My nomadic life

Well, whadya know, we're on the move again, not too far this time I hope but to another apartment/ accomodation whilst we wait for our house to complete and buy something in Aurora.

The kids have started in school and are settling in quite well, Jasmine has made some friends already and the thought of moving schools in the near future brings out cries of dismay.... I don't want to move schools, I don't want to leave my friends, but the headmaster is scary and so..... LOL
Mitch says he's not bothered if he has to change but I feel this may not be true.

So, this is the dilemma. We do not have a date for when the sale of our house in Beeston will complete, therefore we have not enough capital for a downpayment for a house here. We have looked at some amazing houses here and if I can work out how to do it, I will post some pics of our favourite ones. The ones for sale have been finished to a high standard and they all look like show homes, like no one lives in them...truly amazing, unlike any viewing experienced in the UK. We are not looking at the top end of the market either, just in the low to moderate price range.

Currently, we are living in a furnished suite the company has provided for us, you know all about this from my 1st posting! The rent here is CAD$3500 a month, and far too pricey for our budget to stay for 6 months. So, am now looking for alternatives around the school's catchment area and only wanting a 6-9 month lease, because most leases are for a minimum of 1 year. 9 months would take us to the summer hols for the kids and they would then start in Aurora next year.

We have a lovely lady called L as our realtor. Now, a realtor is like an estate agent that works closely with you in order for you to find your ideal property. She may be an agent herself and have properties that she sells, or lets out( called leasing here). Unlike the UK, where you can go into any estate agents, look at what they have and then choose to view, here, you go with your realtor, they will arrange all the viewings with whatever agents the properties you are interested in is registered with.

I now fully understand how it works here. I found out by making a few mistakes! Well, they do say you learn from your mistakes, don't they. Who's they, by the way??? Listings of properties can be viewed on line via MLS. I have been using this for many months now, to see what's available on the market in the area we want to live in.

In my haste to get ourselves somewhere to live temporarily, I rang the contacts on the apartments I was interested in just to ask if they were still available, and was told I had to speak with the agent, so left details for them to ring me back. 2 did, and we went to see one apartment at lunchtime, which was ok, and would suit. Then another rang and this one asked if I was an agent. I said no, and that I was interested in viewing the apartment and some near here. She pounced then and said oh, I could also arrange for you to see those. The bell dropped with a clunk on my toes. If she showed me the apartments, then she would get the commission..... AHAAAA!! D'oh, which meant L would get nothing for all her hard work! I told the agent that we had a realtor and that it wasn't necessary for her to show me the rest. I then quickly emailed L to apologise. L called and we discussed how we would proceed, she was happy to step aside, I quickly told her that was the last thing I wanted! I told her that I wanted her to find our next house to buy and for her to try to arrange the viewings of the other apartments. Phew, I hope I didn't trod on too many toes. I can be such an idiot at times... you know me, Mrs I want it, and I want it not now, not tomorrow but yesterday!