Am I being too pushy?

The last thing I heard was "I've never known a bank to move this fast" that was a while ago, so I got very impatient.
I went to see my mortgage lender to get assistance with my HPAP homework; she commented that this process could take a while but I should hear something by February at the latest in her non expert opinion. FEBRUARY!!! aw hell naw!
I knew that the mortgage was being held by Wells Fargo, I also knew that I was not allowed to contact the selling agent directly. Since my agent and I hadn't spoken in weeks, I took it upon myself to go to Wells Fargo...was that wrong of me? Apparently so.

I called 5 different numbers left two voicemail messages and spoke with about 3 people who told me they couldn't tell me anything. Finally my phone rang and an agent from Wells Fargo said, "I got your message, tell me whats going on?" so I explained that I had submitted an offer on a short sale property, had completed paperwork sporadically and now I was waiting for a long time without anyone telling me anything, in fact my agent said it could take as long as 6months. He was shocked, took my name, number and promised to call me back at 3pm. He also took my mortgage lenders name and number.

At 2:35pm the Wells Fargo agent called me back "I spoke with your lender and she told me that you are waiting for a ratified contract from the bank, I don't have that information and I can't give you that departments number, I'm sorry you're going to have to wait for the bank to contact your seller"
Disappointed I sent an email to my agent telling him what I had been up to today and asked him to try to find out something. He was pissed, he once again explained to me that this was a long process, that I had to be patient and that he probably shouldn't have told me things were moving quickly. He said that he would contact the selling agent and tell her about my anxiety.
Within minutes he called me back. "before I got chance to call her she texted me and told me that the paperwork had gone through to review. That means it has moved from a large pile of papers on a big desk to a review desk; you could get an answer as soon as tomorrow or as late as two weeks!"
Hallelujah!! so the question remains...am I being too pushy? Did all of my calling around cause someone at Wells Fargo to say "hey I know that name I was just looking at that file" or did my long and strong prayer cause a shift in the matrix

Stay tuned....

"I've never seen a bank move so fast!"

That's what the selling agent said last week.

After meeting with the HPAP inspector, he suggested that I seek the knowledge of a structural engineer because he saw some things at the foundation that were questionable. Yesterday I met with an engineer at the house who said, a little pointing work will do the job but all else is fine! Thank the Lord because HPAP does not cover structural issues.

Three days prior I got an email from my agent, the selling agent needed a notarized affidavit sent overnight to the lawyers office....screw that I went to the courthouse got the affidavit notarized and drove it to the lawyer before my weekend out of town. I'm not playing around. Then last night before work I got another email to sign something else; I'm hoping that this is the last step before the bank says something...anything!!

HPAP Inspection

Last week I met my agent and the HPAP inspector at 'House S' he went over all the details that he had regarding the home purchase and then we did a walk through.
He pointed out minor and major things that I had never noticed, we talked as we walked through about all the potential things that I would like to do to the property. He told me which would be possible and those that would not.
I was hoping to turn the basement into an apartment but he told me there was not enough head room. I said that I wanted to gut both bathrooms and kitchen, I was told that would be a massive chunk into my allotted amount, and that I should settle for one bathroom makeover at this time.

Yesterday I received his write up via mail with all of the work that we discussed and his estimated cost....good grief. It came out over budget but there are things in there that I believe I can cut the cost of by handling them myself. Other than the masonry work and the gutting of the kitchen and bathroom, I'm quite confident that I can handle other issues myself, but I intended to call him to find out more information.
I really thought that the HPAP program would be easier than NACA (www.NACA.org) but it is turning out to be just as challenging in other ways.

I have not been back in contact with 'House C' but upon last check she hadn't received any offers. I know that house doesn't need as much work as 'House S' but i never realized this one needed as much as it did until the inspector came through.

The seller has accepted my offer so once again I am waiting for the bank (for real this time).

My House Requirements

I'm looking for a 3bed 2+ bath single family or town home, with a basement, front and back yard and a porch. Something with an old Victorian or Colonial style look; particularly in an area of Washington DC that has growth potential.

I have been advised, by commercial/real estate agents, that the Trinidad/Ivy City and Anacostia areas of DC are perfect for that type of growth. A number of new housing projects and business projects are taking place in those areas so that's where my focus is. Hopefully in 5yrs my home would have gain a great deal of usable equity.

Because my requirements are so very specific and my financing is so limited I am often missing out on the deals that I want. As much as I want this to be as smooth as Property Virgins or House Hunters, it is not really going that way; but I'm not giving up, I will have my home by December 16th 2011 right on time for graduation.

to quote the great John Mcenroe "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS"

Just when I thought everything was coming up roses, the seller of my latest venture and I quote "has been advised by her attorney not to accept my contact because of an addendum in the short sale contract"

The addendum basically states that the seller will not accept any other offers/contracts within a 60 day period of my contract, making mine the exclusive contract. In which time I can complete my inspections etc. It also means that I can not bid on any other places during those 60days.
As the buyer I think this is cool, as the seller she wants as many offers to choose from as possible. However within the month that her house has been listed I am the only person who has bid on it....go figure.

I have decided to take a week to contemplate whether or not I want to remove the addendum. When purchasing his place, my boyfriend had the same clause in his contact and the sellers were more than willing to wait. I don't think I'll be backing down on this one and if it means I loose the home then it just wasn't meant to be.

The Process So Far

The Greater Washington Urban League is offering people such as myself an opportunity to purchase a home through their HPAP program (http://www.gwul.org/programs/housing/hpap) There are a number of rules and regulations that I have to follow, but so far I qualify.

The hardest part is finding a home. I can get the best options of the program if I find a vacant home in a specific zip code. I can also qualify for a 203k loan to help refurbish the place. (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/203k/203kabou)

My plan is to graduate from college in December and have my Graduation party and house warming on the same day. I have looked at 8 properties already, and only wanted three. The first was located in the Trinidad neighborhood of Washington DC it was cute, but had some weird additions and some shady neighbors, it also needed more work than my 203k would allow. Scratch that one.
Next came the home that reminded me of my childhood home. it needed way less work but it was priced so low, that everyone and their mother bid on it, way past what I could afford. I may still be in the running after the inspection but I doubt it. That whole bidding process had me doubled over with stomach craps.
Finally I have an offer in on a home in Anacostia, DC it is bank owned and I feel it is way over priced for the area and the repairs that need to be done once the Section 8 tenants move out; but lets see.

My TV stays on HGTV. I keep watching all these people buying homes and it looks so easy, I need an HGTV show to help me buy a house with dramatic close ups and music.