Waiting, and more waiting, and then waiting some more

When we signed the paperwork for our condo in late March, we were thinking we would be able to move in July. We understand new construction and the fact that there is the potential for delays. We went through 6 months of madness when we remodeled our kitchen in our house in St. Paul. So, as July approached, the date was pushed out to August. Then October, and now it's November. Ugh! Who in the hell wants to move in November or December? Uber frustrating. Never buy a condo in a new construction building is my advice. Yeah, everything is shiny and new, and you are the first people to live there, but be prepared to move when they tell you to move.

A Taste of Fall

The weather is finally comfortable. Craig and I have been patiently waiting for our condo to be complete. They are saying October now. We went up there a few weekends ago and the kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinet, sink, and glass in the shower have all be installed. However, the lobby is nowhere near being finished. The hallways are still a mess. Ugh. Will it ever be done! The photo is what our kitchen will look like. Someday. Perhaps in 2010? I hope not.

Not much has been happening. Work, eat, clean, sleep, shop, cook, repeat. We did see the latest Harry Potter movie. It was long, but good. Run Harry Potter, run! I know they never say this, but there are so many places this can be said.

Negotiating is not my thing

We just finished up on the negotiating part of finalizing a price for the condo. First of all, it is nothing like purchasing a home in Minnesota! There is no formal, documented, sign here kind of form to make the offer. You simply do your investigating, come up with a number, and call or email the broker. Then he or she presents your offer to the developer, and they counter offer, and you then counter their counter offer, and they say yes to what your counter to the counter was! Hooray! Monday she is sending over the offer and contract to our lawyer. This is where it gets really different. We then have our lawyer review everything, and they sit down with us to ensure we understand it all, and agree to the terms. At that point, I guess, we sign the contract if all is good, and write out a check for the down payment. I am so glad we have good friends, Jeff & Don, that could recommend a lawyer who we can trust and is fair. Thank you! It is all very scary, exciting, and almost surreal to think we may own a piece of Manhattan! (The photo is of Jefferson Park, which is about a block or two away from the condo building.)