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Finances & Retirement

Real Estate Update: 2 Offers, 2 Days

Heads up that I’ll be out of commission for a while. Starting yesterday, I’ll be working 12 days straight. That means, while you’re all watching the NFL playoffs and the Golden Globes this coming weekend, I’ll be going blind staring at my computer screen. Did I mention that I’m also preggers and all I want to do is be at home in bed?

To add to the stress, we are submitting offers today and tomorrow on properties in my hometown of Alameda and in a San Francisco neighborhood called Sunnyside I’d never even heard of before. Dean reminded me that Sunnyside is the name of that crazy daycare in Toy Story 3.

Scroll down to see what we’re gambling our life savings on.

1612 Sherman Street, Alameda – 2 bedroom, 1 bath Victorian + 2 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow – listed for $649,000

Two properties for the price of one. Doesn’t get any better than this! Thank you tenants for paying my mortgage!

131 Congo Street, San Francisco – 2 bedroom, 1 bath home upstairs + 1 bedroom, 1 bath separate space downstairs – listed for $779,000

Once again: two properties for the price of one. The space downstairs is unwarranted which means it cannot be rented legally. Welcome AirBnB guests! Thank you for subsidizing my mortgage payments!

Whoever did the interior design must’ve been born and raised in Vegas baby!

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01.07.14

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Comments

  1. Roaen

    January 7, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Oh my, how exciting (and probably exhausting)! Good luck on the house and the 12 straight working days.

    Reply
  2. JAnine Huldie

    January 7, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Try not to work too hard Catherine and totally saying some prayers on the house front. They both are gorgeous and can’t wait to hear how the offers go. Good luck and sending good vibes your way now also!! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Mo at Mocadeaux

    January 7, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    Both houses look fantastic! Nice outdoor space, nice kitchens and rental/Air BnB income- not bad! Hope you get extra time off after working for 12 days straight! Can you nap at your desk? 😉

    Reply
  4. Michelle

    January 7, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    Both houses look great…I am crossing my fingers for you!

    Reply
  5. SAffron

    January 7, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    It’s a good gamble!

    Both of those houses would cost more than $1m in Vancouver.

    The question is, though, did you have to bid over the asking price? You probably would have had to do it here.

    Reply
    • Catherine

      January 18, 2014 at 9:21 am

      hi saffron, yes, we bid a good chunk of change over the asking price for both properties. we didn’t get either. but i have some good news coming up on my blog! we finally were successful.

      Reply
  6. Patrick Weseman

    January 7, 2014 at 9:59 pm

    Hope that work doesn’t drive you crazy.

    Good luck in getting either place. I will be rooting for you to at least get one.

    Reply
  7. Rachel G

    January 8, 2014 at 2:11 am

    Ooh, that’s exciting!! Hopefully the house-buying process won’t drag on forever! And we’ve been Airbnb guests before, never hosts though. (We live in the middle of nowhere!)

    Reply
  8. thedoseofreality

    January 8, 2014 at 5:08 am

    Both are GORGEOUS! Good luck! Can’t wait to hear how it goes! So sorry about the sucky upcoming work schedule…UGH.-Ashley

    Reply
  9. Dana

    January 8, 2014 at 7:23 am

    I hope you come out of your 12 day work marathon as a homeowner, Catherine – both are fabulous! Don’t work too hard and take care of both of you.

    Reply
  10. Tamara

    January 8, 2014 at 8:29 am

    Good luck with working 12 days straight! Whew! And I feel like I’m on an EXTRA fun episode of House Hunters. Extra because I am jealous of the warm sun photos and you know SF is my old home. Extra also because it’s real life!
    Can’t wait to hear which offers are accepted!

    Reply
  11. CeCe @Pink Sunshine

    January 8, 2014 at 1:35 pm

    They are both drool worthy!! The 2 for 1 deal is the way to go since you are paying so darn much. Good luck with either one.

    Reply
  12. AwesomelyOZ

    January 8, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Sherman St!!! Best of luck guys! 🙂 -Iva

    Reply
  13. Karen

    January 8, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    So sorry you have to work so hard. But… fingers crossed on the properties! Hope it works out.

    Reply
  14. Ashley

    January 9, 2014 at 7:49 am

    I love those orange kitchen shelves!! So cool! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Kenya G. Johnson

    January 10, 2014 at 3:42 am

    Wow both are beautiful! Those pictures look straight out of a magazine!

    Reply
  16. Alison Hector

    January 10, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Girlfriend, I’m hoping those 12 days won’t be overly intense for you. That’s a long stretch!

    I adore both properties. They are a steal! Praying for the best possible deal for you and Dean regarding the offers you’re putting in.

    Reply
  17. Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life

    January 11, 2014 at 9:51 am

    Good luck! I love all that outdoor space!

    Reply
  18. Jean

    January 11, 2014 at 2:08 pm

    Both properties are amazing! I hope one of your offers is accepted.

    Reply
  19. Taylor Brione

    January 12, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    How exciting! I know that finding a home is stressful! I’m only look for an apartment is stressful…so a house is definitely 10 times likes that! Both homes are beautiful though! Good luck with everything!

    Reply
  20. Gracielle

    January 13, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    Total spoiler from reading your blog in reverse chronological order! They were both really nice, so sorry they didn’t work out. Sometimes there are decent foreclosures that prevent those sneaky investors from submitting offers for the first few days so that actual owner/occupants have a shot at getting a house. It worked for us!

    Reply
  21. Kathryn

    January 19, 2014 at 4:52 am

    Wow so gorgeous. Good luck!

    Reply

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