Ooookay. I'm here. I swear.

Hi BOTTers!

I am SO sorry for my continued absence. I've since become the epitome of geekdom  and moved into my parents' basement temporarily (rent free, you see) to help in my hubs and I to raise funds for a downpayment/inspections/necessary cash for a house. It has severely limited my ability to hop on the net, so I'm doing so at work today.

SPEAKING of that house.......... (Drumroll please) THEY ACCEPTED OUR BID! Huzzah!     A cozy 2 bed 1 bath ranch with a .6 acre yard will be MINE very soon! Its in a wonderful neighborhood 2 doors down from my parents, with a playground/park right nextdoor. I know everyone on the block, and we are all very close friends. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION, for the win. The price was right, and they accepted our first bid, and we were the ONLY bid on the property (it'd been on the market a little less than 60 days). It'll need a little work, but what house doesn't?

The only down side?  Its a short sale. For those of you who don't know how that works, basically I have to get my bid approved by not only the owners, but the bank their mortgage is through. They are one step from foreclosure, can't afford to pay anymore, so are working with the bank to get less money than they owed, so the bank at least gets SOMETHING back, rather than losing out on the mortgage in foreclosure. What does this mean?  Well, while my purchase and sales agreement has been signed by the owners, and my $2000 initial down has been cashed (takes the house off the market officially), I am still waiting for the bank to give their OK that this price is acceptable. The real estate and listings agent both feel it'll go through with no problem, but now we play the waiting game. Bleh. They weren't kidding when they said the waiting was the hardest part. I know someone who, on a short sale, is on 6 months waiting to hear. Erk.

Anyhow, now we scrimp and save our pennies until we have the remainder of the downpayment, buy some home owners insurance, get inspections and appraisals.... and I guess that's it till closing day, which is October 15th, at least right now. If the short sale takes forever to get approved, it might take longer. The longer the better, as far as we're concerned, because that lets us save more.

On a more BOTT note, I'm going to re-start walking the track at lunch today, jogging at night, and starting tomorrow, hitting the gym in the mornings. Hopefully all that caloric burn will do something, because I need to get rid of this BELLY!

I have missed you all and don't think I haven't been thinking of you! Its good to BOTT and be back.

Sion

Oh sion - I'm so excited - your house!!!!!  (Well, yours and the bank's until Oct 15 )  Keep us posted - as I know you will.  Thanks for allowing us to share your journey. 

I've sure missed your daily posts - it's amazing how close we all become here - you aren't just ain individual out there - you are my friend.  .

Have a mighty fine day, my friend. 

Aw Happy, thanks so much for your kind words and excitment. I will make much more effort to sign in more, now that things have calmed down a little on the house hunting/mortgage applications/etc etc... There's alot of work yet to be done, but I think I need to COMMIT to comming onto BOTT more often. I've slipped off the wagon in stress and know it, and feel it. I want to amend that, in the worst way. I've straitened out my gym membership and now that the weather has broken and seems to be on the autumn 'decline'.... it's time to get out there already. I'm psyched, and I'm just feeling so good and so ready. I WILL be here more! I promise to you and to me.

Its hard NOT to have a good day lately!

Hey Sion - that's the kind of problem to have ++++++++

Hi Sion,

Yeah!  You're back.  I've missed you.  It isn't the same when one of us is away.  I'm glad you're back.

Many congratulations on the house.  That is so very exciting.  A short sale can be a hassle but it will be worth it.  It is definitely a buyer's market now.  I'm happy you were able to get your home.

Welcome home!!

Cathy

Thank's for the welcome and well wishes. Its good to be back, but I swear I'll be gray from stress before all's said and done with this silly house buying stuffffff.  It is exciting and every day there's something new happening.... but still! Not always GOOD stuff. 

I know it'll all be worth it in the end... and I'll FINALLY have a place to call my own.

Thanks again, so nice to be back.
Sion