Feb 26 2008
Imagine That
Imagine knowing that you were going to have to buy a house sometime between today and seven months from now.
Imagine knowing a home builder who’s built an amazing spec home that you should never be able to afford because of the size, luxury, details, and gorgeousness of this house.
Imagine that that house sat on a perfect plot of land and it sat right along a beautiful lake, with unobstructed views of the lake and the Rocky Mountains looming behind it.
Then imagine that the house was built to perfection— the colors are just what you would have chosen had you been asked. The light fixtures seem unreal in their beauty. The custom tile, the expensive carpet, the fireplace, the granite counter tops, the his-and hers-closets, the gigantic jacuzzi tub, the cabinets… all if it, better than you’d dare hope for in a home.
Then imagine that the home-builder couldn’t sell the house in this collapsed housing market. He faces bankruptcy and total devastation, so he drops the price, and drops the price again, and finally drops it to the point where he is LOSING $200,000 on it—which, he decides, is still better than losing EVERYTHING.
Imagine that it’s now squarely in your price range.
Imagine that he calls you and offers you first dibs on it, knowing that when he puts the new low price up on the internet, it will be snatched up instantly by investors.
Imagine walking through it for the first time, unable to believe that you, you, could live in this house!!!
Then imagine telling him thanks, but no thanks.
Yup, that’s how I spent the weekend. You?
(Apparently I have a knack for walking away from the perfect home…)
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
- Jason.
AHHH. I’m so bummed for you. My heart dropped at the last line. So sorry. Another time, all in God’s plan.
I’m going to assume that you passed because the house smelled like skunk. Or cabbage. Or that it was haunted. I wouldn’t like that either.
Why did you pass? Inquiring minds want to know…
Brillig,
Remember, it’s all about-
Location, location, location.
(However, I may have been persuaded to live 10 minutes farther away from downtown for marble countertops and a patio.)
Hey, there’s a gorgeous house for sale in my neighborhood…finished basement, awesome colors, fabulous neighbors…
Oh yea, the house around the block from me is still for sale also.
Think about it.
We have great neighbors here too.
Oh Brilly honey! No! Your poor heart!
oh you turned that opportunity down? Really you did? I must be missing some part of the reasoning.
Bummer, Brill.
You amaze me.
Is it rude to ask what stopped you from saying yes?
What a disappointment. Perhaps the next dream house that falls in your lap will be even more perfect:)
You’re KILLING ME! Can I have it?
Ouch. That’s all I can say.
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, and I enjoyed chatting with you the other day.
Oh! How sad! I’m so sorry.
Why? Why? Why? Why didn’t you go for it?????
Come on. This is isn’t an “SOS” post. Tell us what’s up (doc).
So how long are you going to leave everyone hanging?? People need to know why:) I’ll look out for your email….
Impressive site by the way.
Ah! I was drooling on my keyboard. Because in fact I do have to think about buying a house sometime in the next seven months.
Oh my goodness, why, Brillig, why? I’m so sorry!
That stinks - I’m so sorry. But why?
Summer stole my silent sad face remark.
So I’ll echo everyone else and ask “Why, Brillig, WHY?”
And do a face.
I think there’s an echo here, and I’ll just contribute to it.
Why, dear? Why?
Where did you say you live?
But WHY??? What’s wrong with it? And more importantly could you email me the full address and postcode?!
WHAT? why in did you say NO? and um….where is this house? Maybe I will buy it….HOLY
Really ? Now, I must have more details…
NOOOOO!! Tell me it isn’t so!
How did you manage to walk away from it?
It was really wonderful that the developer offered it to you first.
We just moved my brother and his wife into a similar house. The only deal they received was a huge flat screen TV free for signing before some sort of deadline.
I am sure it was a difficult decision to not buy the house but whatever your reason for not taking the house must have been a good one.
Gulp.
I am trusting that whole going with your gut notion is leading you in the right direction.
Me, I am kinda wishing the right direction was on a quiet street in The Hague. You know, near me.
Great post babe. You totally had me at imagine.
Wow.
You know you want to live up by me. Just think of all the fun we could have if you lived on this side of ‘the big city’. (I’m not remembering how many details you like to give). It’s nice up here!! Plus you’ve got me!
Aww, that’s too bad. There must be a good reason or maybe it just didn’t feel right. Still it would be bummy.
I am not worried…I have complete faith that you know exactly what you are doing…if it had been the right thing to do, you would have known it…
I can’t understand why?Why you didn’t go for it?I am sorry man.
Oooo, you know, my in-laws are in serious search mode…
your weekend kicked the crud out of mine. i hung ikea shelves.
cheap ones.
but they *should* stay up. i mean, i put enough staples there….
My experience is that the house that gets away gets away because there is a better one coming soon. I have cried over houses we have “lost” and then found tears in my eyes again when the truly perfect house became mine shortly thereafter. It will come. The perfect house always comes.
We desperately wanted one house and the realtor never submitted our counter offer. While we were livid with her, it was meant to be. We found the perfect house for us a month later. We’ve lived here 12 years this Spring. Good luck!