More on the Condo hunt...

We snoozed...we loozed. The condo search is intensifying as we only have a few weeks left to actually look. We made an offer on the expensive condo and were turned down. The owner would not negotiate at all. The next on our list, sold the day I was to call the owner. The bug house is still available but in the meantime we found an unadvertised condo.

It's on the 2nd floor, on the water, close to the clubhouse and all its amenities and has the layout we prefer. But it's an estate sale. The owner lives in Argentina! We're dealing with staff in a lawyer's office who aren't exactly helpful. First, they were surprised we knew of the sale. Wanted to know how we knew about it. Then they asked what we were offering (without us even having seen the interior!) When I asked for a key to view it or to have a showing, we were delayed 2 weeks and are still in limbo.The reason? The deceased owner's "friend" hasn't delivered the key! Have they never heard of a courier? Heavens, we'd even drive over to pick up the key. Just let us look at the darn thing then we'll negotiate! The condo board here has the key but can use it only in emergencies so this is not an emergency.

Ever resourceful, I've thought of a couple of things:

• offer to pick up the key or pay for the courier (pending Tuesday after Easter)
• call the former owner's friend (number was given to me by a friend - yes, people are helpful here)
• call the current owner (yes, managed to find 12 phone numbers for someone of that name in Argentina but we would have to hire a Spanish translator as she doesn't speak English)
• just give up on it, which is what I'm beginning to think the lawyer's office wants!

So, time will tell. We could still make an offer on the place we're currently in but...you don't get many chances to have what you really want so we're making the supreme effort. Stay tuned for our continuing challenge....