeling with the hope we can be fully moved in sometime in March.
So, that’s our “birth of a short sale” story. Thanks for letting me share. Post a comment or send me an email (Lynda@lyndabailey.net) and you’ll be entered to win a PDF copy of one of my erotic short stories, featured above. Share this blog with a friend or family member and if they post a comment, you’ll both be entered to win an advance copy of either my erotic novella, Boy Next Door, published through Sybarite Seductions, or my sexy contemporary, Battle Born Love, which I’m indie-pubbing. Both should be released sometime in February. (Remember to have your family/friends drop your name in the subject line if they email me. Otherwise it won’t be opened.) The give-away will end February 1st.
Again, thanks so much for letting me share my news! Have a great rest of your week. I know I will.
28 Comments
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Though it’s a long time coming, congrats on the new house!
Thanks Meggan!
It was like being in labor for almost eighteen months then giving birth to a not-so-pretty baby. But she’ll grow up to be gorgeous!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have fun with your new house, Lynda. You’ve earned it!
Thanks, Jeannie!
Maybe the next time SierraRW gets together, I can host. That view truly is amazing. 🙂
Thanks for popping in!
Congrats of your new home! How exciting.
Hey Abigail~
Ya, I can finally allow myself to get excited. So many times during this ordeal, DH and I got excited only to be very disappointed. But those times are history. Yea for history!
Have a great day, sista!
Endurance makes for a stronger heart.
Now use that stamina and muscle to get the house in tiptop shape for a house-warming party!
Ah, dear Peggy~
I’m thinking the house warming party will last a week – maybe two. 😉
Thanks, my beautiful best friend. Love ya!
Sounds like 2012 is going to be your year! Congrats and have fun.
Christine~
Long time no hear or see! How ya been?
Thanks for the good wishes. 2012 is definitely shaping up to be a good one. Here’s to a stellar year for us all!
Thanks for stopping by!
Love the description “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree” house! Now you can make it all your own, and I do envy the closets.
Dear Jane~
(I’ve always wanted to write that. LOL)
For Christmas, DH got me an actual Charlie Brown Christmas Tree statue. It’s gonna live year-round on a table right in front of our picture window. Charlie Brown would be so proud.
Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, Lynda–What a ride! I’m so glad it has a happy ending. Congratulations!
Thanks Alison!
Gotta love a happy ending, right?
Have a fabulous day, my friend!
What a cool story, Lynda. I’m so impressed with your perseverance. Shows what true love – even for a house – can accomplish. And you’ve been through so much between then and now–maybe the Good Lord was simply watching out for you! I hope sometime you’ll post a few before and after pics for us – the house sounds dreamy!! Enjoy and Welcome Home!
Oh, Lizzie!
You brought a tear to my eye. I never really thought about what all the pain I went through last summer would have meant if we’d gotten the house a year ago. Guess that just proves things happen (or don’t happen) for a reason.
Here’s the kicker, though. Our awesome realtor actually started communications with the sellers the day before my back surgery last September. As they say, it was destiny.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey, Linda — That’s great about your house! I’m thrilled for you. Grab that paintbrush and get busy, gal. I’m rootin’ for you all the way.
Thanks Ramona!
Are you volunteering to help with the painting??? 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
This is awesome news! I’m a day late because I was helping a friend yesterday and never had the energy to turn on my computer. Whew! But I am so happy for you!
Thanks Linda/Regina!
I’m kinda behind as well. No worries! You’ve got until the 1st to respond and have the chance to win a free story.
Have a great day!
Congrats on your new house! The views alone sound like they were worth the wait.
Jannnine~
It was the view all the way for us. Stunning is too weak a word.
Thanks for the good wishes!
Your perseverance paid off, congratulations. House warming party… need to see those views!
Kathy~
After what we went through, it’ll be a house warming party that lasts a whole week. :0
Thanks for popping in!
I too love your description of a “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree” house. You have an awesome way with words. Congratulations and wishing you live happily ever after in your new home!
Awww, Jacqui, thanks for the compliment. (I’m blushing.)
And thanks for stopping by, sista!
Love the story. I hope you post before and after pictures!
(No need to enter me in the drawing for the short story.)
Amanda Hudson
Blackdressredhighheels@yahoo.com
I love finding new authors!
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