image via SoFiliumm
We have begun the exhausting process of house hunting. Again.
We first started looking 2 years ago, actually put an offer on a house, and backed out last minute for various reasons – admittedly partly nerves. Good thing too. The mister was laid off a few months later.
So now we’re back at it. We’re more financially and mentally ready, we’re approved for a mortgage based on me only teaching party time, and Ryan no longer works for a startup company in any danger of going bankrupt.
Yet it’s still so hard.
While we’re fortunate enough to be able to buy a house at our young age in this disastrously unaffordable city, what we can afford makes our pickings difficult. With nice 3br2ba homes in a good area just starting at 500k, we’re having to make a lot of adjustments to our needs and wants.
image via SoFiliumm
We’ve decided not to buy anything just because we can. We want to be completely confident in our first home. Yet I live in a tiny bubble of fear that we’ll miss this amazing low mortgage rate+low housing cost economy that’s apparently running it’s course. What if we wait a tad too long and then *poof*, mortgage rates go from 3.5% to 10%.
Yes, I know I’m being paranoid, but let me have my irrational fear.
Nevertheless I search through the real estate listings multiple times a day, hoping something at least near perfect comes along. I know our first home can’t be perfect, and I look forward to making it our version of perfect. But at the very least I want a place we can grow into and a place that feels like home.
Until that day comes, here’s a look into what my perfect home might look like.
Uh oh, I’m noticing a lot of white. This may be problematic when we decorate our new home – white walls stress Ryan out (our current home if very colourful).
I’d love to hear any tips to help keep me sane!
See more inspiration for our future home on my pinterest board House.
Ugh. We are going through the same thing. We FINALLY found a house we like, and like you, I wanted it all. I admit, I have very expensive taste. And high standards. I recently told my husband my worst fear not being impressed by our own house. You want to walk in, your breath is taken away, and you have that WOW feeling. I only had that for the house we ended up buying. You’ll know.
I looked at the house online a year and a half ago, and it was $250K out of our price range. When I looked recently the price had come down, a lot. Making it affordable. I didn’t like the front of the house, but when we went to look at it, they showed us a picture from 1860 and it had a second floor porch, NOW the house looked right. So we have to put the porch back on at some point. 🙂
It is so much work and emotionally draining. You’ll find something, and ask for it all. You’ll get it!
yes! That wow feeling is KEY. I know that whatever house we buy, due to our budget, is to going to be everything i want right away. But I at least want that wow factor and the immediate vision of what the place can become.
How amazing that you got your perfect house! And 1860, I’m a sucker for heritage homes.
Thanks Susan! Your insight is super helpful and inspiring <3
That white kitchen is gorgeous! Great approach to prioritize what is important to you. Best of luck to you two on your house hunt!
Thank you!
Girl. I hear ya. House hunting (and later, escrow), is not for the faint of heart. It looks so easy on TV! But, we just removed our repair contingencies and are starting to get really excited about our new home … so I think all the stress will be worth it! Hang in there!
That word escrow sounds terrifying…
Congrats on the new home! I’m hoping to see pics and updates!
I really like your inspiration pictures. So lovely! We had a similar list to yours when we bought our first (and current) home. We have 1.5 baths, 3 beds. Its small but works well for us. Are you up for remodeling at all? Our upstairs was carpet and we removed it all to show the wood floors. It didn’t cost us anything and dramatically improved the space. Hope you find something soon!
Yup definitely up for remodelling, over time anyway. I know the place we do get won’t be perfect and will need some work. If there are carpets then ripping them out will be a must! Hopefully the hardwood underneath will be in as good condition as yours was!