Home sale remorse

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

OK, I just listed my home this past weekend and have accepted an offer from two dudes in their mid-twenties that aren't a gay couple. Should I feel remorse that I am selling my home to two frat guys that will likely p.o. my neighbors? They did come in 1% higher than the other good offer.

note: I was once quite fratty myself

[Turk]

I wouldn't sweat it - your buyers are putting on their big-boy pants now, and are the owners, not renters. (Unless they're not going to live in it, and just rent it out - then yes, there's a good chance your neighbors might not be happy).

When I was single, I despised project-style apartments and always rented single-family houses I found more space for less money. A couple were 4BR's with four guys dividing costs. We tried to be good neighbors and be respectful. The only criticism I can recall is that we weren't as diligent cutting the grass as a typical homeowner might be...

If these guys are buying in Arlington they must be doing something right; my inclination would be to give them the benefit of the doubt...

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

OK, I just listed my home this past weekend and have accepted an offer from two dudes in their mid-twenties that aren't a gay couple. Should I feel remorse that I am selling my home to two frat guys that will likely p.o. my neighbors? They did come in 1% higher than the other good offer.

note: I was once quite fratty myself

It's too soon to know what sort of neighbors the buyers will be.

You are indeed fortunate to have two good offers to consider so soon after listing your house, particularly considering the general state of the economy. Where will you be moving?

[rthomas]

When I lived in Durham, I bought a house about a mile from west campus in Duke Forest toward the old South Sq. Mall on Dogwood Road (just off 751), but when I went to sell it (moving to WV), the (very old/ obviously outlawed) covenant said I could not sell the house to anyone but white people. Now that caused a huge laugh. But I sold it to a nice young gay couple of doctors.

So just make sure the covenants of where you live comply. Don't worry about the old neighbors.

[-jk]

A good neighborhood takes care of itself. People tend to buy into neighborhoods they can live in happily and contentedly. If they can't, they move on. Either that or it's not really a neighborhood, but rather just a collection of houses that happen to share a street or two.

I readily admit that this is cold: are you ever going to see your neighbors again? In the end, real estate is business; protect yourself first.

-jk

[AtlBluRew]

I'm envious that you sold that quickly! Mine's been on the market nearly a year.

[-jk]

I'm envious that you sold that quickly! Mine's been on the market nearly a year.

One might respectfully submit that you're overpriced for the current market.

-jk

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Thanks for the replies. After some consideration, I came to the same conclusion that others mentioned.

We were definitely lucky to sell so quickly, but I think it's a function of the close proximity to the Metro and some of the staging/redesign we did to prepare for the sale.

Planning to move further west from DC in search of a bigger house and a yard.

[AtlBluRew]

One might respectfully submit that you're overpriced for the current market.

-jk

True. But the market has been tough to keep up .. or down .. with. When I first put it on the market, I of course looked at all the comps and priced accordingly. As things got worse, I reduced the price. I'm getting a lot of activity these days, and agents are telling me it's priced right ... so I'm hoping this ends soon.

[bjornolf]

Different areas are affected differently by the economy, too. Here in NoVA, the real estate market is still moving fairly well for such a bad overall market. It helps that we have ALL the military and government roll over.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Different areas are affected differently by the economy, too. Here in NoVA, the real estate market is still moving fairly well for such a bad overall market. It helps that we have ALL the military and government roll over.

Agreed, proximity to the Pentagon is never bad for real estate values.

[CathyCA]

I'm envious that you sold that quickly! Mine's been on the market nearly a year.

You ought to think about hiring a stager. It's the best money I ever spent. It took us 6 weeks to stage our house, and it sold for our asking price 5 days after we put it on the market.