Moving Pains

Anyone ever tried moving?  How about buying a place? ...have a good time with that?

Then you are in a very lucky place, my friend.  Our homebuying experience has been nothing short of a nightmare.  Buying for the first time?  Get ready for paperwork?  And if anything goes wrong...get ready for LOTS of paperwork.  Note: "going wrong" can simply mean the interest rate changed, the wrong box was "x"d and then all the paperwork needed to be redone, or dates get pushed back. 

Before going through this, I idolized the home-buying process.  I had noticed a few of my peers doing it, and I thought, "Wow! How great for them!"   We helped move many of them in, and suddenly they were just home owners.  Simple, easy, home owners.  One had even noted that this was the 3rd house she'd put a bid on, but I thought, 3? That's not bad!  People probably do that all the time.

Then you go through it yourself.  Let me tell you, 2 offers is 1 too many.  By the 3rd and 4th offer falling through the only thing you feel is discouraged.  Frustrated is next.  It's like nothing is supposed to be yours.  They're just teasing you!  The moment you finally receive good news about your bid, the rest of the process starts.  And that doesn't mean it's simple, easy, or quick.

Don't forget, you also have LOTS of people to pay.  There's a percentage that goes to your realtor (%, not given $, and it's based off the home's sale price); the appraisal and the inspection (which ran us about $300 each), the attorney fees, which are sometimes included in closing costs, and the rest of the closing costs.  Plus, you have to think about movers, boxes, packing material if you don't have access to a plethora of boxes and paper/bubble wrap.  Suddenly you're in the process of getting ready for the closing and all you see is red.

Plus hope.  Have to remember that too.  The whole point of buying a new place is because you want or need it.  A lot of buyers right now are buying for the, until yesterday, low interest rates, better mortgage payments, and a great home.  Many buy to upgrade their life because their family is growing or they can afford more space.  Some people are moving for jobs or just life in general.  Either way, the idea is that this new place will help fulfill the needs of your new position in life, and that alone brings hope.  Hope for a new and better tomorrow than today, and the house is its embodiment.

So be sure you have lots of patience, a good venting system or outlet, and the ability to let the small things roll off your back, because when you're done, it's worth it.