Today We Bought A House (Almost)!
There it is the view we bought – it took a bit of back and forth on price and settlement date – but once we approve the building report and and the Council records – we will own this house! We spent a day or two going back and forth offer and counter-0ffer – in…
Read MoreWe’ve Made An Offer – the Fun Begins!
Well we’ve done – it put an offer in on the house whose view we’ve fallen in love with! It’s Labour Day here in New Zealand, so my partner was off work. We got a call from the agent saying that someone who’d spent an hour at the property at the Open Home yesterday (which…
Read MoreWe’ve Made a Decision – We’re Offering!
I guess you already know what happens, as you’re reading a blog called a Home By the Sea! But stick with me – I wrote these posts before I launched the site – and I didn’t know what was going to happen at the the time!We’ve decided to offer on the house in Titahi Bay!…
Read MoreSo Do We Have a Mortgage From the Bank?
If you’ve been following along on the house saga – you’ll remember that I was furious to find the bank was slow getting back to us.Frankly the longer we waited the less I was expecting good news. I am self-employed after all, even though my partner makes good money he’s only a few years off…
Read MoreSo, Are We Buying, Or Not?
Well who knows is the short answer! I’m still in love with the house with the view. But we still haven’t made an offer – the bank finally came back and said they needed a WEEK to give us an answer.Once I calmed down I rang my “business banker” and got that down to 4…
Read MoreShould We Buy a Large Coastal Garden?
This is pretty much the view I’m in love with. And although the house is not the house of my dreams – it could be with a new kitchen and bathroom. I don’t mind doing the work and we can budget the cost.My biggest issue is the garden. It’s a gardener’s delight – which makes it…
Read MoreGoing To Open Homes in New Zealand!
How does it work in your country. When you are looking to buy a house in NZ you often go to “open Houses” or “open to view” times. This is when the agent advertises 30 minutes or so slot when you can come and walk through the house.Top tip: if you are doing this a…
Read MoreHow Much Sun Does a House Get – And Does It Matter?
Note – in the southern hemisphere the sun hits a house on the north and west sides. A south-facing house is not desirable because it will get little sun- it always sounds funny with English real estate programs rave on about south-facing gardens! When we lived in Perth, Australia – I was very happy to get a…
Read MoreOops Now I’m Valuing Houses in Titahi Bay, Wellington!
The weather was awful yesterday – Sunday- which was good. I always prefer to see houses in the rain – if you like then then- you’ll love them in fine weather! Sunday is the Opoen Home day around here – if you are looking for a house – forget about having Sundays for anything but…
Read MoreReality Bites – What Happens When You See A House Up Close!
As I said earlier I’ve spent most of this week obsessed by a coastal property in the nearby suburb of Titahi Bay. I did a drive past with a friend, and the obession didn’t go away.So I contacted the agent – they weren’t doing an open home this weekend – so we arranged a private viewing.The reality…
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