I wrote this post earlier this week but didn’t publish it; I think I was afraid of telling the world until things got in motion. Read on.
I got a call this morning that I’ve been waiting months for. I was sure that it was going to be more bad news but thankfully it wasn’t. I’ve had my offer on a house accepted.
The journey started back in June when himself and myself started talking about property, falling prices, property ladders, yada yada yada. Everyone has heard all the jargon before. We’ve gone from a country obsessed with property to a country so afraid of our property ghosts that a word like mortgage is a dirty word.
I’m one of those people who watched as property prices skyrocketed in the last 10 years, seeing the dream of my own four walls getting further and further out of my reach. I went to see a 1 bed apartment in Dublin back in 2008 before the crash and realised that it was completely futile to think that I could afford that shoebox of a place any time in the next 5 years. It was utterly demoralising.
But due to the great depression we now find ourselves in, prices had finally gotten back to a point where it was actually realistic for me to start looking again. So, in earnest I started the search with a few more pennies in the bank than the last time. And the support of a partner I trust.
It took a while to actually figure out what it was we were looking for and to refine our (mine mostly) requirements. A few months if I’m honest. And we saw a lot of donkeys, figuratively, and met alot of arrogant estate agents, literally, before finding the place for us. We found a few promising places that we definitely saw ourselves in, but alas they were not meant to be.
And so today, after holding out for 4 weeks, after having had my offers turned down 3 times already, the vendors finally gave in. I think the falling market caught up with their aspirations.
Part of me feels bad for broadcasting this. I fell like there are a lot of people out there who will be begrudging and critical. I’m hoping that there will be some who will be happy for us, and who will share in our joy and excitement.
Please God, everything will work out and I’ll be welcoming family and friends to Glasnevin sometime in the new year.
4 Comments for Afraid of Ghosts
Cyril Moloney | November 23, 2010 at 2:52 pm
KP | November 23, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Nice one Louise! Congratulations and jealousy! P.S. my offer to paint Grant’s place was purely superficial and will not be honoured or extended to other houses. 
Author comment by therub | November 23, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Cyril – better agents have been Wilson Moore (north side mainly) and Gallagher Quigley (Fairview and north side) have been the best we dealt with. WM are a bit pushy but great with accomodating viewings. GQ were generally very nice.
KP – thanks!! Might call you for grass cutting then???
Cyril Moloney | November 24, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Thanks a million for the advice. Maybe now we have had to four year plan, I may get a deal 
Congratulations, good to see something positive out of all the hysteria the last few days. Hope you are very happy.
On a slightly selfish note, any estate agents you recommend? Am starting to look but so far early experieinces vary from horrendus to comic. Would appreciate any advice.