Incase any of you are wondering how our housing situation is coming along, Bruce received a call from our realtor yesterday afternoon and we were out-bid on the house. We knew when we placed the offer Tuesday afternoon that two other couples had placed offers the previous weekend, and that the seller was waiting for ours to make a decison. When Bruce and I found out about the other offers we actually ended up raising our offer to the asking price (still a bargain since it is a foreclosure), but apparently one of the other couples had already offered ABOVE the asking price.
So...now that we have that behind us, we are in a toss-up between continuing the 'house-hunting game' or building. Both of course have their pros and cons. We'll definately keep you all updated as to what we decide.
Sorry this is such a short post, but I need to finish paying bills and writing out my grocery list for tomorrow. I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend. Bruce will be working a bit of over-time on both Friday and Saturday, so it will be a weekend full of lots of 'Mommy-Brinley time'. Maybe I'll remember to take some pictures of her being her little self.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
The End of House-Hunting?
Okay...so you know how I wrote in the last post to just give us a week, that we'd probably change our mind about wanting to build a home. Well, a week went by...and Bruce and I are planning to put an offer down within the next couple of days on a house that he and I walked-through this past Saturday. In all honesty, we were really planning to take the weekend off from the whole house-hunting game. Infact, I had been so sick of walking through houses that I told Bruce to just get a big cardboard box, and we can live in that for the rest of our lives.
Well, all that changed when last Thursday we received a notice from Prudential for a house that seemed to have a lot of potential. It is in a great area, is only 4 years old and has only had one owner. Better yet, it is foreclosed, so the bank that owns it now is asking about $40,000 below its market value!!! Anyway, I receive the e-mails at home, and like I previously said, I've been so sick of walking-through houses that I almost didn't show it to Bruce, but something gave me a nudge and before you know it I was forwarding it to Bruce's work e-mail address so that he could take a look at it and be thinking it over while he was at work. After spending most of that evening going back and forth on whether or not we wanted to spend our time and energy on ANOTHER walk-through that would only probably end unsuccessfully, we decided to set up an appointment with our realtor for Saturday afternoon.
I guess after being through over a dozen homes in the past few weeks and seeing what we've seen, we really didn't have high hopes for the house. However, all that changed very quickly. Bruce and I were very satisfied with the house after walking through it. Sure, there are a handful of things that we would like to upgrade or change over the next few years, but that would be expected with any home we would buy. We knew almost immediately after we were finished that we wanted to meet with our realtor within a few days to crunch numbers and quite possibly put an offer in. So, at this point, that is our plan. As of right now, we have an appointment set for tomorrow afternoon, and I guess we'll just see what comes out of it.
About the rest of last weekend--Bruce worked Friday again. As much as I hate him spending so much time away from Brinley and I, I try to keep in mind that in today's economy I should just be thankful that he has a job and one where he is needed. Sunday, we just took the day easy for the most part. Bruce and I spent as much time as Brinley allowed crunching numbers on our own. We did make a trip down to the pond that is in our apartment complex. You see, earlier in the week, we had hotdogs for supper and had few buns leftover. Instead of discarding them, we decided to take Brinley down the pond to feed the ducks. What ended up happening was Daddy held Brinley the entire time while Mommy fed the ducks. Not exactly a picture-perfect moment.
Speaking of pictures--I know it has been a while. Infact, I realized this past weekend that I haven't taken a single picture this month! I promise I am going to try to do better and get some pictures of Miss Brinley taken and posted.
Well, wish us luck concerning the house. I am hoping that I'll be able to start sending out 'new address cards' to everyone soon, but I know that if something doesn't work out that it was for a good reason. Either way, we will definately let you all know how it all goes!
Well, all that changed when last Thursday we received a notice from Prudential for a house that seemed to have a lot of potential. It is in a great area, is only 4 years old and has only had one owner. Better yet, it is foreclosed, so the bank that owns it now is asking about $40,000 below its market value!!! Anyway, I receive the e-mails at home, and like I previously said, I've been so sick of walking-through houses that I almost didn't show it to Bruce, but something gave me a nudge and before you know it I was forwarding it to Bruce's work e-mail address so that he could take a look at it and be thinking it over while he was at work. After spending most of that evening going back and forth on whether or not we wanted to spend our time and energy on ANOTHER walk-through that would only probably end unsuccessfully, we decided to set up an appointment with our realtor for Saturday afternoon.
I guess after being through over a dozen homes in the past few weeks and seeing what we've seen, we really didn't have high hopes for the house. However, all that changed very quickly. Bruce and I were very satisfied with the house after walking through it. Sure, there are a handful of things that we would like to upgrade or change over the next few years, but that would be expected with any home we would buy. We knew almost immediately after we were finished that we wanted to meet with our realtor within a few days to crunch numbers and quite possibly put an offer in. So, at this point, that is our plan. As of right now, we have an appointment set for tomorrow afternoon, and I guess we'll just see what comes out of it.
About the rest of last weekend--Bruce worked Friday again. As much as I hate him spending so much time away from Brinley and I, I try to keep in mind that in today's economy I should just be thankful that he has a job and one where he is needed. Sunday, we just took the day easy for the most part. Bruce and I spent as much time as Brinley allowed crunching numbers on our own. We did make a trip down to the pond that is in our apartment complex. You see, earlier in the week, we had hotdogs for supper and had few buns leftover. Instead of discarding them, we decided to take Brinley down the pond to feed the ducks. What ended up happening was Daddy held Brinley the entire time while Mommy fed the ducks. Not exactly a picture-perfect moment.
Speaking of pictures--I know it has been a while. Infact, I realized this past weekend that I haven't taken a single picture this month! I promise I am going to try to do better and get some pictures of Miss Brinley taken and posted.
Well, wish us luck concerning the house. I am hoping that I'll be able to start sending out 'new address cards' to everyone soon, but I know that if something doesn't work out that it was for a good reason. Either way, we will definately let you all know how it all goes!
Monday, May 18, 2009
House Hunting Update
This past weekend was a busy one for us. Bruce worked on Friday which, as most of y'all know, is out of the ordinary for us. However, a few weeks ago he was able to get approved to work over-time for the next several weeks, which gives him the opportunity to try to catch up on work, if there is such a thing. Between Bruce working late in the evenings and then working on Friday, mine and Brinley's week together was a long one, while our weekend together as a family was just too short.
On Saturday, we drove over to Mobile to walk-through several homes with our realtor. Although, none of them really hit the spot, it made us realize how much we both really like one of the homes that we walked-through the previous weekend. Unfortunately though, (there always has to be an 'unfortunately', doesn't there?) that particular home is already under contract. (Trust me, when Bruce told me that, he was so upset that I think he had tears in his eyes.) However, after finding out who the builder was for it (the paperwork said one builder and our realtor kept saying another), it looks like we may be going this route. First things first, Bruce has to get pre-approved by one of the builder's approved lenders. (Apparently in today's economy and the way banks are failing, they don't allow their customers to lend from just anyone.) Secondly, we're hoping to get an appointment with the builder within the next week or two to discuss where we are wanting to build, what our options are and what our budget is. So at this point, that is what our plan is. Like I told my mom couple of days ago, Bruce and I might change our mind next weekend and want to buy a bungalow in Australia....who knows....
Sunday was a rather gloomy, stormy day here on the Gulf Coast, so we just took it easy. Bruce did venture out to catch the new Star Trek movie during Brinley's nap. (Yes, for those of you who weren't aware of this already, I am married to a Trekkie....oy!) Asside from that though, we really didn't venture out much. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Sorry there aren't any pictures this time around.
On Saturday, we drove over to Mobile to walk-through several homes with our realtor. Although, none of them really hit the spot, it made us realize how much we both really like one of the homes that we walked-through the previous weekend. Unfortunately though, (there always has to be an 'unfortunately', doesn't there?) that particular home is already under contract. (Trust me, when Bruce told me that, he was so upset that I think he had tears in his eyes.) However, after finding out who the builder was for it (the paperwork said one builder and our realtor kept saying another), it looks like we may be going this route. First things first, Bruce has to get pre-approved by one of the builder's approved lenders. (Apparently in today's economy and the way banks are failing, they don't allow their customers to lend from just anyone.) Secondly, we're hoping to get an appointment with the builder within the next week or two to discuss where we are wanting to build, what our options are and what our budget is. So at this point, that is what our plan is. Like I told my mom couple of days ago, Bruce and I might change our mind next weekend and want to buy a bungalow in Australia....who knows....
Sunday was a rather gloomy, stormy day here on the Gulf Coast, so we just took it easy. Bruce did venture out to catch the new Star Trek movie during Brinley's nap. (Yes, for those of you who weren't aware of this already, I am married to a Trekkie....oy!) Asside from that though, we really didn't venture out much. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Sorry there aren't any pictures this time around.
Monday, May 11, 2009
A Tidbit About Our Recent Trip to Texas and a Tadbit of Other Stuff
The past several days, we have been BUSY. The weekend before last, we made an impromptu trip to Texas to visit my Mom and Dad. We really hadn't planned on making a trip to Texas until Mom's next surgery, but when she had her last series of doctors appointments last month, we found out that it might be a while before that takes place. So, instead of putting off our trip any longer we decided to go ahead and go for it. We had a nice time lounging around and visiting with everyone. Luckily, Emma and Cole were able to come over a couple of the evenings. That Cole is such a cutie...but then again maybe I'm a little partial since he is my newphew/godson, no?
Here's another one of Brinley's favorite places to stash things--the bottom level of our coffee table.
Brinley learned how to put the rings around the giraffe's neck while at Nana and Papa's.
While we were at Mom and Dad's, Bruce received an e-mail that a house we'd been eyeing dropped in price. We quickly decided to give our realtor a call and set up a walk-through appointment for the following week. The day after we returned to Mississippi, we went over to Mobile to look at the house. Although it was a foreclosure, everything seemed to be okay except for some minor damage, missing blinds/light fixtures/ceiling fans and missing kitchen appliances. We agreed to set up an appointment for the following Saturday (9th) to go over some numbers and possibly give the house a more thorough walk-through.
Brinley decided to help Nana cook breakfast while we were visiting her and Papa's.
A few days go by and we get a call from our realtor--the house has termites! After a few days of being undecided on what to do, Bruce receives a phone call from our realtor saying that four other people had put down offers on the house within the past few days, and that if we were interested in the house that we needed to put an offer down within the next couple of hours. Bruce and I both decided immediately that we didn't feel comfortable being pressured into the situation so we decided to let that house go. We still kept our appointment with our agent, but instead of crunching numbers, we went walking through a couple of more houses that we've been interested in. One of them, we have for sure decided against, but the second one we like quite a bit. We still have a few more houses that we are hoping to walk-thorough this weekend, and then after that point we feel that we'll know which one we're leaning towards.
Now that Brinley is fairly mobile, Bruce and I find stuff stashed in every nook she can reach.
So...that is what has been going on in our lives lately. On a different note, Brinley has been getting a lot more confident with her walking skills. I would estimate that she's at a 50/50 ratio of crawling versus walking. If she's not in a hurry to get somewhere than she'll try walking, but if she spots something across the room that she want to get to immediately, she crawls--she knows that she can get from point A to point B more quickly if she chooses that mode of transportation.
Typically this is A'Pexi's 'Toy Basket', but lately it has become Brinley's 'Anything I Can Stash Into It Basket'.
Brinley has also (finally) figured out how to clap. Since she has never like her hands being touched, Bruce and I have never been able to show her how to do it by clapping her hands together for her. We would just show her by clapping our own hands together. I joked to Bruce that she must have dreamed how to do it, because the first time she clapped was Saturday morning when I came into her bedroom to get her after she woke up. She just started clapping like she was a pro at it and has been doing it well ever since. Speaking of sleeping--and I hope I don't jinx myself by sharing this with all of y'all-- she has been sleeping VERY well since we've been home from Texas. I would say that out of the past week, she has slept through the night (approximately 11 hours) 6 out of 7 times. Not only is she sleeping well at night, but her naps have also become a little longer too. Hopefully we're on to something....
Here's another one of Brinley's favorite places to stash things--the bottom level of our coffee table.
Anyway, I am going to try to keep y'all updated as far as the housing situation goes. Hopefully some success will come out of the walk-throughs this weekend. Wish us luck!
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