The Search for Home Sweet Home

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that I thought I had found my house. But I didn't have the emotional attachment I thought I would have for the house I would buy.

We had done some behind-the-scenes work because we thought it was in a flood plain and then it wasn't in a flood plain, so there was some back and forth between the bank and the insurance company to try and figure everything out. Well, before I could go and see it again just to get a better feel, an offer was accepted. I wasn't heartbroken over it, though. I was ready to move forward and look at more houses.

A house came on the market late last week - Thursday or Friday. My mom and I were already planning on going to see more houses with my realtor, so she sent this one over to see if we would like to add it to our day. It was a definite yes!

It was in the area that I wanted to be in. It is a decent size. It does need some updating, but it is a place where I could really see myself living for a long time. Going to see the property confirmed my feelings about the house. I really liked it. I had the emotional connection!

So, I put in an offer yesterday…and it was accepted! I thought I might get a counter offer, so I was so excited to hear that they accepted what I offered!

So now all the technical not-so-fun stuff happens when buying a house - home inspection, appraisal, large chunks of money flowing out of the window. But this can be home. I am praying that everything else goes smoothly from here!

Decisions, Decisions

So….I think I have found my house. It is in a great area. It has almost all the features I would want in a house, and some that were bonuses - dining room, two living areas, two bathrooms, a decent size kitchen, a fireplace, fenced yard, an attached garage. It is a good size, not to big and not too small. The price is right, too.

But, I don't have the emotional attachment that I have felt toward other houses. In a way, I almost feel indifferent toward it. It would feel comfortable in my decision knowing that it would be a responsible purchase. I think my biggest hinderance is that it isn't updated at all. Most of the houses I have seen have been updated in some way. That isn't to say this house is in bad shape because that isn't true. It was clean, but dated. There is a lot of wallpaper.

I am okay with putting in the work and also waiting for work to be done. I know then it will truly be my home and not a home that other people worked to update. I told my mom this morning that if it had new carpet and paint, I would probably feel much better about it. The master bathroom also needs a lot of love. It was a bit gross. I feel a little like those people on HGTV's House Hunters. Some of those people are absolutely ridiculous in their expectations.

In a way, I think not being emotionally attached is a good thing. I wouldn't want to be so "in love" with the house that I side step structural issues or any other major issues that I would have to deal with down the road. There is a possibility that the house is in a floodplain. But I will have to wait to talk to the bank to see for sure. 

Either way, the next few weeks will be interesting. I am ready to truly get settled and I am just not able to do that at my mom's. It is a good place to be while in transition, but I am ready to be on my own.

So this story is to be continued….