So, Jon and I are officially homeowners now! We moved into our beautiful new home on Thursday, Aug. 14 and a week later it still doesn't seem real. Aside from the heinous wallpaper in the living room and master bath AND the pepto pink guest bathroom AND the lime green guestroom AND the hideously girly colors in the other guestroom - we're doing alright. So, what can I say about moving day? Aside from the fact that one of the movers, Jose, stole Jon's phillips head screwdriver, it actually went really well. We were completely into our new house by early afternoon and I was all over unpacking the boxes like it was my job (and, it was actually!).
And, what would a nice backyard be without the game of cornhole?!?! While any complete moron can play the game of tossing bean bags into a hole, Jon and I somehow find it quite fun. Maybe that says something about us? Probably! And, all last weekend I also made it my job to spend way too much money on more furniture and accents for the house. But, Monday was my birthday so I felt justified. And, the Mittelbronn's don't waste any time since we're already throwing our first gathering the Sunday before Labor Day. It should be a fun afternoon of beer, backyard games, beer, friends, and lots more beer!
However, I plan to at least paint the rooms that don't have wallpaper before our party takes place. The pepto pink room makes me immediately think of those ridiculous Pepto Bismol commercials where random people are singing, "Heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarhhea....hey, pepto bismol." While that might make sense since it IS a bathroom, I am going to have to paint over the pepto. So, that is the first room I am painting - tonight! And, thanks to Stacy, I now have the tools I need in order to accomplish that task!
Next will be the lime green room. Now, that room is our workout room and while the gross shade of green might keep some people energized while working out, it makes me think of a twisted doctor's office. Sorry lime green - you gotta go next! I will say the wallpaper (welcome to 2008, peeps. Who does wallpaper anymore?) in the living room is giving me the biggest headache of all. I like the background color of the wallpaper ( a deep red), the bigillion number of vases on the wallpaper sends my ADD self into a tailspin. I am not sure what I want to do with that room but I am sensing the wallpaper won't be up for long.
But, the house is great! I love coming home to it each night and sometimes, I even pinch myself just to make sure. Our dog, Ollie, is totally digging the house AND even more, the backyard. No more apartment living for this Mittelbronn clan - we're moving on up!
Check out the pics of the house to the right and let us know what you think. And, I will be more than happy to take some before and after photos of the pepto room and will update this over the weekend. Stay tuned for more...........
Friday, August 22, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Okay - Two Weeks and Counting...
So, we are moving forward with our dream home!!! We close on Tuesday, Aug. 12 and we can't wait. However, it's hard to balance the house (which I am doing on my own without a realtor), the craziness of work right now, pack our apartment and get ready for a wedding in which we will travel to Burlington, VT for the weekend before we close. However, I am just rolling with it while also buying stock in any kind of brewery or winery:) In all seriousness, we are getting VERY excited with the closing two weeks away and we're actually making progress on the packing situation. Thank god we're making progress on something, right??
We had both the home inspection and appraisal last week and both went extremely well. Whoo hoo!!! The few things we asked the sellers to fix, they were completely agreeable to prior to closing so we're good on that. We've got our homeowners insurance in place and we're ready to start spending some money on the house. Whoa - slow your roll, sista! If it were up to me (and I had $1 million to spend), I would be at Restoration Hardware EVERY day but Jon and I are not quite in that situation. No worries - we're doing one room at a time.
Yard equipment - just what I always wanted to spend money on - yard equipment. But, we do need those things and that's our next purchase (aside from the new flat screen/HDTV we purchased, Jon's new clutch that needed to be replaced and the list goes on!!!). Plus, we can't wait to buy the entertainment center we fell in love with last weekend and the new office stuff we found at Office Depot yesterday. Okay, so those will be purchased and delivered the daay after we move in. Why can't money seriously grow on trees?? Why??
So now, we're waiting on the final green light from my lender to let me know we're clear for closing and we can't wait - especially since our apartment is filled with boxes, etc. Anyway, stay tuned for more as we get closer to buying our dream home.......
We had both the home inspection and appraisal last week and both went extremely well. Whoo hoo!!! The few things we asked the sellers to fix, they were completely agreeable to prior to closing so we're good on that. We've got our homeowners insurance in place and we're ready to start spending some money on the house. Whoa - slow your roll, sista! If it were up to me (and I had $1 million to spend), I would be at Restoration Hardware EVERY day but Jon and I are not quite in that situation. No worries - we're doing one room at a time.
Yard equipment - just what I always wanted to spend money on - yard equipment. But, we do need those things and that's our next purchase (aside from the new flat screen/HDTV we purchased, Jon's new clutch that needed to be replaced and the list goes on!!!). Plus, we can't wait to buy the entertainment center we fell in love with last weekend and the new office stuff we found at Office Depot yesterday. Okay, so those will be purchased and delivered the daay after we move in. Why can't money seriously grow on trees?? Why??
So now, we're waiting on the final green light from my lender to let me know we're clear for closing and we can't wait - especially since our apartment is filled with boxes, etc. Anyway, stay tuned for more as we get closer to buying our dream home.......
Friday, July 18, 2008
WOW - It's been awhile......
Ok - well I have clearly not updated my blog in quite awhile. So, I have a lot to tell about the house hunt. First, the original 'dream home' turned into a nightmare! We were so excited about the house, we had a contract on it and we're rearing to go. Enter, the home inspection. As Jon and I pulled up that Sunday, July 6, it was rainy and we all of a sudden had a sense that this was not going to be our day. The home inspector, who is fabuluos by the way - Mike Pope with Land America, was already there.
We waited for the selling agent to show up...and waited. Ms. Chatty Kathy arrived and the home inspection began. We chatted with Chatty Kathy and then I finally asked when she was going to leave. Seriously!! Anyway, ou first tip off should have been when we found a bong in one of the storage closets. She didn't even think to remove it as it was left by the previous owners who seemingly left in the middle of the night with the amount of crap they left. About halfway through the inspection, Jon and I head to a Lowe's nearby to get some packing supplies. And, of course, so I can pick out paint and look at hardwood floors. I picked my colors and everything - we head back to the house. Jon goes up to find Mike to get a run-down so far.
I am on the phone outside when Jon comes out with a big fat thumbs-down. I immediately hang up the phone and asked what the deal was. The deal, he said, was the house needed a new roof, all new windows on the first floor, the kitchen (when remodeled) was not up to code, the wood rot was ridiculous......the list goes on. I almost puked when Mike informed us that the previous owners kept their dog in the storage space where the bong was. There was even a dog door from the small storage space into one of the cabinets in the kitchen. I had heard enough - the house was a money pit and the previous owners were clearly sadistic potheads. No thanks - contract terminated.
So, after Jon and I recovered from that blow, we reached out to our realtor and we decided to keep the house hunt alive. Before we found this house, we had seen one that I had really liked but Jon was not too enthused about. Granted, it had popcorn celings which I was not jazzed about at all but we forged ahead. Jon went back to see the house and in a hasty move, we put an offer on it. Okay - this is where our realtor should probably have said, "Slow your roll, peeps!" But no, she was all for it - looking out for us, my ass! That negotiation was quick and painless - the sellers were not motivated and clearly delusional about what they could get for their home. Moving right along....
So, our realtor heads out of town last week and Jon and I are left to our own devices. However, we had really been doing all of the work anyway. Now enter, last Saturday. Jon and I found some homes we wanted to check out and stumbled upon a FSBO home in a great neighborhood in Alpharetta (but even closer in). We called and asked if we could give them 20 minutes since they're little girls had just woken up. No problem! At that time, my parents had called and invited themselves to tag along. They said they wouldn't say anything. Ok, if anyone knows my fam, they know that is like telling a child to go to sleep after they've eaten a bag of candy - not gonna happen. Anyway, we go into the house and the couple is SO nice. The house was great. The great room was a nice size with a fireplace, the kitchen was really nice and I loved the cabinetes they upgraded to. The formal living and dining room were so nice although the dining room was a little small. However, that's only because our dining room table is the size of a Buick....without the chairs. The master bedroom was the biggest thing I have ever seen and I loved the master bath. And, I was completely eyeing the double walk-in closets - score!!!
The backyard was immaculate, huge and recently fenced-in. Jon will definitely enjoy his 2 - 3 hours of yard work ahead of him each weekend! Whoo hoo. We chatted with the couple and fell in love with their kids. So, Jon and I went back on Sunday with a measuring tape and a lot of excitement. Once again, they were SUPER nice and very accommodating. So, we left the house for the second time with a great feeling. But wait......
We had signed an agreement with our realtor, who was not even in town nor did she know about this great house we found. So, we fired her! She wasn't cutting it anyway and I would be damned if she was going to get a cut of commission on this house. See ya, sista! So, we fired her Monday afternoon and put in an offer on Monday night. Of course, the seller and I did a little countering back and forth but we reached an agreement and Jon and pretty much got what we wanted and even negotiated a few things to remain in the home. So, we're in the process of binding this contract and moving forward. If there's one thing we've learned, it's not to get too excited until the inspection is done. But, these people are the original owners (housse built in 1999) and they have taken EXCEPTIONAL care of this house. They even faxed me receipts that document all of the repairs they have ever had to make to the house. How many receipts......THREE! That's it, folks.
So, we're moving towards an Aug. 12 closing date and we can't wait!!! The inspection is Tuesday, July 22 at 9 a.m. so please keep your fingers crossed. And, the appraisal will happen the following day. Now, I just need my broker to get off his ass and get me a lender! So, while he's working on that, I am doing double duty as buyer and realtor which is not fun. However, it's worth it knowing that there are no realtors involved, getting some unearned commission. YAY! However, I am not a complete idiot so I have my closing attorney in place and he's over my shoulder making sure everything goes smoothly and we're not getting screwed in any way. And, on a side note, Jon has made quite the friend with the seller's wife. They chat daily and she's been giving him parenting tips. Um.....we just want the house, not the kids......yet. Although, Jon did ask if they could throw in the kids with the offer. Slow down, buddy! And, I have been dealing with the husband. Again, these are salt of the earth, really sweet people who are quite attached to the house. It was the first house they bought together and their two girls were born there, etc.
So, I know I owe pics which I will have to somehow get soon. But, the house hunting hilarity continues and we're praying that this one turns out to be 'the one.' I really throw that term around loosely, don't I? But seriously, we have the feeling and we know these peeps aren't sadisctic, so we're already ahead of the game! Check back soon.......
We waited for the selling agent to show up...and waited. Ms. Chatty Kathy arrived and the home inspection began. We chatted with Chatty Kathy and then I finally asked when she was going to leave. Seriously!! Anyway, ou first tip off should have been when we found a bong in one of the storage closets. She didn't even think to remove it as it was left by the previous owners who seemingly left in the middle of the night with the amount of crap they left. About halfway through the inspection, Jon and I head to a Lowe's nearby to get some packing supplies. And, of course, so I can pick out paint and look at hardwood floors. I picked my colors and everything - we head back to the house. Jon goes up to find Mike to get a run-down so far.
I am on the phone outside when Jon comes out with a big fat thumbs-down. I immediately hang up the phone and asked what the deal was. The deal, he said, was the house needed a new roof, all new windows on the first floor, the kitchen (when remodeled) was not up to code, the wood rot was ridiculous......the list goes on. I almost puked when Mike informed us that the previous owners kept their dog in the storage space where the bong was. There was even a dog door from the small storage space into one of the cabinets in the kitchen. I had heard enough - the house was a money pit and the previous owners were clearly sadistic potheads. No thanks - contract terminated.
So, after Jon and I recovered from that blow, we reached out to our realtor and we decided to keep the house hunt alive. Before we found this house, we had seen one that I had really liked but Jon was not too enthused about. Granted, it had popcorn celings which I was not jazzed about at all but we forged ahead. Jon went back to see the house and in a hasty move, we put an offer on it. Okay - this is where our realtor should probably have said, "Slow your roll, peeps!" But no, she was all for it - looking out for us, my ass! That negotiation was quick and painless - the sellers were not motivated and clearly delusional about what they could get for their home. Moving right along....
So, our realtor heads out of town last week and Jon and I are left to our own devices. However, we had really been doing all of the work anyway. Now enter, last Saturday. Jon and I found some homes we wanted to check out and stumbled upon a FSBO home in a great neighborhood in Alpharetta (but even closer in). We called and asked if we could give them 20 minutes since they're little girls had just woken up. No problem! At that time, my parents had called and invited themselves to tag along. They said they wouldn't say anything. Ok, if anyone knows my fam, they know that is like telling a child to go to sleep after they've eaten a bag of candy - not gonna happen. Anyway, we go into the house and the couple is SO nice. The house was great. The great room was a nice size with a fireplace, the kitchen was really nice and I loved the cabinetes they upgraded to. The formal living and dining room were so nice although the dining room was a little small. However, that's only because our dining room table is the size of a Buick....without the chairs. The master bedroom was the biggest thing I have ever seen and I loved the master bath. And, I was completely eyeing the double walk-in closets - score!!!
The backyard was immaculate, huge and recently fenced-in. Jon will definitely enjoy his 2 - 3 hours of yard work ahead of him each weekend! Whoo hoo. We chatted with the couple and fell in love with their kids. So, Jon and I went back on Sunday with a measuring tape and a lot of excitement. Once again, they were SUPER nice and very accommodating. So, we left the house for the second time with a great feeling. But wait......
We had signed an agreement with our realtor, who was not even in town nor did she know about this great house we found. So, we fired her! She wasn't cutting it anyway and I would be damned if she was going to get a cut of commission on this house. See ya, sista! So, we fired her Monday afternoon and put in an offer on Monday night. Of course, the seller and I did a little countering back and forth but we reached an agreement and Jon and pretty much got what we wanted and even negotiated a few things to remain in the home. So, we're in the process of binding this contract and moving forward. If there's one thing we've learned, it's not to get too excited until the inspection is done. But, these people are the original owners (housse built in 1999) and they have taken EXCEPTIONAL care of this house. They even faxed me receipts that document all of the repairs they have ever had to make to the house. How many receipts......THREE! That's it, folks.
So, we're moving towards an Aug. 12 closing date and we can't wait!!! The inspection is Tuesday, July 22 at 9 a.m. so please keep your fingers crossed. And, the appraisal will happen the following day. Now, I just need my broker to get off his ass and get me a lender! So, while he's working on that, I am doing double duty as buyer and realtor which is not fun. However, it's worth it knowing that there are no realtors involved, getting some unearned commission. YAY! However, I am not a complete idiot so I have my closing attorney in place and he's over my shoulder making sure everything goes smoothly and we're not getting screwed in any way. And, on a side note, Jon has made quite the friend with the seller's wife. They chat daily and she's been giving him parenting tips. Um.....we just want the house, not the kids......yet. Although, Jon did ask if they could throw in the kids with the offer. Slow down, buddy! And, I have been dealing with the husband. Again, these are salt of the earth, really sweet people who are quite attached to the house. It was the first house they bought together and their two girls were born there, etc.
So, I know I owe pics which I will have to somehow get soon. But, the house hunting hilarity continues and we're praying that this one turns out to be 'the one.' I really throw that term around loosely, don't I? But seriously, we have the feeling and we know these peeps aren't sadisctic, so we're already ahead of the game! Check back soon.......
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
We felt it was our dream home...... and guess who's got a contract on the dream home?
So, we have a contract on our dream home!!! Talk about moving fast - Jon and I are clearly winners in that right now. After much negotiation, excitement and nervous jitters, we decided to take the plunge and we now have a contract on the house you see to the right of the page. Yes folks, our dream house - so we think!!! We finally came to an agreement with the seller today and we could not be more excited. In our wildest dreams, we never thought we would find and have a contract on this house in such a short period of time. My parents think I'm crazy and shooting from the emotional hip, but they happen to be at the beach and haven't seen this house in person. We feel we got a good deal and can't wait to close and be official homeowners. So, what's next???
Oh you know, just a home inspection, termite inspection/letter, etc. As much as we LOVE this house, we're still cautious about the home inspection. In the words of Forrest Gump, 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.' Hopefully, in our case, what we get is no crazy stuff like a leaky roof, foundation sinking, ghost in the attic, etc.. We're hoping to have the inspection on Monday, July 7, since I am off work that day and you can be sure I will be there, in full force, with a notebook, pen and open ears!! You really just never know - so we're hoping for the best, knowing the house will not get a 100 percent clean bill of health:)
Needless to say, Jon and I HAD to go out this evening and celebrate the biggest investment of our lives to this point. WOW - the excitement and anxiety is actually settling in. Oh, and did I mention we're closing on July 25. YES - you heard it right, folks - we're closing in a little more than three weeks. Ummm.....boxes, bubble wrap, time - are we absolutely CRAZY!?!?! All of a sudden, we feel a little overwhelmed....and we stated the terms of the contract!! In all seriousness, Jon and I could not be more excited and ready to move in than we are right now.
As we move towards a closing date, I will continue to keep everyone posted on our progress. Jon and I actually started making a 'to-do' list. And, what do you think that consisted of? Let me break it down for you:
What size flat screen will we buy for the great room (Apparently, it must be bigger than the one in our bedroom)
How big of an entertainment center will we buy?
Stainless steel grill, right? (No worries that our own kitchen applicances are not or that the roof might be caving in (joke, MB!). It's almost football seaon - priorities now:)
I'll be sure to post later this weekend - wish us luck! And, thanks SO much for all of the encouraging and positive words and thoughts we've received from our friends and family!!!
Oh you know, just a home inspection, termite inspection/letter, etc. As much as we LOVE this house, we're still cautious about the home inspection. In the words of Forrest Gump, 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.' Hopefully, in our case, what we get is no crazy stuff like a leaky roof, foundation sinking, ghost in the attic, etc.. We're hoping to have the inspection on Monday, July 7, since I am off work that day and you can be sure I will be there, in full force, with a notebook, pen and open ears!! You really just never know - so we're hoping for the best, knowing the house will not get a 100 percent clean bill of health:)
Needless to say, Jon and I HAD to go out this evening and celebrate the biggest investment of our lives to this point. WOW - the excitement and anxiety is actually settling in. Oh, and did I mention we're closing on July 25. YES - you heard it right, folks - we're closing in a little more than three weeks. Ummm.....boxes, bubble wrap, time - are we absolutely CRAZY!?!?! All of a sudden, we feel a little overwhelmed....and we stated the terms of the contract!! In all seriousness, Jon and I could not be more excited and ready to move in than we are right now.
As we move towards a closing date, I will continue to keep everyone posted on our progress. Jon and I actually started making a 'to-do' list. And, what do you think that consisted of? Let me break it down for you:
What size flat screen will we buy for the great room (Apparently, it must be bigger than the one in our bedroom)
How big of an entertainment center will we buy?
Stainless steel grill, right? (No worries that our own kitchen applicances are not or that the roof might be caving in (joke, MB!). It's almost football seaon - priorities now:)
I'll be sure to post later this weekend - wish us luck! And, thanks SO much for all of the encouraging and positive words and thoughts we've received from our friends and family!!!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
We think we found our dream home
So, Jon and I have looked in two new areas of town since last weekend. When Jon and I went looking for homes last Sunday, we found a neighborhood in Duluth that we loved. So, Tuesday evening, Jon and I went with our realtor and checked a few homes out. We nixed a few as soon as we walked in the front door - pictures really can be deceiving! But, we did find one that we really liked. While we liked it, neither Jon or I were raving about it. And, the commute for me to work would definitely be one that I would have to get used to. So, we put that one on the back burner and decided to look in Alpharetta and Roswell. We found a lot of homes that were in our price range and looked really cute. So, we decided that we would devote Saturday afternoon to looking in that area.
Friday night, Jon and I went through some of the neighborhoods and nixed five homes right off the bat. Really, power lines in my back yard!! I don't think so. Jon is weird enough as it is - let's add power lines and what happens. And, we don't want our children to develop some sort of weird reaction. I don't know - growing a third eye, etc. While I think it's a theory it's definitely not one that I would put to the test. Anyway, we found three neighborhoods that had multiple houses in them. So, we were excited and feeling good about Saturday. So, our Saturday started off with a baby shower for me and then we were off at 2 p.m. Our poor real estate agent - her car broke down as we were meeting her. No problem - her and her little sister hopped in our car and we were off. First house - uhh, I think Jon was immediately turned off with the multitude of naked Barbie dolls with their heads ripped off at the foot of the stairs. We were in and out in record time without even bothering to step over the Barabie dolls and check out the upstairs.
The next few neighborhoods were really nice and we were getting excited. The next house we saw I really liked but Jon was a no-go. While this should be a joint decision, I was about to kill him. He was even pickier than I was and I was getting annoyed, to say the least. We saw another house that we both really liked AND it had a finished basement. However, I was still a little hesitatent. The backyard was not exactly what I envisioned and it backed up to the swim and tennis. Just what I was hoping - the sound of screaming kids at the pool OR John McEnroe wanna-bes slamming a tennis back and forth. Of course, Jon was all over it. We were really not agreeing on anything at this point. Shocker!!!
Then, Amanda took us to some houses she found. We drove into Ashland (neighborhood) and there it was. The house of our dreams!!!! Okay, before we go crazy over it, it would be a good idea to actually go in and check it out. I was a little nervous since Jon and I had not been agreeing on much when it came to taste in homes so I was hesitant. We walk in and I immediately fell in love. Then, it happened. I walked into the kitchen and screamed....out of joy!!!! The kitchen is beautiful and has a big long island in the middle which I always wanted. The window over the sink is bayed and looks out into the great backyard. Hardwood floors throughout the ENTIRE house - I am talking upstairs and downstairs. Jon and kept walking through and with each room, we were even more in love. The laster bedroom has a fireplace with a beautiful sitting room off of it that has french doors separating them. The master bathroom has this crazy new shower that Jon equated to Augustus being sucked through the tube in Willy Wonka. Beautiful plantation shutters throughout the entire house in EVERY room - upstairs, downstairs, front of house and back of house. The bonus room upstairs is huge and has large bookshelves built-in and a floor-to-ceiling window. WOW! The great room off the kitchen has TONS of windows and nice fireplace. The formal living room and dining room are huge and have these gorgeous white columns as a 'separation' between them. The house sits on a hill and overlooks a nice cul-de-sac with other beautiful homes. The backyard has a nice brick patio and even a fountain!!! Its private with a nice fence around it! WOW - we couldn't even believe that we could afford this house - but we can unless the list price is wrong!!
We had more houses to look at but Jon and I went into the next house in another neighborhood and as soon as we pulled up, we said forget it - nothing seemed to compare to our dream home. We even went back and went in again and I whipped out the camera. I wanted to move in right then and there. It's got a top-rated school system and the neighborhood is immaculate. So, we are thinking this house is 'the one.' So, we're waiting to hear from our realtor today to get the disclosure on the house, find out how long it's been on the market, etc. Barring nothing is wrong with the house, we feel confident that we will put an offer on the house. I just keep wondering - 'what's wrong with the house?' I am praying that the answer to that is nothing.
So, stay tuned to hear how things turn out. I'll be sure post later today after I talk to our realtor and get more information. Fingers crossed......
Be sure to check out the slideshow of pics I took last night!
Friday night, Jon and I went through some of the neighborhoods and nixed five homes right off the bat. Really, power lines in my back yard!! I don't think so. Jon is weird enough as it is - let's add power lines and what happens. And, we don't want our children to develop some sort of weird reaction. I don't know - growing a third eye, etc. While I think it's a theory it's definitely not one that I would put to the test. Anyway, we found three neighborhoods that had multiple houses in them. So, we were excited and feeling good about Saturday. So, our Saturday started off with a baby shower for me and then we were off at 2 p.m. Our poor real estate agent - her car broke down as we were meeting her. No problem - her and her little sister hopped in our car and we were off. First house - uhh, I think Jon was immediately turned off with the multitude of naked Barbie dolls with their heads ripped off at the foot of the stairs. We were in and out in record time without even bothering to step over the Barabie dolls and check out the upstairs.
The next few neighborhoods were really nice and we were getting excited. The next house we saw I really liked but Jon was a no-go. While this should be a joint decision, I was about to kill him. He was even pickier than I was and I was getting annoyed, to say the least. We saw another house that we both really liked AND it had a finished basement. However, I was still a little hesitatent. The backyard was not exactly what I envisioned and it backed up to the swim and tennis. Just what I was hoping - the sound of screaming kids at the pool OR John McEnroe wanna-bes slamming a tennis back and forth. Of course, Jon was all over it. We were really not agreeing on anything at this point. Shocker!!!
Then, Amanda took us to some houses she found. We drove into Ashland (neighborhood) and there it was. The house of our dreams!!!! Okay, before we go crazy over it, it would be a good idea to actually go in and check it out. I was a little nervous since Jon and I had not been agreeing on much when it came to taste in homes so I was hesitant. We walk in and I immediately fell in love. Then, it happened. I walked into the kitchen and screamed....out of joy!!!! The kitchen is beautiful and has a big long island in the middle which I always wanted. The window over the sink is bayed and looks out into the great backyard. Hardwood floors throughout the ENTIRE house - I am talking upstairs and downstairs. Jon and kept walking through and with each room, we were even more in love. The laster bedroom has a fireplace with a beautiful sitting room off of it that has french doors separating them. The master bathroom has this crazy new shower that Jon equated to Augustus being sucked through the tube in Willy Wonka. Beautiful plantation shutters throughout the entire house in EVERY room - upstairs, downstairs, front of house and back of house. The bonus room upstairs is huge and has large bookshelves built-in and a floor-to-ceiling window. WOW! The great room off the kitchen has TONS of windows and nice fireplace. The formal living room and dining room are huge and have these gorgeous white columns as a 'separation' between them. The house sits on a hill and overlooks a nice cul-de-sac with other beautiful homes. The backyard has a nice brick patio and even a fountain!!! Its private with a nice fence around it! WOW - we couldn't even believe that we could afford this house - but we can unless the list price is wrong!!
We had more houses to look at but Jon and I went into the next house in another neighborhood and as soon as we pulled up, we said forget it - nothing seemed to compare to our dream home. We even went back and went in again and I whipped out the camera. I wanted to move in right then and there. It's got a top-rated school system and the neighborhood is immaculate. So, we are thinking this house is 'the one.' So, we're waiting to hear from our realtor today to get the disclosure on the house, find out how long it's been on the market, etc. Barring nothing is wrong with the house, we feel confident that we will put an offer on the house. I just keep wondering - 'what's wrong with the house?' I am praying that the answer to that is nothing.
So, stay tuned to hear how things turn out. I'll be sure post later today after I talk to our realtor and get more information. Fingers crossed......
Be sure to check out the slideshow of pics I took last night!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
What a stressfull first weekend!!!!
So, Jon and I went out on Saturday afternoon with our realtor to look at houses. But, let me preface that with this - my mom and I went on Friday night to scope out some of the nieghborhoods we were going to be seeing the next day. Am I glad we did that!! We had chosen 5 - 6 houses in one neighborhood alone - we drove in on Friday night and immediately turned around. The houses were on top of each other and while the neighorhood was okay, it was not blowing me away. So, I call our realtor and told her to not even bother making appointments for those homes. Okay - well that knocked out a significant number of homes we were supposed to look at.
Then, I am thinking - maybe we need to look at houses in a little high price range - the houses we had nixed earlier in the week! So, Saturday morning comes and Jon and I are very excited. We meet our realtor at noon and get started on our house hunt! The first neighborhood we looked at had 4 houses for us to loo at. First house - heinous and smaller than we what we wanted. Next, please! The second house was nice - loved the open kitched and great room. The backyard was awesome - private and huge!! We weren't blown away but we liked it. The next few houses Jon and I didn't agree on. The kitchen in one of them was gross. Jon's response, "We'll just tear it out and re-do it." I don't think so. I praise anyone who takes on renovations for their home but that is definitely not me. Moving on....
The next neighborhood was quite eventful. First, the house I loved and thought we were going to look at ended up being about $50K more than what we thought. Moving on, again! But, low and behold, almost the same-looking house (not on two lots with a finished basement) was for sale by owner on the same street. So, we didn't have an appointment but our realtor called the number on the sign - no answer! No worries - she ran up to the front door and rang the doorbell/knocked on the door. No answer. Okay - we can just go in. So, we walk in - yell out for anyone - not a sound. We're good to go - so we think! Downstairs is really nice and I immediately ran upstairs to check out the bedrooms, etc. Jon and our realtor are still downstairs talking about who knows what. All of the bedroom doors are open so I also called out again, just to be safe. Not a sound! I see Jon and our realtor at the bottom of the stairs. I asked if the master was on the main level - the answer was no. I tell them I didn't see it upstairs and then I notice a door is closed. Bingo - master suite. I knock on the door, completely kidding, and begin to walk in. Who do I see? Some old man thrashing around in the bed hooked up to some breathing machine or something. I immediately make a face to Jon and Amanda (who thought I was kidding) and ran downstairs in record time. I didn't even close the door behind me I was so freaked out! Meanwhile, Jon is trying to continue looking in the unfinished basement. Hello??!! I just walked in on the owner and we need to get the hell out of there - pronto! We quickly grab fliers and get the hell out of there. As we got back in the car, we all kind of sat there - shocked! It was quite timely since Jon had JUST asked our realtor before we went in what her funniest/weird house hunting story was. After that, she then informs us that we've just topped the list. Of course - leave it to the Mittelbronns. As we all looked at the flier, we noticed the main headline was, 'Seller must sell quickly." Jon's reaction, "Oh, so I guess he's about to bite the dust." We all laugh and comment that we're all going to hell.
After that fiasco, we stumble upon this beautiful house. WOW - gorgeous foyer, HUGE great room with two-story windows. My dream itchen and a keeping room off of it with a beautiful stone fireplace. Upstairs, the greatness continues. The master bedroom has a freakin sitting room and the bathroom had nice new tile, garden rub, huge walk-in closet, etc. The other bedrooms were a great size as well. Then...I look at the backyard. It's nice and level but lord, it literally backs up to the neighbors and I am not even kidding. Not only that, but there was no fence. And, even if it was, it was still not private at all. And when I say that, the neighbors could probably see me making a bundt cake in the kitchen - and they would know it was a bundt cake! Catching my drift? It's still a maybe but we'll see.....
After going to a friend's last night and unwinding from a long day, Jon and I decided to look at different areas today. So, we did and looked at Duluth and Alpharetta. Yes I know - two differeny parts of town. We had tried to stay out of Fulton county due to their supposed ridiculous taxes but we said, "screw it!" Well, we found a neighborhood in Duluth that is perfect and HUGE! We found three houses for sale that we loved - however, looks can be deceiving as we found out on Saturday. However, the houses seemed bigger, had more land and were a little cheaper. Of course, that's what happens when you move a little farther out. However, the areas is very nice and there's even a lake in the neighborhood! So, we sent them to our realtor and hope to see them ASAP. There is one that we especially loved which is beautiful!! So, stay tuned and I'll post pics very soon. We think this one house could be our dream house and is priced lower than we expected - always a good thing. So, stay tuned for more posts........
Then, I am thinking - maybe we need to look at houses in a little high price range - the houses we had nixed earlier in the week! So, Saturday morning comes and Jon and I are very excited. We meet our realtor at noon and get started on our house hunt! The first neighborhood we looked at had 4 houses for us to loo at. First house - heinous and smaller than we what we wanted. Next, please! The second house was nice - loved the open kitched and great room. The backyard was awesome - private and huge!! We weren't blown away but we liked it. The next few houses Jon and I didn't agree on. The kitchen in one of them was gross. Jon's response, "We'll just tear it out and re-do it." I don't think so. I praise anyone who takes on renovations for their home but that is definitely not me. Moving on....
The next neighborhood was quite eventful. First, the house I loved and thought we were going to look at ended up being about $50K more than what we thought. Moving on, again! But, low and behold, almost the same-looking house (not on two lots with a finished basement) was for sale by owner on the same street. So, we didn't have an appointment but our realtor called the number on the sign - no answer! No worries - she ran up to the front door and rang the doorbell/knocked on the door. No answer. Okay - we can just go in. So, we walk in - yell out for anyone - not a sound. We're good to go - so we think! Downstairs is really nice and I immediately ran upstairs to check out the bedrooms, etc. Jon and our realtor are still downstairs talking about who knows what. All of the bedroom doors are open so I also called out again, just to be safe. Not a sound! I see Jon and our realtor at the bottom of the stairs. I asked if the master was on the main level - the answer was no. I tell them I didn't see it upstairs and then I notice a door is closed. Bingo - master suite. I knock on the door, completely kidding, and begin to walk in. Who do I see? Some old man thrashing around in the bed hooked up to some breathing machine or something. I immediately make a face to Jon and Amanda (who thought I was kidding) and ran downstairs in record time. I didn't even close the door behind me I was so freaked out! Meanwhile, Jon is trying to continue looking in the unfinished basement. Hello??!! I just walked in on the owner and we need to get the hell out of there - pronto! We quickly grab fliers and get the hell out of there. As we got back in the car, we all kind of sat there - shocked! It was quite timely since Jon had JUST asked our realtor before we went in what her funniest/weird house hunting story was. After that, she then informs us that we've just topped the list. Of course - leave it to the Mittelbronns. As we all looked at the flier, we noticed the main headline was, 'Seller must sell quickly." Jon's reaction, "Oh, so I guess he's about to bite the dust." We all laugh and comment that we're all going to hell.
After that fiasco, we stumble upon this beautiful house. WOW - gorgeous foyer, HUGE great room with two-story windows. My dream itchen and a keeping room off of it with a beautiful stone fireplace. Upstairs, the greatness continues. The master bedroom has a freakin sitting room and the bathroom had nice new tile, garden rub, huge walk-in closet, etc. The other bedrooms were a great size as well. Then...I look at the backyard. It's nice and level but lord, it literally backs up to the neighbors and I am not even kidding. Not only that, but there was no fence. And, even if it was, it was still not private at all. And when I say that, the neighbors could probably see me making a bundt cake in the kitchen - and they would know it was a bundt cake! Catching my drift? It's still a maybe but we'll see.....
After going to a friend's last night and unwinding from a long day, Jon and I decided to look at different areas today. So, we did and looked at Duluth and Alpharetta. Yes I know - two differeny parts of town. We had tried to stay out of Fulton county due to their supposed ridiculous taxes but we said, "screw it!" Well, we found a neighborhood in Duluth that is perfect and HUGE! We found three houses for sale that we loved - however, looks can be deceiving as we found out on Saturday. However, the houses seemed bigger, had more land and were a little cheaper. Of course, that's what happens when you move a little farther out. However, the areas is very nice and there's even a lake in the neighborhood! So, we sent them to our realtor and hope to see them ASAP. There is one that we especially loved which is beautiful!! So, stay tuned and I'll post pics very soon. We think this one house could be our dream house and is priced lower than we expected - always a good thing. So, stay tuned for more posts........
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Can't Wait to go house hunting....
So, Jon and I met with our new real estate agent last night. Again, thanks, Stace! She really seemed to get what we're looking for and we are going to be out and about on Saturday, checking out homes we have already tagged as "good ones." And, I made a binder that has a print out of all of the homes we like, are so-so on and those we've already said "hell no" to. Even though Jon and I have been looking on our own for awhile, I am SO excited to look at the houses we've narrowed down on Saturday. As busy as I am at work, looking for our new home seems as though it's almost consumed my life. But, who can help it?! I keep looking at photos of the interior of homes and I keep saying, "Jon - can you imagine us sitting in our new great room with our nice fenced in backyard? And, hopefully, it will be just in time for football season!"
Our agent did have to put a few things in perspective for me. A few houses that I loved and saw the inside I was thinking, "What in the hell were they thinking when they had carpet installed?" Or, "Seriously - what were they smoking with that heinous wallpaper?" Oh wait - did I say that out loud? Uh, hell yeah I did. But, I was quickly told these were all things that could be negotiated so I am going in with an open mind. Well, more to come on Saturday after we see some more houses. Stay tuned for more insight... I am sure I will have a lot to say come Saturday evening!!!
Our agent did have to put a few things in perspective for me. A few houses that I loved and saw the inside I was thinking, "What in the hell were they thinking when they had carpet installed?" Or, "Seriously - what were they smoking with that heinous wallpaper?" Oh wait - did I say that out loud? Uh, hell yeah I did. But, I was quickly told these were all things that could be negotiated so I am going in with an open mind. Well, more to come on Saturday after we see some more houses. Stay tuned for more insight... I am sure I will have a lot to say come Saturday evening!!!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
WOW....We've Learned A Lot in 24 Hours....
So, we thought we had it all figured out (well, maybe not ALL) but we were quite humbled as we talked to our mortgage broker last night. So, you know Jon and I thought we had a good price range in mind and figured out what we thought our monthly payment would be. We were feeling pretty good and we're already pulling houses in that range. No problem, right? WRONG! Gee, we didn't think to factor in not only our mortgage loan, but also interest, taxes, homeowners insurance and PMI. And, what is PMI, you ask? If you don't know, we were right there with you up until last night. Private Mortgage Insurance. Meaning, if you can't put at least 20 percent down on the cost of your home, you'll need either need to pay an additional monthly cost for PMI OR take out a piggyback loan. Seriously??? So, let's say you're looking to purchase a $300K home and if you don't have $60K to put down as a down payment, you'll be incurring this fun, new cost! So, we had to reevaluate our price range and take it down a notch, just like our mortgage broker did to us - take us down a notch! However, we're still finding very nice homes in the same area in a price range we realize we can now afford.
It's amazing the things we've learned in this process...and we just started three days ago! For instance, escrow account or no? Uh, for Jon and I, an escrow account is THE way to go but I guess it can be different for everyone. And, we decided to look at multiple mortgage lenders - why not let them battle it out for us to get us the best rate??? So, please take a look at the UPDATED houses we've included that are more up our alley. And, when I say up our alley, I mean, houses that we can afford:) Check them out and let us know what you think. We're meeting with our real estate agent tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. and we can't wait! I am sure I will have more to report tomorrow night so stay tunned!
It's amazing the things we've learned in this process...and we just started three days ago! For instance, escrow account or no? Uh, for Jon and I, an escrow account is THE way to go but I guess it can be different for everyone. And, we decided to look at multiple mortgage lenders - why not let them battle it out for us to get us the best rate??? So, please take a look at the UPDATED houses we've included that are more up our alley. And, when I say up our alley, I mean, houses that we can afford:) Check them out and let us know what you think. We're meeting with our real estate agent tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. and we can't wait! I am sure I will have more to report tomorrow night so stay tunned!
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Search Has Officially Begun...
So, we went from casually looking for a home to actually deciding that we're ready to move forward with the purchase of our first home. So, we've contacted a mortgage broker and a real estate agent (Thanks, Stacy:) so we're ready to get it going. While we know this process can take months because no one wants to settle when making an investment like this, we're also very excited about the possibilities. Jon and I found some great homes over the weekend but it became painfully clear that I would be the one running the show. Jon and I looked at a really nice foreclosure home in Dunwoody last night and we noticed the back deck would probably need to be replaced. Jon's idea - let's replace it with a BRICK deck. Say what? Sure hon - -we'll just replace the WOODEN deck that currently exists and build a brick deck. Brick patio, maybe. This might be a longer road than I thought.
We've already got some houses that we're hoping to look at this Saturday. Stay tuned to see some pics of the homes we're hoping to check out or rule out!
We've already got some houses that we're hoping to look at this Saturday. Stay tuned to see some pics of the homes we're hoping to check out or rule out!
Friday, June 13, 2008
About to begin the search....
So, Jon and I decided that we are ready to purchase our first home. So, as we are about to begin this journey I call 'House Hunting Hilarity,' I thought I'd share our progress with everyone. First thing is first - CREDIT SCORES! My parents always told me that your credit score could help you or break you in life. And, they were right! However, after getting updated scores for both Jon and I, I feel very confident that we will have no problem securing a mortgage loan. The big question now is - what can we ultimately afford without being 'house poor'? So, our next step is to determine how much can feasibly afford. Then, the other big question - where in the hell are these houses that we CAN afford? Uhhh, moving to South Carolina and commuting in is not an option! We'll begin the hunt this weekend. Stay tuned......
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