June 2006-October 2006
After living in a townhome for 5 years, we realized that we were outgrowing it. Even though we really loved all 1900 sqft of it, we started house hunting. It was love at first sight when I saw a local Victorian home in a home buyer's catalog.
It was $399, 000. We made an appointment to see it, went back for a second look with our parents, and decided it was perfect. We decided to buy the first house we saw. It’s been a lifelong dream to live in one of these adorable homes. BUT--with me there is always a but--it was too late! Someone else put a contract on it. I was devastated. We continued shopping. After going to a few open houses, we met a wonderful realtor, Jennifer Quinn with Prudential Carruthers:
We saw lots of homes—and none were quite right, but with Jenn’s professional and friendly help we were able to refine what we were looking for—and that’s a really good thing! I realized during the shopping process that I really wanted a home with land so that I could create a small-scale animal rescue so I could rehabilitate and save injured and abandoned animals including wildlife. During that time I had rescued dozens of injured creatures from toads to birds to dogs. It is my true passion in life to save God’s creatures and I will need a home with the space for all the little critters.
April-Septemeber 2009
We found a renovated 1920s farmhouse in Pylesville , MD
We found out weeks later that we were the backup offer on the Pylesville property. Then more weeks later we were told that our status had moved up to first place because financing fell through for the other offer. We started researching inspectors and got really excited! I had all the rooms’ décor planned. I felt like I could finally breathe and know that life was going to be settling down. Days later we discovered that the other offer was accepted—and for less money than we offered! I will never understand banks. We were devastated again. Even more so when we got 2 offers on our townhome.
September 2009
We sold our house—but had no place to move to!
I didn’t like the uncertainty we were experiencing at all. It was very depressing, but we were lucky to sell in such a tricky market. Jenn is a top notch realtor and we couldn’t have asked for anyone better (http://jennifer.quinn.pcragent.com/). We decided to find a rental and kept shopping for homes. It was hard to find a rental! Lots of competition for rentals with so many foreclosures happening in the area and with the economy being so trying for so many. There were 2 homes in the townhome neighborhood we lived, so we thought it would be an easy move both physically and emotionally. I do not like change. At all. Too stressful! So moving in the same neighborhood was definitely a plus for me. But no one ever returned our calls! We kept looking. No one wanted pets or to rent month to month like we needed.
November 2009
Fate smiled on us and lifelong friends of the family had a home that they were willing to rent to us for $1200 per month including utilities. It is right down the road from our parents.’ We were set to mov by December 1st. We closed on the townhouse Nov. 24, a very rainy and gray day. I was sad. It was hard to say goodbye to our first home. I cried.
Right after closing we went with Jenn to look at another short sale property right after transferring ownership. I wasn’t very hopeful at all in the sadness of not having our “forever home.” It was cold and I was exhausted and aching from all the moving. I just wanted to go back to the rental and pull the covers over my head. I’m glad we went though! The house on Kirkwood Shop was right for us: a 3,000 sqft colonial with 4 (or 5) bedrooms in White Hall on almost 2 very private acres. It’s so beautiful! It’s not a Victorian, but it is very different looking. I have never seen a house that looks like this one. The outside is beautiful—bay window, small covered porch at entry, round driveway, extra large dollhouse (shed that looks like a little house), barn, pig pen, pool, two porches, mature trees, terrace, borders on protected forest, and best of all—no neighbors close by.
When we walked in it looked promising. A small section of it was built in 1920 with the rest of it being built in 1996. There is a beautiful entryway and the entire house is full of light with plenty of windows. The older section (living room) has exposed beams which I don’t care for, and the room needs new flooring and paint but that is fixable. There is a loft apartment over a spiral staircase starting from the living room. We could rent that out if we wanted to. The newly renovated kitchen is amazing! Whoever did it created a chef’s dream: 42” hard wood cabinets with crown molding, updated appliances, plenty of storage with pull-outs in all the drawers and cabinets, really great counters, and a huge pantry with plenty of shelving. It has hardwood floors and a bar island built in from the countertop. I love that there are octagonal windows on each side of the cooktop so I can look out at the beautiful view of the back yard. Every single window in this house has a gorgeous view! The eating area is open/lots of sunshine and is quite spacious with a walkout to a very nice sized deck. It’s kind of high though. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a deck that high before—and I don’t like heights too much. I’ll just have to get over thatJ
The formal dining room has its own china closet and is large enough for some serious entertaining. I’m totally in love with the master bedroom. It’s already painted the color that I want—a rich taupe to go with my new furniture and bedding. It is a really nice sized room with an attached sitting room and private balcony. The bedroom also has its own wet bar. I picture mornings with coffee on that balcony…
The master bath is big, but it needs some minor updating. I like the whirlpool bath though and all the storage space. Great potential for a spa retreat type of room. It has classic marble thresholds. One needs repair though.
One of the most unexpected features of the house is a 5th bedroom by the master that has been converted into the most huge closet a gal could hope for! I call it the mega closet—it has windows and racks all the way around as well as shelving for my bags. There are plenty of shelves for my shoes. I’d love to put a center island in it to use for accessories and an area for doing my makeup. That is so fantastic; I would really love getting ready in there. The master already has 2 walk-in closets, so if the need should ever arise for another bedroom we could always convert the mega-closet room back to one.
Basically it is one fantastic house that needs a little bit of TLC, but we love it. We loved it! I decided when I walked into the newly renovated kitchen that this would be our house—but then my heart sank when I went upstairs and saw water all over the floor. When I looked up there was a leaky 3 ft black mold spot on the ceiling. We decided that it could be fixed and that we were already in love with the house anyway. Jenn wrote a contract on it before Christmas and found out by New Year’s that the owner accepted the offer. We should have a final answer from the bank by February 14th. We will either be sipping champagne for celebration or crying on each other’s shoulder. The champagne that we saved that was a wedding gift is just waiting for a special occasion to pop it open. So now we just wait for the bank…
February 14, 2010
So Valentine’s Day was a bust for any news on Kirkwood Shop. We discovered that the sellers delayed the process for weeks by not completing their paperwork package in time. Then we found out that the bank wanted what we thought was a 4 week extension. I was livid. I just wanted to know—yes or no??? Later in the week that turned into a 6 week extension; this makes March 26th the day we know.
February 17, 2010
The BPO was done.
March 24, 2010
We were supposed to have our final answer in 2 days. I got an email this morning saying that our package has been delayed because it was assigned to a new negotiator due to a “reorganization” at Chase bank. That’s never good. Livid does not even begin to describe how I feel right now. My inlaws are right; the banks don’t care about us. There is NOTHING else on the market that we are interested in. I’m heartbroken. Again.
February, March, April 2010
So March came to pass. And April. 5 extensions total requested by Chase. We wait… nothing happens. We wait some more… We start to really question the ethics of banks. We start to hate them.
April 24, 2010
After almost 6 months On April 24 the bank sent us a response via email. Our offer (with extensive necessary repairs) was rejected. The bank gave us a generous 48 hrs to respond to their offer price of $354.
AaaAAuuuuUUUGHGHHHHH!
I’ve been crying since. To add insult to injury the offer written was full of glaring errors like it was written by someone with no command whatsoever of the English language. Our response to Chase was that we, the sellers, and both realtors thought this ridiculous figure was a mistake. We said that we were willing to extend a final time until May 8 for the bank to review the offer and if not, to write a contract on a house we saw on Jerry’s Rd that we thought would be the perfect fall back since there was still nothing on the market that even remotely interested us.
April 28, 2010
Now our backup house sold! We're so upset. Back to square one. Again. Jenn hasn’t been getting any feedback from the bank or the other agent despite her always diligent efforts on our behalf. Days after that Jeff noticed the status of the backup went back to “active.” We got re-excited! We felt renewed and decided to make plans for a contract on that house. Our realtor went out of town and when she returned it was discovered that backup house did sell after all. Back to square one—again. I’m really starting to HATE Square One! We’re spending way too much precious time there. Back to being devastated and hating everything. Yo-yo rollercoasters are NOT my thing, and I am so sick of living out of boxes!
May 5,2010
Zach Hosford (http://zacharyhosford.com/), the Kirkwood Shop seller’s agent, talked with Jenn. He wants to do another appraisal so maybe we can still get the house of our dreams after all. He has been so forthcoming and helpful to us in this process, and we really appreciate everything he has done for his sellers and for us, and for and continues to do to try to get this deal done.
We’re so tired of false hope so we really pray that this will work out. If it doesn’t we will have to just rewrite our life plan yet again and revisit the much maligned Square One. It’s getting really hard to hope.
May 27, 2010
We went to a showing right near my beloved Blue House on Chestnut Street—the first house, my love-at-first-sight house. There is only 1 house between the house we were going to see and my blue house (I’m still sad about this one). I was really excited to go and see the showing just so I could see the blue house again. The one we looked at was red and adorable--but NO kitchen and there were severe structural problems. Sigh. Jen said she’d call Zach for a last ditch update on the Kirkwood Shop appraisal.
May 30, 2010
We drove around looking for houses by ourselves. Of course we went by Kirkwood Shop to look at it. Ok, we stalk it. It’s where we want to live. We saw 2 out of state cars there and our hearts sank not knowing what that meant.
June 7, 2010
Jenn told us that Zach never did the appraisal, but we have been assigned another negotiator at Chase (Mahmood) who will have photos to make a decision. Jen doesn’t feel hopeful and the increasing depression is wearing on me. I just want to start my life. We keep looking at houses and the only thing available in our price range seems to be 60s or 70s brick ranchers—which we don’t care for. We get electronic updates of new listings and price drops almost daily, but all I see are homes that I am not excited about. We couldn't ask for a better realtor and she is doing so much for us, but we just don’t like what’s available now. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to start saving critters. And the people we rent from may want to move back into this house. Where will we go? I don’t want to buy a house just to buy one. I want to be excited to move! Mahmood work your magic dude!
July 24, 2010
The dream is done. We just learned that Kirkwood Shop was slated for foreclosure and thus ended our dream. Somehow I just can’t let it go. The rug was pulled out from beneath me yet again. Square One and me—we’re way too familiar to one another. I never thought in a million years this process could be so hard or take such an emotional toll.
July 2010
After several showings of homes that weren’t “us” (some falling apart, some with myriad) we had an appointment to look at a sort of boring looking 1920s farm house. We met there and it was run-down and when I peeked in the window I hated the kitchen. We never could get inside because the seller’s agent gave Jenn the wrong code. She tried to call him but he never answered.
Then we went to see another house on Old Pylesville that was beautiful, but falling apart. There were snake skins—yes—snake skins everywhere! We could hear something big moving in the kitchen cabinet. We also saw a dead mouse there. It had potential. I really thought that. Desperation and overfamiliarity with Square One causes people to hallucinate. I just want roots.
August 3, 2010
Jenn got a call from the agent for 1920s farmhouse. A month later! He wanted to know if we wanted to schedule another showing since we couldn’t get in the first time. Jeff and I were pretty iffy about the house, but Jeff being an eternal optimist decided we should at least see if it was something we could transform before we passed it up. We thought we may be wasting our time. The inside isn’t…awful. Great bones, great floor plan. Every floor needs replacing, but we like the layout, the large master bath, and the kitchen will need an entire renovation and a wall knocked out—but it has a nice lot where I could have a few animals. We’re not going to let ourselves get excited about this one, but we’re keeping it in the back of our minds while we continue looking in case we see something we like better. Prices are dropping all around.
August 22, 2010
Sad. I feel like we’ll end up buying a house just to own something because there is nothing out there that we love that is affordable. Today’s my birthday. I thought by now I might be celebrating in a new home. I am missing the old house really bad now. I did love the house. I miss so much about it. I really feel like we made a terrible mistake. Living in the rental I feel disenfranchised. It doesn’t feel like a home to me. It’s a hotel. We’re still living out of boxes, sharing one bathroom, and generally being angered and inconvenienced by living a life that doesn’t belong to us. I miss having the things around me that mean something—art on the walls that I choose. Colors that I choose, furniture and everything that coordinates. I know I'm just being a brat, but I want a place of our own. This isn't home for me. I don’t know what we are going to do.
Sometimes I feel foolish for thinking of the idea of moving to begin with. I just wanted more space, peace and quiet, and to rescue animals. And did I mention space? For living. I didn’t think it would be this hard or that 4 years of my life would suddenly be gone trying to make something seemingly simple to happen. I really feel like life has just stopped for me. I am weary and don’t feel like fixing up another house. I’m sick of looking at houses that were never taken care of. I feel like we put loving care into a house and presented it to a new owner looking brand new. We won’t get the same in return.
I just want to move and be DONE! But finances won’t allow that to happen. Nothing is ever easy though. I have lost so much of my life to this. I’m angry that all we seem to be able to afford are houses in utter disrepair, have holes in the roof, mold, etc. Living in an area where housing is expensive makes you feel unworthy sometimes.
And I feel terrible for Jenn. She’s really gone above and beyond trying to help us find our home. We don’t mean to be, but I am quite sure that we have been her clients from hell for all the effort she has put forth only to still be without a contract. She’s been a trooper for hanging in there with us for so long and through so many frustrations. If there’s a way for a realtor to be sainted, then she would be. Without a doubt.
I just want to feel grounded; I want to feel like I have roots and that I am actually living my own life. I feel like no choices belong to me. I have become depressed and I am very worried that once we do find a place that the depression will still have momentum in my new life. Depression… it changes you. I worry that nothing will measure up to Kirkwood
August, 2010
We decided to write a contract on the 1920s farm house. Jenn is on vacation so it will have to wait. The price is right and the area is perfect.
September 2010
We’re still feeling on the fence even though we thought we made a decision. We wanted to take a 2nd look at a house onRock Spring Rd before we make the final decision. It’s another blue Victorian with a gorgeous old elephant tree in the front and a pond. We’re still thinking about that 1920s farmhouse. So were considering 2 homes that aren’t quite what we’re looking for, but both have some of what we like. Rock Spring Rd has more space and character, and I like it better. For some weird reason I keep saying to Jeff as we discuss this, “I don’t know why, but the farmhouse feels right.”
September 9, 2010
We’ve taken a 2nd look at each and agonized over which house will suit us best. We ultimately decided to put an offer on the Victorian because of the extra space at 2800 sqft. Both houses are a compromise from what we set out to buy years ago, but we’re weary and anxious to get on with life.
We contacted Jenn yesterday to make the offer. We felt good again! But Jeff came home from work tonight with a strange look on his face. All he could utter was “Uhm…” I said, “That doesn’t sound like a good Uhm.” It wasn’t.
The house was gone. Someone beat us to the punch with an already accepted offer. I just dissolved. Yet again with Square Freaking One. Square One and me are buddies now. I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy always convinces him to try to kick the football and then pulls it away at the last minute. Gosh I hate the way I feel right now. I never wanted to feel this way over a house. All the optimism I felt at the outset has been crushed out of me. I feel like nothing ever works out for us. We may as well try to put in an offer on the farmhouse property. That is, if something else doesn’t pop up to sabotage our plans AGAIN. I don’t even know anymore.
October 1, 2010
With the market screeching to a halt we decided to place an offer on the plain 20s folk Victorian. The strange thing is that even as we decided to buy theRock Spring Road house I kept saying to Jeff that “the farmhouse feels right.” I told him that I had no idea why it kept pulling at my heartstrings even though we were actively pursuing the other house. I have no idea, but it feels right. And so it is.
Jeff made a final attempt to contact Chase about Kirkwood
Oct. 4, 2010
We’re under contract! Our 4 year journey could be ending very soon, and we could be the proud owners of the small farm. So much to think about!
Oct. 6, 2010
After 4 years and 6 houses that have fallen through for one reason or another, we have a ratified contract! Finally we’re getting somewhere. Gotta get an inspector and pray that nothing too awful comes up.
Oct. 11, 2010
Jeff met our financial advisor to get paperwork done for the mortgage. It couldn’t be completed because Jeff doesn’t have credit cards. Yep. He needs to apply for one and charge a purchase so the credit check can be completed. That seems so odd—you would think they would love people without debt or possibility to get credit card debt.
So he came home and tried to apply for one online, but the company needed a driver’s license number. It wouldn’t go through. Apparently Jeff has been driving around with an EXPIRED license for SIX MONTHS! The notification from the MVA never came by mail. I got mine, but he didn’t. He was really angry! He decided to go to the MVA close to work whose website stated that a social security card is needed. He asks his boss for more time off to come home and find it. Problem: we don’t know where anything is since we’ve been in this rental. He thought it was in his lock box—but where was the key? He tore apart his office looking for a key. He found a set. None of them worked. Finally he found his card and went to the MVA who never asked him to show the damn card. I wonder if we're ever going to move.
October 18, 2010
Inspections today. We knew there would be things found with an older home, but there were some unexpected disappointments including a boundary issue with the neighbor’s property. Apparently the 10 feet of the garage is on the neighbor’s property. The property line according the the survey is just outside the back of the house, which is not OK with us. We wanted to move away from neighbors and have a back yard. This is terrible news for us now that we have over 1K invested in this property at this point. There is also an area of the house that cannot be inspected because there is no access. Evidence of damage from powderbugs was found and some wood needs to be reinforced.
October 25, 2010
For the past week we have been trying to figure out the easement issue. Apparently the owners and the neighbors were unaware of the boundary issue. We all think that the county made an error in their survey and the sellers are going to try to take care of this so we can close. I don't like this black cloud. But we're not giving up.
October 27, 2010
We are CLEAR TO CLOSE! Our loan has been approved. As soon as the easement issue is resolved we are ready to close a week after, and we hear that it should happen by Friday—the day after tomorrow! Yay!
October 29, 2010
So my happiness was premature. More troubles have come to the horizon. We got a notification today that our inspector had damaged the window sill and roof at one of the windows. Not sure what will happen with this other than we have more repairs to make.
November 3, 2010
The saga continues… the sellers had a survey done to solve the boundary issue. Great, but they want us to pay for it as well as the attorney fees. Nice news after committing to adopt another pet, Christmas shopping expenses, and an unexpected $600 car repair today and the mechanic saying it wasn’t worth it to fix because the head gasket is about to go soon. We had no choice but to get the repair since there is no way we can get a new car right now.
November 15, 2010
Jenn says we are in the home stretch now. Underwriters and lawyers are reviewing documents and we should have a close date soon. Hopefully it will be soon enough to take advantage of a tax credit on new windows which we need.
November 17, 2010
Well closing should be Monday November 29. Everyone involved is on board, but we are still waiting for the seller’s OK. Hopefully we can get it done and I can kiss Square One goodbye once and for all!
November 29, 2010
We closed:-) We are homeowners again.
November 29, 2010
We closed:-) We are homeowners again.
