That's the pits, ttodd.

When I first read the title post, I thought you were pregnant. :0

Maybe it will be better in the long run, with the economy being what it is. I'd like to get out of ours, but we're here for the long haul.

With you being there another year, you'll be able to tend to the little details in this house and next year you'll be in the new one.

Keep your head up!

I'm disappointed for you, but I do think that you'll more than make up for the year of wait with a better sales price next year. And a raise in this environment?! That's amazing. At DH's company we're thinking no one (except high-level executives, of course :( ) will get raises this year. With very capable folks being laid off in all professions, a raise is a tremendous thing to be thankful for, IMO (not telling you to be thankful, just thinking about how I'd feel if DH got one!).

You'll get to your house, just a little bit longer...:Next year in Forever House :)"

Try to think positively -- at least it's only 1 year ...1 year goes by very quickly, especially if you have little kid. I was trying to potty train my DS today. He's going to be 2 in May and I don't know where the last 2 years went. Rat -- I still remember the moment when the doc flop him down on my tummy when he was all wet & red. Now he's running around w/ his naked bum out for the world to see.

I know your frustration. I want to get out of my house so badly too. But look like we have to wait another 5 or 10 years (yike!) :-) Sometimes I don't even feel like decorating this one because my heart is not in it. :-) It's like being in a marriage w/o love :-D Couple months ago, my dream house went on sale and I was in the worst hell because I wanted it badly. Thank god somebody bought it (for 200K more than our house) and save me from my agony. :-D

Hang in there. In the meanwhile, you can research on paint colors, fabric, furnishing for the new place.

I am upset for you, that this happened.
Is there any chance, putting the home you are in on the market, that you could move? Homes are priced lower now, your home might fetch less than you wanted, but you might find the home you are looking for, for less also.

I am not one to accept, if I really want something, I will try to make it happen.

We'll help you plan for the new house, and daydream with you.

Dh is probably right to wait to sell the house. There are so many houses for sale now. Maybe you can sell sooner if you see market come back a bit. The only thing I worry about waiting is that the fed gov is spending SO much money and working on taking over the banks and business, that the economy may actually get much worse instead of better.

I am so sorry, but think you will be better off in the end. Sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but when I feel sorry for myself I look around and count my blessings. Sometimes I even make a gratitude list from A-Z, listing one thing I am grateful for corresponding to each letter of the alphabet. Like Raise for R!

Oh Parma! I had that taken care of when our last 'happy accident' was born in Sept.! After so many trails and tribulations in getting our 1st 2 who'd have ever thunk we'd have an accident!

Bella - I couldn't have said it any better! My heart just isn't in this home anymore. Hasn't been for quite some time. You're right when you mention that it's like a loveless marriage.

Last night I started compiling a list of house projects and went over some w/ DH. He's going to stop at Lowes this wk. and get some things. I am going to work on the kitchen more today and this wknd. sanding and wood puttying trim. Clear out the mudroom and send a china cab. to work w/ DH to paint so that I can begin turning the mudroom into a mudroom/ butler's pantry.

It'll work - it always does. I always have faith that the Lord has a plan for everything and we'll be safe and our dreams will be realized.

You know honestly I think what makes it more diff. is the fact that when we moved into this house people would regularly ASK to buy it! I mean seriously - at least once a month for the first 2 yrs and then at least pretty steadily up until about 3yrs. ago. WHY DIDN'T WE SELL THEN?!!!!!!!! Why didn't we save all of those cards and letters?!

Not to worry dearest -- the year will be short and sweet -- and FAST whilst you tackle those must-do-to-sell tasks!

Just think of this time as a "Bottomline Job" -- all that matters right now is improving your Product (i.e. the house) for sale ....(your mantra for this time: "Its ALL about the Bottomline" LOL!)

And of course -- remember that you are never alone in this -- we are all there with you! Just keep snapping those photos for a "Sales Album" of Before-and-Afters! We actually DID just that when we sold our place in Toronto (in a terrible market at the time!) We actually put out Before-and-After photos to show potential buyers just how much and effort and love (o.k. tears and sweat LOL!) had gone into our house!

Jan at the not-so-favorite-at-times Rosemary Cottage

That is hard news to hear and I know you're sad and feeling stuck. Stuck is never easy. But, here's another way to look at it...

Think if you HAD to sell right now, how much pressure there would be to get things ready. It is so much work. I did my work a year ago for the big house and am still not over it. Now, I have to go clean out the small summer place and just cannot get moving. I don't want to touch one more box or touch up one more baseboard. Bleargh!

Another thought is that even of you did list the house now, it might take a year to sell in this market. I had a house on the market for nine months when DD was 4. That was unusual back then...it was an unusual house. Those kinds of numbers are more common today, but it doesn't make it any easier.

I would start to say my prayers that someone will knock on your door again. It is not out of the question...you have a special house. Put it out there to the universe. Miracles can happen. :) Hang in there.

I feel your pain..... We bought a lot in a different city over two years ago....and things were just not right for my husband to get his business closed out...and now the market is terrible here.....so not even putting our house on the market for several months.
But I am taking this time to declutter this house, etc...although my heart is not really in it either....I keep telling myself that I am making it more "sellable" when we do list it.
I am also taking this time to really think about what I want in my next home...funny, how my "needs" have changed...so maybe it is a good thing that it is taking so long.
So I hope you can hang in there....and let's hope this ecomony turns around SOON and we can both make that change that we are wanting. GOOD LUCK!!!

Ttodd that stinks! If you don't love your house but love your neighborhood, it's easier to accept (that's my situation; realized last year that the houses with the features we want in our neighborhood are just out of our budget since we won't have much equity to roll into a new house). But if you're unhappy with both, it's the pits.

That said, time flies, especially when you're busy! Hopefully some of these projects that need to be done to spruce up for resale will also make the house more pleasant for you to live in.

Aw, what a shame. It's so tough to be stuck in a situation you don't like. As others have said, it's a good opportunity to improve this house to the point that it will sell quickly and $$ will be good . . . and you can get a lot of plans done for the new house in a year.

As of May 1, we will have been in this cramped and unlovely apartment for one year . . . and we're 67! I can't believe we've used up a year of our lives dealing with this build. However -- cabinets are 99% finished and we finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Hope to start moving mid-April and maybe will celebrate May 1 in the new house.

You're right -- God always does have a plan. It would be nice if we could see what it is, but since that doesn't happen, hangeth thou in there until it's understood!

My dear!
I resonate. We sold our big house nearly two years ago, thankfully at the peak of the market, but the stock market turned on us just as my DH left his job (not entirely of his choosing), and so we, also in our early sixties, are in a rented house with no immediate possibility of buying a house of our own, a new business to grow, and a vastly changed (and deferred) plan for retirement.

Although we have no plans to leave it (we love the neighborhood, and the architecture is good, though the storage is...well...nonexistent), we've decided to get ready to move now. That means another round or two of purging, good use of a storage locker, and keeping it clean, clean, clean. Shining floors and sparkling windows are the most cheering things of all for me. I hate to clean, but my iPod and I are having at it anyway.