Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Assess This, Mister

I have come into this housing business with a guarded heart. I have wished for it for so long, and knew that it might not turn out as I wish. Yesterday was closing day. Yesterday we found out that the bank assessed the building for a lot less than we were going to pay for it. Yesterday, we managed to negotiate a later closing date to get a second assessment. Yesterday...
I am already learning more about what its like to live in intentional community. I am going to live with beautiful people with beautiful lives who are way different than me. Way different is an exaggeration. Indie rock. Crushes on boys. Christian. Social justice. Etc. Those things are quite similar. The differences are how we relate to indie rock, boys, Jesus, social justice, etc. I need to/choose to guard my heart pretty much all of the time in all situations. I was excited about the house, but I didn't want to talk about it too much, and when I did I liked to frame it with "we don't have it yet, hold your congratulations until closing". My lovely friend Becky, as demonstrated in her last post, loves talking and getting people excited. Thank you, dear Jesus, for making us all different. Thank you for the diversity in our sameness. Thank you for teaching us through each other. Thank you for helping us like different boys. 

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Connections

I was so excited about our house today; I told everyone at church.

While I was talking to one lady, her husband approached and I started the story from the very beginning. As I was re-telling our exciting story I realized that the man that I was talking to has his own window installation company. We're going to need new windows within the next few years.

This afternoon I went for a motorcycle ride with my dad. As we were driving down Old Fort Road there was a very slow Harley Davidson in front of us. When we finally reached a fork in the road he pulled over and I looked back at him to say (with my eyes), "You're on a motorcycle! It isn't a horrible thing to go at least 5 km above the speed limit!!" Before my eyes could say anything, I realized it was John, from church. Dad, John, and I went to Timmy's in Ft. Saskatchewan and as we were talking about the house I realized that John is a roofer. We're going to need a new roof ASAP.

I was excited about these connections and when I was watching another movie with some friends they said, "Sometimes it's better to get someone who isn't a friend to do the job so that you can just get mad and say 'DO THE JOB!'" These friends have had the worst experience ever with home renovations. They might be right though.

We're going to have to be careful of who we choose to do the job.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Please give us money

Inspection done - check
Price reduction - check
Large ass deposit - check
Capable lawyer - check
Improving mortgage broker - check
Sassy real estate agent - check

House we love - check!!!!!

Now please give us a mortgage. We are down to the wire. Monday is d-day hopefully all goes as planned and it will be ours.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

First Time Home Owners

We're buying a house.  We knew this would be a big deal, and that there would be some hiccups, but some hiccups have manifested in unexpected ways, at least for me.

We really love our real estate agent, she's great.
We're less than thrilled with our mortgage broker.
The lawyer is untested thus far.
The home inspector, apparently, knew what he was doing.
The television reporter smiled a lot (doesn't every home buyer have one of these?)

We're to release our conditions, and release a lot of money, in a few days.  There's still an outstanding issue, but we're hopeful.

And, we're excited.

Right guys?

We Have Arrived!

On Earth is on the internet! Look out world wide web! Look out!