We got the house!

Yesterday will be a day to remember for the rest of our lives... So much shock can only be delivered to a person before the brain gets addled and things like leaving the keys in the door and walking halfway to the car before you notice start to happen.

We got the call just late enough in the morning from Derrick, that we had figured that is was not going to be coming for several more hours. So I had traipsed off to the store with a very Dear Friend who was waiting to pick up the keys on her totally cute new house. (She'll be moving a coupe of hours away, we needed supplies for the trip and a few other things...)

She and I were standing at the counter, having just purchased our (loot) things, when The Boyfriend called.

Are you in a public place?

Yes. We're just getting ready to leave the store...

Good. Derrick called... He said that... Wah-Wa Wah-Wawa Waaaw-Wa...

(I'm not sure what Derick said. My heart started racing the second The Boyfriend uttered the words "Derrick called". All I heard in my brain was "Ohhh please...Oh please...Oh please...Oh please" like a train keeping rhythm to the blood pounding through my brain. Everything else that followed was like the teacher speaking in the old Charlie Brown comics...)

Wah- Wa Wa... counter offer, but basically it means WE GOT THE HOUSE!

(It is a good thing that I had headed out to the front of the store while The Boyfriend was telling what Derrick said because at that moment, I started jumping up and down like a Mexican Jumping Bean and screaming like a Chihuahua in a purse at the mall.)

Eeeeeeeeeeee! Really? (Reallyreallyreally?) Really? Eeeeeeeeeeeeee! WE GOT THE HOUSE!

(You should have seen the gianormous man walking into the store at just that moment jump about a foot off the floor and look at me like he had never heard a person being told that they just won the lottery or the Superbowl or gotten the house of their dreams before. He was totally startled. The old man that followed into the store right after just shook his head.)

Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Really?
Really?
Really?
Really?
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
(Hop up and down like a bunny on some really good speed.)
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ohhh!

Okay... We'll be right there! You can tell me when we get back...

(WE GOT THE HOUSE!)

Back and forth really bites...

We made the offer on the house. The Seller's Agent is assuring us that they are not playing games, but it seems like they may be. (Or rather, that the Agent may be...) Derrick advises us well, and The Boyfriend is rolling things around in his brain for the rest of the night. (Funny the word rest, there will be no rest tonight... Just stressful thoughts dancing in and out of our heads, trying to figure out the best way to achieve the goal of getting the house.)

They countered, but not yet in writing. They are still showing the house, today was a return showing, and tomorrow (we have been advised) are two more showings. Their Agent says that it was only the first day that the offer came in and that they don't want to rush... But that they are not playing games. (That phrase comes along again.) We had gotten the response from their Agent that he was unable to locate the Seller yesterday, so we have been waiting until tonight to hear back. But nothing in writing, nothing binding, nothing that would put us into the good position of *pending*...

Is it any wonder that we noticed that I am covered in hives on the right side of my body? (Though I am thinking that it may actually be a case of shingles... That has happened before in the past. Will have to try some drugs and see if it helps...) Needless to say, this is the ultimate stress. (Of course I may say this again later on down the road with the next thing, but right now, this is the ultimate.) So I am trying to remain calm and focus on that whole breathing thing. (The Boyfriend is blaring music into his ears via headset... Thank goodness for headsets...)

We call Derrick in the morning to let him know what we have decided the plan of action that best suits us will be. (Like a call to arms... How sad.)

I know that they say if something is just given to you, you don't appreciate it as much... Great, I get it. We appreciate it. Really and truly.

Hard work: Check
Drive: Check
Research: Check
Focus: Check
Gratefulness: Check
Appreciation: Check
Humility: Check
Patience: Still working on that one, not my strong suit
Compassion: Check
Fairness: Check
Love: Double check- check
Superstitious finger crossing: Super- duper, extra bold CHECK

And of course for good measure... Grrrrrr...

We changed gears faster than Flash Gordon...

So I wrote the last post... And then the phone rang. It was the Broker. Loan approved! The Realtor was there with the Broker, they are in the same building so it was an easy thing to do. Our super fantastic Realtor, Derrick Oh, said that he had already contacted the Seller's Agent and had given him a heads up on our interest in the property. He would be expecting our offer in the morning and was very excited to be working with us! We were the first call! (Can you hear the screams of excitement from here?)

At this point in the conversation I am jumping up and down and crying my eyes out because I am so happy! (You mean I get to live in the Barbie Chalet? And we get to KEEP it? All of my dreams that I thought were going to have to be placed on hold until the next home are jumping up and down in excitement...)


So then Derrick tells us that he will meet with us after we meet with the Broker tomorrow morning to draw up the papers. (Note that both the Broker and the Realtor were supposed to be going away on vacation tomorrow. I know, they are just the best! And like I have been saying for days upon days now; I LOVE Derrick!)

Then Derrick called me back to hold my hand a reassure me that we would be getting the offer in on time, that he had talked to the Seller's Agent again and that we'll be faxing it all over and that it was all good, all the way around. We went over the reports (The tests have already been done, the reports already given to us.) and are ready with a game plan.

It is everything that I spoke about with my first meeting with Derrick. (And he recalled everything that I said I was looking for.) And this home fits the original list to a tee! (And... Are you ready for this? It is not much more than the other home. Without all the downsides.)

Side note on the other home. We looked at it again. Really, really looked. And it has more problems than we originally saw. Like cracks in the pool and the addition not being on a foundation that we can see... Yeah... Still a good deal, but not as good as we thought. And headaches. Potentially big headaches. (This new home does not have that. What it has are all the permits in order, all the test done, everything sound.)

So wish us more luck, yet again. And keep those fingers just a little more crossed than before... Tomorrow morning is going to be huge!

OMG!!!

Here is a video from the latest house hunt. This is the home of my dreams... Right within reach... It all is getting down to timing... Will the Broker get back to us in time? Will the Realtor being gone on vacation over the weekend be our undoing? Will some other Buyer snap this up from under us while we are at the mercy of others? Will it be ours? Can we do it? Can we do it in time? Can The Boyfriend hold up to the compounding stress of me facing the home I thought was beyond our reach, just within our grasp? Will I go nuts? Will I take The Boyfriend with me?



And for a few stills that the video does not cover; try out this album.



It is everything that I told the Realtor that I was hoping for.

It is huge, almost 2,000 sq. ft.
It has high vaulted, open beamed ceilings in every room.
It has two skylights.
It has two fireplaces.
It has covered parking for two large vehicles that can easily become a garage.
It has a pool that is deep enough for a diving board and long enough to swim real laps in.
It has three bedrooms.
It has two bathrooms.
It has a nook in the kitchen large enough for a table and four chairs.
It has a formal living room, and a separate family room.
It has a formal dining area.
It has a formal entryway.
It has tons of windows, large ones, and sliding doors.
It has lots of natural light.
It has a large grassy yard, in the front.
It has room to plant a few fruit trees.
The streets have tons of old tall oak trees, the yards are fully landscaped.
The streets are really wide.
The area is quiet.
The street has almost no traffic on it.
The street has good freeway access.
The street has almost NO turnover rate.
It is in the best area of town. (It is the La Jolla of our new city.)

Oh...

And the reports and tests have already been done. The bits that need to be done are nothing major and would be done by the Seller. (And we would get to pick the new tile. Talk about winning!)

And the price is right. Just barely. And we have to get just one type of loan to be able to swing it. But it is. And the value is already way more than the asking price. Not to mention that I would be hard pressed to want to ever move from this house. It has all the growth we would need. We can have visitors and entertain, and have two children fit right in without batting an eye. Great schools, safe neighborhood, this place has it all.

Just cross your fingers.

(And The Boyfriend says that he wants a vacation from his vacation. I can't blame him. Not one bit. I push hard and poke the bear way too often...)

Quickie Update...

We met with the Realtor.
Went over papers.
Came up with a number.
Initialed the offer.
Sent it to the Seller's Agent.
Got a call about two hours later...

First hurdle made. The Seller accepted. Did the initialing, but forgot one page. Will send the disclosures over tomorrow.

Next hurdle: Getting the Seller's Banks to accept the offer... (That could take awhile.)

Fingers are crossed. Happy dance has been going on since 6:30... Keeping those fingers crossed. (Hopefully we'll be lounging in our very own pool this summer!)