This will probably be my last post before closing on the house on March 11th (at least that's the planned date). There really isn't much going on right now. Except signing papers and waiting. YAWN! I'm so ready to move!! The water tests came back pretty much clean so we are really happy about that part. We've got the down payment ready to go to (just a bit important)
I'll put up some pics after closing. I do have a few on my personal facebook page if you wanted to catch a glimpse though.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The bank stuff is in the works now.
We have the official bank approval (before it was a pre-approval) and locked in our interest rate for the term of the loan. The closing date is set for mid-March so we are really looking forward to moving in late March.
I have the quote for insurance too. Since we will be keeping livestock, no ordinary insurance will do (of course!) since we need liability coverage in case one of our critters injures someone. Its about $60 or so a month higher in cost than normal house insurance. Not loving that part.
Oh and I now have recently educated myself in what to call the style of this house. Its a mid-century modern. As soon as I did a google search it was very clear that is what it is. I think we'll eventually replace our furniture will cool mid-century styles as they wear out or as the funds become available. It does though seem a bit strange to have a retro cool house but farm-y stuff outside, but it might be just perfect for us.
I have the quote for insurance too. Since we will be keeping livestock, no ordinary insurance will do (of course!) since we need liability coverage in case one of our critters injures someone. Its about $60 or so a month higher in cost than normal house insurance. Not loving that part.
Oh and I now have recently educated myself in what to call the style of this house. Its a mid-century modern. As soon as I did a google search it was very clear that is what it is. I think we'll eventually replace our furniture will cool mid-century styles as they wear out or as the funds become available. It does though seem a bit strange to have a retro cool house but farm-y stuff outside, but it might be just perfect for us.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The inspection was good!
The inspection showed some minor things and one kinda major things needed on the house. As far as we are concerned its still a go :)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Getting things together
I finally sorted my seeds and found out that I have no less than 6 varieties/packets of beets, 3 of the same variety packets of spinach, 3 each of pea types and green bean types....what I'm saying here is "Hi, my name is Melody and I am a seed addict". Kinda feeling like a hoarder about now. A hoarder who will have a really awesome, yummy garden this year.
The house is still in the works. We have an inspection coming up on Wednesday that will make or break the deal (not worried though). If they find anything major we can walk from it. Fortunately my husband and a friend who happens to be a contractor had already looked at the house inside and out (except the roof) and determined it looked pretty good AND there was an inspection from two years ago that a bunch of things were brought up and fixed at that time.
We are still undecided if we are selling our 9 acre lot. On the one hand, its a great lot for growing hay, animal feeds and grains. We could fatten up grazing animals over there if we added some fencing and there is a lot of wild fruits along the perimeter that are pretty awesome. On the other hand though, its a monthly payment that doesn't really earn its keep now. The money we pay into that lot every month could go a long way into the new house and its acreage. Also the upkeep of the lot is a pretty decent task all by itself. We had been relying on a local guy to cut the hay but if you've been keeping up with my blog you already know that so far that hasn't been really working out. So if we keep it, we could really use to buy a tractor and hay cutting equipment. More $$.
If we keep it then we really need to earn money off of it. Enough to offset at least some of its costs. Steers could pretty easily do that as the demand for grassfed beef is pretty good, we'd need to purchase though the livestock, fencing, vet bills and processor fees. A CSA could do it pretty well too, but for that option we really do need a tractor. An orchard could work, but there are a lot of apple orchards around here. Pastured poultry, maybe, but I'm concerned that we'd have trouble keeping them safe from predators when we aren't right there for them.
Sorry guys, I get to thinking on paper sometimes with this blog and just start rambling on. I'll keep you posted as things get interesting.
The house is still in the works. We have an inspection coming up on Wednesday that will make or break the deal (not worried though). If they find anything major we can walk from it. Fortunately my husband and a friend who happens to be a contractor had already looked at the house inside and out (except the roof) and determined it looked pretty good AND there was an inspection from two years ago that a bunch of things were brought up and fixed at that time.
We are still undecided if we are selling our 9 acre lot. On the one hand, its a great lot for growing hay, animal feeds and grains. We could fatten up grazing animals over there if we added some fencing and there is a lot of wild fruits along the perimeter that are pretty awesome. On the other hand though, its a monthly payment that doesn't really earn its keep now. The money we pay into that lot every month could go a long way into the new house and its acreage. Also the upkeep of the lot is a pretty decent task all by itself. We had been relying on a local guy to cut the hay but if you've been keeping up with my blog you already know that so far that hasn't been really working out. So if we keep it, we could really use to buy a tractor and hay cutting equipment. More $$.
If we keep it then we really need to earn money off of it. Enough to offset at least some of its costs. Steers could pretty easily do that as the demand for grassfed beef is pretty good, we'd need to purchase though the livestock, fencing, vet bills and processor fees. A CSA could do it pretty well too, but for that option we really do need a tractor. An orchard could work, but there are a lot of apple orchards around here. Pastured poultry, maybe, but I'm concerned that we'd have trouble keeping them safe from predators when we aren't right there for them.
Sorry guys, I get to thinking on paper sometimes with this blog and just start rambling on. I'll keep you posted as things get interesting.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Accepted Offer!
I'll keep this short since this is all just getting started but we have an accepted offer for a house! It's all pretty exciting and there is a lot to get done between now and closing so here we go.
Monday, January 24, 2011
counter offer
Their counter offer was terrible. They barely left their original price and are refusing to make any of our requested repairs. Mind you we haven't had the place inspected yet so there might be more needed to the place than what we requested. I have a feeling that this may end up being a dead end. We have a price in our heads that sounds just right for this house and they are still 10k above that price in their counter offer. We plan to counter back but I don't think they will like it.
Tomorrow I go and look at another house, one that is in the running right up with the one we bid on. Its in the next county....about a 1400 sq ft log cabin on 8+ acres w/ a barn. I've heard from my husband that its a tad small but we should be able to work it out. Its out in the middle of nowhere so I don't suspect anyone would have a problem if we added on to it in the future. (One of the things I won't miss from our old cookie cutter, vinyl village home we used to live in...the one with a restrictive HOA)
My seed order arrived in the mail today and I'm feeling so charged for this spring's garden. I need to start a few seeds soon for cold weather crops and artichokes but we have no place to set up the mini-greenhouse. We really need to find a place soon!
Tomorrow I go and look at another house, one that is in the running right up with the one we bid on. Its in the next county....about a 1400 sq ft log cabin on 8+ acres w/ a barn. I've heard from my husband that its a tad small but we should be able to work it out. Its out in the middle of nowhere so I don't suspect anyone would have a problem if we added on to it in the future. (One of the things I won't miss from our old cookie cutter, vinyl village home we used to live in...the one with a restrictive HOA)
My seed order arrived in the mail today and I'm feeling so charged for this spring's garden. I need to start a few seeds soon for cold weather crops and artichokes but we have no place to set up the mini-greenhouse. We really need to find a place soon!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Offer in
We put an offer in on a house just outside of town here. Its a nice big house with 5 acres, a barn, pastures, hayfield...its really just lovely. We offered 85% of what they are asking for so come Monday we'll get an idea on if they are interested in negotiating. Fingers crossed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)