Wow, we have definitely been busy this year and it's only April! So, we thought we found a house, we made an offer, we had mutual acceptance, we got ready to move forward...but then we got realistic. The house was awesome, brand new, modern and really fun and funky. However, it was right on the interstate. Loud and visable. We thought we could look past it but we were luckily talked out of it just in time. Nathan's mom has been in town (more on that later) and we took her over to view the house last weekend. Being an experienced buyer and seller, she was able to give us very helpful insight about the resale value of our home. Our plan is to only stay in this house for 5 years so resale is a major priority. This one's location near the interstate will make it SO hard to sell. Luckily our realtor is awesome and she was able to save our earnest money and get us pulled out just in time.
We are relieved we didn't get stuck in a house we might not ever sell. So now we are back to the short sale...and it's looking really good. We had an inspection yesterday and it looks great. A few very minor things like a broken doorbell, missing weather stripping on the front door and a bathroom fan duct that needs to be reattached...not bad at all! Next will be the appraisal and then we will wait for our loan company to get all our paperwork through so we can move to closing. Right now our closing date is set at May 30 but the goal is at least a week or two sooner and we should be able to do it. Since it's a short sale with drama nothing is for sure until the keys are in our hands so we around holding our breath...but we are SO hopeful!
Aside from house news, I got a new job!! I will be working at a middle school and a high school in the Edmonds School District as a Prevention Interventionist. It's basically a case manager for students and families with high risk students. I'm really excited, it's a great career move and should be great. Plus I'll be on the school schedule! I will work part time in July and August but otherwise I'll have the traditional spring break, winter break, holidays...niiiice. I am super sad to leave my coworkers at Hopelink but it's time to go. I haven't been happy in my job for months so I need to make the change, and I think this one will be a lasting change.
In not so happy news, Nathan's grandma was flown over to Harbor View from Montana last week. She has a very bad infection that is still yet to be explained. They are saying spinal bacterial meningitis but there is nothing for sure. She is very disoriented, had a major spinal surgery to remove a lot of the infection and has fluid in her lungs. Some days are better than others but until there are some medical answers it is just a mystery. We are glad she is here so we can provide a free place to stay and a car to drive for Nathan's mom and uncle and the other family who come to see here. Plus Harbor View is the best place she can be with a medical mystery so that's good. We are saying lots of prayers in hope of some answers! They say she could be here for 2 months so we are hoping we get that new house soon so there is more room for everyone!
29 April, 2010
05 April, 2010
still nothing
Whew. So a month later and we are still waiting. We did get written approval from one bank but the second bank has not come through yet and it is getting really frustrating. We are continuing to look at other places but there is just nothing available right now...and if it is it is quickly picked up by someone else. Argh. If we don't lock into a contract by April 30 we will probably leave the housing market for a few months to take some time off, finish up the plans for a our wedding and then maybe re-enter this summer. It's just a little too draining for us.
So please think good thoughts. We really really really want a house and would love to get it soon. The tax credit would sure be nice too so we are just hoping it all falls into place...
Beyond that, we finally bought a new vacuum and truly cannot believe what this thing is picking up! GROSS! This was the best investment we have made in a long time, we never should have waited so long. Cleaning is fun now! Nathan is in London for work this week but has asked me to save some vacuuming for him...that's how you know this thing rocks! Bissell Pet Eraser, I love you!
So please think good thoughts. We really really really want a house and would love to get it soon. The tax credit would sure be nice too so we are just hoping it all falls into place...
Beyond that, we finally bought a new vacuum and truly cannot believe what this thing is picking up! GROSS! This was the best investment we have made in a long time, we never should have waited so long. Cleaning is fun now! Nathan is in London for work this week but has asked me to save some vacuuming for him...that's how you know this thing rocks! Bissell Pet Eraser, I love you!
06 March, 2010
frustrated
Ughh. We are starting to get pretty frustrated with the home buying process. We lost ANOTHER house this weekend. It was a last minute brand new one that came on the market because the builder was trying to get rid of his current buyers due to some major issues. He accepted our offer but had to wait for the buyers to be out of contract...Unfortunately they were able to keep fighting and kept the house. Ughhh. I think this is the 5th we've lost? It's getting old.
We put an offer on a short sale a couple weeks ago and we know that has been accepted by the sellers but it's at the bank for approval now which could take weeks and most likely will come back negatively because the sellers are trying to sell for a quite a bit less than they still owe. For us it would be an amazing deal because we'd pay what we could afford for a house even nicer than we would normally be able to get...but our chances are slim.
Our other option is a pre-sale for some brand new houses set to finish June 15. The only problem is we have to close by June 30 to get the homebuyer tax credit...and I think any person in their right mind knows houses do not finish on time. 15 days does not give us a whole lot of wiggle room so we have to decide if we're willing to risk it. The house is nice and the area is good but it's hard to commit to something when we can't even see what the finish product would look like. It seems fine and we've seen places by this builder but who knows where on the lot they'll place the house, how exactly the layout will feel when we're actually standing in it, what it will be like when all the other houses are built around us...those are all big things to not know. So we're a little hesitant.
BUT, nothing new has come on the market this week. Usually we spend our weekends touring houses but this weekend...nothing. So we're getting nervous. We need to lock into something in the next few weeks to know we will make it to the deadline. We're just so emotionally drained as we keep riding this roller coaster. It is truly up and down and up and down. We don't even like to tell people what's going on because we usually have to go back and tell them it didn't work out. It's frustrating and it's hard because we can't just settle on something. This is at least 5 year commitment so we need to like it-a lot.
Anyway. Not sure what to do next...
We put an offer on a short sale a couple weeks ago and we know that has been accepted by the sellers but it's at the bank for approval now which could take weeks and most likely will come back negatively because the sellers are trying to sell for a quite a bit less than they still owe. For us it would be an amazing deal because we'd pay what we could afford for a house even nicer than we would normally be able to get...but our chances are slim.
Our other option is a pre-sale for some brand new houses set to finish June 15. The only problem is we have to close by June 30 to get the homebuyer tax credit...and I think any person in their right mind knows houses do not finish on time. 15 days does not give us a whole lot of wiggle room so we have to decide if we're willing to risk it. The house is nice and the area is good but it's hard to commit to something when we can't even see what the finish product would look like. It seems fine and we've seen places by this builder but who knows where on the lot they'll place the house, how exactly the layout will feel when we're actually standing in it, what it will be like when all the other houses are built around us...those are all big things to not know. So we're a little hesitant.
BUT, nothing new has come on the market this week. Usually we spend our weekends touring houses but this weekend...nothing. So we're getting nervous. We need to lock into something in the next few weeks to know we will make it to the deadline. We're just so emotionally drained as we keep riding this roller coaster. It is truly up and down and up and down. We don't even like to tell people what's going on because we usually have to go back and tell them it didn't work out. It's frustrating and it's hard because we can't just settle on something. This is at least 5 year commitment so we need to like it-a lot.
Anyway. Not sure what to do next...
21 February, 2010
whirlwind weekend
I am back from my whirlwind wedding planning weekend in Montana. It was good, we got a tent for WAAAY less than we thought ($500 versus thousands!), booked a DJ, got some ideas for florists and sampled some food from possible caterers. We're getting somewhere! I need to go back again with a little more time to do things but I'm not sure when that will be...maybe Easter will be the next opportunity. It's not exactly cheap to get there and it's pointless for me to drive if it's only for couple days. I guess we just need to accept that this year will probably be the most expensive year of our lives right now! I am sooo excited for this summer and I can't wait for it to get here...at the same time I really want to savor these moments and planning and excitement before they are gone. Less than 6 months left, I can't believe it.
17 February, 2010
the process
We are getting closer and closer to mutual acceptance on a house...and that means closer and closer to some big changes in our lives. Right now the front runner is a brand new home in a new development. It's 2300 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, walk in closets in every bedroom, wood floor in kitchen and entry, all new appliances...and on and on. It is a beautiful place and will definitely have a great resale value when we get to the point (although, who knows, we may love it so much we could stay for much longer than we think!).
BUT the house will definitely require us to put some constraints on our fun money and expendable income. We will probably cut down our cable drastically or even get rid of it, we will have a backyard so we will cut out the cost of doggy day camp and paying a neighbor to let Scrappy out, we will consider a roommate, we will happily carpool with any and everyone who wants to share the cost of gas, we will cut coupons, we will become garage sale experts for some of our new furnishings, we will carefully plan major vacations, we will entertain at our house instead of go out...We will learn to make sacrifices that won't change our happiness, just broaden our horizons. And that's something we need to accept. We are so lucky that we can consider a place like this so early in our lives and we need to understand that we can't have EVERYTHING at once, we can learn to grow into our house and start with the basics and make it fun...and at the end of the day, come home to a house we absolutely love.
We are sending back a counter offer tomorrow and will wait and see what happens. If it's not accepted we are prepared to (sadly) walk away and keep looking. There is one other house that is a possibility but we are unsure about the neighborhood and its resale value and therefore have put it on the backburner for the time being (which really is like a day in real estate world because we are now at the point where things will move very quickly). So we'll see!
We are in our townhouse until May so we have time still for any time needed for closing (because that's when things start to slow back down again-at a snail's pace) and in fact we are happy for it to take as long as needed so we don't have to pay a rent and a mortgage in the same month. Chances are slim it will happen but we are taking precautions.
So here goes nothing! Our realtor has the details and will call the agent at 9:00am tomorrow. I am to then check in with her at 11:00am and hopefully hear some news. Fingers crossed for a good deal!
BUT the house will definitely require us to put some constraints on our fun money and expendable income. We will probably cut down our cable drastically or even get rid of it, we will have a backyard so we will cut out the cost of doggy day camp and paying a neighbor to let Scrappy out, we will consider a roommate, we will happily carpool with any and everyone who wants to share the cost of gas, we will cut coupons, we will become garage sale experts for some of our new furnishings, we will carefully plan major vacations, we will entertain at our house instead of go out...We will learn to make sacrifices that won't change our happiness, just broaden our horizons. And that's something we need to accept. We are so lucky that we can consider a place like this so early in our lives and we need to understand that we can't have EVERYTHING at once, we can learn to grow into our house and start with the basics and make it fun...and at the end of the day, come home to a house we absolutely love.
We are sending back a counter offer tomorrow and will wait and see what happens. If it's not accepted we are prepared to (sadly) walk away and keep looking. There is one other house that is a possibility but we are unsure about the neighborhood and its resale value and therefore have put it on the backburner for the time being (which really is like a day in real estate world because we are now at the point where things will move very quickly). So we'll see!
We are in our townhouse until May so we have time still for any time needed for closing (because that's when things start to slow back down again-at a snail's pace) and in fact we are happy for it to take as long as needed so we don't have to pay a rent and a mortgage in the same month. Chances are slim it will happen but we are taking precautions.
So here goes nothing! Our realtor has the details and will call the agent at 9:00am tomorrow. I am to then check in with her at 11:00am and hopefully hear some news. Fingers crossed for a good deal!
10 February, 2010
developing my skill
When I was in graduate school there was one teacher who always talked about finding the good in situations and learning from them. Anytime something would be really hard she would tell us to ask ourselves, "What skill am I being called to develop?" and then we would re-think it and say, "oh, right, I need to learn patience/tolerance/compassion right now...not get frustrated" and it always seemed to make the hardest days feel a little better.
Lately at work I have been called to develop just about every skill in the book and I'm becoming a bit burnt out. I really want to find the positive in it and know that this is a challenge I can grow and learn from...but it is just getting to be a bit much. When the tears come it's about time to look at it a little differently I think. I'm trying to explore the angles, think about what I can do differently, how I can be a better employee...but I just keep hitting a brick wall. There's no secret I am actively (or semi-actively) pursuing another job as this one just isn't for me...but it's hard to leave my clients and really hard to leave the coworkers and team I really really love. But I can't keep coming home like this or having my days interrupted with such hard feelings and then not being able to find support where I expect to see it. My coworkers and my fiance are beyond anything I can ask for when it comes to hugs and condolances and creative ideas for making things better and I so appreciate them. But at the end of the day they aren't the ones who fill out my yearly review or decide whether or not I keep my job...and it's those people I need to get on the same level with...and it just isn't happening.
I usually really want the weekend to get here on days like this but then I honestly spend the weekend wishing work would start again soon so I could stop thinking about it and just DO it. If I loved my job I wouldn't mind thinking about it all the time but this isn't quite the case. I try to love it, I really do. That's what I want. That's why I'm in social work. I want to love it. I DO love it. It's me, it's my passion...but my passion is going to quickly lose it's flame if things stay this way. It's far too early in my career for that to happen...and frankly too early in my life. I don't think about it as a career. I don't do it for the paycheck because Lord knows it's no big paycheck...I do it because it means something to me, and I don't ever want it to stop meaning something really really big and important.
I'm not quite sure what my plan is from here but I know I need to move in the direction of change, quickly.
Lately at work I have been called to develop just about every skill in the book and I'm becoming a bit burnt out. I really want to find the positive in it and know that this is a challenge I can grow and learn from...but it is just getting to be a bit much. When the tears come it's about time to look at it a little differently I think. I'm trying to explore the angles, think about what I can do differently, how I can be a better employee...but I just keep hitting a brick wall. There's no secret I am actively (or semi-actively) pursuing another job as this one just isn't for me...but it's hard to leave my clients and really hard to leave the coworkers and team I really really love. But I can't keep coming home like this or having my days interrupted with such hard feelings and then not being able to find support where I expect to see it. My coworkers and my fiance are beyond anything I can ask for when it comes to hugs and condolances and creative ideas for making things better and I so appreciate them. But at the end of the day they aren't the ones who fill out my yearly review or decide whether or not I keep my job...and it's those people I need to get on the same level with...and it just isn't happening.
I usually really want the weekend to get here on days like this but then I honestly spend the weekend wishing work would start again soon so I could stop thinking about it and just DO it. If I loved my job I wouldn't mind thinking about it all the time but this isn't quite the case. I try to love it, I really do. That's what I want. That's why I'm in social work. I want to love it. I DO love it. It's me, it's my passion...but my passion is going to quickly lose it's flame if things stay this way. It's far too early in my career for that to happen...and frankly too early in my life. I don't think about it as a career. I don't do it for the paycheck because Lord knows it's no big paycheck...I do it because it means something to me, and I don't ever want it to stop meaning something really really big and important.
I'm not quite sure what my plan is from here but I know I need to move in the direction of change, quickly.
31 January, 2010
house offer
We finally saw Avatar at the IMAX today! We were laying around trying to decide what to do to avoid a super lazy Sunday when Nathan started to look up movie times. He told me if I could be ready in 40 minutes to walk out the door at 10:00am we could make it to get tickets for the movie. Getting ready that fast is a bit of a feat for me as my hair takes a million years to comb when it's wet and then takes a few more years to dry when I don't get to let it air dry for a little while. But I did it and we were pulling out of the driveway at 10:01am.
The movie didn't start until 11:30am so but we were among the first to get seats. FINALLY. I guess the first showing on Sunday morning is the least popular. The guy told us the movie following that one was already 75% sold out so we definitely made the right choice. It was definitely a good movie and I'm glad I finally saw it (Nathan's second time)! It was a lot of work to see that damn thing!
In other news, we made an offer on the house last week! We should find out by Tuesday what the bank will bring back. We expect them to counter with a higher offer and we are prepared to negotiate but have also drawn the line where we will have to walk away. We are both getting pretty emotionally involved in the whole thing. Not really THIS house specifically but just A house. We are just really excited to take this step so we are hoping it can happen. But we also trust that if it's not the right time for us, well then it just isn't...and we can wait, hopefully. We are two of the most impatient people in the world so it's all a challenge in patience and grown-up-ness. It's well worth it though. This is the biggest purchase of our lives thus far so we aren't about to mess around. If it's meant to be it will be!
There is one other house we are going to check out tomorrow. It's a place that is just coming onto the market and our agent really thinks we need to see it. She sent us a couple pictures and it is pretty adorable. It is older than the one we put the offer on but it is-from what we've been told-in immaculate condition. It is also within walking distance of a town center with cute little shops...one of the things I really want in a house someday. So I'm excited to see if we love it just as much or more.
The movie didn't start until 11:30am so but we were among the first to get seats. FINALLY. I guess the first showing on Sunday morning is the least popular. The guy told us the movie following that one was already 75% sold out so we definitely made the right choice. It was definitely a good movie and I'm glad I finally saw it (Nathan's second time)! It was a lot of work to see that damn thing!
In other news, we made an offer on the house last week! We should find out by Tuesday what the bank will bring back. We expect them to counter with a higher offer and we are prepared to negotiate but have also drawn the line where we will have to walk away. We are both getting pretty emotionally involved in the whole thing. Not really THIS house specifically but just A house. We are just really excited to take this step so we are hoping it can happen. But we also trust that if it's not the right time for us, well then it just isn't...and we can wait, hopefully. We are two of the most impatient people in the world so it's all a challenge in patience and grown-up-ness. It's well worth it though. This is the biggest purchase of our lives thus far so we aren't about to mess around. If it's meant to be it will be!
There is one other house we are going to check out tomorrow. It's a place that is just coming onto the market and our agent really thinks we need to see it. She sent us a couple pictures and it is pretty adorable. It is older than the one we put the offer on but it is-from what we've been told-in immaculate condition. It is also within walking distance of a town center with cute little shops...one of the things I really want in a house someday. So I'm excited to see if we love it just as much or more.
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