Short sales aren't so short

The place in Bridgeport has a whole mess of things wrong with it. The sellers can't accept anything less than the asking price because that is their mortgage. So I've decided to put in an offer of less and we're going to try to make the sale as a short sale. I think the 'short' part of a short sale just means that less money is going be exchanged. A short sale can take up to 4 months, so it's not a short process. My brother is going to be acting on my behalf because I leave on Tuesday for Australia and won't be back until the end of July. Hopefully everything will be okay. I'm leaving a lot of things, and I feel a little guilty about leaving volleyball, basketball, and softball, but this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Kerry is going and she was going alone, so what better time than to accompany a friend?

Buying a place is hard to do

Boy, this whole making an offer thing is really stressful! I took my offer off the table for the place in the south Loop, and I have submitted an offer on the place in Bridgeport. I'm waiting to hear back from the sellers today. Hopefully, I'll hear something tonight, but if I don't, I figure I'll hear something tomorrow. I know the owners of the place have already relocated, and apparently there's a relocation thing with this place. I don't really know what that means, but I guess it can delay the purchase or the closing of the place? Not really sure. This whole process is a bit slow, but I guess because it's the exchange of a lot of money it takes some time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this place. I think I'd really like it.

Waiting is the hardest part

I've put in the offer on the condo at 20th and Wabash. The owners countered with an offer of 227K. I countered back with 205, then they countered with 225K. I went up to 208K, and they've bottomed out at 223K. I have to decide if I want to give one last counter, or if I should just give up the place and go after the place in Bridgeport. I think I'll offer 212 tomorrow morning, see what they say, and if I don't like it, I'll give it up and go for the place in Bridgeport. Jennifer said I can try with one last offer, and that's what I'll do, but I'm hoping it will get resolved tomorrow. This is a whole new world for me. I'm nervous about spending this much money...it's like signing your life away.

Offer!

I made an offer on the place at 20th and Wabash. It's a low offer for the place, but Jennifer hopes that by me offering a flexible closing date that the owners will be flexible with the price. We'll see what happens. I'm very nervous about this whole process! I can't believe I may incur a debt of $200000. Yikes! I'm hoping to hear from the owners soon. If they don't go low enough for me, I'm going to place a bid on the place in Bridgeport. After I got burned on the first place I wanted, I decided to have a Plan B. This time I'm a little better off. Fingers crossed!

I've made a decision!!!

I feel confident that I've made a decision! I saw a condo today that I really liked! It was at 2024 South Michigan; I think I can actually afford it, even get the parking! It's decently close to the expressway, and to public transport. There are buses on State and Michigan to get into the loop, and it's only about 5 blocks from the lake.

Decisions, decisions

So I thought I had made up my mind, but as I think about it more, I'm not sure I want to be in Bridgeport. I really want to be closer to the Loop. I almost wish I could move up closer to John, but it's too far north...the traffic throughout the Loop in insane, and I like my sleep. Bridgeport would be good because of the reverse commute, but I love the South Loop's proximity to the lake, museums, and Michigan ave. UGHH!!! Too many decisions.

Condo offer

Well, I think I've made a decision: after I didn't get the place in South Loop, I've looked at other places in South Loop and thought that was where I wanted to be. I think I'm going to put an offer in on the place on Sangamon in Bridgeport. Saturday morning, I'm going to see some more places in the South Loop, but if that doesn't go well, I'm going to put in the offer for Sangamon. I loved that place. I wish it were in the South Loop. But it does include parking, it's huge, and I think even the huge assessment will be okay. I did love that property!!

House hunting sucks

This house hunting thing is very stressful. I finally got into the house in Cal City with Mom, Aunt Lu, and Mary, and they all, of course, loved it. I'm not sure if that's where I want to be. It's sense vs. sensibility. It makes sense for me to stay close to North, but I REALLY, REALLY want to be a Chicagoan. I thought I'd decided on South Loop, but since I didn't get the 2 bedroom on Calumet, maybe I should just head out to Bridgeport. I've always wanted to live in Bridgeport. I think I may be able to get a good deal on the place in Bridgeport. It's not ridiculously far from the L. I think I could still possibly travel if I got that place, because the parking is included, and all the places in the South Loop have parking to be purchased for at least 25K. YIKES! I'd still like to be able to travel for the majority of the summer! Sounds like I may have made my decision.

End of the year part 2

Tomorrow is the last day of finals! Hurray! I can't wait for this year to be over. I found out that I will be teaching anatomy and physics next year. Yikes. I'll be okay, but I'm going to be studying and preparing all summer long. Excited about anatomy, nervous about physics, and bummed that I won't be teaching chemistry. I get to move classrooms and I'll finally get a room with a view. I'm excited about that.

End of the year

Softball has ended. Thank goodness! It was a hellish year. Players not showing up, being late, quitting...I'm happy it's over. I almost don't want to do it again next year, but I am the eternal optimist.
I'm in the throes of a dilemma...I don't know where I want to by a place. Should I buy a house in Cal City and risk not keeping my job there or should I buy a place in the city which is where I've always wanted to be and be totally broke?
School ends on Friday. I can't wait for the summer.

PSAE testing

Today was the first day of PSAE testing. It went well. A boring day, though. Proctoring is no fun. Now, the other CI teachers and I are planning a project for the last 6 weeks. We're going to do a career / college project, but the planning process is a bit overwhelming.

I looked at condos this past weekend. I really enjoyed it. There are a few different places I'm looking. First, I'd like to be in Bridgeport, get Sox tickets, and spend the summer at baseball games. The first condo was in Bridgeport at 35th and Halsted. It was about 800 sq. feet. I loved it; I could watch the fireworks from Sox park from the balcony.
The second that I liked was on Cullerton in the South Loop. It was cool; a little smaller than the first one, but it was within walking distance to Soldier Field and downtown. I didn't see many others I liked. I'd like something a little bigger, but I can't afford it. I'd love to get a two bedroom because I can guarantee that Emily, Jack, Tori, Abby and others will all want to spend the night at some time. I'm sure Em and Tori will want to come at the same time. I just don't know what to do.
Should I buy a house in Cal City and be close to work and have more room? Or should I buy a place in the city but sacrifice my commute and condo size?

Happy Earth Day!

Spring Break

Today is Easter and so far I'm completely bored already. The NSTA conference was awesome and I got so many ideas! Softball has been a roller coaster with girls quitting and being removed. Do I ask so much for a player to be committed? Is that such a horrible thing to expect?? We have a ton of games this week. I still don't know what I'm going to do about a house or a condo...if I should buy in Chicago or Cal City...I don't know what I should do...

NSTA conference

Today was my first full day of the NSTA conference. It was amazing. I met a lot of people, and to a lot of free stuff! I don't think I'll ever need a grocery bag again. I heard Mark Plotkin speak, and he was awesome! I heard him speak in college and he was still outstanding. He talked about the shamens and all their knowledge, and how the we have to save the rainforest because everything on Earth is interdependent.
Then I hear Neil de Grasse Tyson and Bill Nye speak. They were the dynamic duo! Articulate, eloquent, and knowledgeable. I thought they were fantastic!
I looked around the exhibit hall, and will be returning to that very either tomorrow or Saturday. The bookstore was great too. I think I'll be shipping home tons of books.
I'm trying not to worry about softball too much, and keep my sanity while I'm gone. It's a struggle right now because the girls are not showing up. If I want to coach softball, I need to find another job. Varsity softball or varsity basketball is what I'm looking for. Hopefully I'll find something.

Dreary winter

Basketball is over and softball begins in two weeks on March 2nd. Arianna is not going to play this year. I feel as though I've wasted two years working with her. I don' t know what we'll do about pitching.
Basketball was good; we were good, and I had a very nice group of players.
I've decided to go to Costa Rica for a week in the summer for a summer institute. It should be fantastic.
I'm also looking at houses/condos for purchase. Have a date with a realtor this weekend to discuss options.