Congratulations, Oni! Five months was the same length of time it took to close my friend’s short sale in 2010 (for nearly 60% off the 2004 price). Same story as yours …. ridiculous amounts of junk, tires and hazardous waste with nearly a dozen filthy tenants living in every room with no gas/elec who had to be evicted just 3 days before he closed. He hung in there during this frustrating escrow because it is on flat acreage close to town and available properties like that are far and few between. He’s still working on the place after work and wknds and only contracted out some plumbing and electrical work. He didn’t need to move walls b/c it is a large house with an open floor plan. It has been MUCH more work than he anticipated but is very rewarding and the utility companies have been recently cooperative in contracting to have the many trees trimmed out of their lines on the county easement and hanging over his property. He’ll finally be done this summer except for a large outbuilding he will build.
Years of deferred maintenance and even abuse makes many of these short sales a dicey proposition unless you, as the buyer, have the expertise to thoroughly check out the property, top to bottom, in escrow with your inspector/engineer and you know EXACTLY what you are getting into as there can be many expensive “surprises” you may have not planned on fixing/paying for, due to “deadbeat-seller inattention.” They are NOT for the faint of heart or “all-thumbs” type of person.
I hope you will be able to occupy your new home soon, Oni Konoshi!
