1) We like to plan things.
2) Like is not the appropriate word. We LOVE to plan things.
3) We have mapped out the next five years of our lives down to the minute.
4) We do not like/cannot do surprises.
5) We have been strategically saving for a new home for quite a while now.
6) This said home, according to our grand and masterful plan, was to be purchased in the month of March or October of this year. If you really want to know why it could only be March or October, please refer to bullet point #3.
7) We are slight control freaks. Ahem.
Now please take all of the above bullet points into mind as I recap the past few days.
Saturday, Jan. 3- It was a beautiful, afternoon with the high in the 70s. For some reason, we had cabin fever and my loving husband suggested we go drive around some neighborhoods and do some price checking on new homes. We do this quite often so that when March or October of this year rolls around, we can be completely prepared and know exactly what we were looking for and capable of purchasing. (See bullet point #7.) We dropped the top on the convertible and headed south. I had two neighborhoods in mind that I insisted we drive through. And this is where the roller coaster ride operator (whom shall be known as the carnie with small hands throughout the rest of this post) told us to pull the bar down over our laps and confirm that it was locked and securely in place.
Now please take all of the above bullet points into mind as I recap the past few days.
Saturday, Jan. 3- It was a beautiful, afternoon with the high in the 70s. For some reason, we had cabin fever and my loving husband suggested we go drive around some neighborhoods and do some price checking on new homes. We do this quite often so that when March or October of this year rolls around, we can be completely prepared and know exactly what we were looking for and capable of purchasing. (See bullet point #7.) We dropped the top on the convertible and headed south. I had two neighborhoods in mind that I insisted we drive through. And this is where the roller coaster ride operator (whom shall be known as the carnie with small hands throughout the rest of this post) told us to pull the bar down over our laps and confirm that it was locked and securely in place.
We pulled up to a house that magically happened to have those handy flyers that feature the price and show you some pictures of the inside. You know, the ones that were always missing when I was house shopping without the support of my loving husband a while ago. The ones I accused him of stealing to throw my plan of course. My, how far we've come. We both scoffed because from the looks of the house, we knew it would be out of our price range, but I grabbed the flyer nonetheless. And to our amazement, it was smack in the middle of our price range. We reviewed the flyer only to read it had absolutely everything we were looking for in a home. This is where the carnie came by and checked all of the cars to make sure we were buckled in. And off we went.
Sunday, Jan. 4- Not being able to stop thinking about the house, we took my practical Jetta out to look at it again. I totally broke my own rules and grabbed all the flyers out of the box so no one else passing by would be able to see what a great deal this place was. I know, I know, I am terrible, but it seemed like a logical thing to do as it's a dog eat dog world in the housing market these days. We decided we had to get inside this place and see what it really looked like for ourselves. We even pulled the creepy future neighbor thing and pulled in the driveway and peeked through the front windows. Only to find a family sitting down to dinner staring back at us. I am only kidding, the house is vacant, but we sat in the driveway debating whether we would be greeted by emptiness or have the cops called on us. Emptiness= house needs to sell= more money back in our pockets= carnie man warning us about not being tall enough to ride the ride. We called our realtor (somehow we have one of those built in to our family) and asked if we could see the house. The realtor suggested we confirm with a lender that we could in fact afford what we thought we could afford before getting our hopes up only to have a bank dash them. We agreed.
Monday, Jan.5 - We applied for a mortgage and were approved. Only to find out that the house went under contract that same day. This is where my heart dropped like your stomach does when you hit the first big hill. I cried into the bowl of soup I made for dinner that evening. I cried because I was mad at myself for getting emotionally attached to a home I had stumbled upon and hadn't even seen the master bedroom yet. I cried because of straying off our March or October course and how I was stronger than being "spontaneous." Things never go right when you stray from course, right? Well, on Monday I thought that was right. Let's move on to Tuesday.
Tuesday, Jan. 6- We get a call from the realtor who said, "Just kidding. That house isn't under contract." Wait, what?!? The house that made my cry into my corn chowder is suddenly available again? And up the big hill we went. We met the realtor that night to get into the house. After touring the house 16 times and analyzing each room from all directions, I asked my loving husband if he was ready to make an offer. He practically shouted "NO- are you crazy?" back in my direction. And I realized that I was being a little silly. Especially since we had not planned on this. We had planned to look at millions of homes in March or October and then hopefully come up with our future living space.
Wednesday, Jan. 7- My birthday! We had planned on going to a delicious steak dinner, which is tradition in our family, but instead we decided we should bring all 17 of our family members (it really wasn't 17- but the caravan out to the house made us feel like 17 people were coming to see it) to look at the house again. I brought my skepticism this time, which allowed us to come up with a pretty low number to offer them. Yes, we decided to make an offer. And back down the second hill we went.
Thursday, Jan. 8- Here's where we enter the last loop before the ride came to an end- During halftime of the national championship game, we filled out all the necessary paperwork. Because that's what all level-headed, calm, rational, always have things planned to a tee people do- they make offers on houses in between quarters of football games. Sheesh. But caution to the wind aside, that's exactly what we did.
Friday, Jan. 9- They countered. We accepted. We come screeching to the end of the ride where the carnie man is waving at us and welcoming us back. My hair is wind-blown. My loving husband's palms are sweaty on the bar that is still securely fastened over us. I am hoarse from screaming. I check to make sure my purse didn't fall out when we were upside down and that my loving husband didn't loose his hat or glasses. All are still in place.
Sunday, Jan. 4- Not being able to stop thinking about the house, we took my practical Jetta out to look at it again. I totally broke my own rules and grabbed all the flyers out of the box so no one else passing by would be able to see what a great deal this place was. I know, I know, I am terrible, but it seemed like a logical thing to do as it's a dog eat dog world in the housing market these days. We decided we had to get inside this place and see what it really looked like for ourselves. We even pulled the creepy future neighbor thing and pulled in the driveway and peeked through the front windows. Only to find a family sitting down to dinner staring back at us. I am only kidding, the house is vacant, but we sat in the driveway debating whether we would be greeted by emptiness or have the cops called on us. Emptiness= house needs to sell= more money back in our pockets= carnie man warning us about not being tall enough to ride the ride. We called our realtor (somehow we have one of those built in to our family) and asked if we could see the house. The realtor suggested we confirm with a lender that we could in fact afford what we thought we could afford before getting our hopes up only to have a bank dash them. We agreed.
Monday, Jan.5 - We applied for a mortgage and were approved. Only to find out that the house went under contract that same day. This is where my heart dropped like your stomach does when you hit the first big hill. I cried into the bowl of soup I made for dinner that evening. I cried because I was mad at myself for getting emotionally attached to a home I had stumbled upon and hadn't even seen the master bedroom yet. I cried because of straying off our March or October course and how I was stronger than being "spontaneous." Things never go right when you stray from course, right? Well, on Monday I thought that was right. Let's move on to Tuesday.
Tuesday, Jan. 6- We get a call from the realtor who said, "Just kidding. That house isn't under contract." Wait, what?!? The house that made my cry into my corn chowder is suddenly available again? And up the big hill we went. We met the realtor that night to get into the house. After touring the house 16 times and analyzing each room from all directions, I asked my loving husband if he was ready to make an offer. He practically shouted "NO- are you crazy?" back in my direction. And I realized that I was being a little silly. Especially since we had not planned on this. We had planned to look at millions of homes in March or October and then hopefully come up with our future living space.
Wednesday, Jan. 7- My birthday! We had planned on going to a delicious steak dinner, which is tradition in our family, but instead we decided we should bring all 17 of our family members (it really wasn't 17- but the caravan out to the house made us feel like 17 people were coming to see it) to look at the house again. I brought my skepticism this time, which allowed us to come up with a pretty low number to offer them. Yes, we decided to make an offer. And back down the second hill we went.
Thursday, Jan. 8- Here's where we enter the last loop before the ride came to an end- During halftime of the national championship game, we filled out all the necessary paperwork. Because that's what all level-headed, calm, rational, always have things planned to a tee people do- they make offers on houses in between quarters of football games. Sheesh. But caution to the wind aside, that's exactly what we did.
Friday, Jan. 9- They countered. We accepted. We come screeching to the end of the ride where the carnie man is waving at us and welcoming us back. My hair is wind-blown. My loving husband's palms are sweaty on the bar that is still securely fastened over us. I am hoarse from screaming. I check to make sure my purse didn't fall out when we were upside down and that my loving husband didn't loose his hat or glasses. All are still in place.
Today- We signed the final contract and learned we edged out some competition. Or so we're told. It had to have been the fact I stole all those flyers at once. Success. Pending one teeny, tiny, oh-so-important inspection, we are now officially owners of this home-
And that, my friends, is the past seven days. Once we get everything settled, we will be inviting all of you over for drinks and snacks in our new, lovely unplanned home.
And that, my friends, is the past seven days. Once we get everything settled, we will be inviting all of you over for drinks and snacks in our new, lovely unplanned home. 
3 comments:
It's BEAUTIFUL!!! I can't wait to see the inside! Michael and I are a little giddy that we have some new "neighbors." I am going to buy a telescope so we can, in fact, see you from our back porch.
Congrats again!!
(I'm jealous that you had a small handed carnie man on your house adventure. We got NOTHIN!)
It's beautiful Lisa!!! Nicely done. I'm glad you didn't stick with your master plan.....usually the best things don't fall into the plan anyway (my kids are a case in point). We are ready to help out with packing/painting. And, of course, we look forward to coming over for dinner. :)
So you're the friend that is going to live in Meredith's neighborhood??? Congratulations. I just got an overload of excitement while reading your post. Wish I lived there so I could invite myself over for dinner and drinks - only kidding - I'm not that psycho.
Oh and the part where you said you got caught peeking in, I nearly died. That actually happened to us a few years ago when we were house hunting, except we got caught in the backyard. We were convinced the house was empty, only to get busted snooping in the backyard! EMBARRASSING!
Congrats again!
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