totally OT positive thoughts?

Good thoughts about this are on their way! Barbara in SC

Here's hoping, Taria! Best of luck for your DD to get the house she wants. :)

I've definitely got good thoughts to spare for your DD's new house. While you and she have done a lot of hard work finding the right one, I know that now the apprehension really begins as you work through the mortgage process and finally the moving.

It will be worth it! Michelle in NV

Have you suffered through a professional 'home inspection' ? It would have been so nice to have had one before we bought the Swamp. We had some awful surprises - like, for example, the pump to the well didn't work. Discovered that the wiring must have been done by a tight-fisted plumber . . . that sort of thing. Polly

Thanks! The market has been so wacky here it is amazing. Short sell could mean awhile before she gets word back.

Thanks Sandy. We live in a house just under 1500 ft. and she is here with us. I think that is about the size you are familar with. It is kind of a tight fit but she has been paying her own way here while saving too. We are all pretty ready! Taria

Thanks Michelle. Looking at repo's and short sells makes you really lose hope in the human race. With the awful way folks have treated some of these homes they should have to live in tents. It is really shameful. It is kind of fun to watch dd move through the process though. Taria

BTDT on other houses Polly. This particular house she is dealing with is 4 years old. If she has anyone look at it my contractor/builder brother will. There sure can be surprises in house buying. CA has a boatload of disclosure rules but I don't know how that works out with short sales. I love how the inspectors have disclaimers all over their contracts that say they are pretty much responsible for only what they can see and if they miss anything too bad anyway. I told her I might just try to outbid her on this particular house. She wasn't too keen on that. : ) TAria

LOL! That brings back memories, Taria. We moved into our 1500 sq. ft. home here one day, and the very next day DD#2, her then-DH and their two dogs moved in with us. It was supposed to be for two weeks, but it turned into three months. Four adults and three dogs in a house we'd intended for two adults and one dog soon became rather crowded, as you might imagine. We also were pretty ready when their home was finally finished after countless delays.

I never thought when we planned to move back into this house dd would want to stay with us. She has no animals and is pretty quiet so that helps a lot. She has been paying a third of the utilities and a bit since she graduated from college. I let her and dh use the garage since they have the new cars. I miss my garage most. Funny we spent most of our kids here in this house and it was plenty big enough. At some point it got small. Mom had a lot of kids in a small house but we just didn't know any different. I think we had a lot less stuff then too though. No matter the house there is always enough of a corner somewhere for a sewing machine.

I am trying to talk dd into taking the last kitty that moved in here. I just think she needs a friend there. LOL I bet your house seemed to grow when everyone got settled in their own place. TAria

Positive thoughts on the way!

Yes, I've heard the reports about how some people are leaving their houses. It's terrible. The thing that gets me most is of people leaving their pets to die in the house. How heartless can people be? Even if a person thought they got a raw deal from the bank, it sure as heck wasn't the animal's fault.

It's cool you're able to be there for your DD. :-)

Best regards, Michelle > Thanks Michelle. Looking at repo's and short sells makes you really lose

I would never buy a house, no matter how old, without a house inspection. They are much more experienced at looking for trouble spots than the average person. We had a fellow in to fix a crack in the basement wall and he was telling us some horror stories about a bunch of brand new condos - every one had wall cracks in the basement

- he was making money hand over fist repairing them. Hope your daughter has great luck.

Sharon (N.B.)

Good thoughts and rainbows coming your way

Heather in West Oz

Oh boy, *did* it ever! LOL!