Home shopping...

[Ratt]

...is a fucking beat down. Everything I like is already under Active Option Contract. God dammit.

[Tyrone Biggums]

I would not want to be looking for a house right now.

[Cannon88]

Where are you looking?

[Silverback]

...is a fucking beat down. Everything I like is already under Active Option Contract. God dammit.

you have to see stuff the day it hits the market.

Inventory is crazy low, and there are a lot of people out there looking.

I looked at over 50 houses in under 3 months, and after our 5th offer, we finally agreed with a seller, and are a few weeks from closing. This one we were the first people to see the house, and luckily the listing agent didn't even have time to get additional pictures of the house up, before we put an offer in (just a front and back yard pic were on the internet and MLS)

the whole process is a beat down.

Realtor.com does a really good job of putting houses on their site as soon as they hit the MLS. Also I found that estately.com usually has the pictures up before realtor.com.

Most realtors will set you up with a search that runs every evening and emails you around 5AM. You're too late if you go this route, most of the homes that came on the market the night before that are worth a shit, have an offer on them same day.

[Ratt]

I would not want to be looking for a house right now.

It sucks.

Where are you looking?

South Frisco/North Plano

you have to see stuff the day it hits the market.

Inventory is crazy low, and there are a lot of people out there looking.

I looked at over 50 houses in under 3 months, and after our 5th offer, we finally agreed with a seller, and are a few weeks from closing. This one we were the first people to see the house, and luckily the listing agent didn't even have time to get additional pictures of the house up, before we put an offer in (just a front and back yard pic were on the internet and MLS)

the whole process is a beat down.

Realtor.com does a really good job of putting houses on their site as soon as they hit the MLS. Also I found that estately.com usually has the pictures up before realtor.com.

Most realtors will set you up with a search that runs every evening and emails you around 5AM. You're too late if you go this route, most of the homes that came on the market the night before that are worth a shit, have an offer on them same day.

That's no shit, except that realtor.com and estately.com have been slacking lately and everything they post that is worth a shit already has a contract on it before they post it. Our realtor is pretty good and we get MLS listing updates every day around 4-5 AM. Problem is wife and I both work until about 5:00 PM and can't see anything during the day until after that or on the weekends, so most of what we want has already accepted offers by then. Luckily we are in a position to wait if we don't get what we want, and we can wait as long as we need to. Just means we can save more for the down payment.

It just sucks to see what you really want in your price range, and go to look at it only to hear that they accepted an offer earlier that day. There's currently a house in Frisco that I want to go see that just came on the market. Going to see it this afternoon, but I'm afraid it will be too late, and I refuse to put an offer in on a house I haven't seen in person.

[slow99]

We bought the 2nd one we bid on in an insanely hot market, but the wife is free to go look at them the first available time slot when they list. Went in 3% over list and sellers accepted it (still can't believe they did).

[Silverback]

It sucks.

South Frisco/North Plano


That's no shit, except that realtor.com and estately.com have been slacking lately and everything they post that is worth a shit already has a contract on it before they post it. Our realtor is pretty good and we get MLS listing updates every day around 4-5 AM. Problem is wife and I both work until about 5:00 PM and can't see anything during the day until after that or on the weekends, so most of what we want has already accepted offers by then. Luckily we are in a position to wait if we don't get what we want, and we can wait as long as we need to. Just means we can save more for the down payment.

It just sucks to see what you really want in your price range, and go to look at it only to hear that they accepted an offer earlier that day. There's currently a house in Frisco that I want to go see that just came on the market. Going to see it this afternoon, but I'm afraid it will be too late, and I refuse to put an offer in on a house I haven't seen in person.

We looked in Plano, Richardson, North Dallas, Allen, Murphy, Sachse, and North Garland. There were only 1-3 houses a week that met our strict criteria.

Those that you see on realtor.com are showing up already under contract as "new listings", because something changed on them. either they went under option, or went pending, etc. Whenever the updates process they show as new listings again.

I've found the app on the phone is the best way to track on realtor.com as it puts a Check Mark next to homes you've already looked at, and makes it really easy to see new homes.

We were only able to see homes after 3-4PM each night too, and on the weekends. If your realtor can't be available during your times, find another realtor. I think a lot of realtors forget that they work for YOU, and if they don't have time, someone else does. I'm not terribly hard on a realtor, but i expect certain things.

[Silverback]

We bought the 2nd one we bid on in an insanely hot market, but the wife is free yto go look at them first available time slot when they list. Went in 3% over list and sellers accepted it (still can't believe they did).

It's crazy to me that people are willing to over pay on a house.

I ended up getting this house for $7k off of asking price, the most we offered was $1k over asking price, and i pulled my offer the next day, because I just wasn't comfortable paying more than I felt the house was worth.

[slow99]

It's crazy to me that people are willing to over pay on a house.

I ended up getting this house for $7k off of asking price, the most we offered was $1k over asking price, and i pulled my offer the next day, because I just wasn't comfortable paying more than I felt the house was worth.

This house was way underpriced, that's why I went in over. Homes in our neighborhood all have multiple offers for over list within a day or 2 though.

[Ratt]

It's crazy to me that people are willing to over pay on a house.

I ended up getting this house for $7k off of asking price, the most we offered was $1k over asking price, and i pulled my offer the next day, because I just wasn't comfortable paying more than I felt the house was worth.

Part of our problem may be putting low offers in, but when comps show teh house is worth 20k less than what you're asking, then I'm not playing that game...I'll offer what it's worth, if you don't want to sell it then fine, I'll keep looking. This isn't 2005/2006, you're not going to get that much over asking price, and like I said, I've got time to sit here and wait for the best house for me.

[Silverback]

Part of our problem may be putting low offers in, but when comps show teh house is worth 20k less than what you're asking, then I'm not playing that game...I'll offer what it's worth, if you don't want to sell it then fine, I'll keep looking. This isn't 2005/2006, you're not going to get that much over asking price, and like I said, I've got time to sit here and wait for the best house for me.

you'd be surprised how many people are offering over list price right now, but then the houses don't end up appraising. Unless you've got a pocket of cash to offset that, then you just have to keep working on it, til you find one.

[8mpg]

Shopping for one is just the beginning. Then you have to deal with the mortgage guy, title company.. They keep asking for more information. Then you pray your appraisal is higher than your purchasing price. Im on month 3 of a house purchase (short sale) but we are FINALLY closing on Friday.

[Ratt]

Shopping for one is just the beginning. Then you have to deal with the mortgage guy, title company.. They keep asking for more information. Then you pray your appraisal is higher than your purchasing price. Im on month 3 of a house purchase (short sale) but we are FINALLY closing on Friday.

I am not looking forward to this. We are pre-qualified/pre-approved, but I'm certain they will ask for more information.

[8mpg]

I am not looking forward to this. We are pre-qualified/pre-approved, but I'm certain they will ask for more information.

oh they will.. 2 years W2 and tax returns (tax return is not enough..must have W2) all bank statements for 3+ months, statement with minimum amount for the down payment. If you have any large deposits outside of a work check, they need a reason.

I deposited $6k of my own cash into my bank account and they wouldnt take it. I ended up needing a "gift" letter even though it was my own money. I had to show my job offer letter from 2 years ago after I graduated college and got a decent paying job. If this process drags out as mine did, you need to update all the bank account info, etc. Also, make sure you pay the title company early so they get their asses going. We were never told to send a check and that delayed us 2 weeks on closing.

While it is a pain in the ass, we are borrowing other people's money so we play by their rules.

[71chevellejohn]

It was a lot less hassle for me to use a small bank. Since they don't have the national underwriters to report to, there was a lot less paperwork(less invasive). I did take a knock on the APR(about .5%), but I was expecting it to be worse than that.