3(c) + 2(p) + 1(d)

What’s that? We’ve just passed the 3 month anniversary of home hunting and we’re back to Square 1? Meh…

As we look back on the two deals have fallen through now, we try not to get discouraged and we try to look to the future. We’ve learned from those two experiences and they have ultimately helped us: things are moving faster, we know more what we want, and we know the process for Short Sales and Foreclosures front and back now.

Now to find the next house to send our 3 cats to pounce on.

Counter Alternative: Treated Hardwood Material, as seen on the the left of this photo from TOH

The bank(s) have come back on the short sale with a stamp of approval! Why no celebratory post yet? Because there are several thousand dollars worth of liens on the house that either need to be taken care of in some way, or the house stays on the market.

With any short sale home, the owner is on the brink of going into default, and a short sale is an alternative to foreclosure. This can also mean that the owner was falling behind on all of their other financial obligations as well, whether they be utilities, debts from lawsuits, or other unnamed villains. The best way for a guaranteed repayment of these debts is to put a lein on the “defaulter’s” home. So when/before it sells they can hold up the process by demanding the moneys owed to them.Sometimes they take less than the amount, or dissolve the lein altogether out of the kindness of their hearts, but they have every right to demand the full amount.

Fear not my friend because you have 4 options. The first 3 demand more time, and the last will get the ball rolling quickly on your home:

1. WALK! (there are plenty of fish in the sea, even though you may LOVE that one goldfish)
2. Negotiate with the bank to pay for a portion of the lein (ours is willing to fork out $7k)
3. Negotiate with both the seller and the buyer’s real estate agents (they generally make around 3% commission of off a sale, but don’t expect them to give up their entire chunk of cheese. Ours are both forking out $1k a piece)
4. Pay the liens in full 

We close FRIDAY on our new home! We should be able to move in before X-Mas!

Thanks Santa.

{UPDATE} In case you couldn’t tell, we didn’t. (1-8-2012)

We just bought this book. If you are thinking of making your own cabinets, seriously consider getting this book. It helps by not only providing the technical information for constructing your cabinets, but also provides you with blank cut sheets, shopping lists, as well as other lists that will help you stay organized during the whole process. This $15 purchase will potentially help you save thousands in the long run.

Do it.

Tools!

No, we’re not talking about your friend Steve, but the handyman variety. To start off our series on power tools, The Family Handyman has an article on how to select your next compact drill. Although they have the drawback of only using Hex bits, they pack up to 1000 times the punch that your standard drill can provide.

When would you need such power? Actually, all the time. The increased torque means that you have to push on the drill less, don’t have to fight your drill from spinning out of your hands, and that you can drive in longer screws without stripping the heads off of 3 before you get the job done.

The prices range from $100-$300+ so they have something for everyone to pick from!

Click through for details

What a great resource! Remodelista features many architectural renovations that will inspire you to achieve greatness in your home indeavors. We especially like this kitchen by Sudio Terpeluk. The flush cabinet doors, the carrera marble, The two-tone cabinets…. shall we say more?

Drop in a dual flush unit in your existing toilet for 10% of the cost of putting in a new toilet that does the same.

Click through for details.

Have a mixer?

Then you need the Heavy-Duty Mixer LIft.

Click through for details.

Product Sourcing for your older home can be a chore if you are wanting to keep with the same esthetic throughout your house.

Vintage Tub and Bath is a decent source for your bathroom needs. (the free shipping is especially nice for the Cast Iron Claw-foot tubs)

Click through for details

Here is a pretty good source for finding era appropriate woodwork for you home renovation. They have everything from doors, down to dowels and plugs.

Click through for details

Don’t revert to your local home center.

Spend 20 minutes online before making simple purchases at your local home center for things such as mailboxes, house numbers and lights. Look for online boutiques, or go the reused route.

Our favorite places for reused items online:

1. Etsy (vintage shop)

2. Ebay

3. Craigslist

Click through for a house number source.

Click here for some “Fine Crafts Imports”

Go Go Gadget Solar House!

This walk through is full of great ideas on how to MAXimize space without going over the top.

Click through for Details

What’s that?! St. Louis officially cares about sustainability now? 

Come hear two awesome speakers on the subject of Urban Sustainability.

****Tuesday, December 6th (5-8pm) Former Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley @ Missouri Botanical Garden Ridgeway Center (4344 Shaw Blvd.)

Wednesday, December 7th (5-8pm) Founder of Sustainable South Bronx, Majora Carter

It is free to attend, but click through for to register. We were told that the events will be completely filled.

****On November 24th Maggie Daley, Richard’s wife, lost her 9 year battle with breast cancer. It is not confirmed at this time whether the lecture will continue as planned. Our condolences go out to the family.