I Bought a House Today. I Think.

I don't see the ledger balance on my bank account showing the loan amount removed. And in light of the total DRAMA in getting to the point of closing, I am not counting on anything until I see it.

I signed the papers on Wednesday, the day before I left for Florida with my parents for two weeks. On Thursday as I was driving to Tracy's, on my way to Louisiana, I received a call that one of the pages was notarized and was not supposed to be. Legal matters being as silly as they can sometimes be, I had to sign another one in person and overnight it to the Title company. So, Heidi faxed the copies to me, Tracy printed them out- two copies, as we decided to keep one for back up in light of Murphy's continual presence lately. We took them to a postal place and paid twenty dollars to get them overnighted to the title company.

Even though I signed something that said I didn't change my mind about getting the loan, I was supposed to fax a second version of the same thing to the title company no earlier than Sunday, but no later than first thing Monday morning. Heidi said she would do that for me, since I would be on vacation.

Monday morning no fax had been received by the title company. A couple of frantic calls later Heidi had it taken care of, and we were back on track. But like I say, I will hold off on the big celebration until I see the loan balance disappear!

I gave Mike the list of things required to finish the house - not the punch list, but things I actually need to live there. Hopefully he is getting them done while I am away. We have GOT to get the red dirt covered up. If we don't the house will never be clean. That is on my early list of post move in things.

Here is Sanibel we were mostly sequestered today by the rain. Rain every day in the forecast, I think for the whole time. Hopefully not every day ALL day though. By the time Tracy, Ashley and Brea get here we will be stir crazy.

We are having a good time and very much enjoying this beautiful home. It is good to be back next to the water like this. There is just something about the ocean. So soothing. After the last two weeks it is hitting just the right spot.

No. Not Today.

I am reminded of the story of how for lack of a nail the war was lost. We are one survey short. Found out Friday. I talked with them two and a half weeks ago and was under the erroneous understanding that they were sending a team out imminently.

Friday my lender called to say we did not have it, that we had to have it to close, and that he called and was told due to rain they were one to two weeks behind. That it had to be done Monday or we were going to have to get an extension (not to mention the bank's response and the fact that I leave for 16 days on Thursday). I prayed and called and asked them to prioritize me if no one else was waiting on a survey to close their home, that I would lose the rate, that I appreciated their dilemma, heck I don't even remember all I said. I just know they said OK to Monday- today, weather notwithstanding.

Today I woke up to heavy mist and a cold breeze. I rode out to the property, called the survey folks and was told they were still going to try. By 10 AM I still had not seen them and couldn't be brave anymore. I cried. And prayed.

They showed up. I thanked them and God profusely and now will maintain contact with their office and my lending office to ensure timely paperwork.

The five brothers lights are all up, but not the sisters, and the friends and family light still lacks bulbs and glass globes.

There are so many other things that are half done, done but need repairs, not done at all, etc, etc. I have to remind myself it is not a contest or a race. Except for the closing. That is most certainly a race. I am just about out of breathe, but I can see the ribbon stretching across the road and will keep putting one foot in front of the other, and rest on the other side. Sort of...

Ten Feet from the Mountain Top

Sooooo close. I am late writing the blog because I thought I might have news today that the final appraisal had been completed. We had the interim appraisal, but need this final one that says the house is ready for move in so that we can schedule the close date.

We are shooting for May 11, and it all comes down to this. We thought Casey was going to be there today. Mike and his guys have been out there long hours this week, and Mike even brought in extra help from his friend Paul. Last night Lalo and Armando came into the garage with an almost dead copperhead snake on the shovel they were using. twenty feet from the garage is a bit too clse for my comfort.

As it turns out, if we can still get the final report passed to TexasLending.com by Thursday, we are still safe to close May 11. And we are in a better light to have the final appraisal tomorrow, since the place has been cleaned and the last few things worked on.

The septic tank is running, it only needs a permanent power source at the house- we have it running off of a plug right now. The propane tank is in the ground and supplying the range and tankless water heaters. Tracy had to help Mike quickly find a rock trencher when our guy bailed at the last minute, but despite that and torrential rains this week we got 'er done.

I have AC running as well, though one of the units has a faulty part and won't work fully until it is replaced. The hanging twin bed is up in the sun room, the five brothers lights are up. Still waiting on the seven sisters lights and the friends and family light at the front door. And I don't like the front door entry set. I drove to Granbury to turn them in and got talked out of it. Tonight I am back where I started. The front door is no place for compromise.

The remaining appliances will be delivered tomorrow. The water treatment tanks/equipment will be in place by the end of the week, which is great since my water is orange with iron! The hot tub pebble tech coating will be placed tomorrow and the next day will be filled with water. I will have it working this weekend when my friend Beth comes to visit from Houston- but I don't know if I will actually know how to run it!

It is really starting to look like a home. Lots and lots of work to do, but isnt that always the case? Hopefully next week's blog will report a closing!