We Found a House

It has been a stressful 6 1/2 weeks trying to get settled back here. We were initially going to rent and I made about 30 phone calls a few weeks ago. To find something that would fit our family and be in a decent neighborhood was going to cost around $1000 or more. That is flat out impossible on 1 income and Jamie in graduate school. So, we called a bank to see what we could do for a loan. Turns out, one bank had a pretty good deal going on that fit us, so we got pre-qualified and began the house hunt last Saturday with our realtor friend.

We went in about 6 homes on Saturday and I was beginning to feel the frustration set in around house 3. We were looking for a "fixer-upper" to save money not a home that had problems that required contractors and a complete overhaul to even make it livable. I was beginning to think that finding a home might take a while longer.

When we walked in house #5, it was different. It was probably the first house all day that was nicely landscaped and clutter free on the outside. The owner wanted to be there for the viewing, but that proved to be an asset as he gave us all the updates and repairs that had been completed in the last 5 years (as long as they have owned the home). It had been well cared for and maintained inside and out. It has a fenced in yard, which is icing on the cake with children and a nice little sitting area out front and back. The neighborhood got a thumbs up and it was sort of at the end of things, so traffic shouldn't be bad.

The owner is an older gentleman and he is caring for his elderly mother. So, the inside needs updating quite a bit. Every wall will have to be painted and we are wanting to lay some new flooring just to make the house more updated and "us". It was all cosmetic changes though. Nothing we can't handle ourselves, I don't think. We have things that we'd like to do "eventually" as money is available, but nothing we can't live with for now.

So, we placed a low ball bid on Monday. I waited around by the phone all day yesterday waiting to hear the counter bid. About 3:30 yesterday our realtor called and gave us the counter bid. She also told me that they were initially wanting a 60 day possession, but she got them to 45. I called Jamie to tell him the news. We decided just to take it and not do any more ping-ponging back and forth with numbers and stipulations (mostly for peace of mind). We got the 45 day closing and a price that we are happy with though.

So, we are praying that inspections, appraisals, and all that good stuff comes out great and we will be fixing up our own home in Mid-August. The kids are very excited about painting the walls in their room and having a fenced in yard. Abbi even spied a swingset in one of the pictures in a neighbor's yard, so she is excited about children being around.

I feel that it was just a "God thing". Our payment will be MUCH cheaper than rent would have been. He listed the house the same day Jamie approached me and said, "we need to move on". Coincidence or God? I'll go with God! I looked down at the paper our realtor handed us with all the information on, saw that date staring back at me as the "listing date" and it almost gave me cold chills. What are the odds?