In the spring of 2007, we were beginning to seriously consider renting out Patricia’s unsold home.  It had been listed for sale over eight months with no serious offers made. 

Since Patricia and family had been living at Priscilla’s house above our new office for more than five months, we needed to reduce costs so Patricia’s family could contribute more to the expenses at our shared place soon.

Suddenly, without warning in early March, Patricia received a call that an offer was in on the house.  The next day, before coming to final agreement on the first offer, a second higher offer came in.  The price was higher, but it was contingent on the sale of that buyer’s home.

We stuck with the cheaper, surer deal.  Now we simply needed to get it closed, and we would not become ‘accidental landlords’ of our unsold (and well-loved) home. 

The inspection was done, and we did most of the repairs.  The buyers got financing approval, and closing was even set ‘early’ by a week.  We moved up Ben’s birthday party by that week, and celebrated there with family and friends during the last weekend we owned our house, a few days before his April 25 first birthday. 

We had listed the house about a month after Ben was born, and sold it before his first birthday.  With hindsight, it doesn’t seem so tough.  At the time, we were sweating bullets!

When the things don’t go exactly as you have planned for your family’s future, call our office at (815) 436-1996 for an appointment to consider alternatives.  © 2012 Gruber Law Office, Ltd.