Late Night News

gotta make a late night post for really exciting late night news... from my phone at that and i have no use of caps or exclamation points which really does this a disservice. my offer on the westwood condo is accepted .exclamation points. they did counter but only with silly small things like the escrow account, so everything that really mattered to me like the price, closing costs and the extended closing date are a done deal. yay for not having mortgage and rent in the same month. and yay for becoming a first time home owner. ahhh the adventures of an adventurer..... hehe

Offer #3 in the works!

After another round in West Seattle, covering the last of possibilities, offer #3 is in the works. It's the only 2 bed/2 bath left within my price range and criteria. Because the listing price is so low, it leaves me with the ability to update the kitchen and bathroom surfaces (counters, possibly a new stove, back splashes, etc) and spiff it up really nice with paint and all the Jessie-touches necessary. So keep that in mind as you watch the video below. Lots of potential!!! Once these minor updates are made (which will also be really fun!), it'll be a great condo and a great investment.

Here's the listing (last on the list): http://locator.nwmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Locator&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=I9xUF6hi%2BAmcF%2B8gU%2BqONiR7nQRTbrvilg3PeSCx1q8%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=

Here's the video I took as we toured it tonight:


Enjoy!

Tuesday Night Tour

The Tuesday night West Seattle tour consists of SEVEN properties. We'll see how these go. For those of you dedicated followers, here is the link to what I'm checking out tonight. There are still others on the "Maybe" list aside from these. Since it changes so frequently, it's hard to keep a list updated!

Update on last property post: #1 is out, #2 is out unless they dramatically drop the price, #3 is still in the running (I'm seeing another unit in the same building tonight).

Send good vibes!

http://locator.nwmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Locator&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGUMENT=I9xUF6hi%2BAmcF%2B8gU%2BqONiR7nQRTbrvilg3PeSCx1q8%3D&KeyRid=1&Include_Search_Criteria=

Offer Update

Condo #1 is a no. After making an offer Friday afternoon and what seemed like the longest weekend EVER, I heard back Sunday afternoon that my offer was too low. What can ya do?? Looks like I'll be looking at 1 bed/1 bath condos here on out. Unless, of course, I strike it lucky and find a treasure in West Seattle! Here's to hoping!

Home Hunt: The Re-evaluated Top 3

After offer #1 and looking at a total of well over 50 or 60 properties in at least 6 very different neighborhoods across the Seattle/Bellevue metropolitan area, I've learned quite a bit! And I'm excited because I had a very successful home hunting tour tonight. Two new places I checked out tonight have now made it to the Top 3! Here's what we've got so far.

#1 - 45th Ave condo near the Alaska Junction (2 bed/2 bath). This one has the best location and by far the best view of the Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and West Seattle. AND it's the only one with 2 baths that fit all my criteria. http://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/4540-45th-Ave-SW-98116/unit-303/home/55882

#2 - Admiral Junction condo off California Ave (2 bed/1 bath). This one feels more like a house w/ a front yard and three of the four walls having windows, has really high ceilings, with VERY nice layout and decorating it is by far the most Move-In-Ready. Location is still AMAZING, I'm just more partial to the Alaska Junction than the Admiral Junction because they've got better restaurants... I know... picky.



#3 - Fauntleroy condo (2 bed/1 bath). This one's advantage is the price all the way, it also has a very nice layout and some very cute features to it. Location is still very good, just not as good as the others.

First Home Buying Adventure

All I can say is.... Oh my gosh!!! I just signed my first offer letter!!! eeekk!

Today I took, what I like to call, a "2nd Look Tour" with my posse to look at the properties that form my "yes list," narrowed down from 40-50 condos/houses/townhomes in a plethora of Seattle metro neighborhoods. Some of the top choices include a West Seattle condo (tied for spot #1) which has an awesome view of Puget Sound, great location, but would need SOME work (all new carpet, paint and ideally some kitchen cabinet work).


The place I submitted an offer for is in Newcastle (just south of Bellevue, near I-90/405, close to tons of shopping and a mall), 3 bedrooms/2 bath, great open layout, high ceilings, lots of light, nice everything so nothing would need to be updated, built in 2001, in a good neighborhood, lots of trails nearby with a lake/park across the street. It has stainless steel appliances, washer/dryer, updated surfaces, lots of extra storage space, it's quiet, has access to a HOT TUB and exercise room, etc. Here is the floor plan...

Here are three videos of the place as we toured it today... I always like to see it in video better than pictures.

From entry, shows hallway, kitchen, dining room and then into the living room:


The door to the master bedroom is off the dining room / kitchen area. This is of the bedroom, bathroom and walkin closet:

From the entry down the hall to the right with the 2nd bathroom, closet and washer/dryer to the back of the hall with the second and third bedrooms:


Thoughts, anyone? I'm guessing I'll hear back on the offer in the next couple days... so we'll see. :)

BTW - In the time it took to start and then finish this blog post (granted, with some interruptions ), I think I've gone full circle with feeling very confident, excited, overwhelmed, stressed, regretful, and then hopeful. Oh man... can you believe this? Someone would actually let me BUY a condo??