Hi everyone,

Just had lunch about 1 hour ago. It's 4:05am... Got here at about 10:30 pm... Plane leaves for 18 hour journey at 7:20am... I know - sounds weird...

Since I'm sitting here in the Singapore airport trying to adjust ahead of time to US time (any timezone will do), I thought I'd catch you all up on how my move is coming along...

As some of you know, we got an offer over asking the day after we listed our house in Waltham. Despite having looked at over 150 houses over a period of 5 months in the greater Seattle area (an offer that went over asking but not getting it, having 3-4 offers with very long drawn out negotiations on overpriced houses), we finally settled on something - which turned out to be a good deal even!

The weekend when I needed to decide on something, which could have meant going up to what the overpriced house sellers were asking, we were scheduled to see one last new listing. It looked well priced and good on paper. From experience, these well-priced ones normally are compromised in some other way (including one that should have been condemned! rats outside in the daytime, stained carpets over 99% of the area, stained walls, mold, water stains, rotted windows - yucks!!) Anyway, back to that last new listing... Prior to seeing it, I was telling our agent that it would be really ironic if this last house we saw before we had to make a decision after 5 months of looking would be the house we would actually end up buying...

Well, we did. Despite going 70k over asking!!! it was still priced about 15-20% below comparables! Unfortunately, it did not have the views or waterfront like one or two of the overpriced ones we were looking at. OK, on to the stuff that really matters... 4 car garage!!! with lots of storage space as well! Almost tall enough for a lift - will have to look into it - but with space for 4 cars, the lift is less of a factor. Just as we were accepting the fact we would be downsizing (with one of the overpriced ones where we were compromising space for the view/water), this one is actually larger than our current house! We close on May 16th.



There's even a bonus room that should have a little more wall space than my current study!

Anyway, the movers will be here the last week of May and we'll be moved by May 30 (which is when we close on this house). Between now and then, I may have a couple of trips to Seattle but hope to find some time to have one gathering before I go.

I'm planning on doing the BMWCCA Boston Chapter Test and Tune this weekend May 8. Anyone going?

 

looks great Francis!!

btw i need a TV - please let me know how much your asking for yours if you didn't sell it yet

thanks
steve

 

I thought I pm'd you... I was going for $100 originally but you can have it for $75

 

great - are you around next weekend??

 

Congrat's Francis Nice house. Your family should be happy there.

I wish you the best

 

Wow, nice house! Can't wait till I start rolling in that kind of cash...

 

holy crap!! that is an awesome place plus a 4 car garage

 

Francis, congrats!

My parants wanna say thanks to you. The loves those sofas.

Good luck on the moving.

Great house by the way. You pimp daddy you

 

Somehow I knew you'd end up with the house w/ the best garage in your listings. Good luck Francis

 

it was tough to trade off the view or small lake for the extra square footage and garage but ultimately, I was cheap and went for the better value