Not the answer we were looking for.

We finally got some information back on the house! Yea! No, actually big huge dissapointment. The house we are looking to buy was listed as a short sale at $135000, we offered $135000 (with seller paying closing costs) and the bank (because the seller actually has no real say in this since its a short sale home) counter-offered us at 148,000. you read that correctly, they upped the price 13,000 dollars. Basically what it comes down to is that the selling agent had not recievied any bids in the first 60 days he had the property listed so he drastically reduced the price to attract some offers. well he attracted us and reassured us that "the bank was on board with the price." clearly not as they are asking for 13000 dollars more. So, basically we are still waiting on a new, and more reasonable, counter offer from the bank before we decide if we will proceed or walk away. big picture is that even at 144000 (which is looking to be the more reasonable offer the bank could come back with) we are getting a great deal on this house. it is no longer a "steal" but a good deal nonetheless. Unfortunatley this causes massive frustration on my part because:
1. i do not wait paitently well and we are going on 5 weeks of waiting
2. i do not handle situations where i am not in control well (we are basically at the mercy of the sellers bank)
3. i do not handle situations with no defined deadline well (who knows when the counter offer will actually go through)
4. i have no problems negotiating, but i cant talk to the negotiator because he only deals with the selling agent
bottom line...short sale=not a short process which=crabby rach.

however, i am reminded of the greater things in life when the following conversation occured between my sons this morning: *disclaimer:bean candy=tic tac
Hunter: hey judah, give me that white bean candy over there by your car seat.
Judah: oh ok, its spicy
Hunter: its ok if its spicy, i like spicy bean candies
Judah: yuck
Hunter (after he eats it): judah, ill blow air at you and you smell my breath and tell me if it smells like grandmas. because you know these white bean candies taste like the mints grandma has in her purse and so my air will smell like hers.

classic.