HEA

When we last visited our heroine, Sweet Sue was tied to the railroad tracks. The train was bearing down. I stood over her, black hat cocked in a jaunty manner, saying "if you don't give me the deed to your house..."

Well, she didn't.

The people at Puerto Court dug in and refused our offer as too low. So we turned around and offered only $5K more for the Glorieta Road house, which is perfect and gorgeous in every way. It must be noted that Kristine Krantz, aka KAK (couldn't resist!), picked this as the front runner. She wins a free visit to our guest room!! (Okay, okay -- so does everyone. But still...)

I keep thinking about those other sellers, of the Puerto house. I feel like they made such a mistake, refusing our offer. I wish I could call them and tell them to ditch their current agent, who is letting their house deteriorate and advises them to hold out for a price *I* don't think they're going to get.

But what do I know?

And it's not my deal. I'll add that to my mantra list: It's not my life. It's not my relationship. It's not my deal. Rounds it out nicely.

Special Happy Birthday to RoseMarie today. I have a little something for you, but it's not in the mail yet...

Yes, My Hat Is Black

My life now is about negotiations.

I find myself becoming a shark. A surprising development, but there you are. We've all always known I'm not an especially nice person, but lately I find myself becoming downright mean.

Alas.

And still: I don't regret it. Sometimes I think you have to be a bit mean, to fight for your own interests. Because there sure seem to be plenty of people out there who will take you for what they can if you let them.

Quick Summary: (nod to Marin)

We offered on Puerto Court, they countered, very high. We countered with a firm offer. If they won't take it, then we're offering on Glorieta, which is lovely and wonderful also. (If you don't know what I'm talking about then you'll have to skim the last few posts here, here and here.) Seems the people selling Puerto bought it just a year ago, lost the job and had to move. The house has been empty and on the market since December. The seller's agent and even our agent feel bad for the sellers and seem to think we should make up more of the price difference.

Hence me feeling mean.

I'm sorry the market slumped. EVERYBODY is sorry. We lost about $100K of value off our house and that's a sorry thing. But it doesn't hurt us so much because we still have a lot of equity in our house. Which was a house we could easily afford. I'm sorry that things went badly for this other couple, but I really don't feel we should agree to a less than ideal financial decision for us, to make things up to them.

Call me mean, indeed.

So, that's where we stand. Hopefully the Puerto folks will be smart and take the offer. I really do feel it's generous, given all we have to do to fix up the house.

Stay tuned...

A bit of my melodrama:

You must pay the rent!

I can't pay the rent!

You MUST pay the rent!

I CAN'T pay the rent!

Where is my hero in dusty chaps and a silver Prius? Oh wait, I'm the bad guy!

And the Winner Is... (the real, for sure, one)*

6 Puerto Court!!!

I know. NONE of you voted for it.

Because it's a bit shabby in the current pics. I understand. Really, I do. This is all about the potential.

Actually, these pics are from the last time it sold, before it was abandoned for nearly a year and left to languish. And be invaded by mice.

I should mention that the whole "get rid of the mice smell" thing is in the offer.

But after that, some paint, some landscaping and some love ought to shine it up again.

Oh, and a refrigerator.

Who takes a refrigerator when they move?? Taking votes now on THE refrigerator to buy. And yes, in three to four years, we'll likely leave it behind. After all, who takes a refrigerator when they move? Yeah.

No, you're not seeing double. This is the master bedroom. The great room kiva fireplace has saltillo tile, the master kiva fireplace has carpet. (Soiled, nasty, soon to go.) They've done funky things with the shades in this pic, but the view above? Right out these windows, too.

I'm fantasizing about one of those four-poster beds right now. Oh yeah. A collection for my birthday, maybe? Only 29 shopping days left!

Okay, I know it's fatuous to show a picture of the master walk-in closet.

But lookee!!

I've ALWAYS wanted one. Always, always, always. I'm like the woman in Broadcast News who converted her guest room into a closet. Only I didn't. Still, I understand the urge.

SO ready to fill those nooks. Once the mouse-smell is gone. Did I mention the mouse smell? No no no.

And master bath. Needs work, alas. No, Felicia, I didn't get the house with the fab tub. There is a tub, but it's beensie. WHAT are they thinking?? But, the bath is huge and we're thinking remodel dollars here. I'm seeing tile surround. I'm seeing sunken tub. I'm seeing glassed-in shower. Ask me again in two years, k?

Guest bath. Decent, eh? No good pics of guest bedrooms. Very blah. We'll work on them. But come visit anyway!!

Big move now scheduled for August 14. Taking visitor reservations after that. We promise quiet, big skies, sunsets and coyotes yipping at night. You provide the rest.


Yippee-kay-aye!

*Oops, actually not! See later posts for news that Glorieta won with a last-minute nose across the line!

Our Eight Lovely Finalists

1 Azul Place.

Pros: Most bedrooms, great rain catchment system with drip irrigation. Lovely office. Decent views, with more view potential. Trombe walls. Nice guest suite set-up. Kiva fireplace and patio access in master. Sunken master bath tub.

Cons: On private well which may have issues. Possible offer already.

6 Puerto Court.

Pros: Nice view, fenced yard, walled patio, trombe walls, kiva fireplace in master and patio/yard acess. Empty now for immediate move-in.

Cons: small bath tubs. Views aren't perfectly framed. Needs a refrigerator. Not as glamourous.

4 Glorieta Road.

Pros: Fabulous views. Best asking price. Really lovely inside. Fantastic walled garden with grape arbor pergola.

Cons: Not in the best sunset-watching position. No fenced yard for the dog and proximity to wild wash could mean danger for the pets. Smaller.

4 Cibola Circle.

Pros: Most traditionally "Santa Fe." Pretty mountain environment with gorgeous patio. Cozy and lovely, close to town.

Con: Highest per square foot cost. Small. No tub in master. No views. Propane heat. Some highway noise.

4 Camino San Lucas.

Pros: New, perfectly framed views. Gorgeous design. Premium lot.

Cons: Not quite finished. NO internet yet???

Ooops. Now I'm out of time. The remaining ones are:

1 Montana Court

30 Azul Loop

15 Monte Alto

Input?? Votes???

Good, Bad, Ugly and What the Hell Did You Do to the Garage?

I have nothing substantive to say.

I know -- can it be? But it's true. Yesterday was a whirlwind of neighborhoods and choices. Getting to know our agent, her getting to know us.

And it was Victoria Day. (You all celebrated, right?) Celebration of the queen's May 24 birthday. Many offices were closed. The karma was strange.

Our agent was most perturbed to find that at three of the houses she'd scheduled to show us, people were at home. Which she says almost never happens to her, let alone thrice in one day.

At one house, we poked around, then wondered at the light on the coffee pot and the fresh cigarette smoke hanging in the air (no, really). Then we heard the hair dryer running upstairs. Too weird, so we snuck back out. Fortunately we'd seen enough to know we didn't like it -- or rather, we didn't like the big oil-pumping rigs parked across the street.

Then there was the house where some enterprising but misguided soul had sealed the garage door and drywalled it to make another room -- windowless and reached only by passing through the laundry room. This was listed as a "custom upgrade."

The house we liked best is in a lovely location with an amazing deck off the master bedroom, but an unfortunate urine smell in the upstairs rooms.

It's been a while since we've done the good, bad and ugly house tour. But our agent promises today will be better -- that we're going to what she thinks we'll like and we're ready to be in her hands.

No promised fireworks over the Parliament Building last night, due to the steady rain. But it looks lovely lit up at night.