I have a signed deal to buy a condo!

[Dreamer]

I am so happy for you. It sounds really nice. Congratulations! I love that you will be even closer to your granddaughter.

 

[FIREd]

Congratulations ha! Sounds like a great setup.

What made you decide to transition from renting to owning?

 

[Meadbh]

Congratulations Ha, and enjoy home ownership!

 

[REWahoo]

Twenty eight posts and no one has asked "the" question: Are you going to pay off the mortgage early?

Sounds like a really great place. Hope you really enjoy living there.

 

[lhamo]

Congrats, Ha! Sounds like a nice place. And knowing you, it is a very good price.

I do think Seattle housing may be bottoming out. I wouldn't feel comfortable sinking our emergency fund into real estate right now, but kind of wish I did -- I have seen some decent places on redfin in different neighborhoods close to family for good prices. But many have quickly gotten offers on them.

Enjoy your new digs and the closeness to family. that is something I sorely miss....

 

[clifp]

Twenty eight posts and no one has asked "the" question: Are you going to pay off the mortgage early?

Sounds like a really great place. Hope you really enjoy living there.

I bet there is no mortgage to pay off.

 

[REWahoo]

I bet there is no mortgage to pay off.

Are you sure that's a good idea?

 

[brewer12345]

Congrats, Ha, you filthy bottom fisher. Sounds like a great place. Stairs not too bad for when the joints don't cooperate?

 

[FUEGO]

Sounds pretty ideal. Congrats!

 

[haha]

I bet there is no mortgage to pay off.

Right. ALthough I have generally been pro-mortgage in our debates, this seller, an older woman who wants to leave the city before Christmas wanted to be sure she had a solid deal, and many mortgage borrower wannabes are getting denied. So I got an additional discount, and of course saved the costs and annoyance associated with a mortgage. Ordinarily I like to hold on to cash, but I would have kept this very safe, and the interest saved is worth more than any interest I would have received on CDs. Also, this is a small deal, and so the mortgage interest deduction would have been little or nothing to me anyway.

This way I will need quite a bit less monthly cash, and still be able to keep my current lifestyle, avoid realized income, etc.

@Brewer- it is not a perfect place for oldsters, but there is only a very short well designed staircase so I think and hope it will be fine. I don't have generalized arthritis- just one hip from a very old traffic crash that took 40 years or so to catch up with me.

I think I thought- "He who doesn't eat when he can, sometimes will not eat at all." I have a pretty long list of criteria, within a small area that I considered OK. I have have sure seen a lot of places with big prices and precious little to recommend them, so it just seemed like this was a good time to take my knife and fork and start the meal.

Ha

 

[Trawler]

Awsome. Love the posts where people make what they want come true.

 

[freebird5825]

Your new place sounds wonderful.

I am assuming you have help to move your furniture and belongings. If not, maybe someone at the new place can recommend a low cost local mover.

I envision Mr B and I doing the same type of move to a condo, somewhere down the road. The yard w*rk is starting to get a bit much for us, but not impossible. Someday...

 

[SteveL]

There are many find Seattle neighborhoods, glad you found a place in one you like. How far to the library? That's always my question.....
Anyway, cash deals are always quick and clean.
I have a neighbor who is moving to a condo, and even though he has great credit and a lot of money, the bank jerked him around on closing.

 

[haha]

There are many find Seattle neighborhoods, glad you found a place in one you like. How far to the library? That's always my question.....
Anyway, cash deals are always quick and clean.
I have a neighbor who is moving to a condo, and even though he has great credit and a lot of money, the bank jerked him around on closing.

I Just checked =roughly a mile to the downtown main library, also to the branch library that I now use. I will likely start picking up my hold books downtown, as there are many more newspapers and periodicals that I can read there too.

I am assuming you have help to move your furniture and belongings. If not, maybe someone at the new place can recommend a low cost local mover.

My sons work way too hard for me to want to burden them with a move, even though I don't have much stuff.

My former neighbors across the hall moved with a service that dropped off plastic boxes for them to pack at their leisure, and when my friends were ready to go, the movers came and picked up the boxes, bed and other furniture. As I remember it was fairly cheap. I have a couch, a queen bed, a coffee table, small dining table and 4 chairs, and some folding chairs that I keep in my storeroom, and TV/stereo thing that I will try to sell or give away. And of course my rower, but it will be easy in two parts. No dresser even. I want to replace my TV stand with one that I can roll out and get to the back easily. Currently, it is hard for me to change anything.

I have to call them to get the contact info for that outfit. I feel bad for the male part of the couple who used to live across the hall, he was married to the sexiest (and most flirtatious) 35 year old babe that I ever have met. He was just too unwilling to get off the couch and give her some more exciting entertainment. She wanted to dance, go to clubs, he wanted to read. So 4 months after they moved they are already divorced, after like 10 years of marriage. He might be alone a long time; she about 14 minutes.

Ha

 

[clifp]

I have to call them to get the contact info for that outfit. I feel bad for the male part of the couple who used to live across the hall, he was married to the sexiest (and most flirtatious) 35 year old babe that I ever have met. He was just too unwilling to get off the couch and give her some more exciting entertainment. She wanted to dance, go to clubs, he wanted to read. So 4 months after they moved they are already divorced, after like 10 years of marriage. He might be alone a long time; she about 14 minutes.

Ha

She sounds like a fine addition to your new digs. You old dog.

 

[walkinwood]

Chalk up another benefit of the rowing machine! Good deals on condos.
Congratulations!

 

[Brat]

haha, contragulations in finding a great value close to family!

My yellow flags are a reflection of the issues of others. We moved into a co-op and love it.

 

[ERD50]

So, I am excited which is not my normal state.

Ha

Awesome! And Congrats! Must feel good that the waiting and planning worked out for you. Sure sounds like lots of great positives for you.

You mentioned the rowing machine - maybe some clever design might 'hide' it in the open, like some faux four-poster bed drapes or something? Maybe one of your lady friends would enjoy the interior decorating challenge?


-ERD50

 

[obgyn65]

Congratulations !

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Well done!

 

[simple girl]

Congratulations!!!

 

[haha]

Update on Condo Purchase

Looks like we are moving well toward a close in mid-November. The seller agreed to my list of needed repairs, so as soon as these are completed and I approve of them, it is essentially a done deal. I have an acceptable preliminary report of title.

Interesting call yesterday from the escrow agent. She needs me to answer a series of questions to assure them that I am not some other Mr. H.Ha, who has quite as assortment of judgments against him oustanding .

I have met the HOA board president and several residents, and they are very nice, mostly 35-55. One older man has been there since it was built in the early 80s. I think I will be as happy with my neighbors in my new place as I have been here in my apartment.

Yesterday I walked from the new place to most of my habitual destinations. Some are farther, some closer, but overall quite similar distances. And, there are many new places for me to explore. Yesterday I had lunch at French bistro a few blocks west of the condo. Very good, and fairly inexpensive. Nice wine list, and very, very good espresso.

Ha

 

[harley]

Sounds great, Ha. Did you manage to [-]scam them into believing[/-] convince them that you aren't the deadbeat? Seems like it will be a good fit for you, from your description. Let us know how closing and all that brouhaha goes. Then we need pictures.

 

[tmm99]

Ha,

You must be getting REALLY excited! It sounds like you will have a great time exploring the new neighborhood.

 

[Dawg52]

Does the condo come with a spare bedroom?