K Shaffer

*Bruce*,

thank you so much for your posts here and on my first thread. Your responses have been really helpful. We went up ... most of the way (595,500). I appreciate your detailed points. Unfortunately we haven't felt like our agents are totally upfront, which is what lead me to my posts here.

I hope you are able to enjoy the long weekend,
~K - Thu Jul 3 2008, 16:03

Thanks Kelly & Bruce (did I call you Brian last time? Sorry!).

Bruce - do you know what the original level was in the house that was remediated to 1.1? - Thu Jul 3 2008, 16:02

For more information - there are 3 beds on the main floor with a very small full bath. There are a nice family room and two bedrooms in the basement, along with a very nice master bath. We were hoping to use the downstairs bedrooms and master bath for a few years, slowly update the upstairs bathroom and then move upstairs once we have our next child. - Thu Jul 3 2008, 15:46

Hi ... it's Kensington-Parkwood ... I'm having trouble figuring out the stats you gave me, but thanks for the formula! I appreciate all of the replies. ~KS - Wed Jun 25 2008, 20:10

One other note. There are no other offers registered with the seller's agent but he told our agent that he has three other people "writing offers" and that they are confident they will be able to get full list price with someone. - Wed Jun 25 2008, 10:47

Hi,

Thank you everyone for your replies. Here is some more background.

The current list price is $599,500 (dropped from a very unrealistic $629,500 to $612,500 to here over the course of 70 or so days) and we offered $580,000. I don't think it was low ball by any means.

We are very "good" buyers - over 50% down payment, high earnest money deposit, few contingencies. If the house is fairly priced at $599,500, we're struggling with the pre-conceived (and I realize it doesn't always apply) notion that one won't pay full asking price in a buyer's market.

Our agent have provided us with some comps with more on the way. It makes it look like it is fairly priced. But, see the above pre-concieved notion that is hanging us up. We're also put off by the buyers not giving. Well, they countered at full current list price, they'll replace 5 windows with broken seals (we don't want this done b/c we want to handle how it is done and pick the windows), and they want to close earlier than we do (they're currently paying a double mortgage but we're going to be out of town when they want to close and are worried about owning a house that will sit empty and un-watched for 2 weeks).

Thanks again for all the input!
~KS - Wed Jun 25 2008, 10:33