Hi Val, Sorry I'm late to the party, but congrats on your job offer and the fact that the govt guy wants to try to hold on to you! I've recently been unemployed for 5 months, and I'm a single mother as well, and it was torture. Worries about insurance, and would I find a position before unemployment ran out, etc. So I can truly understand your fear. My take on your situation would be to stick with the small company, precisely for what you said...it won't end in a year, and put you back in this position. Plus this guy has been interested in hiring you for years, so I'd say that he can see your potential in his company, and that's a good position to be starting from. I've worked for huge corporations and small start-ups. They each have their pluses and minuses...I've actually preferred the smaller sized companies, because in my experience it's been much more personal, and understanding regarding personal stuff. Currently I'm in a job that is paying me a fraction of my previous salary, and it's not a perfect situation (boring, alot of fresh out of college people who know EVERYTHING), but it is a job for which I am thankful. I have just taken a part time job as well, to make up for the financial difference, and I'm happy for that too. I see this as a stepping stone situation, until the economy straightens out...so if the small company isn't perfect, it's good enough to get you to the next phase. Good luck!!!

It's only about 12 miles from here. Plus, the other guy who bought it, paid the moving for it. The owner of the company told us he charged him $28,000 for the house and $13,000 to move it...so he has already received $41,000 for it, and I don't know exactly where the guy wanted it moved to, but it was much farther away than our 12 miles and through several towns. This move should be very easy. It has to go around one town, via a bypass...and through Liverpool, which doesn't even have one traffic light. And that 12 miles, counts the distance around the bypass too. That's how I go every day and I drive past "my house" every day. (That's how I have kept an eye on it all this time.) It's a very easy route. The moving company just moved a house over here, about 5 miles from me. We don't have to pay the moving...we just have to pay the guy (who is in prison), or actually, his wife. Right now we are waiting on the moving company to send a release to the guy's wife, and she has to get her husband to sign it and then we will give them a cashier's check. So, probably will pay for it in about a week. Linda, I don't have to worry about skinny hips hitting the metal band. My skinny hips were gone about the same time that the linoleum counter tops went out of fashion. ;))

Tricia, no other showings. I agree with the no stress logic, however there are more apartment redos turned condos than actual condo complexes. In the price range he's looking at, that might be what he ends up getting. There's a big difference between walls in a condo and walls in an apartment. As someone that grew up in a 2 family house, I really hope he's happy if that's what he chooses. There's a post on city-data about someone that lives above another person, how the lower floor renter keeps using a broom handle on the ceiling. Sue, I suspect when I return to CA(Sept.15)i'll be calling my agent on Monday to give him the bad news, he may even suspect this is going to happen. Maybe I should wait until I've found an agent? Would it be unethical to interview agents while still having an active listing with another agent? Or would it be best to have the listing 'MIA' for a week or so, and then have a total new listing? Depends on who you interview. One broker I emailed mentioned ethics, I told them I was interviewing because I was unhappy, either they were going to see me or not. You don't have to fire him, you can let him try to correct it with the new MLS / pricing, then wait it out. Honestly, were I you right now, I *might* actually, consider taking it off the market for a bit (maybe a month or two), ditching the rea you have now, doing some research, soul searching, and lots of interviews and finding someone who can/will get the job done for you. Sometimes a break can give you a new perspective. I wouldn't take it off that long in this market. The price the other guy offered may be closer to reality when it comes back on. jrldh, i've got a house in Austin i'm anxious to build, and need to get my hands on some cash before the prices escalate. With the market as horrible as it is, 4 weeks seems like an eternity! Remember, condos don't sell as quickly as single family homes, which means I won't get as many lookers. Exciting! Have you picked a builder yet? Several weeks ago you were trying to decide between selling your condo or the house your ex-husband lives in. I thought you had settled on the SFR, since you thought it would be easier to sell and your ex would be ok with moving into the condo. Do you still have that option? If you want to sell quickly, perhaps listing the house might be a better way to go? I don't remember why you chose to sell the condo over the house I'd asked too a few posts ago. I would run comps of both areas.

One thing I've learned selling by owner is that a lot of people come through the house who really have no intention of buying at this time or simply can't afford it and are trying to get a lucky deal. I saw a couple take a flyer on our house, then we got a phone call a few seconds later from their car. They said they were relocating to the Chicago area from California and wanted to buy in our town. Could they see the house right away? Sounded good to us, so we cleaned up quickly and they came through. They loved the house, then announced that they really don't plan on buying anything until next May, when their daughter graduates from eighth grade. Hopes dashed once again, and I felt like saying, "Then why waste our time now? We can't wait that long." But, you never know, I guess, and I simply smiled and said, "Oh, okay." :-) We also got a lowball offer from another couple--it's very frustrating.