When Life Imitates Paintings by Munch

You know which one I'm talking about, right?  The Scream.

Talk about having a "theme painting!"About now, that's me.  Because I'm absolutely certain that by this time in November we will be homeless.

Back in June, hubby and I thought we had five weeks to move to Washington, DC. 

I slept a total of three hours in three weeks and packed and cleaned my entire house.  Then orders were not signed on time.  You don't want to hear what I have to say about that.  It involved words that would have me excommunicated from my church.

Now we're looking at November, and trying to plan ahead for a place to live.  To this end, we made a one day trip to the area to scope out homes.

This is why my inner airforcewife is channeling "The Scream". 

First - prices.  YUCK!  They make even my California bred hair stand on end!

Next - tight market.  The market in the DC area is actually letting loose right now - houses are sitting on the market and not selling, so people are rolling them over into the rental market causing a momentary glut.  But some landlords have not heard the news yet.

Third - I desperately want to buy, but we won't be in the area long enough to make a dent in the equity and couldn't sustain a house payment without a tenant.  Nothing makes a person irritable more than seeing houses for sale and thinking, "Well, I'd LOVE to, but not at the moment."  Or, at least, it makes ME very irritable.

Luckily, hubby and I found something that seems fairly unique to the DC and other huge city areas - our own real estate agent for rentals.  Really!  And my eyes have opened.  Somehow, when you have someone working for you who is honest and knows the area, the process becomes far less painful. 

My real estate agent is named Larry, and I stumbled on him in one of those coincidences that happen so often to military families and make you think there is no such thing as coincidences.  Larry and his wife Madeline ** had a property they were managing that I called for information on.  It had rented just hours before I called, but Larry must have heard something on the verge of insanity in my voice, because he spent the next FOUR HOURS looking up homes in our price range, advising me on commutes, relating local information, and calming me down.

Then, after hubby and I chose several rental listings, Larry's wife Madeline actually drove out to each home we were considering and scoped it out, taking pictures and getting additional information for us since we did not think we would be able to see the house before renting it.

Then, when we settled on a house, they actually got the rent offered reduced by 100$ a month!  And finally, when our orders didn't come through in time, they waved aside my apologies saying, "Oh, we're used to the military.  These things happen."

So, now Larry and his wonderful wife are working on getting us deals on the four homes we liked that we were able to view while we were in DC.  And, if you're the praying type, please put in a word with The Man Upstairs that hubby and I get that awesome townhouse right next to the clean park in Sterling that we are salivating over.

So, maybe we won't be homeless.  But I've got to tell you, it never fails that I hit major depression right before we move.  Every time.  There's just something about not having a house for a few weeks or so that makes me as uneasy as the person wearing the body armor during live ammunition testing.

**In the interest of recommending companies that are very military friendly and go out of their way to help military customers, I've linked LarMad Homes, which serves the Northern Virginia/DC Metro area and is located in Stafford Virginia.   They are awesome, amazing people who work as hard for someone looking for a rental as for someone looking to buy.  If you or someone you know contacts them, please be sure to mention SpouseBUZZ so we can show just how powerful (and grateful) the military market can be.

 

Comments

[mommyof3]

There is a wonderful website that we used when we lived in that area to buy and sell our house. It is www.militarybyowner.com. It is run by a former marine and his realtor wife who actually live in that area. The concept is that military members can list their homes for sale or rent nationwide for a small fee. We sold our house near Quantico on that website in 3 days about 2 years ago. There are tons of houses in the DC area listed with pictures and room sizes. Hope that helps ease the pain a little bit.

[Amy]

I will definately be looking into that link. We are scheduled to move in November as well to D.C area. Hope the info helps with house hunting.

[Jan Wesner]

This type of real estate business is common overseas, where local rental agents cater exclusively to the military market. It would be a great a business for a military spouse or retiree to start - who knows the challenges we face better than ... us?
On a side note - last year we got notice that were were moving from Germany to the states in FIVE WEEKS. Packed out the house, shipped the car, gave notice to our landlord. Two weeks before we were supposed to fly, my husband's report date was changed. We now had an extra three months in Germany. Such is the military life ...
http://blogs.tampabay.com/standingby/

[liberal army wife]

Oh wow. Andi sent me the link to this (Thanks!) and it is amazingly good timing. Airforcewife - we'll have to get together when you get out there! We are looking in the Woodbridge/Springfield/Alexandria area. We have the Request for Orders, and reporting date. We've been on Rent.com and other sites, found apartments to rent and are flying to DC to check them out next week. I WILL NEVER rent online sight unseen... heard too many nightmare stories from that. I will be calling the realtors, to see what the neighbourhoods etc are like, and whether they have any apts (don't want a house!)

I always knew Spouse Buzz was a great site, but THIS has persuaded my DH that I'm not wasting my time blogging! oops, gotta get back to work...

LAW

[Lemon Stand]

My cousin lives there and I have been TDY to DC (and DH will be TDY there week after next). DC has it's great points but housing is not one of them.

I'm sure that you realize after so many PCS' that most depression related to it comes from the 'out of control' feeling you get when you don't know WHERE you are going to live and WHEN you will be able to get the house put back together again.

It sounds like you have the first pretty well under control. (as much as something like that can be controlled at the moment)

As for the other. I was always looking for ways to make the transition faster and less painful.

I always found it helpful to make up stickers with each rooms name on it. As the movers packed out a room, I would put my own sticker on it to make putting the house back together much easier. (I would also make stickers with the names of important items so that I could put them on the box that contained that item. You know, like silverware, the phone, the heating pad, flashlight, yoga mat etc.

If I were in this situation, my sister would just say, "I am sure you will do just fine, I have faith in you, you've had experience with this, so suck it up Princess!"

I could sympathize, empathize or throw out platitudes, but instead I think I will just say, "It's another adventure, what kind of tour guide do you want to be?" :o)

[Andi]

Thank you, Larry and Madeline. Always nice to find military-friendly businesses.

Sure, I leave Washington and you arrive....

[dutchgirl]

I hear you on the PCS depression! Gets me every time no matter how much I try to prepare myself.

I'll send up a prayer for you that you get the townhouse!

[Marine Wife]

Does Larry have a brother in West Palm Beach?!

[john beck]

yeah he does have a brother there .