Status Report

            I explained a few weeks ago that I am juggling three real estate transactions:

 

·      The failed purchase of Hildene Manor Co-op in Ann Arbor, where the owners are refusing to sign to release our payment from escrow at the title, presumably until they calculate “damages.”

·      Our Bark House here on Torch Lake is on the market.

·      We need to find a place to live when the house sells.

 

I had hoped that by now they would have moved close to resolution. We have not. Let me give you a sense of how this all shifts on a daily basis.

 

Friday

 

We had some of our escrow funds returned to us, but about a third of it is still being held hostage. The property we did not buy is currently under contract to another purchaser, with a closing (we are told) scheduled for next week. We’ll see. And we’ll see if that leads to a satisfactory resolution. We want all of our money back.

 

We thought we had found a condo in Ann Arbor that would be perfect for us, and to make sure, we offered full price plus an “escalator clause” offering $55,000 over asking price. We learned that we were outbid, and the property is currently under contract. We are resuming our search on the internet.

 

We had a couple visit our house, and we were told that they are “very interested” and would be coming back for a return visit “in a couple of days.” That was a week ago, and we have not heard from them, and their realtor does not return our realtor’s calls.

 

Saturday

 

Nothing. My theory, based on no evidence, is that the realtor for the couple interested in buying our house is not bringing them back here because he wants to sell them a house that he is listing. Doubtful, but it’s something to hang onto.

 

Sunday

 

Today it feels like we will not be selling our Bark House any time soon. We got an ad in the mail from a company that helps take care of cottages in Northern Michigan – mostly for snowbirds who leave, but still . . .. I refuse, however, to pay someone $100 per hour to rake our leaves – the going price up here.

 

Monday

 

I had a fantasy that today I would get some answers. Nope. I hoped that the sale of the Hildene Manor property would close, and that I would hear that my money would be released from the title company. Didn’t happen. Looked hard for our next place to live – unsuccessfully. And our prospective Bark House buyers have evaporated.

 

Maybe tomorrow . . ..

 

Tuesday

 

Surprise! We learned that the property sold for full price, and we will be getting most of the rest of our money back. I won’t believe it until the money lands.

 

Wednesday

 

Signed a Release which says the rest of my funds will be returned, minus the $15,000 Earnest Money. I feel that I should get at least some of that back, but it will probably be an expensive and losing battle, so I signed.

 

We continue to look for where to live next. Ann Arbor? Lofts in Atlanta (near family, as Genne´ is moving there)?

 

Reduced the asking price to encourage showings. We are convinced that if people would actually see the Bark House, they would be interested in buying it. No word from the couple who said they were interested – it’s been two weeks.

 

Thursday

 

Stress level down a bit, but waiting for the money to land back in my account.