The adventure continues Part 3

Well, I am staggered. Over the weekend the house was open for inspection and it would seem there were a few people come through. That doesn't surprise me.

What did surprise me was the phone call that Anne received saying that some offers had been made for the house.

Today, I was absolutely staggered when the agent rang to say that someone had made an offer on the house and the owner had accepted it. I'm not surprised that someone would want to buy the house. It's not a bad house after all. However, it is the speed and price that surprises me.

There is to be a building inspection on Thursday morning and if that is clear, and I expect it will be, then the house will be sold. And we will have two months before we are homeless. (Melodramatic, I know.)

So can we still live in this area? 

The adventure continues Part 2

Since I last posted, quite a bit has happened. Anne has packed nearly everything in the house (not true, but close), we have visited a mortgage broker and spoken to a bank about a loan, we have met with the real estate agent selling the house, photos have been taken, and the sign has been placed out the front of the property. 

I am writing this in New Zealand where I am on a study trip, but I've been able to see the presentation of the house online. More of that later. 

So, where do I begin.

With the visit to the mortgage broker on Wednesday.

This broker was recommended to us by friends who were able to secure a loan through him. He understands my situation as a minister in the PCV and the quirks of our stipend / allowance and how that affects a home loan application. By the end of our time there, it seemed that it would be possible for us to borrow an amount of money which seems horrendously large, but may not be enough to buy anything in the areas we would be keen to start in. Still, it does mean we might be able to get something. So the search continues in earnest. 

On Thursday we had an appointment with the real estate agents and the photographer. This meant that Wednesday night was not a peaceful night as we were determined to make the house as presentable as it could be while we were still living in it. Of course, when I say "we", the reality is that Anne did most of the work. We all chipped in a bit, but Anne did the bulk of the work. Special mention to Tom who did a great job cleaning his room and study area. 

Thursday morning was busy with a final clean up before they arrived. I confess my tension levels were rising with each moment. Here I share a note of frustration. The people who came to visit us are not the ones responsible for our current state, but they are the only ones we get to talk to. I would love the chance to talk with the owner just to ask why he is selling the house. It might help me to understand what's happening. . . And it might not.

Anyway, as we met, they began talking about the 'open for inspection' times, and it became apparent that this was going to happen quickly. In fact, very quickly. The plan was to have it open on the following Thursday afternoon, and then Saturday & Sunday mornings. Then came the classic comment. 

One of the agents must have picked up that I had some concerns about these times and he asked, "Is that inconvenent for you?" He asked it with care and, I believe, genuine concern to work with us. But all I could see in my mind was the shed full of packing boxes, our lives turned upside down, and the search for a house. "Inconvenient!?!?! This whole thing is inconvenient!"

Anne took over the conversation from there. Just one of the many reasons I love her. 

So, while I'm in New Zealand on a study week which was organised and committed to well before we heard anything about selling the house, our home will be opened three times. (On reflection, that might be a good thing. God is good.)

I should add that they did agree to move the Sunday inspection to the afternoon. This means the family can get home from church and take the pets away before people come in.

That was Thursday.

On Friday I spoke with a bank, and we're waiting to hear back from him. Again, my trip to NZ is at an awkward time.

On Saturday, Daniel and I went to look at a few houses, one of which I saw the week before. Daniel pointed out that the wet rooms of the house would need a lot of work, which I kinda knew, but it would be very expensive. That would mean we use all our money, and maybe more, to end up with a house that is too small anyway. 

Today, Tuesday August 19, I received a note that the sign had gone up in front of the house. It describes the home as "Ultimate Family Lifestyle"! Maybe they put those words on the wrong sign. Maybe they don't remember that the roof leaks just outside the back door. And maybe I should accept that real estate agents use language in different ways. 

Here is the link: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-bayswater+north-117712507

There are two phrases in this description that I want to quote. It is an absolute pleasure to present this immaculate home . . . and Inspection is sure to impress. The truth of these phrases stands as a testament to Anne and the work she has done in the garden, and her amazing efforts to make the place look better than when we arrived. 

So, if you want to buy a house in Bayswater, here's one to consider. 

The adventure continues Pt1

Since learning that the house that is currently our home was going to be sold, we have been proactive in seeking alternatives. We have made an appointment with a mortgage broker next week and look forward to what we might learn there. Of course we might learn that we're fooling ourselves to think we could possibly afford a house anywhere in Melbourne. We will see.

We have also been looking at some houses online, and have found a few that we think might have potential for us. Keep in mind that we want enough room for all our books and bookshelves, and we need a place for Tom to practice his singing as well as room for his desk.

View from the front

Lounge Area

Today I visited two houses. The first looked quite good. It is in an excellent area, just around the corner from where our church meets - literally, and so it is very close to the Croydon Train Station. The photos online suggested that while it looked terrible outside, the inside had been well taken care off and nicely renovated.

What the information on the website didn't show, is that the home is part of a block of units, so while it does have an enclosed courtyard, the 'backyard' - the view outside the bedrooms - is common land for the units. There is also a 'body corporate' fee that would need to be paid. It would be crowded with bookcases, and near impossible for Tom to practice singing. Kitchen isn't real big either. One of the agents indicated that they have some offers for mid $400k, which is at least $50k above the advertised suggested price.

I left this place frustrated. Why do real estate agents need to be deceitful? I know that the photos are never - NEVER - a true indication of what the place looks like, but there was some key information missing online.

Second house - Outside

The second property I looked at didn't have such a good location, but was good enough. However, the house is so small that it would be impossible. I fear that I sound too proud to live in a humble dwelling when I write this. That is not my intent. It's just that when I consider our family and our needs, the house felt too small.

Lounge and dining. (Looks bigger than it is)

It had a bit going for it though. The position meant that the property backed onto an industrial area - so singing wouldn't be an issue there. The yard is ready for a good makeover, and that is something that we could happily get our teeth into. There is a bungalow, which means it could be a study, or a separate room for Daniel, or a practice room for Tom. Potential!

But the bedrooms didn't have robes, and the lounge/dining area would barely fit part of our furniture, and the kitchen would absolutely need replacing (which could be fun). Is it really worth more than $400k? I can't believe that it is, but expect it would sell for that.

The adventure continues.

The Adventure Begins

This adventure began on Monday August 4 2014 when the real estate agent who looks after the house we are renting called to tell us that the owner of the house is putting it on the market.


My initial response wasn't a positive one. I hate packing and moving house, and I feel like we've done this often enough.
But Anne said to us all that we should look at it like an adventure. And so I shall endeavour to do so.


Rent or Buy

While there are some great advantages to renting, and I'm happy to concede that is true, we are going to try and buy a house. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, it will help as we look to the future and a life beyond pastoral ministry. Second, it will give some control back to us and we won't have to deal with this again. I would add to this that in our time here over $40,000 has been paid in rent. And what do we have to show for it?
Nothing!
Nothing at all! And everything else we have invested in making the place better will be left behind. So we hope the next owners will enjoy the much-improved garden.

So the adventure begins. And we don't know where it will end.