I have listed my house at $200,000. It has been listed five weeks and has been shown probably 25 times. We have our first offer...the buyer offered $175,000; I countered w/ $190,000. The buyer has countered at $182,500. My realtor has dropped one percentage point off her sales commission of 7% down to 6%. I am countering at $185,000 and am considering accepting if the buyer will come up to that figure.

I paid $164,000 for the house and have put $30,000 into it over the last five years-new heat pump, fenced in the yard, new patio & landscaping, new retaining wall, vented the crawl space, Pella doors...lets see, I think those are the capital improvements. I sunk $10,000 in painting, paper and repairs that I know I won't get back.

Oh, by the way I live in an economically depressed area of southern OH where unemployment is in the double digits. My house is in one of the best neighborhoods in town, and is 55 years old. Its 3,000 square feet on a 1/4 acre lot. They pay all the related selling costs: inspection, closing, etc.

This is all new to me and I hope I get some good responses.

Thanks,
Karen