We Got the House We Wanted!

We Got the House We Wanted!

Waiting for approval on a mortgage can be excruciating. Now that Covid has affected so many people, trying to get a mortgage when you’re self-employed is, seriously, worse than doing your taxes. I have spent the past six weeks sending documentation not only on myself, but on the business, too. And, they kept asking for more. This morning, finally, the closing documents came through. Yea! Now, we get to start the fun job of PACKING! Ugg!!

The last three times we moved, I swore each one was the last time. Unfortunately, overcrowded suburbia, a pandemic, protests, hurricanes, and a terrifying funnel cloud proved me a liar after the fact. This time, I double dog swear it will be the last time.

We’ve spent the past few months traveling back and forth to Georgia, and looking at a variety of houses. We made offers on two of them, and lost out on the final bidding. The real estate market is NUTS right now! And, there was always the risk of bidding on a house, and finding out later, after you signed a gazillion forms and contracts, that the appraisal would be far below the offer price.

After those disappointments, one night, when I was up way past my bedtime, I accidentally changed the search parameters in realtor.com and a certain house popped up. And, it had everything on my “want” list:

  • On a mountain but with great Internet (VERY difficult to find)
  • At least 5 acres
  • Lots of wildlife
  • Natural water source nearby
  • Master bedroom on the main floor (my knees aren’t getting any younger!)
  • And, unlikely to be in any hurricane cones!

The Backyard

Yes, I’d be very happy living the rest of my life looking at that view!

I had, at that point, resigned myself to the fact that we’d probably be renting instead of buying but, when I stumbled upon this house online, I once again texted our realtor, David, and said, “Here we go again!”

The house had been on the market for 122 days (meaning no price war!) because, according to the realtor, “part of the road up the mountain is not paved.” I have a four-wheel drive. Dirt roads don’t bother me. In fact, I prefer them. They’re way more fun!! I was far more concerned about the Internet, which is below-ground fiber. Yea!!

We did a Facetime walk-through with the realtor, made an offer, and traveled there two days later for the inspection. I’d been burned by a realtor-recommended inspector before so I hired my own. The inspection found no major issues and we talked the sellers down on the price by $2500. Yes, only that.

This week, the appraisal came back and the value was quite a bit more than we offered on the house!!

Over the past month, we’ve saved every box and all the packing material we’ve received from incoming orders. We are making our moving-schedule spreadsheet today. For the last two weeks we’ll be in Florida, we’ll be living out of duffel bags and toiletry bags…and probably ordering lots of pizza. We’re going to hire some local muscle to help us pack a UHaul truck. Closing is supposed to be in mid-April. We are planning to do the final move the first week of May. That way, we will miss another hurricane season! Yea!!

I have to admit that I am most excited about growing some pumpkins!! When we lived in Maine, we would have family pumpkin growing contests. Those don’t grow so well in Florida. I am going to grow THE biggest pumpkin EVER!!

The house already has peach trees, and raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry bushes. We plan to plant a LOT more edible plants. I LOVE gardening but I had to stop doing it in Florida. In the hot summers here, I had to water twice a day while being eaten alive by mosquitos.

We are super excited right now! Except about the packing part…. 😉

RELATED

Read More News From The Home Office


Angela Hoy lives on a mountain in North Georgia. She is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the President and CEO of BookLocker.com and AbuzzPress, and the author of 24 books.

Follow Angela: twitter | facebook | linkedin

Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
Learn more here: https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/



Fall 2023 24 Hour Short Story Contest




The Fearless Freelancer: How to Thrive in a Recession


Want to Recession-Proof Your Freelance Business?



Freelancing in a recession doesn’t have to be scary. The Fearless Freelancer gives you a proven, step-by-step process for getting steady, high-paying clients—from a freelancer who’s thrived during two recessions.



Whether this is your first recession or you’ve been through this before, discover how to:

  • Boost your confidence so you can stay calm and focus
  • Stand out in a sea of freelancers so clients choose you
  • Make freelance marketing as easy as tying your shoes
  • Find high-paying clients that still need freelancers now
  • Create marketing that will attract those clients
  • Succeed in a recession even if you’re a new freelancer


Free Bonus Content
Also get dozens of checklists, templates, and other tools to help you recession-proof your freelance business, including:

  • Simple Strategic Plan for Surviving the Recession
  • The Ultimate LinkedIn Profile Checklist for Freelancers
  • Awesome Freelance Website Template

14 Responses to "We Got the House We Wanted!"

  1. Pingback: 24 Hours in HELL! Are the Sellers Moving Out or NOT?!?! | WritersWeekly.com

  2. Pingback: Lowly Renters Get No Respect! | WritersWeekly.com

  3. Bryan Quinn  April 5, 2021 at 3:37 pm

    Congratulations, Angela!

    Hope you and your family will have many cherished memories in it in the years to come.

    Peace,

    Bryan

  4. Pingback: Almost Water Blasted Right Out of Bed! | WritersWeekly.com

  5. robert beringer  March 24, 2021 at 10:44 am

    Congrats, a great feeling I’m sure. Have you sold the boat yet?

  6. Barbara Morris  March 22, 2021 at 12:39 am

    I’m really happy for you! What a find…and what a view! And what energy you have! The best of everything to all of you.

  7. Pamela Allegretto  March 20, 2021 at 11:51 am

    Hooray for you! Congratulations! How fun to have a new adventure. The view is stunning! We’ll want to see photos of that pumpkin patch.
    Best wishes.

  8. Chris Hanly  March 19, 2021 at 7:14 pm

    So glad that there are all those fruit trees over there I’ll be moving my wife my kid my dog my snake my alligator my cheetah my gorilla and my TN cars and everything else over there should be there in a couple of days hope you got room for my furniture and my arcade room and my billiard room feel squeezed in there also looking forward to staying there appreciate it it is free rent right

  9. Mary  March 19, 2021 at 4:42 pm

    Congratulations! Incredible view. So glad you found your heavenly mountain.

  10. Chris Norbury  March 19, 2021 at 4:24 pm

    Congratulations, Angela. Sounds ideal for you and the family. Good luck and don’t throw your back out loading up the moving van. 🙂

    Chris

  11. wmba dams  March 19, 2021 at 11:24 am

    Really hope this one works out. The others have all seemed to be disasters for you.

  12. DONNA  March 19, 2021 at 9:47 am

    Congratulation!!!! I do like packing but I do not like unpacking. Beautiful scene. Thank you for showing your kingdom with us. Enjoy your new adventure.

  13. Cheryl Tuskes  March 19, 2021 at 9:35 am

    Congratulations! Beautiful view indeed!

  14. El McMeen  March 19, 2021 at 3:28 am

    Congrats! Be careful moving boxes!!

    El