Disappointed, house I want not for sale (appraised, mortgage, mortgages)

[rubytue]

My father bought his retirement house after mentioning to someone "if you ever want to sell..." 10+ years the guy called him and and sold it to him. I always tease him b/c he used my college fund to buy the place (he needed cash fast, and my college fund was the most liquid asset - given I was IN college at the time - LOL). So yeah, it does work, although not always at the speed you want

[marmac]

Originally Posted by Giesela

This post is really nothing but a lament for not being able to afford/find my little piece of heaven.
One, small houses on acreages within close commuting distances are hard to find everywhere. Two, of course they cost more.
Then my situation, nearing retirement age in an area I do not plan to retire in; and that area is a depressed snall midwestern city = be very very careful about buying anything or risk being stuck stuck stuck.
When looking at all the numbers there's no way I should buy anything.
But I'm willing to for lifestyle reasons buy if I found the absolute right thing. So I'm not willing to compromise much.
While driving past one place that was too pricey, not right for myriad of other reasons, I saw a place that is really very very close to what I have been hoping for.
But its not for sale
So I looked it up on the county website and and sent a very polite letter with the message if you ever do think of putting house on market please contact me. SOOOOO hoping for a "oh we were thinking about it".
But alas no response.
Then there's this little niggling voice in the back of my head "what if they didn't get the letter?" Well I'm not about to become some sort of weird home stalker so its over.
Meanwhile I keep an eye out but its been 2.5 years and I want to retire in less than 7 years.

--"not being able to afford/find my little piece of heaven"-

--" I'm not willing to compromise much"--


I'll be blunt.
With all the houses on the market today, I think what is holding you down is your desire for a house you can't afford. ( you did mention -"not being able to afford)

You did contact this owner once.
They did not respond.

Can you take a hint or do you want to keep pestering them like a telemarketer?

[whoisjongalt]

I'm in the same boat. I want to buy something by next April. I've been looking for months and haven't seen anything I want. It's not because I'm trying to buy something I can't afford; it's because I want a very specific mid-century modern architectural style in a specific area. My agent said to drive around and find places I like and she would find out how much they owe, etc. and send them a letter.

[marmac]

----"she would find out how much they owe etc and send them a letter "

Mortgages may be public record, but it is none of the realtor's business how much people owe on their house that is not for sale.

Perhaps people should spend time at the courthouse looking up how much that realtor owes on their house that is not for sale,also.

That might make for good conversation at the coffee shop, barber shop, or local bar.

[gobucks86]

Originally Posted by Sandy Nelson

Giesela,

Don't throw in the towel so quickly. I'd write the owners of the house a card or a note once or twice a year. Nothing pushy, just an "I'm still here if you're looking to sell", or "love what you did with the yard this spring" etc.
If they get annoyed by it they'll let you know to stop contacting them, but they might be ready in a year or two and will know who to call.

Best of luck.

Sandy

My 2 cents:

I'm sorry, but am I the only one who would find someone contacting me, who I don't know, saying they like what I did with my yard to be very creepy? Personally, I'd leave the people alone. I'd be annoyed and pretty upset, if not creeped out, if some stranger kept contacting me about wanting my house. It's their house, they should enjoy it and not be pestered by strangers wanting their house and constantly asking them when their going to sell it, if ever. Not trying to be mean, but I'm just saying, I'd leave them alone.

[texdav]

It would not creep me out at all. i have had many epole,personally tell me they are interested f i ever decided to sell. In fact when i sold my last three cars i had nmerous epole that wanted to buy them already and the fist that had told me did. I hardly think its harrassment as most are very nice people. i have even had two real estate agents asedk if I was thinking of selling since mvoing here.

[marmac]

Many times the person who says---" if you ever want to sell, let me know first"--has no money and is all talk. ( the OP did mention --" not being able to afford " )

I've personally experienced that on a person wanting to buy land.

That is why if someone approaches me saying that, I politely tell them---------when my place is for sale,there will be a realtor sign out front

If there isn't one, it's not for sale.

[Giesela]

One of the problems with the web is the fine line between writing a dissertation of every personal, emotional and financial detail so carefully that can't possibly be misunderstood (but probably won't be read) and writing a reasonable communique only to have someone fix on some detail and get all snarky about it.
Marmac - yes I did say can't afford. However I also say I found a property that works for me that's not for sale. Have a little care and use a little thought. There are many personal interpretations of "can't afford". I can easily afford the property I'm speaking about and also many more expensive others that are for sale although I personally feel "I can't afford" them because they don't give me what I want for the financial risk given my retirement plans. Perhaps I should have said "can afford but am unwilling to pay for" Is that enough for you?

I appreciate the many view points. Seems it wouldn't bother some at all to receive a letter or even multiple letters. Seems it would bother others. In retrospect I think having a realtor send the letter would have been a smarter move. Because I am extremely reluctant (as I said before marmac) to bother them again even using a realtor and will have to assume that if they were considering selling the place will either end up on the market and they will or won't call me.
There is very limited inventory in what I'm looking for and this place is one of kind - to me - who is looking for something extremely specific.
I may take the advice here and take note of some other properties and have a realtor send letters, but I'm pretty familiar with the area and there isn't too much I'm willing to pay for.

Thanks for the encourage and advice.

[marmac]

--" Marmac----Yes, I did say can't afford. However,I also say I found a property that works for me that is not for sale "--

How in the world would you know if it works for you if you have no idea what price he will ask on a house that is not for sale, but seems to have a desperate person wanting to buy it ?

[Giesela]

One of the things about this property that suits my needs is that its small. Too small for most families to consider. But it has 4 acres and a small swampy pond (perfect!) Small houses with acreage are in short supply.
I checked the county records and can see what the county appraises it for taxes. Typically houses around here went for 10%-20% more than county appraisal (a realtor told me than and it seems to be pretty true). Now people are lucky to get tax appraisal in town and suburbs. Acreages have stayed about the same.
Its a 900 square foot house. Even if they asked 30 or 40 or 50%+ of the county appraised value I could afford it. I've been looking for over 2 years. I have some idea of what the going rate should be. Would I outrageously overpay? Of course not. But I could afford to. Does that ruin your day?