I put in a contract and earnest money in December and am still waiting to settle on a short sale house. I think that the seller's agent should been more aggressive in dealing with the bank, but she hasn't been.

I am hoping to settle next week, but doubt that it will happen because we haven't gotten the final approval from the bank yet.

In fact, they approved one price, and we raised it a little to roll the closing costs into the mortgage, and they rejected that, but came back with a lower counter-offer.

All of my financing is in order, I've done every single thing I have to do, including some work on the house to make sure it passed inspection, because the seller wouldn't or couldn't do it. She lives in Mass, and is about to go into bankruptcy. It was either I did the work on the house and took the risk of losing the money if the deal fell through, or didn't do the work and didn't get the loan or the house.

The house has been empty for almost two years and is a new rehab in 2007.

I've given notice on my place as of July 1, so when you see me living out of the back of my volvo, or in the pod in front of my house, stop by and say hey!

It doesn't matter hugely if I get the money, because I am getting such a great deal on the house, but it would help a lot. I know there are a lot of people who need it more than I do...

{Jamie... if you want to talk, e-mail me.}