Buying our house has been a production since Day 1. The first time we went through the property there was a dirty thong lying in the middle of the floor. After we placed a bid, we discover that the seller’s husband had killed himself inside the house. Even when we went for the house inspection, the seller was there telling us everything that was wrong with the house.
But none of that mattered because we were buying my dream home. And we were starting our real estate empire. And we were doing this before Brian turned 25. In the grand scheme of things, life is good and sweat equity would be even better.
So last Thursday we go on the final walk of the house. We check all the lights, appliances, electric and a dozen other things that Brian and the realtor contemplated while I dreamed about what walls I wanted knocked down. Things looked pretty good. There was a giant construction dumpster out back, mounded over with their junk (including porn, booze and electronics) but that’s okay because none of it was in my dream house.
Feeling pretty good, we went out for dinner and just let ourselves feel excited for what was about to happen in our lives.
Settlement was scheduled for 10 in the morning on Friday, so I was too excited to sleep at 5am. We got to the office by 9:45, just so I could be sure that everything would run smoothly. Part of me wanted to get there hours early but I realized that it would have been excessive and everyone would have realized just how neurotic I really am.
Here’s where it really starts to get fun.
Nick, our realtor, greets us at the door. We go through the usual niceties, he asks how we are feeling, do we have questions, yada yada yada. Then he looks at us and says “listen, I didn’t want to worry you yesterday but…”
But…? Where is this “but” coming from and why is it showing up at my settlement?
Nick goes on to say (rather quickly, in one giant sentence) that apparently, the sellers had filed for bankruptcy several years ago and technically they can’t sell the house without permission from a judge but that isn’t the problem because the judge is going to give permission because of the husband committing suicide but the thing is that the seller’s lawyer never submitted the paper work to the court for the judge to sign and now we’re waiting to hear back from some paralegal who has been sent to track down the judge so we can buy our home. But there’s no reason to worry because there’s nothing we can do now but wait.
Brian forgets to breathe. I ask what we need to do next. And we move towards the table anyway because all we can do is wait.
Eventually, all of the parties in question make their way to the table. And we wait. The seller looks like she is going to have a nervous breakdown. Our mortgage broker is trying to fix a mistake on our paperwork. Our realtor keeps offering us water. And the seller’s agents are chatting as if nothing is wrong. And then suddenly, the other agent comes out with “By the way, the Use and Occupancy didn’t come through yet” in this odd, matter of fact tone. Like U&O wasn’t written into our contract as our requirement.
We still ended up settling on Friday, even though there were problems. Partially because we were assured that U&O would be finalized on Monday. Partially because we didn’t want witness the seller going off the deep end. And because we finally got word that the judge signed off on the paperwork.
It leaves us in this interesting situation where we own a home. Sort of. We’re paying interest, utilities and homeowners insurance. But we can’t occupy the home. Or start renovations on the house. Much like the beginning of our twenties, we’re in limbo.
*On Monday, I’ll be asking the question “Who the hell is Pete?” It is now the question that consumes my mind. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
Norcross said...
1Wow. It’s bizarre that the title company and agents would even be allowed to close on the house, given the unability to allow you to actually LIVE in it. Still, this looks like a lawyer party waiting to happen. Best of luck.
08/22/08 11:10 AM | Comment Link
Kate said...
2Even with all the bizzaro things that happened, I think you are going forward with the best attitude. I’m a little jealous, since I have been dreaming of owning my own place for the past two years, and housing prices in Boston are still ridiculous. (Not sure where you are, but I have got to guess that it’s not in the metro-Boston area
)
I wish you all the best of luck!
08/22/08 3:59 PM | Comment Link
Dorie said...
3@Norcross – I live in terror that someone is going to get hurt on the property and B & I will have to deal with that.
@Kate – Thanks! We’re in the Philly burbs (where prices are still ridiculous) but we moved to a small town so we could pull it off. We’ll be living on pasta for at least a year though.
08/25/08 11:57 AM | Comment Link
Dorie Morgan’s Rising Up » 7 Tips for 1st Time Home Buying » Navigating Twenty-Something Suburban Life said...
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