I'd run away, but I'm really not familiar with the market where you are.  I'm watching it here and accepted offers are currently a little below asking/list or on the nail.  I never understood the rentback thing.  If you're not ready to move, don't put your house on the damn market..... The market was super-high when we bought this -offers needed to be asking price and above and in the first few days on the market-  but we avoided anything with a rentback because our paid relocation rental was ending.

When we bought in the UK decades ago, there were huge chains and all would close on the same day so no-one had two mortgages at once.  Nightmare.  But if you didn't want to do that, and could afford it,  you could get a "bridging loan" -expensive though.

That sounded sketchy. Consider it a bullet dodged. You'll find the right situation.

@BigV - it was stupid.  It was also showing me that they weren't willing to work WITH me
@Clod - When it came down to it, it wasn't necessarily the rentback, but making me give an answer before they even knew if they needed it.  It would have made a huge difference if they had said "we'll know Thursday we can wait for your answer" or something.  It was only going to be for 2 weeks
@monster - it's an insane market right now, all on the seller's side.  If a house doesn't sell in the first 5 days, it's surprising.  Everyone is offering over or large due diligence amounts (a non refundable amount that is paid to the seller for them to take the house off the market and applied as a credit at closing for the buyer)
@Bruce&monster - From my understanding, no, The seller would be responsible for the difference between 240 and 250, then I would be responsible for the difference between 250 and 260.  This can be done different ways, though, whether it's renegotiating the price of the offer or something else.  From the buyer's stand point, it would mean adjusting down payment to cover the difference.
@griff - Thanks

I'm actually looking back at houses I've already rejected to see if they are still there and make sure there's nothing that I can't live with - lol.  There's one house that I liked, but it was weird - the only way in and out is the front door and the garage.  No back doors, no way to access the large yard.  I'm thinking of ways that I can still make it work because it's been on the market for a month and that's just ridiculous in this market.  I could get away with offering lower than asking price.
 

The only question is there a spot for a door? I know a woman who had the front door and garage as entrances then had a door put in the garage to the back yard so she just goes in and out that way.

@fargon - Possible

@Bruce - I think I might actually take out some closets and make a large hallway to the yard.  The garage is all brick, so I'm not sure how hard that is, plus I don't know if I'd put the deck there.  The most room is to the right (see below)

@griff - No because all the pictures are on zillow.  They do have a floor plan, though. 

The orange is the area that has some closets that I'm thinking of removing to put in a hallway, then door.  Most of the yard is to the right, there.  The blue box is approximately where the air conditioner is outside.  The house is oriented kind of sideways, so the driveway comes from the left down a hill to the garage side of the house.  The "back" yard isn't too big.  The side yard is the ideal space for a deck/outside area.

 

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

Yeah, it would be easy enough to put a door right in the corner of the garage by the kitchen door but that doesn't put you where you want to be outside.  Taking out those two closets will work but be sure you leave enough closet space for when we all come to visit. 

I posted a chart from the NYT on rents and prices this year.

Unfortunately, there's stairs down into the garage, so there's no room for another door.  But I kind of want to build a big shed in the back similar to one I saw at another house, so you can throw your stuff there - lol

The newest drama with the house is that there was a buyer that just backed out because their inspector said that it was moved.  Since the seller is a flip, they don't know anything about the house.  The seller's realtor is trying to find any proof of that but isn't having luck.  It would explain the weird orientation of the house on the property, though.  I mean, as long as the foundation is ok, I'm ok with it.  I bid on another house that was moved, but it's listed as being built in 2002.  If it was moved, it was likely built before that and that can come with concerns

My buddy up the road also has a house in Bethany Beach Delaware, and the people who just bought the house across from him are renting it to a couple who sold their house with the intention of moving to Bethany but there's not a house available in the area. Not one, and these places start at a half million and go way up. Seller's market.

house across the road from me just sold after 4 months on the market for 90% of the asking price.  Most of the houses I've seen sell since the first lockdown have been about 95%.  Snow is not a good season for home sales, though, so that might not be bad for this time of year.  

The problem with the house across the road is no master bath.  Disappointingly low price, though

I need a way to wash my dogs in the tub.  I got a dog-specific one, but it sucked and I sent it back without using it.  Then, it hit me, I could just buy a normal hand held shower head and transfer it to my house when I buy one.  So, my question is what's a good brand?  What do you look for?  Can I easily change hoses so I can make sure it's long enough to get the dogs?

ooo B sounds better than A.

@Undertoad - The no foil hats is DEFINITELY a plus.  I figured A had lots of room, but not necessarily where I would need/want it.  I'm not even considering about having a partner at this point.  I've put off too much because of an imaginary future partner.  So, I'm buying with just me in mind.    That picture is just the shed, not the bedroom or house.

@BigV - I think there's an appeal to A, but more to customize with B.  

@griff - I'm in central NC.  That's the dream shed, so no need to heat except for a portable one that I can plug in when I'm in there in the winter.  Maybe a window unit in the summer if the humidity is too bad.

So, I'm officially making an offer on House B.  I'm trying to price a fence, but I think I have enough saved to do that immediately.  I'm still trying to wait to really look until it's accepted.  I've made lots of offers.