HOME SWEET HOME?

(I know, two posts within three days. Please don't die of shock)

Last week we put in a back-up offer on a house. SO exciting!!! We really had no intention of moving this quickly on a house, but things have just seemed to fall into place.

About a month ago we started looking at houses knowing that we would more than likely buy something next year. Two weeks ago we decided to talk to our broker and get some concrete details on what kind of mortgage we'll be able to get. The following weekend (Labor day weekend) we were driving Ron and Jan (my in-laws) around the neighborhood that we are most interested in. Spencer was looking at the zillow application on his iphone and found this house (pictured above). It's in our price range and the pictures of the inside were AMAZING. The house had just gone on the market that Thursday and we were eager to take a look. We called the seller's Realtor and never heard anything. The next day (Labor day), we called the Realtor again and still didn't hear anything. We went to lunch with Ron and Jan and decided to drive by the house one last time before they left to go back to Dallas. As we turned onto the street, we saw the owners pull into their driveway. I KNOW!!!! Spencer got out and they agreed to let us come back in 30 minutes and see the house. Needless to say, we loved it. I mean, just look at this picture:

 

So the seller's Realtor finally called us that night, but didn't really give us much info. We called our broker on Tuesday and he put us in touch with a Realtor who started working on an offer. Well, when he called the seller's Realtor he found out that there was an offer on Saturday and they went under contract on Monday or Tuesday. No-one told us this info. Kind of weird. But they said they would accept back-up offers. We decided to put in an offer of what we could afford thinking it wouldn't really be competitive and just let God do what He was going to do. We found out that it was a competitive bid and after a counter from the seller's we have an agreed-upon back-up contract. 

At this point we're thinking we have less than 50% chance of getting the house. After talking with our Realtor on Friday we found out that the buyers who are under contract right now may have some issues getting a loan. Apparently they may need their parents to co-sign, but we're hearing that pretty much no one is giving out co-signed mortgages these days. So maybe there's a little more than 50% chance. We won't hear anything until mid-October, but it's exciting either way!

We're not letting ourselves get emotionally attached to this house. If it works out, awesome. If it doesn't, awesome. We just want a clear sign from God that we're doing the right thing. About the last thing we want is to be in a house we're not supposed to be in. They don't let you return houses like you can return throw pillows. (Took me eight returns before I finally settled on our current throw pillows on our couch) I'm loving the process even if we don't get this house. It's so much fun to dream and figure out what kind of house we want to be in. I will definitely keep everyone posted!

(PS... if you made it to the end and missed the link to the better pictures of the house earlier in the post, go here to get a better idea of how things look: http://vt.realtour.biz/?P=56016&T=NOTIDX)