As of 1:30PM, I am – I believe this is the proper term - in escrow.
There should be so many exclamation points after that but friends, I am so, so tired.
On the day that we were dealing with having most of our worldly belongings stolen, we were also in the process of making an offer on a home. I know! The Universe is just one crazy kid, right? I mean, why not take naturally stressful situations like planning a wedding and buying a home and then add robbery to it? I’d make a joke about an unplanned pregnancy, but come on, at this point, it would happen merely from suggestion.
Obviously, I didn’t want to say anything until there was actually something to say, but now there is – I have parted with earnest money and an April closing date is set. Pending inspection, etc. etc.
In case you’re thinking you missed something, we were not in the market for a home. Not even sort of. But my architect coworker and her very talented carpenter husband put theirs on the market and I knew I would never find a custom kitchen like that as long as I lived (one that I could afford, anyway). So. We looked at the house on a whim and by the time we left, we were calling it “ours.” You know how that goes. So, we ran numbers (buying = cheaper than renting), got a little assistance from my mom, I applied for financing and holy cow, it turns out? My credit score is really, really good. What can I say, I love to pay bills. Anyway, six days later, we’re under contract. Because that is how we roll.
I want to be so much more peppy about this, but like I said: tired. So very tired. Last night, the Boy went to watch a basketball game with his buddies and I laid in bed flinching at every sound, every creak of the building, terrified that someone would come in. I know it’s irrational. I KNOW. But I can’t make it go away.
I am also fully aware of how silly this is going to sound, but periodically, I would succumb to a flash of panic, climb out of bed and move things. Like, my work laptop. It can’t possibly be safe wherever I have put it, so I have to move it. My great grandmother’s watch. Move it. Hide my purse, the phone charger I brought from work. Our passports. I did this until well after 1AM.
There will be celebrating, because this house is precious and we are thrilled, but I’m pretty sure that a nap will have to happen first.
Now, who’s got some Xanax?
OMG! Heather, I *knew* you were going to buy it! Congratulations!!!
Thank you! Seriously, I am *this* close to imploding from all the conflicting emotions I’ve been going through this week. I think if that house were not so totally Meant to Be, the robbery would have stopped us right in our tracks. No way would we have made an offer. But. You know how these things go!
This is so great! You’ll be able to feel fully excited about it soon. Until then, take care and be well. I hope we get to see some snapshots of the cool kitchen!
WHOOO HOOOO!!! Though I know it’s nerve-wracking & exhausting, I’m so happy you and the Dark Lord found a house you love!!! I really admire you for working so hard to earn that great credit score…it’s obviously paying off now. Hopefully now you can relax – maybe watch a movie to get your mind off things?
Oh, and in a previous post you mentioned how you were already planning where furniture would go… When I moved into my house this summer, I used http://floorplanner.com and it was great, especially since I was in the middle of grad school when I moved and had no time to rearrange furniture.
If it makes you feel any better, I still flinch at sounds and move things around (did I put the laptop under the bed?)…and that’s without being robbed.
Again, many congratulations on the house & on being so strong!
A co-worker had her house broken into yesterday and today she said she never knew how many noises there were at night. I’m guessing what you’re feeling is pretty normal.
Congratulations on escrow, though. I hope it’s a first step in putting this ugliness behind you.
Take pictures of the kitchen for us, OK?
congratulations, fish. i just want to second a picture of the kitchen, if possible. i love kitchens.
wow you don’t do emotional roller coasters by half eh! Congrats though, i am so glad this weeks gets to be about more than just the week you were robbed. Sleep then some imploding with excitement is in order!
You know how they say that rain on your wedding day foretells a life together that is full of happiness and rainbows and other cheerful accoutrements? I’m pretty sure that having your apartment broken into before moving in to a new and wonderful house foretells a home that is full of love and tons of personal and professional success. SAT analogies at work.
Congrats!
Ha. “Cheerful accoutrement.” Totally going to start a band just so I can name it that.
I have been away from this blog way too long. But congrats on the home purchase. Congrats on the new domain. Good luck with the wedding planning and do take a load off and have a daiquiri.
If you love the house, then you have made the right decision. So many people never get to live in a house that they love (First World problem, I know, but fuck it).
Moving out of the violated apartment is a good move, too. Roll on April.
How wonderful to hear your happy news after sadly reading about the robbery. And thanks, as always, Heather, for sharing your life with all of us. I never knew how bonding a blog could be! I wish you and your Dorklord every happiness.
You are a strong, strong woman to add that load onto your shoulders! Congratulations on the house. There’s nothing quite as lovely as when they give you the keys and you walk into YOUR OWN HOUSE without someone else having to unlock the door for you.
You say soon-to-be-former owner is a talented carpenter?
That’s a VERY good thing! I come from a ‘carpenter’ family and this means the house was most likely well maintained – exactly what you want for your first home.
Congratulations!
Congrats Heather! How exciting! After your PTSD wears off, the excitement will come. Seriously.. it’s not hard to get. I had it after a car accident where some chick turned left right into the front of my car, despite massive honking. I worried constantly that everyone going the opposite direction was going to do the same thing. It takes a while to get over it, but you will. And moving into your new perfect home will definitely help! I love that feeling.. that’s how we felt when we moved into our place. We’re renting, but also had that “We already feel like this is our house” the moment we stood in the kitchen. The Universe works in mysterious ways, but it gives you signs. Like this house. I’m glad you paid attention!
I was SO hoping that this would be the good news that followed the bad news. I have creepy crawly feelings all over just thinking about if I were you in that apartment. I am so excited that you are getting out of there and into an amazing new house that will be YOURS no less. I am so excited that you get to leave the bad memory (and bug) behind. And I am so happy that Hal made it through unscathed and present to make the move with you. April – so close! You get some sleep, I’ll be excited for you. It’s the least I can do since I can’t send you the Xanax you deserve.
Oh Fish, I’m so happy for you! I went through the escrow process a little over a year ago, and was almost hyperventilating with excitement through the entire month. A fresh start in a new home is a great remedy for the violation of you current apartment. Take the boy and Hal and enjoy your future with NEW STUFF!
Congratulations! Can we see pictures of the whole place? What can I say? I’m greedy! The kitchen alone just won’t do
Congrats on the house! How exciting! Best of luck!
Hooray! I’m so excited for you to get a pretty house with a pretty kitchen!
*jaw on floor* *replace jaw* *big smile*
Barbara… I said the same thing!
Congratulations Kids! So wonderful!
Addendum — “es-ca-row”…Gilmore Girls reference if I remember correctly? Luke’s brother-in-law?
Yay!! Yes! I love Gilmore Girls. “I’m in es-ca-row!”
Congrats, congrats, congrats!!
Am I blind or do you not have contact information on your new site? Was going to email you this, but finally found the blog I copied it from. I know most probably don’t apply but there were a couple of ideas that I thought were clever. Though honestly, I think it would be a great idea for you to post a list of your own once it’s all said and done-I think you would come up with better feedback.
http://ellemichelleunedited.blogspot.com/2008/07/wedding-tips-no-one-tells-you.html
p.s. don’t forget to research home owner’s insurance before it’s too late. I’ve been the deliverer of sad tidings when people didn’t research before they became homeowners and had to tell them that their premiums are half their mortgage payment
There’s an envelope icon at the top of the page for email
Oh, our lender made us get an estimate of home owner’s insurance for the loan.
Absolutely fantastic news! Congratulations to both you and the DL! Awesome news!
Congrats! First of all, be glad that you do not live in Britain:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356388/Villagers-outraged-police-order-protect-garden-sheds.html?ITO=1490
Second of all, I am happy that you have good news to balance the bad.
A little friendly advice: Get out from under the escrow as soon as you can. Save for and pay your own taxes and insurance. Heck, you said yourself that you love to pay bills on time and have a good credit rating. They shouldn’t raise your interest rate over such a thing, either. I’ve seen too many people pay for the screwups of finance companies who do not pay the property tax and insurance bills on time.
Oh, and if you feel “house poor” in a month or two, don’t worry, because that’s normal.
Oh, and I hope your commutes are going to be pretty good!
You all are going to have FUN doing your taxes next year!
I turn my back for two weeks and so much happens. So terribly sorry to hear about the robbery but I am so very pleased that you have just bought your first house! That is brilliant and I’m so sure it’s going to bring you so much joy!
Right? We are VERY exciting around here.
You’d nearly have to see it to believe it!
Cirque du Fish. Now showing.
Congrats! This is just what you two needed and the universe (generally), doesn’t give you more than you can handle. Though I hate to use the phrase ‘everything happens for a reason’ after all the good and bad I have been through the last couple of years, I really do believe in it. You guys are awesome!
Congrats on owning your own little piece of Texas!
Congrats!!!! Buying your first house comes with so many emotions. I don’t know how you are dealing with it after a robbery. The buying process itself comes with so much stress, but then try factoring in moving, the fact that you can’t call someone when something breaks, stupid homeowners associations, and the fact that since I bought a house as a single woman I am sending messages out into the world that I don’t need a man in my life and I really want a man!!
However, I did surivive, managed to keep a man in my life, and love walking into my house every night. I love that my friends love my house and that it’s so welcoming and cozy. I love planning house projects. Don’t be suprised when you’re still wearing clothes from five years ago because every time you go shopping, you buy something for the house instead of yourself.
Congrats Fish! Walking into your first home right after you close escrow is one of the greatest feelings. Of course, now you will find yourself totally re-doing your monthly budget because you will find so many things you want to do to the house (because it’s yours, and you can)!
Also, don’t know how handy you or the boy are, but you might want to look into a home warranty, especially if it’s an older home. It should cover all appliances, plumbing, electrical in the house. Ours just covered a $1000 furnace repair.
Good luck!
Hey Fish!
Being one to always look on the bright side of things, I thought I might put in my two cents regarding the recent sequence of events in your life, and that is:
With fewer things, the move to the new digs will be less stressful!
Congrats!
I have a pretty good sense of humor and I won’t lie, I’m having a hard time with that one, GP. In the end, we got taken for about $7K worth of personal belongings and the insurance company will replace approximately 30% of that. Me, I’d rather pack an extra box or two than start over.
Heather I am SO incredibly sorry that this happened to you. I cannot even imagine.
I’m beginning to think there’s something to the stress of big life changes like this though – that something clicks and suddenly it’s everything at once.
I put an offer on a house shortly before I got engaged over the summer, and dealing with the whole process of that while trying to plan a wedding was crazy. My fiance is out of the country until a week before our wedding (which is only 16 days away) and since he’s been gone, the sprinklers have broken, a pipe burst and flooded our house, our refrigerator broke and I had to buy a new one, and a bathroom cabinet door fell off in my hand.
For some reason, I think the Universe likes to give us feast or famine. But someone told me that all these mishaps now mean that there’s a happy marriage ahead. I wish the same for you – tough times now, amazing times later. Hang in there!!