We know we have not posted in quite some time but we have had quite a busy week. First things first, we have closed on the house. It is officially ours and we have the keys. On Monday we signed the title paper work. On Thursday we got the call from our realtor that the home is officially ours. Thus starting what will be a long and exhausting September. Over the next 30 days we have to paint, fix some fixtures, get appliances installed, move and clean the apartment. We spent most of the day today at Home Depot and Best Buy getting things for the house. At Home Depot we got most of the necessities we need to fix what is in need of repair in the house. Things such as light bulbs, door stoppers, smoke detector, switches and outlet plates. At Best Buy we basically just purchased a whole kitchen worth of appliances. We just have to say thank you for 0% financing or we would be using a camp fire outside to cook. We also picked out some potential paint schemes for the inside. If anyone wants to help with a little home improvement work we could sure use it.
In other news. We are working on getting the invitations to the wedding ready to be sent out. So keep an eye on your mailboxes.
Today we had the home inspection done on the home we put an offer on. No major surprises found. Just some minor plumbing issues such as a toilet that needs to be resealed and missing shower handles. There was also some signs of termites but we were told that is a common thing in Arizona. Our realtor even convinced the bank to turn on the gas for hot water heater and the furnace so the inspector could make sure those were okay. Basically nothing came up in the inspection that makes us want out.
In other news, I have updated the Wedding page to include the time and location of the wedding as well as a Google Map. In the future we will be including other information such as where we have gift registries and how much the cover charge will be. Only kidding on the cover charge. However, keep an eye on that page for more info, especially if you are invited.
As mentioned in a previous post by Terra, we had placed an offer on a home and it was accepted. Armed with Terra’s camera, we took another tour of the house this afternoon and took some pictures. They can be found on our photo page. Hope everyone is have a safe Fourth of July weekend. I for one am feeling better. Terra takes good care of me.
On Saturday Nick and I went house hunting for the second weekend. This time our realtor previewed the homes before we went looking, and she really found us some great homes. By the end of the day Nick and I had narrowed our favorites down to three. 1. A custom home that on a HUGE plot of land…but it was in a county island and being taken off of the market in 2 days and being sent to auction. Ultimately the listing agent never returned our calls and we decided that living in a count island would just be too much work. 2. The house that Nick liked. Large and really nice floor plan, and an okay yard. But the carpets were kind of warn out. 3. The house that Terra liked. Open floor plan, HUGE kitchen, landscaped back yard with a built in grill. So, after excluding house #1, I gave in and we put an offer on the house he liked best. We were out bid by $15,000…and we were NOT willing to compete with that! So that left us with house #3…the one that I liked best. We put an offer on it on Tuesday and today (Wednesday) at just a few minutes after 7:00PM we got the news that our offer was accepted! We are giving our earnest money to the title company tomorrow and then we should be opening Escrow on Monday-ish of next week and closing in August. Now we are working on getting our inspections done. Nick and I are a little shell shocked but VERY excited!
As I’m writing this it all sounds so easy, and I guess all in all it was relatively easy…but it was not without some sweat and a few tears. I know that it’s not over yet, and there are still some very important things to be done but I cannot imagine going though this process with anyone else but Nick. I am so grateful for the man that he is and who he helps me be.
For the past 6 or so months, Nick and I have gone back and forth quite a few times on the subject of becoming home owners. We have talked to a few home finance people but, until tonight, we have never felt really ready. Before I continue about the events of this evening, I have to go back about 2 months. It all started with a simple text message from my cousin Jennifer, who until that text message, I did not know very well. That text message led to one of fastest and deepest friendships I have…pretty sure we were separated at birth or something. Anyhow, it has been her prompting and trusted connections that gave both Nick and I the courage to take another step towards the purchase of a home. Which leads our little story to this evening. We sat down with the loan officer Jennifer had recommended and together we went through all of our financial information. Within an hour and a half, Nick and I had been pre-approved for a home loan and feel really good about our understanding of the whole process and what we can afford. AH! SO EXCITING!!! Tonight, for the first time, buying a home seemed more exciting than scary.
Tomorrow we will be expecting a call from the realtor we have chosen (the wife of our loan officer) and hopefully we will be in our very own home by August/September (when our rental lease is expires). And even if we haven’t found a home by that time and need to wait, it is so exciting to know that at this point in our lives, it is something that is completely obtainable.
And so I would like to say how grateful I am for a few things. 1. Nick – your strength and your steadiness keeps me grounded, your truly are “my line in the sand.” 2. Kacey – for getting the idea of home buying in my head and in my blood (in a manner speaking). 3. Jennifer – for also giving me the encouragement and referrals both Nick and I felt we could trust…and just wanting us around and in your life. I love you!
We’ll keep you posted….