We're Buying a House!

 

We have a contract on this sweet little house and if everything goes according to plan, we'll be homeowners by April! I'm just as surprised as you are.

We were not planning on buying a house for another year or two. But the more we thought about, talked about it, and prayed about it, the more sense it made.

We started researching neighborhoods, which meant people-watching at brunch and then going to open houses to see what our budget would get us in different parts of town. We also spent an insane amount of time looking at real estate websites and DVRed every episode of Property Virgins.

After church a few weeks ago, we decided to drive by this one house we saw online...

And I fell in love! I could not believe this neighborhood. There is a cute little park just around the corner that was full of families, a running trail that at the end of the street that goes all the way to the lake. It is a historic district with rolling hills and big trees. When I think about driving up to the house, it plays in slow motion.

Our realtor showed it to Derek while I was at work, and then took both of us on Saturday. This was the only house we really looked at together. My only regret is that we didn't get the chance to house hunt long enough to pretend like we were on HGTV.

"My biggest must have: MAN CAVE!"

"I don't know about it being right next to that school. Children are sooooooo loud."

"Honey, look at this closet! It's huge AND IT'S ALL FOR ME!"

"It's a nice house, but I really don't like how the neighbors can see us. I feel like they are right on top of us. We will probably need to install a 15' fence."

One thing we learned from watching so much HGTV was that if you have a small budget and you want to be in a great neighborhood, you are going to have to compromise. As we looked at houses, it almost became a game. "This house is great AND it's affordable," I would think. And then,"What is wrong with it?"

It was always something. Maybe it had an entirely concrete backyard. Maybe there was only one tiny closet in the entire house. Maybe the next door neighbor kept three shopping carts in his front yard.

In the case of our house, the answer is one bathroom...One very pink bathroom.

Across from the potty, there is a built in pink and blue tile vanity. I can't imagine why they wouldn't want to show that amazing feature online!

We have plans for the bathroom...and for the flooring in the sunroom...and for the landscaping...and for knocking down some walls...What have we gotten ourselves into?!

Even though it's going to be a lot of work, we are so grateful to have found a home we love and to be in the position to make it ours. I'll post more pictures and details as we get closer to closing.