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I recently bought my dream home. And I have an interesting and long story to share.
I started looking for a house in April of 2015. Very early on, I was determined to buy a either a townhome or patio home in a very nice townhome complex half a mile to a mile from work (the complex is half a mile long). The built quality is excellent and there are many mature trees that make various parts of the complex seem like a park.
I fell in love with a house inside the complex, it was the perfect size and in a perfect location in the complex, but it was listed at $600K, $70K out of my range. My target price was $530K. For 3 months, when I go home from work, I took the longer route and drove to this house, stopped in the front just to look at it and then go home never thinking that I could afford it. In July the price was then lowered to $575K, still too high for me and then finally it was lowered to $550K in September 2015. I made a full offer. The owner accepted it and we went into escrow. 4 days later, the owner (husband) passed away. The wife has passed away in April. Both died in the hospital. The wife was 91 and the husband was 92 and they were original owners since 1974. I went through the process of probate sale and finally completed the purchase with the son in January of 2016.
When I took possession of the house, the son has not done cleaning it up and I allowed him to pick up many items two weeks later. One night, I came to the house to clean up before moving in. The picture of the deceased mother was still on the wall. I thought she looks very familiar but couldn't remember where I had met her. As I moved around to clean the house, her eyes sort of followed me . I left earlier than planned.
The son showed up to pick up the picture of his mom and other stuffs. Suddenly, he asked if I am Vietnamese. I answered yes. He told me that his mom used to teach ESL to Vietnamese students in Long Beach and that she loved them, and she also loved the house. Sensing that I love the house, he told me that his mom would have been glad that I bought this house. And then he left.
Suddenly, I remembered that I came to this country as a refugee and started 9 grade in High School in Long Beach in 1989 and because my English was so poor, the school assigned me a tutor, a teacher who was semi retired. She taught me 1 hour a day, for one semester. She was so nice and so patient with me and made me feel very comfortable. She gave me a box of See's candies on the last day of school. She wrapped the box with yellow wrapping paper. I remembered that so vividly because it was the first gift I have ever received from someone other than my parents. It was very unexpected, someone gave me a gift. Like most beginning English learners, American names and faces were very difficult to remember so I forgot her name. I also forgot her face because it was 26 years ago. She was also considerably older in the picture hung in the house but it was her.
Last edited by jimmybirdie; 03-28-2016 at 11:55 PM..
I recently bought my dream home. And I have an interesting and long story to share.
I started looking for a house in April of 2015. Very early on, I was determined to buy a either a townhome or patio home in a very nice townhome complex half a mile to a mile from work (the complex is half a mile long). The built quality is excellent and there are many mature trees that make various parts of the complex seem like a park.
I fell in love with a house inside the complex, it was the perfect size and in a perfect location in the complex, but it was listed at $600K, $70K out of my range. My target price was $530K. For 3 months, when I go home from work, I took the longer route and drove to this house, stopped in the front just to look at it and then go home never thinking that I could afford it. In July the price was then lowered to $575K, still too high for me and then finally it was lowered to $550K in September 2015. I made a full offer. The owner accepted it and we went into escrow. 4 days later, the owner (husband) passed away. The wife has passed away in April. Both died in the hospital. The wife was 91 and the husband was 92 and they were original owners since 1974. I went through the process of probate sale and finally completed the purchase with the son in January of 2016.
When I took possession of the house, the son has not done cleaning it up and I allowed him to pick up many items two weeks later. One night, I came to the house to clean up before moving in. The picture of the deceased mother was still on the wall. I thought she looks very familiar but couldn't remember where I had met her. As I moved around to clean the house, her eyes sort of followed me . I left earlier than planned.
The son showed up to pick up the picture of his mom and other stuffs. Suddenly, he asked if I am Vietnamese. I answered yes. He told me that his mom used to teach ESL to Vietnamese students in Long Beach and that she loved them, and she also loved the house. Sensing that I love the house, he told me that his mom would have been glad that I bought this house. And then he left.
Suddenly, I remembered that I came to this country as a refugee and started 9 grade in High School in Long Beach in 1989 and because my English was so poor, the school assigned me a tutor, a teacher who was semi retired. She taught me 1 hour a day, for one semester. She was so nice and so patient with me and made me feel very comfortable. She gave me a box of See's candies on the last day of school. She wrapped the box with yellow wrapping paper. I remembered that so vividly because it was the first gift I have ever received from someone other than my parents. It was very unexpected, someone gave me a gift. Like most beginning English learners, American names and faces were very difficult to remember so I forgot her name. I also forgot her face because it was 26 years ago. She was also considerably older in the picture hung in the house but it was her.
Cool story congrats on your home. Your writing and English is really good for having started school in the US in 9th grade.
Wonderful story - and I've followed your long path to buying this house since it started in 2015. Congratulations and best wishes for joy and a long life in your new home!
May I make a small suggestion that you write a letter or a card to the son with the wonderful story? I can assure you that he, his children and likely his grandchildren would treasure that knowledge that her beloved home us now yours.
That's a incredible story man. Congrats on the house
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. I left earlier than planned.
