The Great Unknown

I might not be around much in the coming weeks- and then again I might be around more often than I think. We put an offer in on another house on the 9th of May. The seller is doing a short sale (they owe more on it than it is worth- who doesn't?).

It's been a fairly emotional rollercoaster already and we are only a few weeks into the deal. We don't know if the seller's bank is going to accept the offer. We don't know how long it is going to take. We don't know if we are going to be able to find anyone to rent our current home since we also owe more than it is worth. Ahh, The Great Unknown.

So in the mean time we are in Super-Economy-Mode. (Which is even harder than Economy-Mode). We know it is going to take money to move, money to fix up the things in the new house that we would want fixed. Money to furnish the new rooms (basement!) that we don't already have in this house. Money to maybe pay two house payments if we can't find someone to rent this one right away.

It's actually all a very scary prospect. I have been wondering if it is too bold of a move right now- in our economy. I have been wondering if by doing this we will be sacrificing some of the things we love the most- like little weekend trips here or there. Or just splurging on the girls when we see something we know they will love.

But then I think again about it- we have the opportunity to move into a home with a basement and a backyard so big that we can put in that dream swingset (can we afford it anymore?) that we have been talking about since Christmas. Each of the girls will get their own attached bathroom in the new house- something I feel will be extremely handy in their tween and teen years. The new house has a perfect spot to plant a garden- and not just one that grows in between rosebushes in a planter box. The new house has a three car garage instead of the two car garage that we have. And did I mention the basement? Lots of storage down there for all the Christmas stuff so it doesn't clutter up that new garage. The new house has a playroom- PLAYROOM I am telling you instead of just a toy closet. The new house has a gigantic concrete patio in the backyard where the girls can write with chalk, ride their bikes, learn to roller-blade. It has a basement, did I mention that?

It's tough not to get excited about it. I've already mentally moved in. I'm decorating it in my head every single day- when I check out the photos on the MLS again and again. It's even harder just really not knowing if/when the seller's bank will approve the short sale. It's equally as hard to watch that while they are inundated and moving slow the rates are not moving slow- in the span of time since we put in the offer our rate has moved up by half a point.

And in the mean time- regardless of whether we do move or not I am trying to clean up closets, corners, and piles of stuff. We have mountains of it. I am listing stuff on E-bay and Craigslist every weekend. I am calling charities to bring trucks (more than one!). So if you do wonder where I am- you are likely to find me buried under a pile of stuff, sorting it- this one goes to E-bay, this one goes to Craigslist, this one goes to charity, this one goes to trash.

I will try to make time to blog and read blogs. And I will definitely keep you updated if when the seller's bank accepts our offer and we have a timeline on moving. Don't worry if you are one of my local friends- we won't punish you by asking you to help. (Dad). If anything we might just ask you if we can bring the girls over to your house so we can keep them out of the way of the movers. So I guess we will just wait and see. If it is meant to be, well then it will be. Everything will come together- the seller's bank, the financing, the timing. And if it isn't meant to be then we will just have to dream about that house in the desert with a basement- kind of like an oasis that disolves when you get too close.

Comments

[Carla]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you! The market is just crazy. We are re-financing, and even though I got them all the info they needed within 3 days, we are still waiting to close (6 weeks later) because there are so many people in line ahead of us. Do you have any pics of the new house?
Carla

[Megan]

Yeah for you guys.....I will pray that is all works out for you! The house sounds amazing and perfect! You deserve it! Happy cleaning....when you are done....can you come do the same thing at my house?

[Don]

DO NOT ever feel you are imposing on mom or I. We still have the same open door policy, as when you all were growing up . Besides all of the grandkids feel that their room is right upstairs. May I also add we love to have time with all of them ? Love Dad and Mom