the Big News (con't)

I'm taking my step-dad (who will be from here on referred to as "my dad" as opposed to my bio-dad who will be referred to as "my father") to see my little house - basically to make sure I didn't pick a lemon. Houses in my price range have been moving fast (within a week or so) and my dad was out of town for the past week - so my mom and I found this one and made the offer, and accepted the counter-offer all without his input. We are very proud of ourselves, but see that he is the one that will be helping me with (okay, doing most of) of the manual labor at my little house, he should take a look to see what we got him into.

side note: "the Long List" will be completed, just in a shortened one post extravaganza.

the Big News

House number #30 is mine!!

Yes, you heard me right - I got me a house!!

A tiny 2/1 cottage and it's going to be mine, all mine!!

I need to pass out now. . .

the Big Ramble

we now take a break from "the Long List" for some rambling

big news, soon, maybe
no hopes up, yet, can't wait
waiting, still waiting

I'm not good at waiting
(and yes, that was in haiku form)

the Long List: house #7

Pick a Brick

3/2

This house was my parents' first house back in the early 70's. I thought it would have been very cool if it could have been my first house - that was, until I saw it. . .

the Problem: there were about 8 different types of brick, laid in as many different types of patterns all over the yard - like random patios here and there. . . and then there was - well, see below. . .

the Long List: house #6

Plumbing Mess

2/2 with huge master bath

This house was so cute. Every door was a french door, the master bed and bath room were huge.

the Problem: none of the plumbing in the master bath was done to code - and that was a lot of plumbing, multiple shower heads, double sinks, jetted tubs. . .

the Long List: condo #5

Brown and Beautiful

2/1

Be-a-u-ti-ful redone condo in the same complex as the last - nice paint job, updated kitchen, brand spanking new bathroom, open and airy. . .

the Problem: well there wasn't any really. . . I just didn't get the "I have to have this place" feeling there





(S.G.)

the Long List: condo #4

Don't open the fridge

2/1

This unit was in a very nice complex, had great storage space, and was pet-friendly

the Problem: it was a mess, there had been renters in it - and they trashed the place: holes in walls, nasty nasty nasty carpet, moldy food in cabinets, oh, and they had the power turned off with a full fridge that had been left closed for months - I thought I was going to puke. . .





(S.G.)

the Long List: condo #3

Poolside Patio

2/2

The unit was a good size, and in a nice complex (some of my favorite people live in another building there). It had a lovely patio facing the pool - so good view.

the Problem: the unit had no storage place, you had to take out a wall in the guest closet in order to get to the A/C handler and the hot water tank (which were both in need of replacement), the kitchen needed to be redone, there was no flooring in the master bedroom, the living room carpet needed to be replace, the master bathroom needed work. . . and it was on the high end of my budget and all the work would push it over. . .







(B.G.)

the Long List: Duplex #2

Snowbird Village

2/1 with closed in patio

the Problem: no pets, and , well, lots of snowbirds - who leave their cars on blocks in their driveways during the summer.



(?)

the Long List: Condo #1

The rental nightmare

1/1

Small, but brand new - granite countertops, stainless steel appliances - huge walk-in closet - separate dining area

the Problem: the condos were a rental conversion, and they weren't selling, so there was a very very very good chance that the units that didn't sell would revert to rentals - yuck






photos borrowed from real estate website

(B.V.E.)

the Cool Tools

I know that I haven't been a teen in a long time, but that doesn't keep me from loving Pottery Barn Teen. Their furniture and bedroom accessories really appeal to my super girly side. This said, I tend to only check out their sale section - but today I was bored, so I checked out a few more sections on their website and found a few cool tools. . .

Mix and Match Your Bedding -




Mix and Match Your Lighting -



just go to pbteen.com and then go to the PBTeen Style House section and you'll find lots of mix and match features to play with. . .

the Long List

I saw three more houses this weekend - two were immediate "no"s, the third made me think, but it wasn't the same I have to have this house feeling I had with the mid-century brown house that I lost out on.

So the search continues. . .

Coming Soon:

the Long List: House Tour

I am going to do my best to put together a "tour" of all the homes that I have seen so far - including picture and brief summaries. . .

the Big Love

and no, I'm not talking the Mormon kind.

I love my real estate agent.

While it is true that I am on a break - she is not. She did a little searching on her own and found something even better than a house - she found me money!! Or at least she found me the woman who will help me get my money, and a better interest rate.

There are tons of first-time home owner programs out here - but here most of them are run through the cities - so once you've started the process you are limited in your housing search, both with location and time frame.

My lovely agent went above and beyond - and found a program without those limitations.

So money + a 5.25 interest rate! Come on now, that calls for a Woo Hoo!!

the Little Fib

I know I said I was going to take a break, but I couldn't help it! The first thing I did this morning was a quick search to see if there were any new homes on the market. . .

the Small Break

I've decided that I'm going to take a few weeks off from this house hunting thing. Now if my realtor gives me a call tomorrow and says "I found this great steal for you" - yes, I'm gonna run and see it, but I'm going to try to stay away from searching myself. I'm just so tried, and it really hasn't even begun yet. Who knew looking for a house could be so much work! I always thought that this would be easy, my father being a real estate broker and all. . .

While I'm taking a break from the house day dreaming, that doesn't me I can't still day dream about the things that will someday go in it. . .

Like this pink sofa from Ikea -

the Big Let Down

I didn't get the house. . .

:'(

A foreign investor - who hadn't even seen the house, let alone fall in love with it's mid-century charm - out bid me with a cash offer no less.

I can stop picking paint colors now. . .

Buyer's market my bum, it's only a buyer's market if your a foreign investor with cash. If you're a woman who has been working towards home ownership her whole life, done everything right, has impeccable credit, has plenty of cash up front, is pre-approved for a mortgage, has waited until the housing bubble to burst, and is ready and willing to put in the hard work involved in buying a fixer-upper, then you're out of luck.

the Big Wait; part 2

Still nothing. . . I have a feeling that this is not one of those cases where "no news is good news"

the Big Wait

Have I mentioned that I am not a patient person? Well, I'm not - not at all. . .

Still just waiting. . .

the Big Headache

This is what happens when I get my hopes up. . . there is now a second offer on the house - and that's all they can tell me.

no house for Laurendy

the Big Scary

Yesterday I did the scariest thing I've ever done - I put an offer in on a house. Me, myself, and I made an offer to buy (BUY!!!) a house. And I am completely terrified, nervous, excited, all in one. I am trying my hardest not to get my hopes up (there have been many let downs in this whole real estate adventure), but I can't help it. I keep thinking about all the things I want do to it. . .
paint colors, and furniture, and bathroom fixtures, Oh My!! All I can really do at this point is wait. Lord, I wish I were a patient person.