Home Buying in the Burbs Part 4

So the latest on the house is that we will NOT be signing tomorrow as we had planned.

This time there is a problem with the appraisal report (which I'm not sure why they didn't catch it 2 weeks ago when they got it) and the underwriter has requested some changes. So we get pushed back again. We are still not sure when we will sign now, though the loan processor has stated we should ask for an extension until the 30th.

This has me freaked out. We have everything in place to move next week, including having much of our apartment packed up and in general disarray. On top of that, we have family coming into town to visit in 2 weeks and our apartment is in no condition for visitors, so hopefully we will still have time to move before they get here. If we can't move next week, I don't know what I am going to do.

This whole thing has taught me a lot of valuable information that I would definitely pass on to any first time home buyer:

1) First, and most importantly, GIVE YOURSELF TIME. You may not get the first place you love (or even the second or third) and banks are not completely reliable. If you are living somewhere that you know you need to be out of by a specific day, give yourself a few months to find a place and a few months to close. You don't want to end up homeless and the bank only works during business hours.

2) Even if the first bank you go to has a great mortgage broker and the loan sounds like what you need, SHOP AROUND. This was the biggest mistake Sean and I made and it has cost us about $8,000 so far. We went with the first place to approve us and didn't look into our other options. Sometimes, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

3) If you are unsure, uncomfortable, or just plain don't know something, ASK QUESTIONS. Things change every day in the housing/mortgage industry, and your mortgage broker or realtor may assume you know something. Speak up for yourself and asks questions. Don't worry about being annoying or asking what you think is dumb question. There are no dumb questions and these people are working for you now, so if you are going to spend that much money, they should be available to answer any questions you have. If they aren't, find someone who is.

4) Until you are in the title office signing the paperwork, everything can change, so BE FLEXIBLE. We have had to make plans, reschedule, and then reschedule again a few times. The bank works on its own time and (at least the one we are working with) doesn't like to make sure they are thorough the first time. So at any time something could change and get pushed back. Be prepared for things to change and don't plan any major events (or visits from out of town family) too close to when you are suppose to close.

Hopefully someone else will read this and learn from our mistakes. I'm sure the home buying process doesn't have to be this stressful. If we had known this stuff in advanced, maybe it wouldn't have been.

Good News Kinda Week

So Monday night I found out that my little sister is getting married.



I am both Matron of Honor and Wedding Planner, so I am going into overdrive. I've already started putting together ideas for stuff, as she picked a day only 10 months away. <3 it! Then, at 11:08am, my sister in law gave birth to our first Nephew, Cade! Actually, second, as my best friends son is also my nephew. Regardless, so excited for someone else to spoil! :) He's a handsome little guy.

It's been a good week, and will only get better. Going down this weekend to celebrate with my sister and heading to California in a month to meet our nephew. Doesn't get any better than this!

Just Another Manic Monday

Okay, not really.

I'm sick... AGAIN!

I missed chapter last night for the 3rd time this term due to illness. Not sure what is going on, but I just can't seem to stay healthy. I made it until the end of January without even a sniffle, and now this.

But, I still have stuff to do today. Laundry to do, a kitchen to clean, groceries to buy... I don't have any kids, but just taking care of my husband is a full time job. If your married, you know what I mean.

What does this Manic Monday have in store for you?

High School Crushes

In honor of my high school friend Michelle's celebration of love month (Fluttering Butterflies) I decided to delve into my own high school crushes.

In high school I almost always had a boyfriend, but this doesn't mean I didn't have my fair share of crushes. Yes, I had a crush on my boyfriends, but that's not the same. So here, in no particular order, are my high school crushes.



Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - He was probably my biggest, and longest lasting, crush. I would actually sit and watch HOURS of WWF just to catch a glimpse of him. I had posters, a pillow my mom made for me, and a collection of magazines and such he had been in. My crush probably bordered on obsession. To this day, I still kind of drool when I see him.

Mike - Name not changed to protect the innocent. My senior year I had a huge crush on this guy in my History class. He was ridiculously tall, handsome, and one of the nicest guys I had ever met. My friends all knew it and, frankly, I would be surprised if he hadn't heard at some point. I will still never forget spending hours looking at the cryptic message he had written in my yearbook... "You're tall too. That's why I like you."



Vin Diesel - The first time I saw him was in Saving Private Ryan and, from that moment on, I was determined to marry him. Clearly that didn't happen, but I did marry someone who is an awful lot like him. I had no idea back then that he was such a nerd. Oh, and can I add that I love the fact that him and crush #1 will be in Fast Five, coming out April 29th? Guess who will be front and center on that one!

So there you have it, my high school crushes. And, I'm embarrassed to say, 2 of the above have not changed 10+ years later. I didn't crush over the guys I went to high school with much, so its not really a long list. I preferred to not mix business and pleasure as it were, so I mostly dated guys I met through friends and such. I guess this don't afford me the opportunity for too many real crushes.

Okay, your turn... Who were your high school crushes?

Happy Belated Valentine's Day

I hope everyone enjoyed their day of love.

Sean got me a gorgeous necklace to celebrate...



and we had a nice dinner and some wine at home.

Looking forward to the week ahead. Going to celebrate a friends anniversary with them on Thursday and then spending most of the weekend with my bff.

Wish I had more time to blog, but as usual, my life is anything but under control. I need to get the house cleaned, write 7-ish recommendation letters before tomorrow night, and I have a dinner date at 6pm.

<3 all!

... At Least for the Moment

2011 has been busy.

Not like "I never get to sit down and I have no time for anything in my life" busy, but busy all the same.

I'm not working right now, which is totally fine with me. I have so much going on in my non-work life that trying to work right now wouldn't work. I am traveling a lot, going to the doctor a lot, and Alpha Chi keeps me plenty busy these days.

I love what I do. I love being an advisor. I love helping with the financial stuff. I wish there was a way I could just do Alpha Chi stuff full-time forever and not have to work. It's so much more fun.

This weekend is Leadership Academy in Indianapolis. I am SO looking forward to finally putting a name with a face. I've spent a long time working with so many of these women, and have never met them in person. Plus I never got to experience Leadership Academy in college, so this is my first one. I can't wait to get that "bigger picture" feeling that so many talk about when you are surrounded by that many Alpha Chi's. I'm also hoping to hunt down Delta Lambda and see what kind of things my home chapter are up to these days.

Anyways, this means that this week my life is full of shopping and cleaning and packing. All the stuff one does before a big trip. Then I have to be at the airport on Friday at 4:30am! Yeah, not a morning person and I hate to fly. This could be a really interesting experience. Hopefully the two wonderful Delta Omicron women that are attending with me will be able to handle the experience.

Life is under control right now, at least for the moment.