O.K. I give up!

[ouma1938]

We finally decided to take the house off the market. Its been a year+ and it just got to difficult. Mr. Ouma just hated it as we had to take pets out, and disappear. I would often be working and he would have to wrangle the critters himself. It was becoming a real pain. But now dear TOTV friends I am soooooo depressed. I have no idea when we will be able to move to TV. We may wait a year or so and try it again. In the meantime I am thinking that maybe we can rent a house for a few weeks at a time several times a year. It ain't perfect but will have to do. I will need to find a place that accepts pets and probably won't be during the winter as that might be harder to find a rental. I haven't ever looked at rentals because we were so sure we would be able to buy and not be snowbirds (or sunbirds) but I am going to start. :cus::mad::cus::mad: sob!

[graciegirl]

Oh Ooma. Don't cry. It is beginning to turn around. We had lunch today with a villager wannabe who also holds a high position on our city board of realtors and he says he thinks it is going to get better.

There are many reasonable rentals all around the villages and this will give you a chance to see which area you like the best.

It will work out for the best, you will see. It must be a full moon. I am north and so homesick for TV I cried too last night.

[downeaster]

You may want to lock in a rental now, Ooma. My brother and wife have rented here Nov and Dec for the last three years. They just locked in for this year at one half what they paid last year.

[ouma1938]

Thank you GG. That's a really good thought that we can take the time to see the area we like best. And thanks also downeaster. I will look into locking in a rental right away so that we can feel a little more settled. Also, I just realised that if we can rent the same place it will feel more like living there when we come down rather than coming for a vacation to a different house every time. I appreciate all the cheery good thoughts-it's really helping, and i'm not sobbing quite so hard.

[nONIE]

Ouma, Please dont give up. We rented for 3 years before we bought and we enjoyed the time down there just as if we had owned. And what a great idea Gracie had about checking out all the areas to see where you might want to buy.
I just know your going to be frogs someday, if you want something that badly it WILL happen. Dont be sad, I have talked to so many people whos house finally sold after over a year, sometimes almost 2 years. And please let us know when you will be renting so we can all meet you(and your feathered little friends).

[SUNNYMARYANN]

Nonie you just lifted my spirits also.

[nONIE]

Im glad Sunny!

[Whalen]

Keep the faith!
We sold after two attempts and are currently renting while we get our new home ready. We were also able to rent with kitties in tow.
It does cost a little extra but pet friendly rentals are available.
Hope to meet you when you get here.
Gail, Dave &
Bristol & Charlotte (The Girls)

[ouma1938]

You are all just so wonderful! Thanks Nonie, Sunny and Whalen for the cheery messages. You ahve no idea how much they help. I can't wait to meet everyone, although I feel like we've been friends forever. Nonie, the feathered babies are looking forwad to meeting you too and Whalen, your Bristol and Charlotte looks so much like my girls, Bailey and Shelby.

[JeanneBeannie]

Oh Ouma I'm sorry you are so sad, maybe you and your hubby can hang on in this crazy market just alittle bit longer? It really does seem to be picking up lately. Just these past two weeks there have been lots of postings on here of folks that have just sold and on their way to TV :pepper2:. I agree that it is a real pain with the showings, I was ready to throw in the towel yesterday myself but I really have a good instinct that things are turning around and I am a true believer in a "woman's instinct". I know I am lucky cause I have a big fenced in area for my doggies (golden retrievers), and I always go outside and walk around so as not to bother the lookers. I told my realtor, no way jose am I leaving my babies, and there is no way I could handle putting them in the car and driving around for an hour...if I did I would probably have thrown in the towel. Maybe just a few more months? This is usually an active time in real estate...hopefully! :bowdown:.
I wish you the best whatever you decide to do, and hopefully we will meet in TV soon. I hope to be down there in a few months with my new BFF! :a040:
Jeanne

[ouma1938]

I know what you mean about leaving your babies Jeannie. I just won't do it either. I just don't trust anyone to keep the birds door closed, and not let the cats out. I have been so cheered up by all these positive messages that I think we will take a break for a only a few months and then try again. And in the meantime visit as often as we can so we can meet all our great friends.

[Safe Home Watch Mary Edwards]

We finally decided to take the house off the market. Its been a year+ and it just got to difficult. Mr. Ouma just hated it as we had to take pets out, and disappear. I would often be working and he would have to wrangle the critters himself. It was becoming a real pain. But now dear TOTV friends I am soooooo depressed. I have no idea when we will be able to move to TV. We may wait a year or so and try it again. In the meantime I am thinking that maybe we can rent a house for a few weeks at a time several times a year. It ain't perfect but will have to do. I will need to find a place that accepts pets and probably won't be during the winter as that might be harder to find a rental. I haven't ever looked at rentals because we were so sure we would be able to buy and not be snowbirds (or sunbirds) but I am going to start. :cus::mad::cus::mad: sob!
Ouma Hi, Things will turn around we are all praying and have St Joesph buried in our yards of our home we are trying to sell.We couldn't wait to sell our home,we found a lot fell in love with it and here we are in TV,s still trying to sell our other house. But we are now frogs and love everyday here this is just the greatest place to be.
Smile and Be Happy,just visit more often!!!!!!!! Mary

[Barefoot]

Ouma, I'm sending you a PM re TV rentals.

As a realtor yourself, you probably know the market very well in your area. Listings that have been around for a while get "tired". It never hurts to give a listing a "rest" .. and then it comes back on the market as a new listing.

[784caroline]

It took us 20 months before we finally sold (7/08)and we have never looked back, In this market it takes time and patience..not easy but the end (TV) is well worth it!!! Good luck!!

[katezbox]

Ouma, my friend,

The cleaning and the pet arrangements and the rejections of your home are all horrible. But you live in a beautiful place and your house will sell.

As Whalen said, there are pet-friendly rentals out there.

You may also want to consider giving a realtor near you a limited listing so that you don't go on MLS but prospective buyers that agent has vetted get a showing. This worked for a friend of ours.

Your time in TV will come. And I do believe the economy and housing market are improving.

Kate

(PS - Go TIGERS)

[ouma1938]

Thanks everyone all your messages have been such a boost and I am going to cheer up, visit as much as we can and try put the house back on the market in a few months I agree that the economy is beginning to recover slowly so things shoujd look brighter on the selling front for all us in a few months. Can't wait to meet everyone!:pepper2:

[Joanie]

The deal we just had on our house has fallen apart and we are back to Square One. We are so disappointed but will continue to try to sell and get to TV.
I'm still praying to St. Joe. If he found us one buyer, there should be another SOMEWHERE!

[NJblue]

The deal we just had on our house has fallen apart and we are back to Square One. We are so disappointed but will continue to try to sell and get to TV.
I'm still praying to St. Joe. If he found us one buyer, there should be another SOMEWHERE!


I know your pain; we had a deal on our house last November but it fell through even after attorney review. We were quite upset and demoralized but after 4 more months on the market we suddenly had two offers within 2 days. We are now a little under 2 weeks from closing and are still keeping our fingers crossed that we don't have any last minute surprises.

[champion6]

Joanie, I'm truly sorry.

NJblue, good luck with your sale.

[lj410]

Three weeks to the day! we have a full price offer on our home in Maine-next stop the Villages!

[F16 1UB]

I know your pain; we had a deal on our house last November but it fell through even after attorney review. We were quite upset and demoralized but after 4 more months on the market we suddenly had two offers within 2 days. We are now a little under 2 weeks from closing and are still keeping our fingers crossed that we don't have any last minute surprises.

Oh man I sure as hell didn't need to hear this. I've been on pins & needles for a month. I picked a helluva time to quit drinkin!!!!!!!!!!!!

:shocked::rolleyes:

[ouma1938]

Congratulations to everyone who has sold or is near closing on their homes. Igt does happen I know and I know that it will happen for all. F16 I'm thinking all sorts of good thoughts that your sale goes through to closing without a hitch! I'msure it will.

[nONIE]

Pins and needles and pitchforks and sabre saws for me too! I have had a couple come back 4 times and tell us they definitely want the house, they love it, its just what they have been looking for:blahblahblah::blahblahblah:

I have been so excited and optomistic the last few weeks but so far NOTHING!!! NO CONTRACT NO MULA. Now I am nervous after hearing others stories about how things fall thru at the last minute. my realtor/neighbor/friend keeps telling me RELAX, DONT WORRY! Yea right, well obviously hes never been to The Villages, Im wasting my golden years!!!!:grumpy::rant-rave:

[F16 1UB]

OMG nONIE that stinks. Neighbors a year ago said they sold their home. Listed same time as us. No contract, no deposit, nuttin.... Never saw the peeps again. At least we DO have a contract and tomorrow the appraiser is suppose to be here. Gettin closer folks. Oh yeah you'll hear me when it's done.

:loco:

[JeanneBeannie]

Good luck with the appraiser today F-16, that is so stressful, and the inspection is really stressful, eventho you know everything is fine, its still tough on the nerves! :faint:
Nonie, it really sounds like these people are interested, maybe its the bank and lawyers that are dragging their heels :shrug:. For all of us who make it thru this house selling baloney....deserve to live in TV!! :pepper2:
I had a similar story about two months ago, a cash buyer, no realtor fee, they offered me my asking price, all in writing etc. After six showings and 12 hours later with them....they backed out after a whole month of calling me everyday etc. . There is a new country song out lol...."God is great, the beer is good and people are crazy"! It kinda puts it in a nutshell lol :1rotfl:.
Good luck to all of you, I hope we will all be there soon and can laugh about this "wonderful experience" lol. :pepper2:

[sschuler1]

Ouma - my hubby and I agree that this has been the most stressful time for us trying to sell this house. We packed up all of our non-essentials and put them in storage to be able to stage the house so it would show better. That was in March '08. We haven't felt like we live here for over a year. We have another showing tomorrow, and this will be showing #47. But I do agree with those that have said things are starting to pick up, even around here. We are seeing around one showing a week now! Bound to be a buyer soon!!! Take a break, but don't give up!!! We'll all meet and dance in the square when this is all over. :pepper2::pepper2::pepper2::pepper2:

[downeaster]

Pins and needles and pitchforks and sabre saws for me too! I have had a couple come back 4 times and tell us they definitely want the house, they love it, its just what they have been looking for:blahblahblah::blahblahblah:

I have been so excited and optimistic the last few weeks but so far NOTHING!!! NO CONTRACT NO MULA. Now I am nervous after hearing others stories about how things fall thru at the last minute. my realtor/neighbor/friend keeps telling me RELAX, DONT WORRY! Yea right, well obviously hes never been to The Villages, Im wasting my golden years!!!!:grumpy::rant-rave:

As a retired real estate broker I can only emphasize. So many seemingly enthusiastic prospects turn into duds. It almost seems like the most vocal are the least sincere.
I used to tell my sellers not to get excited until the closing check clears the bank.
I also told them somewhere out there is someone who will buy their house.
I know it is a stressful time and I am not going to suggest you relax and not worry but keep it to a minimum.
Maybe the next prospect through the door is the one.
Good luck!