Originally Posted by ERD50 View Post
[...] just so much more to do to get our new home set up as I want it, less time for computer gazing.
-ERD50
I haven't been reading as many threads as I once did. Somehow I missed that you bought a NEW HOME!!!!! Are you still living in the same area, or did you move to another state? Do you love your new home as much as I love my Dream Home?
Enjoy! I am happy for you and wish you the best in your new home!
Thanks. Yes, we are very happy, and (if this makes sense) happy that we are happy! I guess what I mean is, even if you think you've found the right place, there could be any number of things that might make you turn sour on it and regret it (there was a thread about all the things to look for in a new area, but so many are unpredictable). I kept thinking there was at least a reasonable chance that would happen, and we'd have buyer's remorse. So far so good!
I would have liked to have moved out of IL and its crooked government and bad financial outlook (but to a similar 4 season climate I hate heat/humidity!), but the kids and grandkids are here, so we will stay. They had ended up in the SW 'burbs of Chicago, we were in the NW 'burbs/rural. The kids/grandkids are now all 15 to 25 minute easy, casual drive, so it's much easier to just see each other at the drop of a hat. From our previous home, it was ~ 1:15, sometimes hectic expressway drive, not something we looked forward to. DD was pretty instrumental in searching out homes, as she wanted another available baby-sitter, and that works for us too!
Big change for us, from one acre, large-ish 2 story, 4 large bedroom home with family room, living room, dining room, a large room for my music and computer/electronics hobbies, and a full, large unfinished basement (my workshop and tons of space for hobby collections), to a smaller combined family-living room, smaller 3 bedrooms, finished basement with smaller area for workshop/storage and 1/4 acre.
So there is a lot of adapting to do, but it's going well. The large finished basement (with high ceilings and lots of lighting, so it feels 'nice') just means we have to rethink how we arrange things. DW has one bedroom as her craft room (smaller than what she had, but some stuff is stored in the basement, so it works), I'm barely started on arranging my music room in the 3rd bedroom, but some of that will be set up in the finished part of the basement, so it should all work out.
I won't go as far as calling it our "dream home', but we are liking it. When we were searching, I kept telling DW "
We can afford more $ than this if we have to, why are you only showing me places below this certain price range? Let's expand our search." But she was right, spending more just gets you a BIGGER house, not necessarily a better quality house. There are exceptions, and of course nicer appointed homes go for more, but unless you find the rare perfect match (and we had a fairly specific set of "must haves"), the price range matches the size, with roughly similar quality.
About a month after the move, DW said a friend asked if we missed our old place. We both agreed, not really! Although there was a lot we liked (and I hope the new owners are happy!), it has been pretty much a "been there, done that". So we had the big house, big yard, lots of space for the kids and entertaining, great place to raise the kids, etc. Now we have moved on.
Moving is also brings a sort of "cut the cord" attitude for lifestyle changes. I had decided to get a lawn service from the get go. I cut the one acre lawn for 29 years, and I was done. Of course, I could have hired someone at the old place, but I had the mower, it was just inertia. So this was a clean slate, I decided if I don't buy a mower, I won't get into that trap. It's nice to see the lawn professionally maintained, everything edged every time, I was a bit too lazy to do it as nice as they do.
We also got lucky with the sale. I has a long long list of things to update to get it ready to sell, but there was a very anxious buyer for something in that neighborhood, and he was an "as is" buyer. He begged us for a showing before we were ready, and we were hesitant, but everything I pointed out that I planned to update he said, "that's fine I'll take it". Saved me a ton of work/grief.
So yes, we are happy to be happy! Thanks for asking.
Oh, back on topic. I do plan to get a mortgage. We went in on "cash" with a Line of Credit against my brokerage account as collateral. Going cash gave us an advantage with the sellers, and made the closing simpler. Interest rate on the LOC is ~ 2.9%, but not fixed. I will check, but I've heard that no one will touch a mortgage application with 6 months of the sale, I guess they want to see things settle out? But yes, I want to lock in these historic low rates.
-ERD50