Lies, All Lies

on June 6, 2011
in All Posts

My favorite TV show is probably House Hunters.  You see, I’ve been dying to own a home since I was a little kid.  Yet we couldn’t afford to even think about buying until the Husband finished up with grad school, we moved, and we launched the clinic.

 

I thought buying a house would be FUN and EASY!  So far, it has been anything but easy (it’s still mostly fun, thank goodness).  We’ve literally spent DAYS looking at homes online, meeting with different banks, pulling together paperwork, checking out properties in real life (we’ve seen about thirty), and debating.  They don’t show of all that on House Hunters.

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We’re at the pivotal point in the process where if we don’t get mortgage approval NOW, we’re going to have to wait until next April for 2011 taxes to be filed so we can use another year of income.  It’s draining and exhausting!  I hope our bank comes through for us… I would love to finally OWN a home and fill it with children.

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(House hunting back in 2009 – idiotic.  I don’t even know why we looked back then… We could barely afford to pay our electric bill.)

 

So – today, the Husband and I walked/ran for 30 minutes (we probably did 2.0 miles) and then jumped in the car to meet up with our realtor.  We found a house that we LOVE… but now it’s time to play the waiting game.

 

Any advice on making this process more bearable?  I’m trying to keep my eye on the prize, but it’s such a time-suck!

 

Lunch:

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I attempted to make mashed parsnips.  They were yummy but didn’t fool my tastebuds!  Definitely NOT mashed potatoes.

 

On a bed of lettuce with brown rice and a shredded veggie burger.

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Hi-Ho! Back to work I go.

 

HLS3 Reminder!

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Tickets for the Third Annual Healthy Living Summit go on sale TONIGHT at 8 PM EST.  I am so excited – I hope to see you there!  Check out the website for all the deets.

{ 105 comments }

 

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) June 6, 2011, 2:50 pm

    I still think buying our house up here was one of the most stressful times of my life. Since we still owned our other home, lenders looked at us more closely, but the real pain was that because we bought a short sale house, there was a lot of waiting (months) involved and dealing with 2 different banks that were arguing with each other.
    It was totally worth the headache though- we couldn’t be happier with where we live now.
    Hang in there and good luck!!

  • Amy June 6, 2011, 2:50 pm

    Having just bought a new house and sold our current, I’ve come to the conclusion that real estate just sucks in general. 🙂

    Not sure about the US, but I’m in Canada and having a mortgage broker was AMAZING. She was prompt and efficient, unlike most of the banks I dealt with!

    GOOD LUCK!

  • Rachel @ Fit Fun and Fabulous June 6, 2011, 2:55 pm

    We had a very, very unusual house hunting experience. Probably the exact opposite of your situation. We were completely anti-buying a house until a perfect “storm” fell into our laps (found a perfect home the first day we looked, got immediate approval for a loan, and decided we wanted to take advantage of low interest rates).

    I hope it all works out for you with the bank!

  • Allison @ Happy Tales June 6, 2011, 2:58 pm

    Gosh, i hope you get approved soon! I can’t WAIT for the day that I can start house-hunting. I seriously dream about it. Heck, I even “house-hunt” on my runs. One day… one day!

  • Jen June 6, 2011, 3:13 pm

    Ha, we were also idiots and looked for houses when Jeff was still in school. Fools.
    I so hope this house works out for you guys!

  • Laura June 6, 2011, 3:14 pm

    Keeping in mind that whatever happens along the way is happening for a reason really helped us get thru the stressful experience. We purchased in the fall of 2010 and houses were in high demand in the area we were searching. A few homes we absolutely LOVED fell thru either b/c they didnt want to sell to FHA buyers–even though we were pre-approved via a very reputable bank for more than the homes were being sold for–or we wound up in pricing wars. Our realtor was frustrated for us! Luckily, we found a great home, location, etc. and the sellers were actually thrilled to sell to first timers (they were originally in same boat). Keep thinking that everything will work out for the best! And a few strong cocktails should help too….Good luck! 😉

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:35 pm

      Thanks Laura – this is good advice.

  • Amanda (Eating Up) June 6, 2011, 3:16 pm

    I am sending positive thoughts your way! It will all work out!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife June 6, 2011, 3:16 pm

    Yikes, house hunting sounds sort of like a nightmare….I will cross that bridge when we get to it. ha!

    Best of luck. Your lunch looks, well, interesting. But prob really good 🙂

  • Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope June 6, 2011, 3:19 pm

    REALLY hope this one works out for you! The purchasing process sounds so stressful, but the payoff will be worth it. A few years from now when you’re settled in with your family, you’ll look back and realize how it was all worth it. 🙂

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) June 6, 2011, 3:19 pm

    To make it more bearable, just remind yourself that you have time – you aren’t under pressure from a job relocation, you have a perfectly good roof over your head, and everything you need right now. If something falls through this time, something else will come through.

    • Susan June 6, 2011, 3:23 pm

      Very true.

    • Sara June 6, 2011, 3:30 pm

      Agreed! You don’t have to hold off on other things you want just because you haven’t found the right/gotten the mortgage approved. Your jobs situations are good, you’re happy in Charlotte, and if the baby thing happens before the house thing…well, plenty of parents have their first kid or two while still living in an apartment! Things happen in their own time, so just enjoy the ride.

      • Sara June 6, 2011, 3:31 pm

        I should edit before submitting. Pardon the multiple typos going on there.

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:35 pm

      SUPER true.

  • Susan June 6, 2011, 3:21 pm

    For us, the mortgage approval and house-hunting were the easy parts. We found two houses we liked within a few weeks (both were short-sales) and put offers in on both. Then it was just a waiting game to see who would get back to us first. That was a bit stressful. One house was $70k more than the other. Deep down we knew we wanted that one because of the location, but didn’t know what we would do if our offer on the less expensive house was accepted first. $70k is a huge difference.

    Our problems came up during the closing process. The week we were supposed to close was a total nightmare. But we have a nice house in our dream location, so it was all worth it. It will be for you, too.

    I’m just curious, though…if you don’t get approved now, why do you have to wait until next year? Is that just a decision the two of you have made?

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:36 pm

      We have to file 2011 taxes before they can use them 🙁 I need two years of profitable self-employment on the books.

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg June 6, 2011, 3:26 pm

    I hope everything works out! We are hoping to be house hunting next year — I like our townhome but I want a house with a yard in a better part of town.

  • Amanda June 6, 2011, 3:28 pm

    Like I’ve said before, house hunting was really brutal for us, too. The best advice that I can give is that this is one time in your life where “everything happens for a reason”. if you submit a bid, it’s not accepted and you lose the house…that’s just it, you lose the house. There’s nothing you can do and it’s not worth the energy to get upset over it. Although it may seem after that that there is nothing out there for you – there is. And if not isn’t the right time, that’s just how it is. Wait a few months and see how the market has shifted. Getting upset and frustrated only drains you…stay positive!

  • Kimberly @ Healthy Strides June 6, 2011, 3:29 pm

    My husband and I just bought a house in April, and we learned quickly that house hunting was not fun! The best tip, sadly, is to not be afraid to walk away. Even in a buyers’ market, we faced sellers who wouldn’t budge and competition. Good luck!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) June 6, 2011, 3:30 pm

    I love House Hunters! I can’t even afford to rent an apartment, but I look forward to the day where I am hopefully able to own my own home 🙂

  • Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food June 6, 2011, 3:30 pm

    I wish I had some advice for you, we haven’t been financially able to start looking yet, plus we don’t know what city we’ll be living in next month! 😛

    I think it will all work out exactly as it should in the end and you will have your dream home, it just may take a little time.

    I can’t wait to snag a ticket for the HLS! 🙂

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:37 pm

      Did you get a ticket?

  • Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons June 6, 2011, 3:32 pm

    I think I stress-snacked all through house hunting b/c I gained a good 5lbs in the process! For the waiting game… find a new temporary thing to focus on… a small project, a series of fun date nights, plans to look forward to– something to shift the focus <3

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga June 6, 2011, 3:33 pm

    Caitlin I am soooo sorry…what you went thru with income sources, documenting it timely, etc..I went thru that EXACT same thing and unfortunately for me, it DID cost me a year and then my financial situation changed and that was then something else to factor in..it’s such a HARD HARD process for people to get homes now. Good people,who can afford the payment, who arent biting off more than they can chew, it’s freakishly hard to prove that to the banks!

    Hang in there, girlie!!

    “I hope our bank comes through for us… I would love to finally OWN a home and fill it with children.”

    I hope that for you two, too! And looking in 2009 when you could barely afford your electric bill..lol and I think we’ve all looked a bit too early 🙂 It’s life!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss June 6, 2011, 3:34 pm

    Buying a house would be so exciting and scary at the same time. I know I’ll be in the process of doing so in a few years…so if you get any tips, I’d love to hear them!

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday June 6, 2011, 3:37 pm

    Given the fact that you want it so badly, I hope that everything works out for you.
    But, if not, keep in mind that there are a lot of pros to renting too!

    Given the poor housing market right now, putting your down payment into a stock portfolio or aggressive mutual funds will make you a much higher return than investing in a home.

    Home ownership comes with more costs than just the mortgage and the utilities. Things break down, problems arise, things need to be replaced and you have to fix them. That’s something that doesn’t have to worry you when you rent. And you need to have money saved in case these things happen otherwise you’ll have to borrow more money.

    • Lauren June 7, 2011, 3:44 am

      Excellent point!

  • jane June 6, 2011, 3:38 pm

    ha i love the picture of ya’ll looking at houses in 2009. looks like you are having fun at least :-). here’s my secret: my boyfriend and i look at houses all the time. first off we arent married (first no no), i am in law school and therefore have 0 cash coming in (looooots going out), and he is out of a job! still fun looking and dreaming!! good luck with the house of your dreams! enjoy the process-you only buy a first house once!

  • Samantha @ Mama Notes June 6, 2011, 3:51 pm

    I was so excited to do house hunting for REALS too, but it actually really sucks! We put in 2 offers on houses and got turned down before our 3rd got approved. Looking back now, I’m SO GLAD those 2 turned down, because #3 turned out to be perfect for us!!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen June 6, 2011, 3:52 pm

    My best advice after a few homes and unfortunatley losing our asses on our home when we sold it in FL in 2008, is to NOT SETTLE! seriously, if you aren’t getting the best friggin deal on the planet right now you should walk away. It is such a buyers market and I feel like most first time (and even second time) home buyers jump on something and put blinders on when it comes to the “issues” with the house. I’ve definitely done it.
    So I know this isn’t anything that will help with the “waiting game” but hopefully it helps.

  • MelissaNibbles June 6, 2011, 3:53 pm

    Wait…House Hunters isn’t real? Don’t ruin Cash Cab for me.

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:37 pm

      Hahah I was so so so sad when I discovered House Hunters wasn’t real. It ruined it.

  • Lauren June 6, 2011, 3:54 pm

    My advice to you with the stress of house hunting/buying is to TRY not to get emotionally attached to a home you find and love. That way you won’t overpay or be too disappointed if the sale falls through. Be happy that you and your husband are both successful people living a happy life and the house owning will come when it is time.

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas June 6, 2011, 3:55 pm

    When we bought our condo.. it was a ROLLERCOASTER.. We had our bid accepted.. signed paper work.. then the seller changed his mind.. and took another bid because it was better (apparently our signatures meant nothing). It was tragic.. heartbreaking. I had fallen in love with a place.. that wasn’t even mine. Fortunately .. we found a unit even better.. in the same complex.. so in the end it worked out.

    So my advice – is to be careful about falling in love with a house too quickly.. and if you do fall in love with a house.. and the deal doesn’t work out.. something better WILL come along 🙂

  • Donna @ Love, Run & Travel June 6, 2011, 3:58 pm

    Try to find resources you trust – you have to be comfortable during the whole house buying ordeal!
    I’m a financial advisor (in canada) and first time home buyers are my favourite because i explain everything and make it a fun comfortable experience but i know its stressful – we are in the process of building and its a whole new level of stress 😛
    Good luck, it will happen with the right house and then you can start filling it with babies 🙂

  • Amber from Girl with the Red Hair June 6, 2011, 4:01 pm

    House hunting was probably one of the most stressful times ever for us. We aggressively house hunted for about…4ish months before finding ours. Because there is so much paperwork involved (and I work full-time) I was doing a lot of paperwork/scanning etc. during the day at work and it was super stressful. There were definitely a few tears too.

    I almost didn’t believe it when my realtor sent me the listing for EXACTLY what we were looking for and way below our max price range! We’ve had possession for almost 3 months now and I’m so in love with our house. Ya, it’s a bit more pricey than renting but it feels SO GOOD to put your hard-earned money towards something you own instead of rent.

    Best of luck with the house – I hope they accept your offer and it all works out!

    • Amber from Girl with the Red Hair June 6, 2011, 4:03 pm

      OH and PS: Make sure you have a great realtor (sounds like you do). The first three months of house hunting we were only using the listing agents and since we were first time homebuyers and knew nothing they were NOT helpful at all (because they just wanted us to buy the house they listed!)

      We found the right place – and our current house – just 1 month after signing on with our realtor. She was SO FANTASTIC and did all the legwork for us and also negotiated it down to $7,000 below asking price! Everyone was always saying how important a good realtor is but now I know firsthand!

      • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:38 pm

        Yay Amber. I’m happy for you!

  • Rachel @ EatMoreMeatLess June 6, 2011, 4:05 pm

    I think you linked the wrong site for HLS…

  • Amanda @ Cucina Amanda June 6, 2011, 4:08 pm

    My fiancé and I just closed on our house last Friday. It was a really long process (especially since we did it on our own without a relator), but it was totally worth it. There were times when I didn’t think it would happen because there were so many things up in the air, but I just kept telling myself that if we’re supposed to really able to own at house of our own right now, then this will work out. Just keep reminding yourself that everything happens on it’s own time for it’s own reason! Hope the house works out for you!

  • Jessica June 6, 2011, 4:09 pm

    The best advice I can give you is to not get attached. I know, that probably feels impossible, but if you treat it like a business transaction right until you sign the papers, it keeps your focus centered and keeps you from getting taken advantage of. Good luck!

  • Sarah for Real June 6, 2011, 4:14 pm

    My advice is to do a wee bit of nesting in your current place. It’s easy to neglect those I’ve-never-liked-that-lamp-there spaces when you’ve got your eyes on the next home. I suggest rearrange a space you’ve never quite loved, purge and organize a cluttered area, go to a thrift store or garage sale in search of that perfect lamp, etc. Keep it free or cheap obviously. While it sounds counter-intuitive, I think it can take the pressure off the “new house” talk and remind you that you can make any house a home.

  • Kelly @foodiefresh June 6, 2011, 4:16 pm

    If you ever feel the need to b!tch about buying a house, call me and I can b!tch about renovating a house in return. 😉

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me June 6, 2011, 4:20 pm

    House hunters is actually super staged. Sometimes the people even already own the house. But it’s all for entertainment so you gotta take it with a grain of salt…still disappointing though!

  • Cyndi June 6, 2011, 4:20 pm

    You’re not alone… way back in 94 when we bought our first home I remember the Realtor asking me point blank during signing “what’s the matter, aren’t you happy?” It had been such an arduous journey that I think I feared them stopping me mid-signature for yet another detail. But there’s nothing like that first night in your new home! Good luck!

  • Suzanne June 6, 2011, 4:22 pm

    I feel your pain! My hubs and I are house hunting in a city that is a 90 minute drive from where we live. It has been so exhausting! I feel like we get close, make and appointment to see it and it sells that day! Sometimes I feel like we’re doomed.

    Hang in there. I will say a little house hunting prayer for you.

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 6, 2011, 4:29 pm

    I’m nowhere NEAR to buying my own home but I LOVE House Hunters!

  • Erin @ Naturally Addicted June 6, 2011, 4:40 pm

    I am loving these house hunting pictures! I could imagine house hunting would be hard, but at least they say it’s a “buyers market” right now! Good luck!!

  • Leanne (Bride to Mrs,) June 6, 2011, 4:42 pm

    You should have gotten approved for a mortgage before you started looking! That way, you would know what they would be offering to lend you.

    I would say that if you narrow down what it is you’re looking for (specifics!) and let your realtor know, she should be able to get you looking at houses that already meet your criteria.

    House hunting can be frustrating but it is a HUGE deal to buy a house & deserves time. A house isn’t like a pair of shoes that you can just return if you don’t end up loving it. 🙂

    Make sure you fall in love with whatever house you decide on though, because I’m so happy we were picky… I love the house that my fiance and I own.

    • Leanne (Bride to Mrs,) June 6, 2011, 4:43 pm

      **Make sure that you fall in love with whatever house you decide on though. I’m happy that my fiance and I didn’t settle… we absolutely love the house that we purchased (we’ve lived there two years now!) and I cannot imagine living anywhere else!

    • Susan June 6, 2011, 7:05 pm

      Yeah, I’m actually surprised that you’re house hunting before the mortgage approval. We looked around online, but didn’t get a realtor and seriously start looking until after we knew how much we were approved for.

      • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:38 pm

        We were suppose to have it but our mortgage broker changed jobs so at the last moment, approval fell through and we have to restart. 🙁

  • ari June 6, 2011, 4:47 pm

    your banner says the HLS is from august 19-21, but kath’s says it’s august 19-20…just so you know! haha might want to clear that up 🙂

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:39 pm

      It’s 19 – 21. You coming?

      • ari June 7, 2011, 11:54 pm

        i wish but my uncle’s getting married in new york on the 20th!

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) June 6, 2011, 4:49 pm

    That picture of you & the husband in the doorway is so cute! Im excited for you to buy your first house…you will have to take another pic like that to celebrate the real thing! I hope it goes smoothly for you with this house you found…fingers crossed!

  • Kristen June 6, 2011, 4:55 pm

    I just bought my first house and it wasnt that fun haha. The looking at houses is fun, but not the paperwork after. But Im so happy to hear you found one you love! Hopefully it will become “the one” haha

  • Wendy June 6, 2011, 4:58 pm

    We bought our first home last October (AFTER having two children in the home we were previously renting ;)). My best advice is to be willing to roll with the punches. We pushed for an earlier closing date because I was starting a new job as a teacher in August. But, after a string of unfortunate events, we ended up not closing until October. It all worked out for the best – there was a pretty major foundation issue that the previous owners ended up paying for. Had we closed earlier, WE would have had to pay for that repair. So remember through all the ups and downs, everything is for a reason!

  • Sharon June 6, 2011, 5:01 pm

    I work for a real estate law firm so I see every day what people go through trying to buy a house. With all the new laws and regulations put on lenders, there’s so much they have to do just to get you approved and ready to go to closing. And that goes for everyone, even people with near perfect credit. I try to remind buyers to have lots of patience and expect hiccups along the way. It’s a stressful thing but it will all be worth it in the end!

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) June 6, 2011, 5:25 pm

    Best of lucjk! I know only too well how stressful, frustrating and confusing it can be. But when it all comes together – you will have so much joy!

  • Mary @ stylefyles June 6, 2011, 5:33 pm

    good luck!!!

  • Gina (Yogattude) June 6, 2011, 5:37 pm

    I haven’t begun the hunt yet…but cannot wait to get away from apartment living!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey June 6, 2011, 5:39 pm

    Buying a house IS stressful! We went through that last year – they play it up to be a piece of cake on the tv shows! It so is NOT!! Try not to fret about it – and remember, if they don’t accept your offer, it’s because there is another BETTER house out there for you!

  • Erin @ The Grass Skirt June 6, 2011, 5:41 pm

    House hunting is definitely a mix of fun and stressful. I remember being SO disappointed when we didn’t one of the houses that I really loved. I even tortured myself by making it the wallpaper on my computer. Finally (and thankfully), I snapped out of self-pity mode and realized that even though it sounds lame, everything happens for a reason. We weren’t meant to live in that house, and now that we have our current house, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else! You’ll end up in the right place. 🙂

  • JenATX June 6, 2011, 5:47 pm

    i think its adorable you want to fill your house with kiddos 🙂 You & the hubs will make beautiful babies!

  • Susan @ Saucy Living June 6, 2011, 5:48 pm

    I remember being totally stressed about the whole house buying process. We looked constantly for over 6 months, and didn’t see anything that fit what we were looking for (and that was within our budget). We were getting very discouraged, so one night, we pretty much decided that after the next day’s appt with our realtor, we were going to tell her we were going to take a break from looking and hope for the prices to hopefully fall a bit before we resumed our search. That next morning, the house we saw was everything we had been looking for–and it’s now been our home for over 2 years, and we couldn’t be happier. So what they say is true–it will all work out, when it’s meant to be, so just try to be patient and have faith!

  • Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table June 6, 2011, 5:53 pm

    My only advice is to develop a lot of patience. It took 6 months to close on my place. 🙁 That’s AFTER I picked it out. You’ll know the “one” when you see it though!

  • Melanie @ Trial By Trail June 6, 2011, 6:01 pm

    We’re living in our THIRD owned house now (I’m 29 and hubby is 30). Yea, we’ve made some house-buying mistakes to say the least. My biggest regret is buying too much house, too soon and not patiently renting for a long enough period of time. Owning a house came with it’s own set of headaches for us and in the end didn’t make us any happier like I thought it would. I do LOVE house hunting and watching House Hunters too! Looking forward to hearing more updates from you!

  • jennifer June 6, 2011, 6:01 pm

    Seriously buying a house was way more stressful than getting married. My advice that my real estate agent gave us was do not fully fall in love with a house until the keys are literally in your hands. Way easier said than done, but not seeing any potential house as “I have to have this house or I will never see another house that I love” helped with the disappointments of bad inspections and unaccepted offers. The house we ended up buying is so perfect, worth the wait and everything went so smoothly. When its meant to be it will all work out 🙂 Good luck!

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:39 pm

      I agree! Getting married was easier.

  • Tori (Fresh Fruition) June 6, 2011, 6:11 pm

    Sorry the process of buying the house hasn’t been easy. I wish I had some advice, but I don’t know the first thing about house-buying!

    Never tried mashed parsnips. They sure do look like mashed potatoes!

  • Kier @ Life {and running} in Iowa June 6, 2011, 6:26 pm

    Buying our house was entirely way too easy! Don’t get me wrong, I love our house and really wouldn’t change it, but really, to me the process should have been a bit more challenging.

    That being said, I can’t imagine have to go through so many hoops just to purchase a home.

  • Molly @ RDexposed June 6, 2011, 6:53 pm

    Remind yourself that you won’t be wasting money on rent!

  • Jamie June 6, 2011, 7:06 pm

    Haha! My mom and brother used to watch House Hunters religiously, which is funny because he had to have been only 8 or 9 years old. So weird! Congrats on searching for a house! It does seem like a rough process but I’m sure the reward will be amazing.

  • jen @ taste life June 6, 2011, 7:10 pm

    I wish I had some advice, but house-buying is plain old stressful. Reminding yourself that everything that seems like a big deal now will seem much smaller and less-stressful when you look back might help. You will definitely get through it!

  • JennsAdventures June 6, 2011, 7:53 pm

    Wow you have a lot of comments already!! ..I’ll just advise to check out ppibloggers.blogspot.com and read through all their blog posts. LOTS of good tips! Happy Hunting!

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:39 pm

      Thanks for passing that along!

  • Lauren June 6, 2011, 7:59 pm

    Oh, how I remember the house hunting phase. It’s definitely stressful but also a really fun time. It’s exciting to see potential new places to live but you are right, it gets old fast!!! I often felt that house hunting was like picking a wedding dress. You just kind of know when its “the one.”

  • Tricia June 6, 2011, 8:07 pm

    We just settled on our first – and hopefully only – home on 5/26. I’d say to keep in mind that if it doesn’t work out, it’s really not the house for you. We did not have a typical house hunting experience in that we only looked at houses on 2 different days (1 house the first day, 6 houses the second) and our offer was accepted in 2 hours. The sellers were extremely nice and agreed to the stuff we asked for based on the inspection. The whole process only took 52 days. The bank and the paperwork stuff SUCKS! Really, the bank stuff truly sucks the most. Our bank is normally great, but their communication was terrible. I guess my best advice would be to breathe and try to keep in mind that this is your HOUSE. It should take a while to find the right one unless something literally speaks to you!

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:40 pm

      Congrats on your house!

  • Gretchen June 6, 2011, 8:17 pm

    Best of luck to you! Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky couples to be on House Hunters ;). I haven’t purchased a house yet, thankfully my fiancee already had one when I moved in, but I’m sure it’s a bit stressful right now. Hang in there, what’s meant to be will be!

  • amanda June 6, 2011, 8:40 pm

    we just bought our first house a yr ago in august! we were 23 when we bought it credit was only good-not excellent sorta a lot of credit card debt LOL and only had 10,000 to put down so we got an FHA loan..Im sure you looked into that if it interests you? My husband also only had 2 yrs of work history making the certain income. Wells fargo DENIED us but we kept looking and found another loan place (the type that usually sells to the larger banks) and we got approved. Our loan was then sold to Bank of America. I wish you luck and hope you are able to own a house! It is really stressful esp. with the short sale we got but worth it in the end paying rent SUCKS.

    • amanda June 6, 2011, 8:45 pm

      I should mention the house cost 290,000 and we only put 10,000 hence the need for FHA loan..we live in san diego so it was a cheap deal

    • Caitlin June 6, 2011, 9:40 pm

      We can’t get a FHA loan because of our weird employments… I wish we could! Congrats 🙂

  • Bethany June 6, 2011, 8:54 pm

    Just got my ticket to HLS in Philly this August! Looking forward to it 🙂

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:43 am

      Can’t wait to see you!

  • Hannah (tickledtofu) June 6, 2011, 9:28 pm

    I am slightly obsessed with that show..just saying. 🙂 I hope you find a great place!

  • Jen June 6, 2011, 10:01 pm

    Wish I had some advice to offer. I work in a real estate office but I’m in Canada, so I’m not only on the other side of the desk but also on the other side of the border, lol. All I can do is to echo what many have said here – don’t fall in love with anything too fast, try to keep a level head, especially when it comes to pricing, and remember that everything happens for a reason and you will find the house that’s right for you when the time is right! Good luck and happy house hunting!

  • Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep June 6, 2011, 10:38 pm

    Earlier this year, I put an offer on a short sale, and the seller’s bank turned down my offer, which was only 2k less than list price. They just flat-out said “no” and wouldn’t let me make another offer after I waited 3 months. Then I found another house, and I’m having the same problems you have been having with being self-employed, except I work for family, and the lenders don’t trust my income docs. With all of that said, I took it all as “everything happens for a reason”, and now I’m making significant changes in my life so that I’ll be perfectly content being a renter for a while longer.

    Good luck! And if you have any mortgage questions, let me know! I’m a mortgage broker 🙂

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:42 am

      hehe can i have a mortgage?

  • Marisa E June 6, 2011, 10:49 pm

    I got my ticket for HLS and I am sooooo excited!! This will hands down be the highlight of my summer. I’m sending my husband and two boys down the Jersey Shore (not THAT Jersey Shore) and start our vaca without me. I cannot wait to meet all of you fabulous ladies!!

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:42 am

      Yay! I am so excited to you too!

  • kimmy June 6, 2011, 11:27 pm

    Our closing date just got pushed back for the third time. Nothing can really prepare you for the stress, but I recommend chocolate and wine for support!

    • Caitlin June 7, 2011, 7:42 am

      I hope you close soon!

  • Reenie June 7, 2011, 12:39 am

    I had driven by this lil house for several years….saying that house is going to be mine some day ~ and now it is. This year was my 9th anniversary. I think you will know that it’s “your house” when you walk into it. I was scared ~ but it was/is the most rewarding thing that I’ve done. I LOVE my home….I’m still working on remodeling it ~ I do what I can, when I can. You’ll get there ~ don’t give up 😉

  • Khushboo June 7, 2011, 12:41 am

    Sorry I’m no help in the house department- I’m still living with the parentals!

    I gotta say- your lunch is a pretty random combo. I would never think of putting brown rice on mashed parsnips but it actually looks/sounds delicious!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) June 7, 2011, 12:46 am

    Haha – the decor in that house is NASTY!!! BUT … you could renovate? With some drywall, great paint, new flooring, and a white fire place, you might have something there.

    I love the cute pic of you guys in the house!

  • Carol June 7, 2011, 4:08 am

    Just gotta be patient. I know it is hard to wait, but that’s the name of the game. Once you buy it could be a month before you go to closing…there are many schedules that are involved. Just tell yourself, you want everything to be perfect.

  • Emily June 7, 2011, 9:11 am

    Honestly I think my favorite show might be house hunters! I just love it! Unlike you, I am scared to death of owning my own home and have a lotta respect for people who do!
    Good luck!!! Things usually happen for a reason and try to forget about things you can’t control. That might help keep some sanity during the process (or so I’ve learned from House Hunters!)

  • Sara @ OurDogBuffy June 7, 2011, 9:21 am

    I found home shopping to be very stressful and not much fun. It was kind of fun to go and see the different houses, but beyond that–nothing but stress. (Same with fixing up the house! But maybe that’s because we were rushed!) Just take your time and try to enjoy it! I think there are def. benefits to renting!

  • Amber K June 7, 2011, 12:51 pm

    Ugh, my husband and I are starting the process and I had no idea it was going to be so hard!

  • Kristen @ The Concrete Runner June 8, 2011, 11:25 pm

    We started looking for houses in May 2006 and didn’t actually sign a contract until September 2006. I think we looked at over 100 houses that summer. Although I LOVED looking at houses, it was hard to look at houses and not find anything we loved. One house we did love, we put on contract on, only to get rejected because someone offered something better. I do love our house now, but it is a ton of work and definitely not perfect… but I can’t complain – we never had to pay rent on an apartment. Yes, searching for houses is a pain in the rear, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. Just be patient. There is a house out there for everyone – and then you can fill it with gaggles of kids!

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