5.30.2007

House situation -- updated.

Welp, we did it. We met with a realtor today and signed a contract with her to sell our house. Sigh.

As I just now typed this, my stomach turned as though I am on a roller coaster going over the top and falling down . . . faster . . . faster . . . faster. Woa, I hate that feeling.

I think I have that feeling because of, well, so many reasons.

1 - we are listing for way way way less than I ever dreamed we would list. Our list price will be 13k under what we started out asking back 3 months ago. But after really thinking about, comparing other homes selling on the market similar to ours, and those similar to ours that have sold, we know we made the right decision. It just sucks.

2 - we realized today how much our market here in Smelly Town U.S.A. stinks. Ha ha. Get it? (Another bad Val joke, I know!, just trying to lift my spirits . . . )

3 - we realized it's as if we built our $10,000 garage just for kicks and put out a sign that said "free money". Most of the time, with building a garage, you should get that money back, at least some. We won't. We know if we sell, the garage will be a very helpful factor in selling, but we just won't get it back. My stomach sinks thinking that $10,000 went down the drain. We have put forth a LOT of money into this house but won't reap the rewards. Not at all.

4 - because of the low asking price, we are not going to be able to build. Nope, I'm finally letting it be known . . . we aren't going to build. (*super deep sigh*) We were honestly starting to realize that a few weeks ago. Last week we "saw the light". Today we saw the light even more.

A few posts back I posted about how things were rough for us. It's because of the house situation(s). We realized last week that even after thinking about it, praying about it and even feeling like we were making the right decisions, we really weren't. I don't think we were praying for the right things. Too many things were pointing to "you guys can't build right now."

Why are we even trying to sell then? Because we need to get out of here.

It's obvious that the market here is very poor. That after 6 years, our house has hardly appreciated at all. Even if we acted as if we didn't put in $25,000 of hard work and improvements into our house, that we would still barely make anything more . . . that my business can't flourish with such a poor environment to work in (the dark dungeon-y basement) . . . that I have no way of expanding the business at all . . . and that we really need to get our paws into a different town, even though we absolutely love our neighbors . . . we still have to do what's best for our children and their future. It's depressing that if our house was in the town we so wish we were already in, just 40 minutes away, that our house would be on the market for probably $50,000 more than what is is going to be on the market tomorrow. Makes me want to cry.

So that's the latest news. I feel like we might actually finally sell because we're working with a great realtor and we're at a price where people will buy, but we won't be going into a house that we had dreamed of building. We've scratched those plans. Literally scratched. I've cried and cried some more, but I'm over it. (Well, pretty much.) I'm ready to move on. I'm ready for no more let-downs. I'm ready to take on whatever we're meant to take on now. I'm ready to be positive about the steps we're now beginning to take. It's a whole new journey . . . again.

I am ready . . . I think.

Enough of my whining. I know it's not that bad. We're extremely blessed. It's just a huge huge huge let-down that I honestly was not prepared for.

23 comments:

Alexis Jacobs said...

I know it is hard to see in times of turmoil, but God does have a plan for you.

I know this has been a hard decision to make, but I know you are making the right one. When we sold my beautiful house for less than what we paid for it back in Smelly Town USA it made me want to vomit. The motto shouldn't be "Decatur - We Like It Here" but rather "Decatur We Like To Steal Your Money".

((hugs)) ((hugs)) and more ((hugs))

Kellyology said...

I've been thinking about all the people who bought at the height of the market to only watch it go flop. I can't imagine how disheartening it must feel. Good luck to you with your NEW plans.

Louise said...

Hope you house sells quickly!! Thinking of you, keep your chin up!!
((HUGS))

Tracey said...

Oh Val, I'm so sorry. {{hug}} It sucks that you have to give up your dream home. But, that just means you will find something better around the bend. Hey, there's a few lots open in our new town! ;c) And I promise I'll hire you to take my kids pics if you'll show me your photography tips! Sending lots of selling vibes your way.

Chel said...

Hang in there. The housing markets can be shocking. Our house in La. sold for more than $200,000 less than if we had sold it here in Florida. Needless to say, we're still a little stunned every month when our mortgage is drafted.

But I tend to believe that houses take on the aura of the people who live in them, who love in them... so wherever you and your family end up, you'll turn it into home.

Michelle said...

(((hugs))) and lots of them!

Lauren said...

Ugh... I'm so sorry. I'l be praying for a happy ending to this situation for you!

Unknown said...

Thank you, guys . . . every one of you. Means so incredibly much. We have been thinking about this a lot today ever since the REAL for sale sign went up in our yard. We know 110% that we made the right decision and we aren't questioning that at all. What hurts deeply is that we literally spent $25,000 of our hard-earned money for things that had to be done --- new garage, whole new roof, you know, all those things that go into an 80-yr old home --- and we figured up that *if* we sell for what we have it listed for, we will get 17% back. See why I want to throw up?????

I need all the encouraging I can get. Chel, I think you summed it up best and made me feel the best, when you said what you did. Thank you ---- tons.

xo to my friends!

Jen said...

I know it REALLY, REALLY stinks but there is a new life, a new home, a new business, a new adventure coming real soon. I just know it! Want to move to Mississippi?? I MISS YOU!!!!!!!

Christy said...

I'm so sorry :( I hope that the house you find will turn out even better than the house you dreamed of. Remember, God said, "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you..."

Jennifer said...

Praying for you guys, I just know everything is going to work out now!
love ya
jenwood:)

Anonymous said...

Val, I'll whine with you. We will be moving from our dream cabin in the mountains this summer back to city life. I'm devastated, really. But reality says we have to get nearer to all the doctors and therapists for the boys.

I do not want to go house shopping or leave this one. So here's my {{{HUG}}} for you. But like you I realize how blessed is our family. Girl, we'll be just fine, wont' we?

Candace said...

I feel your pain too. I am going to have to put our house on the market soon and I am not ready. This was our first "home". We are going to relocate so that my hubby can go for his doctorate. We should be able to turn a decent profit but we will end up in an apartment anyway. Yuck I feel like we are going backwards!!!

Deborah said...

wow - your entry is pulling me out of 'bloiterdom' again, because I just had to comment. I think you've seen over at my blog that our house is in a constant (and financially draining) state of renovation. When we moved from Boston, we left a house that was perfect for us in every way except for the location. Moving here, to get into the town that we wanted, we had to suck it up and spend $100k MORE than we paid for our first house to get a fixer-upper that was in such a state of disrepair that we couldn't even live in it for the first three months we owned it, until my DH gutted it and made it habitable.

Our house is the 'slummiest' in the neigbhorhood, and a far cry from what I thought I would be living in when we started thinking about 'trading up', lol. It will be YEARS and lots of money and sweat equity before we get it to what we really want it to be. But you know what? We live in the most fabulous neighborhood and I have never been happier in my life. so, what's my point? Sell your house, take what you can get for it and buy whatever you can afford in the location that is most desireable to you. So, you might not get that brand spanking new, built to order house, but the ONLY thing you can't change about a house is the location.

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, and that there is always a way to find the silver lining. I'm sure once your settled into a new home in the town of your dreams, you'll be so glad that it worked out the way it did.

((hugs))

PS - is your town really known as "Smellytown, USA" ???? And I thought NJ got a bad rap.....

MommyMommy said...

we are coming to a realization close to this as well. We love our neighbors, and our house, but not the neighborhood ( meaning the HOA restrictions) it is not where we want to be, but will get no profit on this even though we have been here 3 years ( in CA our house value would have doubled in this amount of time). Ce la vie!

Cerella said...

I'm soo sorry to hear about your change of plans. :( Remember, everything happens for a reason. Something bigger and better is being planned for you in the future. I'm SURE of it! :)

Corie said...

Oh Val. What can I say? I am really sorry to hear that you are going to get back what you had hoped from your house. I am sure that is really difficult.
I know that you know things work out according to God' plan, but I also know that it is still hard when we can't see His bigger picture.
Hang in there and keep faith!

I'm thinking of you!!!!

Corie said...

P.S. I totally got the smelly town USA joke!
I am glad you can attempt humor through the situation! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh no!! I'm so sorry Val, it is so hard to accept change when you were really looking forward to something else! I know you guys will be great no matter where your feet land. You are a great family with a lot of love, and that is the most important thing to remember and focus on!

mama2dibs said...

Ok...I'm hearing you on the whole

"We realized last week that even after thinking about it, praying about it and even feeling like we were making the right decisions, we really weren't."

Chris and I have really been feeling that way about the entire Iowa decision. Then, at the funeral on Tuesday, the pastor did such a good job that Chris walked out and said, "He just made me want to keep on listening to him preach." My heart just wanted to move back to Indiana right then. I hated Indiana. :) Anyway...did we make the right decision? I don't know.

Then I picked up a new devotional book called "the Will of God as a Way of Life" by Jerry Sittser. I've only read the intro and the first chapter, but he challenges everything I've ever thought about the "will of God"...and it makes sense. I would recomend it...especially with the house situation.

I'll be praying for you.

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to you all, Val. If there is any way we can help, please call. Luv Ya All, Clint, Stacy, & Jesse

Katie said...

I feel for you, Valley! We're running into some bummer results of good choices that we've made as far as real estate goes--part of the whole package, I guess! We'll keep you all in our prayers. Sad as it is now, it's kind of exciting (when one can distance oneself!) to wonder what new adventure will unfold out of all this!

Lauren said...

Thanks for "visiting" again. :-) For some reason, I wanted to capture as many memories on camera this visit as I could. I think part of it is because I grew up in the suburbs and farm life fascinates me, and the other part is the simple fact that hubby's grandma is our only living grandparent, and I want our daughter to remember her years from now.

My sis-in-law and her hubby are photographers- their site is www.dotson-studios.com . You might want to check them out! Her blog is peridot rose, in my sidebar.