•11:51 PM
I need to document my amazing story of the house hunt and how the Lord has blessed me in SO many ways.
I began looking at houses the first weekend in January. My Realtor, Patty, is a Christian and was recommended by a retired Realtor friend of mine from church. Patty recommended my lender who is also a Christian. My lender and my mom both had a lot of info on a lot of programs that I could qualify for that would help me get a house. Then, to top it off, a friend of mine also worked for a place where I could get 100% financing if need be. All this was what led to me actually looking and getting excited.
Our first weekend we found a house that I loved and was ready to put an offer on. However, I had not yet spoke with my lender and it was a Saturday. So I waited until Monday, trusting that God would keep the door open if He chose. Well He did not. The door closed. Another offer was accepted prior to me being able to even get my offer in.
After that houses seemed to stop moving for a while. Anything new was in the neighborhoods that I didn't want and the stuff that was there I was not interested in. I have nothing against manufactured housing but a lot of the manufactureds here are either in shady neighborhoods or are very typical Manufactureds. I was not ready to settle for the typical when I could do that any time. I just kind of felt like settling so soon was...well...settling.
I was heading out on vacation on January 14th. Just before I did I went and saw a bunch more houses and there were 2 that stood out. The Applegate house and the Garson house. Neither were on the side of town that I wanted. The Applegate house needed some work and for a lower offer than what they were asking might have been a contender. The Garson house was a manufactured but in a NICE neighborhood and had the feel of a real house inside with real walls, granite countertops, gorgeous tiling etc. But I wasn't impressed enough with either to put an offer in before I left.
Once on my trip I was in agony wondering if I should have placed an offer and if I should go back and rethink one of those two. I struggled a lot with this.
This is where my brother came in. He recently bought a house with his wife and they went through an agonizing LONG time looking and bidding and waiting and looking and bidding and waiting. So I started asking him for advice. Specifically I was wondering how I knew what was God's will in moving forward vs. what is settling. How did I know if my ideals were too high vs. waiting for God's best?
I will explain his answers in a minute but the rest of the timeline is that I came back on the 24th, Sunday. On Tuesday night my Realtor had emailed me the listing to the house I am now in escrow on. Wednesday we went and saw it and put an offer in. On Monday, February 1st, we heard that I got it.
My brother specifically said several things and, for the sake of time and your attention span I will list each thing and how God proved it true in my case.
1. He said when him and his wife walked into their house they knew right away it was theirs. He said that I cannot try to search for this feeling and it may not happen that way for me but God will still make it clear for me.
On that Tuesday when I received the email, I looked at the pictures and I specifically remember pushing my chair back and praying out loud, "Oh Lord...this is my house!" It wasn't me telling God, it was just acknowledging what I just knew.
2. He said that the process will keep you safe. You put and offer in, you are rejected, you know its not God's will.
On Wednesday when we were deciding what price to put in my dad was helping me and we decided my best move was to make a full priced offer. Not knowing that there were other offers in. We did and then later found out about the other offers. The bank offered for us to raise our offer and I prayed and considered and eventually realized I was protected from a bidding war simply because I could not afford to do any more than I had. This was hugely relieving as if I had not gotten the house I would have known it was God! But I got it and I know that God helped me not to always wonder if I did too much or extended myself too much.
3. He said the things that seem so important to you when you are looking are not a big deal once you have the house (he had a few examples of his own with this).
I wanted at least 1 and 1/2 bath, this is 1 bath and I am not at all concerned. I wanted an open floorplan from the kitchen to the dining and living rooms. The kitchen only opens up into the dining and I still love it!
Basically my conversation with my brother was hugely helpful in giving me a peace that God would guide. I came home with the plan to look at the two houses I had been reconsidering and prior to being able to do that God opened the doors for me to get a house in a neighborhood that is out of my price range (this was the first and only house I have seen within my price range), a house that is updated in every room, and so many other little things that it would take me all night to list them! He has provided on every front. Up to and including the fact that I gave notice to my landlord that I would be out by the 1st of March and I don't close escrow until the 12. However, my Pastor and his wife need me to house sit March 2-12. Plus my parents were going to let me stay with them for a couple weeks if I needed it. God is good! I needed boxes to pack and have had enough every day for that day. I.e. I started with 5 from the church, filled 3 and got 9 more from Karen, filled those and have some from my mom and more coming from Karen.
Plus the financial side of things is working out very nicely. I am buying a house on the high side of my budget and God is working it out that I will be able to afford it and my food and gas still. I will need to budget and watch myself but I am blessed that He has provided every step of the way.
Ok, I have to go to bed now. This has been such a blessing and a huge humbling process. Jesus I was completely happy with just You. I am so blessed that You have chosen to give me a house. I only pray that it is used completely to glorify You and that I never lose sight of the fact that I don't deserve it and I only need You.
I began looking at houses the first weekend in January. My Realtor, Patty, is a Christian and was recommended by a retired Realtor friend of mine from church. Patty recommended my lender who is also a Christian. My lender and my mom both had a lot of info on a lot of programs that I could qualify for that would help me get a house. Then, to top it off, a friend of mine also worked for a place where I could get 100% financing if need be. All this was what led to me actually looking and getting excited.
Our first weekend we found a house that I loved and was ready to put an offer on. However, I had not yet spoke with my lender and it was a Saturday. So I waited until Monday, trusting that God would keep the door open if He chose. Well He did not. The door closed. Another offer was accepted prior to me being able to even get my offer in.
After that houses seemed to stop moving for a while. Anything new was in the neighborhoods that I didn't want and the stuff that was there I was not interested in. I have nothing against manufactured housing but a lot of the manufactureds here are either in shady neighborhoods or are very typical Manufactureds. I was not ready to settle for the typical when I could do that any time. I just kind of felt like settling so soon was...well...settling.
I was heading out on vacation on January 14th. Just before I did I went and saw a bunch more houses and there were 2 that stood out. The Applegate house and the Garson house. Neither were on the side of town that I wanted. The Applegate house needed some work and for a lower offer than what they were asking might have been a contender. The Garson house was a manufactured but in a NICE neighborhood and had the feel of a real house inside with real walls, granite countertops, gorgeous tiling etc. But I wasn't impressed enough with either to put an offer in before I left.
Once on my trip I was in agony wondering if I should have placed an offer and if I should go back and rethink one of those two. I struggled a lot with this.
This is where my brother came in. He recently bought a house with his wife and they went through an agonizing LONG time looking and bidding and waiting and looking and bidding and waiting. So I started asking him for advice. Specifically I was wondering how I knew what was God's will in moving forward vs. what is settling. How did I know if my ideals were too high vs. waiting for God's best?
I will explain his answers in a minute but the rest of the timeline is that I came back on the 24th, Sunday. On Tuesday night my Realtor had emailed me the listing to the house I am now in escrow on. Wednesday we went and saw it and put an offer in. On Monday, February 1st, we heard that I got it.
My brother specifically said several things and, for the sake of time and your attention span I will list each thing and how God proved it true in my case.
1. He said when him and his wife walked into their house they knew right away it was theirs. He said that I cannot try to search for this feeling and it may not happen that way for me but God will still make it clear for me.
On that Tuesday when I received the email, I looked at the pictures and I specifically remember pushing my chair back and praying out loud, "Oh Lord...this is my house!" It wasn't me telling God, it was just acknowledging what I just knew.
2. He said that the process will keep you safe. You put and offer in, you are rejected, you know its not God's will.
On Wednesday when we were deciding what price to put in my dad was helping me and we decided my best move was to make a full priced offer. Not knowing that there were other offers in. We did and then later found out about the other offers. The bank offered for us to raise our offer and I prayed and considered and eventually realized I was protected from a bidding war simply because I could not afford to do any more than I had. This was hugely relieving as if I had not gotten the house I would have known it was God! But I got it and I know that God helped me not to always wonder if I did too much or extended myself too much.
3. He said the things that seem so important to you when you are looking are not a big deal once you have the house (he had a few examples of his own with this).
I wanted at least 1 and 1/2 bath, this is 1 bath and I am not at all concerned. I wanted an open floorplan from the kitchen to the dining and living rooms. The kitchen only opens up into the dining and I still love it!
Basically my conversation with my brother was hugely helpful in giving me a peace that God would guide. I came home with the plan to look at the two houses I had been reconsidering and prior to being able to do that God opened the doors for me to get a house in a neighborhood that is out of my price range (this was the first and only house I have seen within my price range), a house that is updated in every room, and so many other little things that it would take me all night to list them! He has provided on every front. Up to and including the fact that I gave notice to my landlord that I would be out by the 1st of March and I don't close escrow until the 12. However, my Pastor and his wife need me to house sit March 2-12. Plus my parents were going to let me stay with them for a couple weeks if I needed it. God is good! I needed boxes to pack and have had enough every day for that day. I.e. I started with 5 from the church, filled 3 and got 9 more from Karen, filled those and have some from my mom and more coming from Karen.
Plus the financial side of things is working out very nicely. I am buying a house on the high side of my budget and God is working it out that I will be able to afford it and my food and gas still. I will need to budget and watch myself but I am blessed that He has provided every step of the way.
Ok, I have to go to bed now. This has been such a blessing and a huge humbling process. Jesus I was completely happy with just You. I am so blessed that You have chosen to give me a house. I only pray that it is used completely to glorify You and that I never lose sight of the fact that I don't deserve it and I only need You.
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