Homeownership Should be a Four-Letter… nah, it’s Been Done.
Who’s a big boy? Who’s a big girl?
We are!
(This post will most likely be boring for 90% of the readership, seeing as they already own homes, and have that haunted look in their eye, nervously looking over their shoulder to see if their mortgage is watching them spend the extra five bucks at the theatre for the big popcorn. What? Nothing.)
Instead of throwing money into the corporate cesspool of renting, TLEMK and I officially tied the knot to our new (old) home yesterday afternoon. For the unfamiliar, we had to go through an intense negotiating session with the previous owners, one that left me rattled. It went something like this:
“So, you really want to buy this house?”
(Me) “Yup.”
“How does (number with digits in it) sound?”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay.”
That was tricky, let me tell you. (those of you who don’t know, that was a joke. We bought the house from my parents. It was easy. Really. No, really.)
And then we waited for a year, and yesterday was the big day. Despite having to go the bank and withdraw the biggest check of our lives, and carry it on my person all day, and despite me freaking out in middle of the day traffic jams, everything was fine. The lawyer was good, and we just kept signing. At some point, I would like to good back and read some of the things I put my John Hancock on, but as the lawyer said, “Here’s what you need to know. You pay, the bank leaves you alone. The end.” Simple enough, I hope.
We celebrated our new debt by immediately going out to dinner. (mmm, CPK) Thankfully, the previous owners paid.
Seriously, it was a scary big step, but it hasn’t really kicked in yet. It’ll probably feel more real when we move, and the previous occupants are out. Two weeks to the move, and I would say that we are maybe 30% done with packing. It’ll definitely feel more real on September 1, when the first PITI payment is due. Woo, escrow, woo!
I will be posting pictures of the new place as soon as A) I get my digital camera back, and B) I can.
Now, who wants to go to the hardware store?
RSS Trackback URL 1. August 2006 (07:33)Filed under: General, Home Improvement
7 Comments»
aj
1. August 2006 | 07:54 hcongratulations! i hope the heat breaks before your move.
Cindy
1. August 2006 | 09:06 hCongratulations! It’ll feel real once you stop paying the rent and utilities at the apartment. And once you get your first property tax bill!
Those are super fun.
Waj
1. August 2006 | 11:41 hI kinda thought I would go back and read through the stuff I signed as well, but haven’t. I think I’ll take your attorney’s advice and read something a little more entertaining (like finishing the everlasting Dark Tower Series).
Congrats with getting through the stress part! Now its all labor from here on out…
Waj
Kenny
1. August 2006 | 21:45 hYou’re breaking the theme. (Andrew did it too, but I can’t find anything on his site right now.)
But congratulations. I’m sure you’re going to make it a great home. Again.
The worst part of the closing for me, besides all the sign-here, initial-here, soul-here, was the point in time where everyone in the room got a check but me. The sellers, their lawyer, my lawyer, the bank, the realtor(tm). All I got were keys. I would have been happy getting a $1.99 coupon to Jarling’s, but I didn’t even get that.
Home ownership is hard work, but I know you’ll be great.
Frank the Tank
7. August 2006 | 10:51 hAs an attorney, I can confirm that all of that stuff that you signed was gobbley-gook.*
(* By “gobbley-gook”, I mean that you’re now shackled to “The Man” for life.)
Minneapolis Red Sox
7. August 2006 | 17:34 hShout me a holla if you need to knock shit down. I took out a quarter of a garage wall in under 7 seconds with a crowbar and a hatred of Celine Dion to fuel my rage and realized I totally missed my calling.
These are not the hands of a builder… these are the hands of a destruction specialist…
The Jenni
7. September 2006 | 10:30 hWAY TO GO, HOMEOWNER!!
Everyone says it’s great that you’re not throwing away money on rent anymore. Have you seen that first mortgage payment? I think $180.00 went toward our principal. Stupid interest…
At least in the apartment if the dish washer broke down, someone else paid for a new one…
The best part is having a home of your own…somethings you can invest time and money into and get a return someday. Dr. Cheese’s mantra during closing was, “IT’S AN INVESTMENT”.
And I totally agree with Kenny about the Jarling’s coupon…
Congrats!