<p>Sorry the offers were not acceptable, mstee, but getting three means the market is active and your house is fairly priced. </p>
<p>I asked my DS about his thoughts on buying, but he’s not ready to take that leap yet. However, there is a new screaming baby above hium, so he may change his mind!</p>
<p>It is a leap to buy. Maybe earplugs?</p>
<p>The baby should mellow out in a few months…a new barking dog would worry me more!</p>
<p>There are 2 small kids (toddler and infant) overhead, with hardwood floors. They have crying in the middle of the night and running up and down the rest of the time. Ironically, I just gave him a pair of earplugs when he happened to be in town for a conference!</p>
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<p>Me! I did! (Okay, over 50 years, but who’s counting.)</p>
<p>I’m loving North Carolina. Weather wise, I love the change of seasons, and the beautiful days are really beautiful. But where it really shines is quality of life.</p>
<p>I can live very comfortably here, my house is twice as big and 1/3 the price of my California house, and the view isn’t even close. The people are friendly. The public infrastructure is keeping up with the growth. (I know the locals don’t think so, but compared to California, it’s impressive.) </p>
<p>Just driving around is so much more pleasant due to less congestion and more trees! I can’t overstate how much more relaxing it is to see nature while running errands. California has some amazing sights, but, unless you have the means to pay for it, the daily sights are strip malls and freeways.</p>
<p>There are tons of things to do, that are weather appropriate. For instance, we like to say we play tennis year round in California, but when it rains, there is no tennis. Here, if it’s sprinkling, we are still playing on the clay courts. When it’s too cold, there are indoor courts. </p>
<p>From a political point of view, for the first time in my life I’m voting in a national election where my vote will make a difference. The first time I voted, in California, the election was called, and the president gave his concession speech BEFORE I voted. They’ve since change the law, but by the time national politics makes it’s way to California, it’s over.</p>
<p>Great post, UCD Alum. I know a couple from California that moved to Asheville, NC after living in California their whole lives (I think). They wanted to find a place that was more like the Bay Area used to be before so many people moved there – it is being loved to death. I love the Bay Area, but the places where I would enjoy living the most, I really can’t afford. So, we ended up in a close in suburb and driving a lot – we lived close to 580, which is the best freeway in Cali, as far as I know, because trucks are banned on the stretch that I traveled the most. And our Cali house was very close to the hills and some beautiful hiking/walking trails only about a mile away. But still, I was filling the gas tank twice a week. Expensive! Now I’m filling it about once every two weeks here in MN since we were able to pick our neighborhood here. Though housing prices are not quite as low here as people seem to think. True about voting in Cali after the election is basically over. Done that! Still voted anyway, as it is so symbolic of our freedom here.</p>
<p>dstark – I used to like snow when I was young. Not so sure about that now. Hope I can deal with it!</p>
<p>mstee - we moved to MN from MA for hubby’s job when the movie Fargo was out and Ventura was the governor. People thought we were NUTS. Sounds like you are familiar with MN already, but I will say I have been so happy here. Low cost of living (versus the coasts, at least), great schools, hub airport, amazing parks and arts, fabulous food scene, and many Fortune 100 companies. I hope you are as happy here as we have been. Winters are long, but we manage.</p>
<p>Tks momof2kids – I am liking it very much, the hardest part is not having girlfriends to have a cup of coffee with, since I don’t know anyone very well yet. But I have been pleasantly surprised – the area we live in is beautiful, close to the chain of lakes, and convenient to everything. Hubby walks 1/2 block to take the bus downtown to work. So convenient. I am not a fan of the freeways here, so I am finding myself avoiding them when I can, and driving through town whenever possible, LOL. And the public high school my daughter is attending has been great so far. </p>
<p>Anyway, the funniest thing happened – it looks like the realtor sent the wrong set of offers by mistake – she actually sent two sets, and we didn’t notice the second one till just now. I was just looking at the e-mail she sent, trying to figure out what went wrong, and I noticed there was another set of offers. Let’s just say that the second set is completely different and much more in line with expectations. Also, the first set had six offers, not three, so I was thinking, hmmm, maybe if you combine two of them together? – that’s how low they were! LOL, I will keep you all posted. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions . . . wheee . . .</p>
<p>I hope you finally got an offer that is closer to what you were expecting. I suppose you could also counter if necessary. </p>
<p>I always vote by absentee ballot, so I never feel like my vote doesn’t count or I’m wasting my time. </p>
<p>About 3 months ago we sold our home in Orange County CA and moved to Walnut Creek CA to be closer to my parents, siblings, and our kids. My wife is the one who initiated the move to Northern CA, even though she still works in OC (where she commutes once a week for 3 days). Being able to be near family is wonderful, no matter where they live.</p>
<p>Ugh. Our house is still not under contract. We are working with a relocation company, and they are dragging their feet. If this drags on for one more day without a contract, the buyers will walk. Feeling very frustrated right now. Selling a house is not fun.</p>
<p>Good mluck, mstee! The house down the street from us, the one that “sold” in just a few days, is back on the market. 
Bad timing, I know! Apparently, the buyers got a bad case of the buyers’ remorse and walked out based on something really minor found during the inspection (which could have been easily fixed).</p>
<p>Thank you BunsenBurner. I’m trying to stay calm. May need a nightcap to help with that tonight . . . I was thinking that something could come up during inspection and blow it, but we may not even get that far. Hope the Relo people get it together and get the contract ready by tomorrow so we can at least give it a shot! This is spooking the buyers, to be sure.</p>
<p>mstee, I’m betting that your buyers will NOT bail! Good luck!!</p>
<p>I took a lower cash bid over some low credit score loan applicants. So the house I had for 6 Mo. is sold and closed on Nov. 7th. It was painless and I sold it as is.</p>
<p>Thanks, jshain for the positive thoughts. And congrats artloversplus!</p>
<p>My home buying and selling saga is over. Yesterday, after a funfilled day of painters, movers, satellite guys, cable guys, cabinet quotes, media room quotes, new furniture delivery, and, to top it all off, guys putting up our holiday lights, we are moved. Though my better half is apparently a relocation wizard, I really didn’t think he could pull that off. </p>
<p>Last night we were watching tv on our new sofa, took a bubble bath in our new master, and slept in Our bed in our new house. This morning I’m sipping coffee while watching the geese on the pond and surfing the Internet. Life is good!</p>
<p>Now, get this house ready for Thanksgiving…</p>
<p>You have your holiday lights up already? Impressed. We have been in our house since Aug., and we’re still unpacking . . . we’re slow. Congrats on the move!</p>
<p>I think it is really going to happen. Fingers crossed. The buyers wanted a $5,000 credit for termites and misc. stuff found during the inspection, which we are happy to give. Now, just hoping everything goes smoothly from here. Thankful for a robust Bay Area housing market this Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Fingers crossed, mstee. In CA, I believe sellers are “on the hook” for any section 1 termite issues of which termite damage would be considered a section 1 issue.</p>
<p>No problem. Happy to fix any issues like that. Will do what we need to do, gladly!</p>