You can always counter back at 330 again if you are not comfortable at 335.

Do you really want the house? Then how will $5k added to your mortgage today make a difference 10 years from now? Or would you prefer to win and wouldn't ever be really happy if you thought you overpaid by even a small amount? Only you know those answers.

Speaking of open houses, I went to one today and as I was walking to my car to leave a lady who was also leaving the open house asked me "would you be interested in a house with a pool one street over?". I ended up following her to her house and walked through it w/ her. While I'm inside her house she tells me her house hasn't been listed & won't until December (?!?) because they are building a house. I'm sure she isn't the only nosy neighbor that goes around and walks through open houses even when they aren't planning on buying.

What I see as my options:

#1 I say okay 335k which I think is 85% to get accepted (not sure why I am so confident but I am)
#2 tell my realtor I'm not ready to pay over 330k so why don't we go look at hose 6 houses I want to see by Wednesday afternoon & if I don't like any then we will bid over our 330k.
#3 ???

Good questions. I do like the house - there have been 4 houses (2 of which are pending) that I've went though (of the 45 I've gone to see) that I have thought that I would be really happy in. However, I am worried about buying a house then realizing I wish I bought one of the others because it has so-and-so. I am not that worried about the $5k and overpaying isn't a huge fear of mine.

I know only I know what is really important to me, but it helps having 2+2 give some feedback because it often helps me look at things in different ways. As always, thanks everyone for the great advice.

Bid 335 and beat them up on inspection contingency.

Roof is 3 years old and AC & furnace were replaced within a year. The only thing I can think to complain about was an odd smell that I smelt every visit to the houses in the basement that scared me into thinking there is mold/ water damage. There realtor said it must be because they had the carpet shampooed before the open house or maybe the dog stunk it up.

I hate the idea of signing a contract with the plan to make changes - it just seems very sketchy. This is probably because I had 2 signed contracts on my house and both buyers did this.

I know a few realtors who mail invites to all the homes around their listing. They often find buyers through word of mouth from the nosy neighbors who come check it out.

What you describe is someone who appears to have went with the intention of poaching buyers.

5k is 5k

a penny saved and all that

I agree - I caved and went up 8K on the first home I bought, figured no big deal over the grand scheme, until I realized how long it takes to pay off the first 8K.

84 at night? Is that turning on the heater? Nowhere in USA#1 is it warmer than that at night outside. Did you grow up in a teepee with no a/c? Mid 60s thermostat all day every day, is the only way to live.

I'm in Vegas and have it set to 76 all day and 78 at night. Mid 60s seems insane.

In other words he doesn't know, or he does and is BS'ing. Take a good look throughout the basement especially along the walls, look for discoloration on the floor and walls. Look for any misshapen drywall or soft spots, and keep any out for a run of paneling or wallpaper in one area or along one wall. Also walk the outside looking for evidence of standing water or very soft wet ground right against the property. In general though if it smells musty, kind of like wet clothes on a hot day, there's a good chance there is mold somewhere (x5 if in the basement). Anybody who's ever dealt with mold will probably catch it immediately.

If you have any reason to be concerned, specify a mold inspection and contingency in addition to the regular inspection even if your eyeball test doesn't turn up anything. They can test a lot better than you can. Mold remediation can be expensive and beyond a DIY job.

People lie their asses off when it comes to mold. They'll paint over it, throw things over it, tell you it's something else. Their bad for not venting their shampoo or cleaning up dog piss, but if it smells moldy you should assume mold until proven otherwise.

It's completely standard. Minor things aren't typically grounds for backing out of a sale but something like mold is, same as any bigger thing that they don't disclose up front. If someone wants to avoid this then they need to ensure their house is clear of any issues.

Think I set a record for open houses in a weekend.
One place was under my budget and perfect except for annoying neighbor's dog and flies descending on said dog's piles of crap and trash in backyard. Decent neighborhood too. WTF? I mean the realtor next door to me who was trying to sell called my landlord when I let my weeds get overgrown. Anyway, should this be a deal breaker?
Another place I liked was probably most expensive place on the block - should those be avoided by rule of thumb?

what the literal ****? pretty sure its costing you more to change the air temp 6 degrees every morning than it would be to leave it at 78 (which is way too high to begin with) all the time.

71-72 fo lyfe

I keep mine at 84. I'm guessing you live where it snows a ****ton during winter?

Indianapolis, so it's 90+ in the summer and plenty cold I in the winter. Why does that matter though? I wouldn't want to live in nursing home temp anywhere.

It's not a nursing home temp when it's comfortable. People in Alaska feel like they are going to die when it's 72 degrees outside.

It's possible to set your thermostat to cool only or heat only. Open your windows at night.

I never used a thermostat where you didn't have 3 options, HEAT, COOL, FAN ONLY.

I think we're missing a bigger issue here - who the hell keeps it warmer at night?

If the thermo is set to cool and is set "warmer" at night all it will do is turn off the AC at night...

After walking around the Columbus Zoo yesterday with the family, I did learn 2 things. Never go back to the Zoo and never turn my A/C off.

Finally buying a house.

There is an existing survey from when the owners bought the house 20 years ago that the title company says is fine. Nothing has been added to the property since then except maybe a new fence.

Should I get a new survey? Title co and realtor say I'm fine without a new one.

I'd get one. Who's to say that the original didn't have an error?

Depends if you want to know where your yard ends, or where the new fence is compared to your property line is. Also they will set pins or w/e where your corners are, or just flag the existing ones.

Did you look at the survey? Does it say anything about set ip / pins or existing pins/monument/etc., where the corners are at. I wouldn't get one until after if something comes up. angry neighbor or what not. It's not like the house is built on a different parcel. lol j/k I guess it could have happened. Depending on acreage, it could range from 500$ and up.

I used to do surveying for 5 years. If you want to pm me the survey map and whiteout names, etc. I can look at it if you need help understanding it.

Thanks, but I'll probably just get one for peace of mind. I've had enough people suggest it to make it worth the $250 or whatever.

My main concern would be that the surveyor is likely not around anymore if any issue came up and he might have some accountability.