Well, we got it! Assuming they sign the contract and the inspector clears the place, we have a condo...We ended up accepting their lowest possible bid, which was $6,000 below the asking price. It was $3,000 above our original counter-offer, a gap we were willing to make up.

See, this condo needs little work, compared to the one in Edison Park, which we would have paid about $4,000 less for if we took their final offer. We would not pay for that owner's laziness...this owner took care of his/her place, and thus, we were willing to reward them by meeting their price.

Let me tell you about this beauty. :) It's on the 2nd floor, which is perfect. The only work it needs at/prior to move in is the kitchen counter needs to be replaced. It is outdated and doesn't really match the floors or newer appliances. Also, it is in two pieces, which are completely different colors/designs. The shower fixtures probably we will also replace, as they are a bit cheap and old looking. All that of course doesn't count painting.

Otherwise, the place is in great shape, so far as we can tell. It is hardwood parquet (think Boston Garden if you don't know what parquet flooring is) floors throughout. Except in the bathrooms and kitchen, where it is ceramic tile. All the floors are in great shape. The appliances are 2 years old only...that's nice.

Size-wise, it's excellent...it has 2 areas for a dining room set...one hutch area off the living room and a gargantuan eat-in kitchen. The living room is a good size, as are the other rooms. The 2nd bedroom is a good size too. It has 1.5 baths...a master half-bath and a general full bath. Both bathrooms could use a facelift, but nothing that's pressing right now...it can be done later. The fixtures in there are older, but they are in really good shape. There's a good-sized balcony with a ton of sunlight all day long, a very good-sized storage room downstairs, plenty of laundry machines at 50 cents per load (cheap!) and it's in a great location.

We'll be about a half mile or so from Kim and Nick, right by the expressway. The Metra that stops by my work (and by the SuperNovas' house) is a mile walk from this condo. I could do that every day, easily, if it means avoiding traffic and parking hassles. And it's in a great up-and-coming area too. Although we're right by the Metra, expressway and Blue Line, parking looks as though it will be easy--all the houses around there have driveways...they're all mansion-like too. We're basically about two blocks N.E. of the Irving Park/Kennedy interchange...

And how could I forget...it has a garbage disposal.

We have set up a closing date for Oct. 29, which means I will be living with my parents or on the streets for a month and Kazak will go to Bolingbrook for that time period.

So woohoo! A major weight has been lifted off my shoulders now...I'm so thrilled and relieved at the same time. I just hope the inspector gives it a clean bill of health.