Houses Houses

To update you all. Adam had this great idea of paying off all of our debt and starting over. That’s what we’ve been doing; we are down to one car payment and snow balling the heck out of all these medical bills. Given I haven’t worked full time in over 5 years there were A LOT, mainly Kobie’s two ear surgeries. Medical bills will be a constant in our household and we have a large amount budgeted in for these ER visits NOW…but back then we did not have the resources to get these paid.



We have been debating the idea for about 3 months to purchase a new home for us a little bit larger with a more open plan (yes I know our house currently is open, but I was searching for some larger closet space). No, I haven’t submitted or done anything that I haven’t wanted to do myself. We have put an offer, contingent on ours selling, on a house off Locust (closer to the water tower / Off Kiere) it’s new and lovely and planned out exactly how we had always wanted NO WALLS! He he. Those who know me all too well know that I bought this great house on Loch Ln. and drug Adam along for the ride (I was very strong willed (to say the least)). He has never liked the house because of that… (I’m assuming here).



This has been our home for 8 years and I love it, most of you thought I would die here, but it’s just a structure. We are selling our house with a new heat and air unit (Trane) a new kitchen, (All Appliances will stay) fridge, gas range, deep freezer, and washer and dryer, it’s beautiful and quaint (hardwood floors) the only TWO drawbacks to our current house is that there is no Garage and only 1 ½ bath.



The original carport was converted into a Kick butt laundry (that holds washer/dryer, deep freezer, large closet, elliptical machine and a huge window seat that holds all the sporting equipment- to give you an idea of the size) and great sun room (we have used for a music room, a play room and even a formal dining room)! The driveway was re-done so it doesn’t look like you are driving into a house, you have a circle drive. The yard has tons of flowers and trees and is on one of the largest lots in Lakewood (over 13,000 square feet) a block down from the Old Mill. We are pricing it low so it will sell quickly and we can start off new again together…on the same page…equally liking a home. Don’t worry about storage Adam built a great storage unit in the back yard (with loft – so the kids couldn’t reach saws and poisons).

There is only 1 ½ bath. We have it down to an art with showers and baths for 5 people and anyone can do the same, the water heater is less than 10 years old and heats up super quickly, the plumbing is all new and tied in with the city (no birch pipe here) we have put in about $30 k worth of repairs and upgrades. So that’s why we are asking 130,000. If we sell it through a realtor or if you buy through your realtor we will raise the price to accommodate their fees. JoBeth (Adam’s mom) will have it on the market by Valentines weekend, so if you are interested or know anyone who is let us know by then and will exclude them from the realtor fees.



I had made a list, Oh a LONG List of requirements that it would take to swoon me to another house. They were very strict about 20 key factors were required. Some of them were; I wanted a huge walk in master closet (so I wouldn’t have to switch in seasons), and a bath with jets, and a great kitchen (only loss here is my wine rack, lazy susan, two bin trash cans, and deep drawers (which I can get organizers from Lowes and install them and they will replace those losses) - I’m spoiled with my current kitchen. I had asked for a gas range / a flat top, 1700 Square feet or more, large open living space, laundry room, 2 car garage (that would fit this big suburban), larger master bedroom, fireplace, windows galore (I currently have an 11 foot window that looks over our deck to the lake behind us – you can see it clearly during the winter, the sunroom and laundry room have 7’ feet windows- I need sunlight), I wanted a flat area in my yard to accompany a dog run, I wanted a deck or patio (we currently have both), a front porch we could sit on, sidewalks down the streets, off the main road (We are hopefully getting on a cul-de-sac), the list went on and on…We searched high and low, I had originally wanted 4 br’s…but when we went looking at a 4br, the younger two said, “this is our room”, and I said “boys you can have your own rooms”, they were very confused as to why they would want that. And the more we thought about it, we just don’t want an enormous house when the kids will start filtering out in about 8 years…we need it large enough now, but still small enough that we can live with just the two of us and not feel like we are a mile apart if we were in two separate rooms…and I wanted a split bedroom plan, one b/c I hate the sound of Jacob grinding his teeth at night and screaming (he has night terrors) and if and when we have to move in an ill parent they’ll be close but still away in their own wing of the house. Needless to say, Adam and I stumbled upon this house.



This new house (on Allwood) is ready to move in and we would only have to purchase washer / dryer and a fridge and the all needed wine rack (ours is currently built into the kitchen cabinet work), and some bar stools for the island.



Best part is Tuesday the senate will vote on a stimulus package to give ANY homebuyer $15,000 tax credit or money to use on down payment or closing costs. This was a huge factor, so you could have a great incentive to live. http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/020509dnnatstimulus.40a4428.html



Our utilities (gas & electric), including water (volume of laundry I do is insane) are under $250/ month (which includes taxes).