Selling your Home

[Tom Hendricks]

We had an appraisal done when we bough the house less then two years ago and it appraised for $680,000. A similar house a block away sold about two months ago for $579,000. However that house was much smaller, smaller lot and only had one garage.

Our house is 3400 square feet, with four bedroom and 3 & 1/2 baths. Family room, Kitchen, Dinning Room and Living Room. The unfinished basement and 1st floor have 9 foot ceilings and the second floor are 8 foot. The master bedroom and guest bedroom both have vaulted ceilings and the laundry room is on the second floor.

Believe me, I'm painfully aware of how bad the market is. This post was more or less to bitch about it. Commiserate hopefully with others that are in a similar situation. Which I have discovered people way off worst then us.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I know it's probably unfair (different markets, different standards, etc.), but I'm having a really hard time feeling some sympathy for someone who "bitch" and "commiserate himself" about owning a 315 square metres, two-storied villa with 4 bedrooms, 3 & 1/2 bathrooms, 4 rooms downstairs, with vaulted ceilings and shit, after paying it with Monopoly money.

I'm heartless like that.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

You don't have to, not asking you to. You could have moved on and not commented since you didn't actually add anything to the conversation worth anything beyond making yourself feel better.

 

[1001001]

We had an appraisal done when we bough the house less then two years ago and it appraised for $680,000. A similar house a block away sold about two months ago for $579,000. However that house was much smaller, smaller lot and only had one garage.

Our house is 3400 square feet, with four bedroom and 3 & 1/2 baths. Family room, Kitchen, Dinning Room and Living Room. The unfinished basement and 1st floor have 9 foot ceilings and the second floor are 8 foot. The master bedroom and guest bedroom both have vaulted ceilings and the laundry room is on the second floor.

Believe me, I'm painfully aware of how bad the market is. This post was more or less to bitch about it. Commiserate hopefully with others that are in a similar situation. Which I have discovered people way off worst then us.

In 2006 our house appraised for $460,000. That was done by a bank-employed appraiser.

Today, Zillow says it's worth $190,000.

Being stuck, even in a nice house, is still being stuck.

 

[iguana_tonante]

You don't have to, not asking you to. You could have moved on and not commented since you didn't actually add anything to the conversation worth anything beyond making yourself feel better.

Isn't, by your own admission in your post before mine, the whole point of the thread? Make yourself feel better? I could have moved on, and originally I meant to, but 5 pages of "woe is me, I own a big-ass house" put me a foul mood. If you don't want to hear it, adding "No contrary sentiments allowed, only sympathy" to the original post would have been a good idea.

 

[RoJoHen]

I think it would definitely be worth having your house appraised again. You say you just had it approved two years ago, but these last two years are exactly when the housing market has been changing. Your house is probably not worth even close to what you paid for it, unfortunately.

 

[1001001]

You don't have to, not asking you to. You could have moved on and not commented since you didn't actually add anything to the conversation worth anything beyond making yourself feel better.

Isn't, by your own admission in your post before mine, the whole point of the thread? Make yourself feel better? I could have moved on, and originally I meant to, but 5 pages of "woe is me, I own a big-ass house" put me a foul mood. If you don't want to hear it, adding "No contrary sentiments allowed, only sympathy" to the original post would have been a good idea.

I think you're missing the point.

It's not about a house, it's about the lack of mobility. His wife has been offered a job somewhere else, and they can't go. The same thing is happening to me. I can't leave here.

I'm not speaking for the OP, but for me that's the real issue. I realize I'm lucky to have kept my job and my home. I realize other people have it worse. I grant all that.

It still doesn't make it feel any better to realize that your house has become an anchor.

 

[Saturn0660]

Thats a 150ish house here in NE Ohio. At least where I live.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I'm glad I don't have cancer with logic like that, you would probably be glad if I died. Since I have an great job and excellent health benefits and I should have no right to complain.

I guess I should feel sorry for you, living in your hovel that the romans built. Probably walking up and down the donkey path to fetch your water from the one well in the town square. Having to forage for mushrooms and grubs to eat. Nah, I have no sympathy for you what so ever, I'm heartless like that.

Don't worry about us, we will eventually sell our place. Where we are moving we can afford even larger house. We have our eye on this one:

Nice little 5 Bedroom & 5 Bath with almost 5000 square feet. You can check it out here: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/9104-Whistling-Swan-Ln_Manlius_NY_13104_M33879-24405
Let me know if you think this is a good option for us.

I know it's probably unfair (different markets, different standards, etc.), but I'm having a really hard time feeling some sympathy for someone who "bitch" and "commiserate himself" about owning a 315 square metres, two-storied villa with 4 bedrooms, 3 & 1/2 bathrooms, 4 rooms downstairs, with vaulted ceilings and shit, after paying it with Monopoly money.

I'm heartless like that.

 

[Mr Silver]

That's the difference between Americans and Europeans. In the USA, people are happy for other peoples accomplishments and wealth. In Europe we find any opportunity to knock it.

 

[Mary Ann]

That's the difference between Americans and Europeans. In the USA, people are happy for other peoples accomplishments and wealth. In Europe we find any opportunity to knock it.

While the latter attitude is encountered in Britain, mostly by Daily Mail and redtop readers, I don't think it's prevalent on the continent. Can any continentals confirm or deny this?

European houses may be smaller than North American houses, but the former are built to a much higher standard. My old Canadian house was built in the standard modern way with a wooden frame, tar paper, and a thin outer layer of bricks. It was 15 years old when I bought it some years ago and I spent thousands of dollars on repairs to that piece of shit. In contrast my current house is a bog-standard 1930s 3-bedroom semi-detached house. The outer walls are built of double-thickness good-quality bricks and the slate roof is being replaced for the first time since the house was built 80 years ago. This weight of this roof would literally make most North American houses collapse. Despite having cost as much as I'd sold the Canadian house for (at a loss, thanks to all the bloody repairs, which included replacement windows and a new roof) it's literally half the square footage of the Canadian house, but I prefer my current house. It's small but sturdy, like me.

 

[Captain Shaw]

That's the difference between Americans and Europeans. In the USA, people are happy for other peoples accomplishments and wealth. In Europe we find any opportunity to knock it.

While the latter attitude is encountered in Britain, mostly by Daily Mail and redtop readers, I don't think it's prevalent on the continent. Can any continentals confirm or deny this?

European houses may be smaller than North American houses, but the former are built to a much higher standard. My old Canadian house was built in the standard modern way with a wooden frame, tar paper, and a thin outer layer of bricks. It was 15 years old when I bought it some years ago and I spent thousands of dollars on repairs to that piece of shit. In contrast my current house is a bog-standard 1930s 3-bedroom semi-detached house. The outer walls are built of double-thickness good-quality bricks and the slate roof is being replaced for the first time since the house was built 80 years ago. This weight of this roof would literally make most North American houses collapse. Despite having cost as much as I'd sold the Canadian house for (at a loss, thanks to all the bloody repairs, which included replacement windows and a new roof) it's literally half the square footage of the Canadian house, but I prefer my current house. It's small but sturdy, like me.

I don't think that new builds in the UK are built to has a high stated these days has the house from 1900s and 30s.

 

[Mary Ann]

I don't think they are, either, but even houses from the '60s and '70s are solid. Friends of mine who are builders say that the quality of newbuilds has dropped sharply over the past 10 years, but even these English houses are much sturdier than North American ones of the same age. When we bought our current house we wouldn't consider anything built after WWII because we like the character of older houses, not because we didn't trust the quality of post-war houses. This is the 2nd 1930s house we've owned, and I have a soft spot for them.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm currently living in a house that was built in 1901, and while it definitely needs some cosmetic work, it is an incredibly solid structure. I love this house.

 

[An Officer]

Stunning looking place. Looks like a fantastic way to raise a family. Hope you will get to sell up soon, and that you and your family will be very happy when you get there.

 

[Amaris]

Oh man, that is nice! I wouldn't know what to do with that much space. The three of us live in a 800sq ft house. With 5,000 square feet, I'd have to buy me one of those little golf carts to travel around!

 

[Mr Silver]

While the latter attitude is encountered in Britain, mostly by Daily Mail and redtop readers

That's a bit stereotypical isn't it? I know plenty of people who read trashy newspapers and who are among the most polite, educated and non-bitter people around.

I also thought I'd point out that the Daily Mail has become the most popular online newspaper in the USA.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I understand what you mean. We were living in an 1000 square foot one bedroom co-op, our son was just a year old and we were pregnant with our second child. So we were really interested in getting into a house. This house seamed so massive at the time. However we really made this our home. Our original plan was to be here at least ten years. However this amazing opportunity came up and screwed it all up. I love this house, but we need to sell it and move on, hopefully one day soon.

My wife spoke with her future chairman and it was great news. He said, if you need three or six more months, not an issue. He's thinking five and ten years down the road and these small delays are nothing. So that's a huge weight off our shoulders. So we can wait it out a little bit.

Oh man, that is nice! I wouldn't know what to do with that much space. The three of us live in a 800sq ft house. With 5,000 square feet, I'd have to buy me one of those little golf carts to travel around!

 

[iguana_tonante]

I'm glad I don't have cancer with logic like that, you would probably be glad if I died.

Oh my, aren't we dramatic. Who are you again? I voiced my annoyance with the tone of your posts. Yeah, you don't care, I don't care you don't care, you don't care I don't care you don't care, the usual. Doesn't mean I hate your guts or something.

I guess I should feel sorry for you, living in your hovel that the romans built. Probably walking up and down the donkey path to fetch your water from the one well in the town square. Having to forage for mushrooms and grubs to eat. Nah, I have no sympathy for you what so ever, I'm heartless like that.

Aaaand we go for the anti-Italian remarks in two easy steps. Good job, man. Sorry you can't deal with people not patting you on your head without lashing out borderline-racist remarks: life must be quite stressful for you.

That's the difference between Americans and Europeans. In the USA, people are happy for other peoples accomplishments and wealth. In Europe we find any opportunity to knock it.

I have no qualms with others people's accomplishments. I have my own. I am just annoyed when people whine about how terribly unlucky they are when they are swimming in (metaphorical) gold.

 

[Mary Ann]

While the latter attitude is encountered in Britain, mostly by Daily Mail and redtop readers

That's a bit stereotypical isn't it? I know plenty of people who read trashy newspapers and who are among the most polite, educated and non-bitter people around.

I also thought I'd point out that the Daily Mail has become the most popular online newspaper in the USA.

Yeah, the latter bit makes me sad, too. You do know that the Daily Fail is also universally mocked, yes?

Of course my comment about newspapers is a generalisation, and a tongue-in-cheek one at that. However, look at the overall content, tone and general ethos of those papers. They're very "woe is me", which is one reason why I don't bother reading them (that, and I don't really care about celebrity culture).

As for stereotyping, erm, you were the one who insinuated that all Europeans knock people who are successful, remember? Pot, kettle, black and all that.