You snooze, you lose

I have been busy, no doubt.  We just moved into our new home, which took a lot of time and effort.  Moving is never fun.  But the whole reason I started looking at Real Estate investing was because I had done so much research on real estate to buy this house.  This transaction was super successful, so now I'm hoping to leverage my learnings into a good side income. 

However, the old adage - you snooze, you lose, has caught me.

I had a watch list of 5 homes that had gone on the market, and were sitting.  Now, here in Utah I understand the market is very slow during the winter, poeple just aren't out buying homes when there is snow all over, it's cold, etc.  So I thought that now that I've settled into my home, and it's February, I'd go out and get some deals!

First home on my watch list -- it's been sitting since July, and not on MLS, just a sign out front.  It's an estate home, and ready to go -- almost no rehab.  So I finally called on it this week:  "Oh, well thank you for calling but we just signed a contract on it yesterday!"   Rats.

No problem, there are still several on the watch list.  

Second home on my watch list -- It had been on the market in the fall, and then taken off the market at the end of November.  My guess was they didn't want to sell during the holidays, but if I knocked on the door and asked if they were going to put it back on the market, they'd be so pleased they'd give me a great deal.  I went over there, and someone was in the open garage.  So I chatted a moment or two, it turns out it's their grown up son.  He said they just bought the house a month or two ago and moved in.   Somehow the county records don't show ownership transfer -- but anyway, I missed out!  Rats, strike two. 

No worries, the third house went on the market at the beginning of the new year and just had a price reduction two weeks ago.  They are probably trying to get out quickly, is my thought.  The pictures on the web look gorgeous, and I've gone by the street several times.So I called the realtor to set up an appointment to go see it.  "Well bless your heart," he tells me, "that house is under contract and we'll close next week."    Rats, strike three.  

Fourth house - I just checked and it's off the market also, as of mid-January.  I've got to go ring the doorbell and see what's up there. 

Fifth house is still not cleared HUD.

Choose your refrain:  He who hesitates is lost, You snooze you lose, or another.  I'll learn.