This is a stand-off
Sellers aren't selling or coming down in the areas we want- and so we aren't buying. Nyah-Nyah-nyah.
Getting the FBI Background Check
Start now. No really. Even with the expediter ($79.99) and using Livescan to deliver the fingerprints ($39.99) turnaround time to get the FBI letter into my hands was 9 business days. Then Federal Express to Washington DC expediter to get the Apostille (otherwise 6-8 weeks). Arrives at expediter on Monday. Enters system on Tuesday AM, returned to expediter on Friday PM. Federal Express to Cyprus because the documents will not be in my hands before we fly there. Even with the expeditors on both ends of the transaction, an FBI Background check can take 4 weeks. You cannot "save time" by having your background check sent directly to the expediter in Washington DC to be carried to the counter for the Apostille. They can't accept it. You need it sent to your attorney, who will forward it to you (or directly to the expediter), then to Washington, DC to the Department of State counter, then 3 -5 days later, back to the expediter and on to courier service. So TL;DR Start pro
Comments
We are in a similar situation (minus all those warm bodies you have; 'we' are just two). But, we too (two) would love to find a nice Westside home for a reasonable price. We can 'afford' much more than we're hoping to spend, but don't really want to spend over $2m on a house, it seems totally absurd when you consider the alternatives (renting now, saving $, & buying a retirement home later/elsewhere).
So after having several offers rejected, we have given up for now, and are watching prices [stagnate]. (And we're also watching buyers continue to gobble up some Westside homes at what I think are still-too-high prices.)
I hope that there's a ceiling to this craziness and that the days of loose credit, NINA loans, and speculating flippers have gone. We refuse to overpay & encourage more of this nonsense. A return to normal supply & demand, with home prices tied to area incomes will be welcomed by us!
think of your (non-wasp) kids. teach them something before its too late.