Just when we think everything's moving along swimmingly. Our broker keeps asking for paperwork; we keep providing it. Our appraisal's in the works. We're told that our closing date next month is attainable, which is happy news.
On top of that, we will most likely qualify for a grant from our state that assists us with our down payment! That would mean that the money we've been saving can go towards necessary expenses like a refrigerator. The rest would be put away for a rainy day.
Everything's going nice and easy, all things considered. Until I get a voicemail:
"Hi, this is Amy with the Fraud department. Please give me a call back at your earliest convenience..." I've been frantically trying to stay on top of my work lately, and didn't think much of the call. The next day, she called back and I answered.
Apparently, someone tried to open a line of credit in my name. They had my correct social security number, my old address, but the rest of the information they provided was inaccurate. I actually have a line of credit with the company who called, so the application seemed suspicious. Thank goodness they called me! I was able to stop the application and report it as fraud.
Bruce and I were freaking out that this would affect the mortgage application, but our broker assured us it won't. Still, it's unsettling to know that someone out there has my social security number. I am very careful about giving out my personal information, and I have an idea of how this might have happened. You see, I was on a game show once (before you ask - I'm still not ready to write about it!) and the person who tried to steal my identity listed the production company as my employer. I'm wondering if somehow my information got leaked on their end. I had to fill out a W-2 for my (paltry) winnings, which included my social security number. No one else would have that same combination of information, that I can figure.
Since the call from the Fraud department, I've issued a fraud alert on my credit report with Experian, who then shares that with the other major consumer credit reporting companies, Equifax and TransUnion. The fraud alert is temporary - for 90 days if there is an attempt to open a line of credit in my name, the lender has to call me directly to get my approval. I've also spoken with the credit card company's Victim's Assistance Unit, who advised me to also issue a fraud alert with Chex Systems, in case the perpetrator tries to open an online bank account in my name. I also need to order a copy of my credit report to ensure nothing else fraudulent appears.
It's a pain in the ass.
According to the Identity Theft Assistance Center, reporting on a study conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity fraud occurs to one person every three seconds in this country. In these modern times, with online shopping and banking, many of us will face this kind of thing. Yet there is little comfort in knowing I'm not alone.
I just hope that this was a minor incident and it doesn't go any further. I don't want to end up one of those people ruined or entangled in a web of fraud. Why would anyone want to steal my identity? Go steal a rich person's! Just kidding. But really, that thief must be desperate and stupid. I'm a pretty poor target - pun intended.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Prepare for Landing
You know how when you've been on a plane for a while, squeezed into your seat, tired of sudoku puzzles and the on-flight entertainment, and the captain announces you're about to land, the descent seems excruciatingly long?
That's what this is like.
At this point, we've turned in the majority of the mortgage loan documents to our broker. We've paid for the appraisal; it just needs to be scheduled. The radon test did come back high, but the current owners of the house agreed to have it mitigated and re-tested to ensure the levels are safely where they should be. That was by far the most expensive modification we requested.
So now we wait. Luckily, I'm really busy with work right now, so I have distractions.
Yet every little thing is going on around here carries a banner that reads: "Soon, you'll get your life back." A few minutes ago, the baby pushed over the tower fan in our room, and it loudly crashed to the floor.
"Is everything okay?" Bruce's dad called out from another room.
"Yes!" I replied.
He strode all the way into our room anyways, to make sure Emmie was okay.
I just sat here and watched him, silently.
Soon.
I just pray the last leg of this trip is smooth and unremarkable. We'll glide into the airport, unfasten our seat belts, and exit the plane in an orderly fashion. I don't want to feel the plane tip upwards again and hear the captain say we need to circle the city for a while, due to stormy weather. Or worse!
That's what this is like.
At this point, we've turned in the majority of the mortgage loan documents to our broker. We've paid for the appraisal; it just needs to be scheduled. The radon test did come back high, but the current owners of the house agreed to have it mitigated and re-tested to ensure the levels are safely where they should be. That was by far the most expensive modification we requested.
So now we wait. Luckily, I'm really busy with work right now, so I have distractions.
Yet every little thing is going on around here carries a banner that reads: "Soon, you'll get your life back." A few minutes ago, the baby pushed over the tower fan in our room, and it loudly crashed to the floor.
"Is everything okay?" Bruce's dad called out from another room.
"Yes!" I replied.
He strode all the way into our room anyways, to make sure Emmie was okay.
I just sat here and watched him, silently.
Soon.
I just pray the last leg of this trip is smooth and unremarkable. We'll glide into the airport, unfasten our seat belts, and exit the plane in an orderly fashion. I don't want to feel the plane tip upwards again and hear the captain say we need to circle the city for a while, due to stormy weather. Or worse!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Getaway
Tonight we're at a wedding for a work friend of Bruce's. This is probably the last time we are going to enjoy the convenience of built-in babysitters.
Bruce and I are having a blast - we needed the grownup getaway. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Bruce and I are having a blast - we needed the grownup getaway. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Dreams Coming True
Since the last post, in which I was quite depressed, I've had some very uplifting talks with my very best friends. I am so thankful to have these women in my life. We've been friends our entire adult lives, and in many ways, they understand me better than my family (except Bruce, of course). Their positive, encouraging, wise words helped heal my heart.
Poor Bruce. While I've been struggling, he has, too. This moment is equally as special for him. To see me hurt, to see the joy of this occasion diminished, it's taken a toll on him. He is beyond excited to move into our first home. The past several days, I've been moping and lost my motivation. He took the home-buying process by the reins, taking care of business so that we can get into our home soon and start our own lives.
The baby went down for her nap almost two hours ago. I took one, too, for about twenty minutes. My eyes popped open and I felt revived. I got in the shower, and starting thinking about how much love surrounds me. How wonderful my friends are, and my dear, sweet husband. Then I got to imagining what it'll really be like when we have our own home. I started to get excited again! When I got out, I felt rested and washed clean of all the past week's strife.
So here is a list, written in no particular order, of all the reasons why I'm elated to be moving in to our new home with my beautiful family:
Poor Bruce. While I've been struggling, he has, too. This moment is equally as special for him. To see me hurt, to see the joy of this occasion diminished, it's taken a toll on him. He is beyond excited to move into our first home. The past several days, I've been moping and lost my motivation. He took the home-buying process by the reins, taking care of business so that we can get into our home soon and start our own lives.
The baby went down for her nap almost two hours ago. I took one, too, for about twenty minutes. My eyes popped open and I felt revived. I got in the shower, and starting thinking about how much love surrounds me. How wonderful my friends are, and my dear, sweet husband. Then I got to imagining what it'll really be like when we have our own home. I started to get excited again! When I got out, I felt rested and washed clean of all the past week's strife.
So here is a list, written in no particular order, of all the reasons why I'm elated to be moving in to our new home with my beautiful family:
- Waking up on Saturday mornings with my husband and the baby, just the three of us having breakfast at our own kitchen table.
- Planting the garden we've always dreamed about with all the ingredients for pico de gallo: jalapenos, cilantro, tomatoes, onions.
- Unpacking our stuff and rediscovering what's ours. My china! The artwork for the walls! Our photo albums!
- Having our friends stay over. Singing karaoke in the finished basement as loudly as we'd like while the baby sleeps soundly in her own room. Ordering Pizza Hut and going to the waterpark the next day.
- Bruce and me time. (!!!)
- Not wearing a bra. Wearing my nightgown if I feel like it. I may not wear normal clothes for months!
- Going to the bathroom with the door open, haha. So that I can keep an eye on Emmie, duh.
- Leaving a dish in the sink and not feeling guilty. Ditto for eating or drinking the last of something and not feeling bad. Loading the dishwasher how I like to.
- My own bathroom rug. I hate the one in the bathroom we use now! It constantly bunches up and need to be fixed, over and over. It simply isn't practical and isn't even nice-looking.
- Setting the house temperature and no one coming along and turning it back down, way down. Yes, it still happens.
- Lounging on the couch with Bruce and watching Emmie play freely, because our house will be babyproofed.
- The chalkboard wall we're going to paint in the kitchen. Eeee!
- Minnie the cat losing weight (because we won't feed her so much) and playing and sleeping wherever she likes!
- My own 'office' area in the basement!
- Nights with Bruce at the table, after Emmie's gone to bed, talking, laughing, and playing games. I miss that so, so much.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Mother Doesn't Always Know Best
When we first decided to move in with Bruce's parents, I wrote about a text from my mother ("Mother Knows Best") that put my mind at ease about the situation. She was very reassuring, which I appreciated more than I can express. You see, it isn't always that way.
My mother and I have a complicated relationship; what mother and daughter don't? My whole life, I have looked for her approval, often not receiving it in the way that I wanted. I'm not going to rehash disappointments here or air past grievances. Let's just say I never seem to learn my lesson. You would think that I would adapt, that over time my expectations would change and I would grow stronger. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. I'm writing this so that next time I can look back on my own words, and be wiser.
On Friday we had the house inspection. I was a ball of nerves. If you would've tapped me on the shoulder, I would've jumped three feet in the air. Bruce's father rode out with us, and my mother and brother met us there. The inspector, a family friend, was already outside, taking pictures. We all stood in the driveway of what might possibly be Bruce's and my first home. Scanning my mother's face for an initial reaction, I saw a frown.
I had personally grappled with the fact that the house doesn't look so great from the outside. Mostly because there is no front yard, only asphalt, and the side of the house is bordered by an unpaved entrance to an old quad apartment building. One of the residents of that building owns a snowplow business, so there's three or four large trucks parked nearby. Bruce and I debated the resale value of the house, but decided that since this house was move-in ready and had every feature we ever hoped for in our price range, the sight out front was a concession we were willing to make. We just have to hope that the next buyers will appreciate what we appreciate, and what the previous family appreciated, and the owners before them.
Naturally, I told all of this to my parents. Sometimes, though, they aren't the best listeners. I'm positive what happened was that my mom drove up, saw the place, and made her judgement before ever walking in the door. When we entered and I showed her around, I kept asking, "What do you think? Isn't this nice? Isn't this?" But I got no answer. "Why won't you say anything?" I finally asked.
"Because I don't know what to say," she responded. Crestfallen, I showed her the huge walk-in closet. "That is actually nice," was the one good comment I got from her.
Meanwhile, the inspector was slowly moving through the house with Bruce by his side. There are no major issues. A couple outlets have to be grounded to be up to code. The vents in the attic need to be cleaned out. The only real concern is that the roof, furnace, and AC are original. That means, even though nothing is currently wrong with them, they will eventually need to be replaced. Either could cost around $5,000. Luckily, Bruce works for a company that sells very good home warranties, and he gets a discount. The warranty would cover any repair or replacement of the furnace, AC, and other appliances up to to a certain amount. Also, because he works together with the repair company, he knows people who could get him a new furnace and AC for less than retail price. Replacing the roof could be costly, but since it doesn't need any work right now, we can start saving for the day it does.
My mother left before she could see all the neighbors come home with their children and babies. That really made me feel relieved and pleased with the location. Emmie could have friends! It looks like almost every house on the street is a family. My mother left before she could see the person who owns the other side of the duplex, a woman in her 50's with a daughter a little younger than me. My mother never voiced any impressions with me directly, so that we could talk about them. She left without saying much at all.
The next day, she sent Bruce - Bruce! - a text. It said, "Don't tell Annie. I am very concerned about that house. The roof and furnace are over 30 years old. Resale will be difficult. I love you and just don't want you to make a mistake."
What the hell is that?
Here we are, about to make the biggest decision of our lives, and she sends a freakin' TEXT?! To my HUSBAND?! If she did have concerns, that is NOT the way to go about it. I was (am) furious. And so, so hurt.
My mother never took the time to know the facts. The house and its parts are 20 years old, not 30. Thanks to Bruce, we are already familiar with home warranties in case the furnace or other appliance breaks. We know the house may not have curb appeal, but I TOLD her that so that she'd be prepared. We aren't willing to compromise on something else like a fenced-in backyard for Emmie to play in safely. Or a third bedroom so that our family can grow. We can't afford much. This was the best house we saw. And, yes, we have only been physically looking for a few short weeks. But we've actually been looking since last year, when we tried to get approved the first time, and realized we couldn't get anything close to what we wanted for the amount we were preapproved. The other places we went to see? They all had serious, visible defects. One had a terribly slanted floor. One had a kitchen so warped by water damage it would need to be torn out entirely. This house needs almost nothing done up front.
I called my mom immediately, but I was pissed, and she ended it quickly. My father has tried to smooth things over, but I'm not ready. I want her to apologize for how she handled the situation. Even if she did (which she would never do), it wouldn't take away the sting.
The radon test came back high, but the owners have already agreed to have it mitigated and retested. The sale in general is going really well. I just wish my mother would see it that way. You can say that she just wants to protect me, but I disagree. She went about it in the absolute wrong way. No matter what happens, I'm always going to feel like my mother thinks we made a mistake. The joy of this milestone occasion has been darkened.
On the other hand, Bruce's dad thinks the place is fine, that it will make a good home. He's aware of the work that needs to be done. He said, "Any home you buy could have issues. You could have a furnace half the age and it could still break. It could also last another eight years. You never know." He's very supportive, offering to help with minor repairs and giving advice when asked. Lately we are all getting along amiably here.
I just wish I could be happier overall.
My mother and I have a complicated relationship; what mother and daughter don't? My whole life, I have looked for her approval, often not receiving it in the way that I wanted. I'm not going to rehash disappointments here or air past grievances. Let's just say I never seem to learn my lesson. You would think that I would adapt, that over time my expectations would change and I would grow stronger. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. I'm writing this so that next time I can look back on my own words, and be wiser.
On Friday we had the house inspection. I was a ball of nerves. If you would've tapped me on the shoulder, I would've jumped three feet in the air. Bruce's father rode out with us, and my mother and brother met us there. The inspector, a family friend, was already outside, taking pictures. We all stood in the driveway of what might possibly be Bruce's and my first home. Scanning my mother's face for an initial reaction, I saw a frown.
I had personally grappled with the fact that the house doesn't look so great from the outside. Mostly because there is no front yard, only asphalt, and the side of the house is bordered by an unpaved entrance to an old quad apartment building. One of the residents of that building owns a snowplow business, so there's three or four large trucks parked nearby. Bruce and I debated the resale value of the house, but decided that since this house was move-in ready and had every feature we ever hoped for in our price range, the sight out front was a concession we were willing to make. We just have to hope that the next buyers will appreciate what we appreciate, and what the previous family appreciated, and the owners before them.
Naturally, I told all of this to my parents. Sometimes, though, they aren't the best listeners. I'm positive what happened was that my mom drove up, saw the place, and made her judgement before ever walking in the door. When we entered and I showed her around, I kept asking, "What do you think? Isn't this nice? Isn't this?" But I got no answer. "Why won't you say anything?" I finally asked.
"Because I don't know what to say," she responded. Crestfallen, I showed her the huge walk-in closet. "That is actually nice," was the one good comment I got from her.
Meanwhile, the inspector was slowly moving through the house with Bruce by his side. There are no major issues. A couple outlets have to be grounded to be up to code. The vents in the attic need to be cleaned out. The only real concern is that the roof, furnace, and AC are original. That means, even though nothing is currently wrong with them, they will eventually need to be replaced. Either could cost around $5,000. Luckily, Bruce works for a company that sells very good home warranties, and he gets a discount. The warranty would cover any repair or replacement of the furnace, AC, and other appliances up to to a certain amount. Also, because he works together with the repair company, he knows people who could get him a new furnace and AC for less than retail price. Replacing the roof could be costly, but since it doesn't need any work right now, we can start saving for the day it does.
My mother left before she could see all the neighbors come home with their children and babies. That really made me feel relieved and pleased with the location. Emmie could have friends! It looks like almost every house on the street is a family. My mother left before she could see the person who owns the other side of the duplex, a woman in her 50's with a daughter a little younger than me. My mother never voiced any impressions with me directly, so that we could talk about them. She left without saying much at all.
The next day, she sent Bruce - Bruce! - a text. It said, "Don't tell Annie. I am very concerned about that house. The roof and furnace are over 30 years old. Resale will be difficult. I love you and just don't want you to make a mistake."
What the hell is that?
Here we are, about to make the biggest decision of our lives, and she sends a freakin' TEXT?! To my HUSBAND?! If she did have concerns, that is NOT the way to go about it. I was (am) furious. And so, so hurt.
My mother never took the time to know the facts. The house and its parts are 20 years old, not 30. Thanks to Bruce, we are already familiar with home warranties in case the furnace or other appliance breaks. We know the house may not have curb appeal, but I TOLD her that so that she'd be prepared. We aren't willing to compromise on something else like a fenced-in backyard for Emmie to play in safely. Or a third bedroom so that our family can grow. We can't afford much. This was the best house we saw. And, yes, we have only been physically looking for a few short weeks. But we've actually been looking since last year, when we tried to get approved the first time, and realized we couldn't get anything close to what we wanted for the amount we were preapproved. The other places we went to see? They all had serious, visible defects. One had a terribly slanted floor. One had a kitchen so warped by water damage it would need to be torn out entirely. This house needs almost nothing done up front.
 |
| Mothers have always been driving their daughters nuts. From Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. |
The radon test came back high, but the owners have already agreed to have it mitigated and retested. The sale in general is going really well. I just wish my mother would see it that way. You can say that she just wants to protect me, but I disagree. She went about it in the absolute wrong way. No matter what happens, I'm always going to feel like my mother thinks we made a mistake. The joy of this milestone occasion has been darkened.
On the other hand, Bruce's dad thinks the place is fine, that it will make a good home. He's aware of the work that needs to be done. He said, "Any home you buy could have issues. You could have a furnace half the age and it could still break. It could also last another eight years. You never know." He's very supportive, offering to help with minor repairs and giving advice when asked. Lately we are all getting along amiably here.
I just wish I could be happier overall.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Inspection Day!
Today's such a critical day! I couldn't sleep last night; my arteries are pumping with tingly energy. I'm a mix of nerves and excitement.
I can't wait to see the house again. Yet all sorts of questions are zooming around in my head. What if something really major is wrong? What if the sellers refuse to negotiate? The only time we've seen the interior was at night. What if we go back during the day and it's not as nice as we remember, as the pictures look? What if my mom criticizes something, like the neighborhood? What if this ends up not being our house?
The advice we've received from established homeowners is the same: If this house doesn't work out, it wasn't meant to be. And I know that. But Bruce and I have already started our new life in our minds. "I can't wait until we have that huge closet," I'll grunt as I try to shove my shoes in the too-full one we use now, barely managing to slide the door shut.
Someone walked by Emmie's room before the crack of dawn this morning, the floors groaning under the pressure, prompting her to wake up crying. "Soon that won't happen," Bruce whispered to me.
Oh, please let this work out. At 2 o'clock today, Bruce, Emmie, Bruce's dad, and I will meet the inspector. My mom and brother are coming, too. My mom's going to watch over the baby so we can concentrate better. I hope our family members like the house. Sure, I don't need their approval, but of course I want it.
The inspector happens to a friend of my parents - he and his wife attended our wedding. We've heard from a lot of knowledgeable people that it's better to use your own inspector, rather than one the realtor recommends. That way you're more likely to get an unbiased opinion on everything. This guy, Fred, happens to be a recently retired inspector and pretty much doing us a favor. He's charging us a quarter of what it would actually cost. I was afraid it'd be an issue that his license has expired, but the realtor said no. As long as we trust that he'll do a meticulous job and provide us with documentation, it's fine.
We also scheduled a radon test that will conclude today. Radon is everywhere. In the above-ground floors of a house, it escapes through the windows and doors. Since we will (hopefully) be spending a lot of time in the finished basement, it was necessary to me to ensure there isn't high levels of radon lurking down there. Radon overexposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The test takes 48 hours and the company we hired started on Wednesday, so we should know the results soon.
In the meantime, I am counting the minutes. The baby is extremely fussy due to her interrupted sleep. In a little while she'll need a nap and then I can shower. Bruce will be home in less than two hours. I wish I could stop feeling so jittery! What will the rest of today bring?!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
I have been nervously anticipating writing this post. Now I can finally say it. My dear readers, we are under contract on a house!
I can't believe how fast this happened. Less than a week ago, we were still trying to get preapproved for a mortgage. We didn't get a good impression from the first broker or a lender we contacted, so we didn't pursue either of them. We asked our realtor, whom we totally trust and have worked with before, for a referral. He recommended a different broker in the area. Bruce talked to her and was completely impressed. She is thorough, clear, and really listens. She teaches seminars on mortgages and writes a mortgage blog. She understands that I had a baby and therefore lost income in 2012, or that we moved from the city in 2010, so my work history out here is short. She said to me, "Hey, that's life! We move, we change jobs, we have children!" The other guys didn't care about my 'story' at all. We were just numbers.
While we were working on getting the paperwork to her, a house popped up on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) that we knew we had to see right away. It is a duplex with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, a surprisingly large fenced in backyard, a huge walk-in master closet, and - get this - a finished basement! I once made a wish list for my dream home. This house has everything!
Even our realtor knew it was a good one. The last house we went to see didn't have a basement. It was really nice, though, and I started to question our chance of success. I was almost ready to concede. "Are you willing to take 90% of what you want?" My realtor challenged. "Because I believe you can get all the things you really want." That proved to us that he wasn't trying to get a quick sale. When we saw this house, he knew we had to act quickly. It has every major feature we desired. Nothing's gross or needs repair; in fact, everything looks well-kept. It's move-in ready. Plus, the price is right. He said to us, "It's going to be hard to beat this place."
I started taking pictures. Bruce and I smiled at each other as Emmie ran around on the new carpet. She tried to pull open one of the kitchen cabinet doors, but couldn't because they're babyproofed! The sellers are a family with two young children. The bedroom that would be Emmie's has double rods on which to hang her small clothes. We knew this was the place.
We talked it over with our realtor and decided on a price we thought was reasonable. We signed the paperwork, but he couldn't submit it yet. We didn't have a preapproval letter. Part of me worried that we were rushing into something. Most people I know who've bought a house took months! I emailed and faxed everything over to the broker. She called me and asked about the house. Because we are going to get an FHA loan, we'll get our maximum spending power with a place that doesn't include any homeowner's association fees or assessments. This place doesn't have any. "I will work on it this afternoon," our broker told me. "I want you to put in a bid on this place." Our conversation confirmed my instincts that the accelerated pace just meant we could be homeowners sooner. We got the preapproval letter a few hours later - for 15% more than we were approved for last year.
The one concern I had was about the location and the 'look' of the house. It's in a town just beyond our ideal area. It's easy to get to, but practically in the boonies. However, the town is expanding rapidly and has up-and-coming schools. The house itself is nice looking, but it has virtually no front yard. It's just driveway. A positive aspect is that it's on a cul-de-sac, but a negative one is that the side of our house is bordered by a driveway to an old quad apartment building. Within our circle there are mainly duplexes, but handful of quad apartments surround it. It's in town - you can see the Taco Bell. My reservations concerned me, so I drove Bruce to work so that I could use the car on Friday. Emmie and I drove around the town and neighborhood to get a better feel. All I saw was families and old people, a comforting sign. Later, we drove back with Bruce and went to the nearby Aldi. Everyone smiled at everyone. Everyone was friendly. Earlier, Bruce's boss told him that she hoped to move to that town someday, because of how nice it is (right now she lives 20 minutes farther out in the country).
You know, they say you're not going to get absolutely everything you want in a first home. Just look at the buyers on any of those HGTV shows. They're always making compromises. The area has a reputation for being safe. Bruce and I are within half an hour of our jobs. The backyard more than makes up for lack of a front yard. Who hangs out in their front yard nowadays, anyway? Inside, it is everything we hoped for. It's likely to have good resale value, despite its lack of curb appeal. We submitted our offer!
The sellers counteroffered, which freaked us out. Our realtor suggested a course of action, but I needed to sleep on it. The next morning, Saturday, Bruce and I woke up with a plan. The realtor gave them our counteroffer, and they accepted! The three of us hugged and kissed and jumped for joy. We're getting a house!
We told Bruce's parents. They're both happy for us, but Bruce's mom admitted she's a little sad. They keep telling us that we can come over and visit Emmie any time we want. My family has been excited and supportive. So have our friends. I can't wait to have them over!
The past two days, we've been waiting on pins and needles for the sellers to sign the contract. We were afraid they'd receive another offer before we could make it official. This morning, our realtor got the paperwork back. It's really happening!
The next step is to arrange the home inspection. I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic. A number of things could still go wrong. There's this flutter inside me, though, that tells me our future is right in front of us. We aren't going to live in Bruce's parents' house forever. This was all worth it. Our home is waiting for us.
I can't believe how fast this happened. Less than a week ago, we were still trying to get preapproved for a mortgage. We didn't get a good impression from the first broker or a lender we contacted, so we didn't pursue either of them. We asked our realtor, whom we totally trust and have worked with before, for a referral. He recommended a different broker in the area. Bruce talked to her and was completely impressed. She is thorough, clear, and really listens. She teaches seminars on mortgages and writes a mortgage blog. She understands that I had a baby and therefore lost income in 2012, or that we moved from the city in 2010, so my work history out here is short. She said to me, "Hey, that's life! We move, we change jobs, we have children!" The other guys didn't care about my 'story' at all. We were just numbers.
While we were working on getting the paperwork to her, a house popped up on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) that we knew we had to see right away. It is a duplex with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, a surprisingly large fenced in backyard, a huge walk-in master closet, and - get this - a finished basement! I once made a wish list for my dream home. This house has everything!
Even our realtor knew it was a good one. The last house we went to see didn't have a basement. It was really nice, though, and I started to question our chance of success. I was almost ready to concede. "Are you willing to take 90% of what you want?" My realtor challenged. "Because I believe you can get all the things you really want." That proved to us that he wasn't trying to get a quick sale. When we saw this house, he knew we had to act quickly. It has every major feature we desired. Nothing's gross or needs repair; in fact, everything looks well-kept. It's move-in ready. Plus, the price is right. He said to us, "It's going to be hard to beat this place."
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| Emmie's new home? |
We talked it over with our realtor and decided on a price we thought was reasonable. We signed the paperwork, but he couldn't submit it yet. We didn't have a preapproval letter. Part of me worried that we were rushing into something. Most people I know who've bought a house took months! I emailed and faxed everything over to the broker. She called me and asked about the house. Because we are going to get an FHA loan, we'll get our maximum spending power with a place that doesn't include any homeowner's association fees or assessments. This place doesn't have any. "I will work on it this afternoon," our broker told me. "I want you to put in a bid on this place." Our conversation confirmed my instincts that the accelerated pace just meant we could be homeowners sooner. We got the preapproval letter a few hours later - for 15% more than we were approved for last year.
The one concern I had was about the location and the 'look' of the house. It's in a town just beyond our ideal area. It's easy to get to, but practically in the boonies. However, the town is expanding rapidly and has up-and-coming schools. The house itself is nice looking, but it has virtually no front yard. It's just driveway. A positive aspect is that it's on a cul-de-sac, but a negative one is that the side of our house is bordered by a driveway to an old quad apartment building. Within our circle there are mainly duplexes, but handful of quad apartments surround it. It's in town - you can see the Taco Bell. My reservations concerned me, so I drove Bruce to work so that I could use the car on Friday. Emmie and I drove around the town and neighborhood to get a better feel. All I saw was families and old people, a comforting sign. Later, we drove back with Bruce and went to the nearby Aldi. Everyone smiled at everyone. Everyone was friendly. Earlier, Bruce's boss told him that she hoped to move to that town someday, because of how nice it is (right now she lives 20 minutes farther out in the country).
You know, they say you're not going to get absolutely everything you want in a first home. Just look at the buyers on any of those HGTV shows. They're always making compromises. The area has a reputation for being safe. Bruce and I are within half an hour of our jobs. The backyard more than makes up for lack of a front yard. Who hangs out in their front yard nowadays, anyway? Inside, it is everything we hoped for. It's likely to have good resale value, despite its lack of curb appeal. We submitted our offer!
The sellers counteroffered, which freaked us out. Our realtor suggested a course of action, but I needed to sleep on it. The next morning, Saturday, Bruce and I woke up with a plan. The realtor gave them our counteroffer, and they accepted! The three of us hugged and kissed and jumped for joy. We're getting a house!
We told Bruce's parents. They're both happy for us, but Bruce's mom admitted she's a little sad. They keep telling us that we can come over and visit Emmie any time we want. My family has been excited and supportive. So have our friends. I can't wait to have them over!
The past two days, we've been waiting on pins and needles for the sellers to sign the contract. We were afraid they'd receive another offer before we could make it official. This morning, our realtor got the paperwork back. It's really happening!
The next step is to arrange the home inspection. I'm trying to remain cautiously optimistic. A number of things could still go wrong. There's this flutter inside me, though, that tells me our future is right in front of us. We aren't going to live in Bruce's parents' house forever. This was all worth it. Our home is waiting for us.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Who Doesn't Like a Contest?
A blog I read, ohmyvera.com, is having a giveaway to celebrate its third anniversary. One lucky winner will receive a cute journal and a cosmetic bag in an unreleased, upcoming Fall 2013 pattern. I would love to win the prize, especially since my husband has banned me from any fun, extraneous purchases until we get a house.
Happy Anniversary, OhMyVera! I love your blog!
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