the seller of the coop we are trying to buy returned the signed contract. we have a verbal commitment to a mortgage with the letter forthcoming.

next stop, the coop board.

fingers crossed.

if this all works out as planned, we could be in our own apartment [that we actually own] by early fall.

bonus points to me for the lyrical reference to the cure. the mood i’m in, be glad i didn’t quote “sinking”.

we made such good headway with buying the coop apartment. we found a place we liked. we made an offer and it was accepted.

stop.

full stop.

we’ve been waiting for a week and a half now, with no word from the owner, who needs to sign the papers so we can get going on the mortgage. apparently he’s in korea and can’t be contacted. and his relative, who is living in the apartment and has power of attorney, isn’t signing until he talks to him, or something like that.

the waiting. my god, the waiting.

we really like the apartment, and we think the price is fair to both sides.

but something’s gotta give. soon.

should, of course, be homeowner. but i wanted to drive the lame joke to its breaking point.

yes, kirk and i are thinking about buying a coop. seriously thinking, to the point of realigning our finances to put things in motion, and looking at places.

now, let’s get this straight. i didn’t suddenly win the lottery. i can’t afford to buy in manhattan–not even in inwood, where we live now. so we’re looking in riverdale, which is just over the harlem river in the bronx. a very nice old neighborhood, with lots of affordable places, and not more than 15 additional minutes commute away from where we are now.

more to come as the story develops.