@MMarciano,
Sounds as if you are "over the moon" they counter-offered
Do you pay "Buying Agents" over there? We can do it, here but rarely do we. I think they charge something minimal, like $1000. Yet, a listing for Sale is usually a minimum of $6000 up to $12,000 and I think most Agents here, concentrate on the listings instead of helping the buyers. Sucks in a way, I offer both but to date, no one really takes me up on it, even when I offer free advice on a property they may be looking at, by providing them with background data on that property..
One thing you guys should consider as well, is introducing yourselves to the neighbours before buying
No one seems to do that, and then they end up next to brothels, bad neighbours, feral neighbours and end up selling a year down the track because they can't stand THEIR neighbours
If you do that, you should gage what type of neighbours are around you, someone will talk