I know I sprung a doozy on ya’ll this morning with the photo of the FOR SALE sign in our front yard…but just so you know, this has been a long time coming.
Over the summer, we began searching the market to see if there was anything worth buying. Afterall, interest rates are sooo low and it is a buyer’s market right now. It’s not that we don’t love our home….we do…but we always said that this would be our first home…not our forever home…and call us those crazy dreamers but we always thought it would be nice to raise Will (and any future siblings) in only one home. Moving more than once is not what we are looking to do. But at the same time, it’s hard to do that because your needs change with each stage of life. Like right now, we don’t actually need the space we have. But in the next five years, that could change QUICK. Afterall, we just started our family and want at least four kids. Keeping that in mind, by 2014 we could very well want more space than our current house. And we just figured that it doesn’t hurt to look.
We both were looking for the same thing – our forever home. And that is one big shoe to fill…afterall, at heart we are both dreamers. BIG dreamers. I dreamed of kid’s birthday parties in the back yard and highschool football team and cheerleading squad spaghetti dinners on our deck and even that “Hey mom! I’m home!” and a slung open front door from a home-from-college Will. I dream of being able to look out the kitchen window and see the kids playing in the wide open backyard and trapse into the woods. I dream of a small vegetable garden and an eat-in kitchen. I dream of big open windows that pour in plenty of light for my photos of babies and a friendly neighborhood to go trick-or-treating in. Jeremy dreams of woods with trails and a creek. He dreams of a big master bathroom that has a door. And a living room that will fit more than four people for movie night. Jeremy dreamed of a basketball hoop and a dining room that could fit our whole family for thanksgiving. And we both wanted a safe home that would be open to missionaries and the youth group for games of capture the flag and relay races.
The funny thing is…here in Georgia, the market is very different than other parts of the country. You can literally have a McMansion for uber-cheap. I’ve had friends that say once you live here, your standard of living are so much higher and you can’t fathom buying a home anywhere else because of the price difference for what you get. We aren’t looking to spend half a million dollars or buy a home that has 17 bedrooms or anything like that…we just knew that we would eventually move from our current house into a forever home. That’s it.
So back to our story…over the summer we started our search. I even called Sherry one night in August to chat about babies and we ended up sharing how we both were looking to move and we were hunting our next homes. Of course, we Bower’s aren’t nearly as proactive as the Petersik clan…and they found their new home right away and found buyers for their current house in a jiffy. (Oh which by the way – we got to snag a peek at their next place a-la-drive-by-viewing when we visited Richmond in October and you would be CRAZY to miss anything they do over the course of the coming years…it’s gonna be fabulous!)
Months past and weeks dragged by and still nothing. By the end of October, we kinda gave up hope. The same ole listings popped up online and nothing struck our fancy. Nothing until the week of Thanksgiving. On the Monday prior to Thanksgiving, a listing came up on my radar (also known as Zillow) that had some pretty ugly photos but an amazing description. It sounded just darling. So Jeremy and I (and Will) drove out to see it. It was just charming.
The new price was perfect (it was a foreclosure that sat on the market for over a year). The porch was divine. It had tall ceilings and plenty of windows. The lot was five acres and farther out in the country. The only thing that kinda threw up the red flag was the fact that it only had three bedrooms and it wasn’t in a neighborhood. Even with the house not meeting our every wishlist item, we threw ourselves in with both feet and contacted our agent to see how to proceed. We were in love. And this house ooozed charm.
I even took my mom, grandma, and uncle to go see it over Thanksgiving. They agreed with us to pray about the decision.
By Friday, we found out there was already a contract on the house. We didn’t understand. Why did God allow us to see this house? Why would he allow us to get attached? Why did everything seem to fall into place? Why would it all of a sudden come up on the radar and then be snatched away? It just seemed so confusing. Jeremy even had checked his credit score (which had recently been boosted up to Excellent) and we had taken that as a sign that we were supposed to move forward. We were heartbroken. So we prayed.
We prayed that we would know why. We prayed that we would not dwell on the feeling of loss. We prayed that the Lord would show us where to plant our feet and where to take a step. And most of all, we thanked God for closing this door and for our many blessings. Afterall, we have a lovely home in an award-winning school district. We have our health and a beautiful & happy baby boy. And we are very thankful for those things.
The very next day we decided that we should write down EXACTLY what we wanted in our next home purchase. Here’s what we were looking for:
- A two-story single family house with a 3-5 acre lot
- Located in a neighborhood (preferably a cul-de-sac)
- At least four bedrooms (all on the second floor)
- Master bedroom with shower, tub & separate potty room
- At least three bathrooms
- An eat-in kitchen
- Separate dining room
- Living room that was open to the kitchen
- A daylight basement with separate entrance
- Under $300,000
- A deck with stairs to the backyard
- A covered front porch
- A separate office for Jeremy (he works from home)
- A laundry room & coat closet & pantry
- Good school district
- Located under 30 minutes from my parents house
Right away the first two items are pretty hard to find…after all, the 3-5 acre lots are usually not in neighborhoods in metro Atlanta. So we knew that it would be a challenge.
The very next day we started a fresh search with renewed energy…looking at EVERY homes within our 30 minute radius. And what would you know?! That very same day, a foreclosed house was listed at a new lower price. We couldn’t believe our eyes! It almost seemed too good to be true.
It had every single item on our list!
We held our breath and haven’t stopped. Yes, our faces are kinda blue.
So now we had a situation. On one hand we had a perfectly wonderful home…a home that could suit us for a very long time…a home that we have poured out blood, sweat and tears to finish…our first home…and on the other hand we had our dream home…a home that could be our forever home…a home that we want for the next 25+years. And so we prayed. It worked before and it’ll work again.
We felt peace about moving forward and seeing if we qualify for both mortgages. Afterall, if we can’t sell our current home, our realtors also have rental experience. And seeing as how we are in a fantastic school-district, lots of good people with kids (maybe even someone who was foreclosed upon) could use a finished house like ours to get back on their feet while providing a good education to their children.
Another open door – we were approved. We drew up the paperwork and put in an offer on the new house. We offered below-asking price and also for closing costs. Without getting into ALL the gory details (and typing out a book)…we found out that the offer was accepted and now we are just waiting for the paperwork to go through. The only problem is this: until the contract is signed – other offers could come in…and result in a highest&best offer situation. So right now we are crossing our fingers and toes for the paperwork to be wrapped up quickly….or that the Lord slams the door shut. That’s why we are telling you…because I need some prayer. Pray for me to have patience. Pray for me to not have an emotional freak-out. Pray for me to encourage Jeremy as he makes tough decisions for our family. Just pray…and please know that I appreciate you guys more than you’ll ever know.
Best of luck to you guys. I’m crossing my fingers for good news. We just put in an offer in on our first house and will be closing next Friday! I’m so excited and love reading about other people’s experiences (both you and Sherry). I now know how the anticipation can build so I wish you the best 🙂
prayers from Massachusetts are heading down South for you 🙂 The house looks beautiful…as you said, if it is the right opportunity for your family, it WILL work out. rinse and repeat. 🙂
Good luck! I’m sending lots of good thoughts your way!
From a DC girl who knows the market – yep, you hit it on the head. 400k here gets you a box. And lots of traffic. If you’re lucky, it’s not being held together with too much tape! 🙂 (the box, not the traffic)
Best of luck!! Sending positive vibes from overpriced-mc-mansion-land!
You are in our prayers!!! Remember, God’s timing is PERFECT! 🙂
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Prayers coming your way!
HUGE prayers being thrown your way! Everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for your adorable family.
Your market comparison was spot on. I am from Nashville but currently living across the river from DC in Crystal City. And if anything can be more expensive than DC, it’s my neighborhood. Knowing what I can buy back home makes me nauseous to think $300K gets you 700 sqft here.
So we keep saving and saving and a few more years here and we will have saved enough to almost buy a house outright, and we are looking at moving to Atlanta too!
Wow, I’m just getting over the shock of the Petersiks moving and now the Bowers too! So not expecting the news! But your dream house looks amazing, and I’ll be sending prayers things work out! SO EXCITED for you guys!
We just bought a foreclosed home, and things took forever on our rushed schedule (offered 11/7ish, need to close by 12/31), but it didn’t take too long if they’re motivated to get rid of it from the bank’s ownership. Good luck!!!
All over it girl! Praying hard!
I will definitely pray for you! God does amazing things! And no matter what happens, He’s always giving us opportunities to praise Him! Good luck!
Congrats, Katie! This is an exciting time for you guys! I will most definitely keep you guys in my prayers. I know the house buying process can be a stressful one. Best of luck to you and your family!
I’ll definitely keep you guys in my prayers. Things will all work out as they should.
I hope everything works out for you! I have a question I hope isn’t too personal. You said “Pray for me to encourage Jeremy as he makes tough decisions for our family”. Does that mean you let him take the lead in making these decisions and you support him as the man of the family? Or are your decisions 50/50? I’m just curious because you don’t hear most ladies say things like that these days. It’s cool if you do, and I wouldn’t have commented unless you put that out there.
I know how you feel. Twice my husband and I have been in similar situations where we moved forward with a house or house builder only to have it not go through whether being on their end or ours. And then in a matter of moments, have the perfect house/builder show up right behind. This is your journey and often it IS the closed doors that clearly define the direction we are meant to travel. Sitting in my (most likely) forever home, I am wishing you yours! 🙂
Wow – you’re right, that’s an amazing market! Good luck (but I really believe if it’s the one that’s meant to be it will happen)
Hi there! I’ve been following from Young House Love for awhile. I just wanted to say hi and good luck with everything! I live in Georgia as well and you’re totally right about the real estate market- it is fabulous! And I truly hope your contract is signed and ready to go on “THE house” as soon as possible! Isn’t it amazing where God takes us?! Especially when we’re not looking! The new house looks beautiful and I can’t wait to hear what happens.
Wow! How exciting for you guys!
That is crazy how ‘much stuff’ you can get for a price like $300k…. oh how i wish that was the case in Oz!
We rent in a pretty regional area at the moment and even there for $300k (which is our budget too) you can only get a little tiny house on an even tinier block with MAYBE 3 bedrooms but bascially zero space, oh and about 4 inches from the neighbour’s windows!
We are heading to America next year – maybe we should look to buy! heehee.
P.S. Thanks for the paypal info Katie, I will defintely go ahead and order those prints now :O)
Oh wow!!! I can’t believe houses are that cheap in Georgia!!! In Melbourne (Australia), it’s at least 500k for a crappy house in a good neighbourhood, and the properties are SMALL!!! My hub and I are looking to move, but we’re looking at spending 600k+… I think I need to move to Georgia!!!!!
My prayers are with, and I’m sure it will happen if it’s good for you!
Prayers sent out…check!
i totally know those feelings katie! i had been house-hunting and thought i found the perfect place and it turned out there was a contract on it already and i didn’t get it. i literally remember crying and asking God why he would put something in front of me just to snatch it away. 5 months later i settled on the house that i know now is perfect for me! God really knew what he was doing and i can totally see that now. praying for your family and believing that God will give you the desires of your heart!
Katie & the Bower Clan-
You can count on us for prayers! Best wishes and kuddos for keeping the faith, because when one door closes another ALWAYS opens up. Fingers crossed…
(Love your blog!)
Too right girls! I live in Adelaide (one of the more affordable cities in Australia) and our modest two-bedroom unit in a modest suburb is worth $300K, I can’t believe what you can get for the same price in Georgia!
Sending you good luck vibes, Katie.
Congrats on finding your dream house! We have been looking for a house for about 8 months now and haven’t found anything we have become even a little emotionally attached to. We are looking in Atlanta too, but have had quite the opposite experience. We havent seen anything that feels remotely like a bargain. It seems like the neighborhoods we have been looking in have been thoroughly insulated from any downward economic trends, as 500000 and even 750000 gets a sad old dated ranch needing improvement! Yikes.
I hope we have better luck. We know that we need to be patient and prayerful and it will happen soon enough!
Absolutely praying for you guys. Can’t wait to hear it WHEN the good news comes. 🙂 And it’s too bad we don’t live in Georgia because we’d rent that house in a HOT second!! And we’ll be looking for a rental this year when we start renting our the home we currently live in to tenants and search for a bigger home for our little fam and pup (who needs a MUCH bigger yard than we have now).
Argh the house you live in now is amazing…. ha
I dont understand why you would want to leave its sooooo lurrrrvly!
Doesnt Run DMC live in Atlanta?????? have you seen him???? lol
Im from the UK, i bet Atlantas huge…. im an idiot… ill be going now…. *side steps out the blog* … lol
I’m not religious, but will definitely cross my fingers for you! 😉
Good luck!
You’re so right about the market. I live in Michigan, and a $400,000 house here would be close to a mansion. I know we have houses on the lake that start at $500,000. My house on the other hand? 1,000 square feet (and growing) and I bought it for $54,000.
I guess I should mention that it is three bedrooms and on 1 acre, so people can compare!
Hi Lin,
Let’s make one thing really clear…I am totally a girl-power-I’m-an-equal-rights-feminist-husbands-are-the-head-wives-are-the-neck kinda gal. But when it comes to Jeremy, well he makes me want to be that old-school-take-care-of-me-and-I’ll-bake-you-cookies-in-high-heels-and-an-apron kinda wife. I love him as a leader…he always asks my input and I can always tell that he is listening (I’m Italian so it probably makes it hard to NOT hear me) and takes it into consideration…but yes, to answer your question – he makes the final call. I trust him and his judgement. It’s one reason why I married him. And that might seem strange or weak to some people but I always say…what’s harder – making a decision or following someone else’s?
Sorry about the tangent 🙂
xo – wanna-be-trophy-wife
So exciting Katie!! Will definitely lift you guys up in prayer. God’s ways are always best and He cares for you guys so much.
Good luck with everything. I can’t wait to see what you do with the new place if everything goes well.
What area of Atlanta are you looking in? I live in Decatur and the shoe box sized houses in my neighborhood (1,000 sqft) are $225k-300k but we are super close to Emory/CDC/Vi-Hi etc. so that pushes the prices up. Anything outside the perimeter is going to go way down in price.
Love your blog Katie! I especially love all the do what you can with what you have ideas. That is super smart. I am always inspired by frugality & creativity. You come up with way nicer stuff than what you’d find at the mall etc.. I especially lerve your new bed. Great vision and execution.
Wow! I totally didn’t see this coming! You mentioned that Jeremy works from home, what is it that he does??
Best of luck! Also keeping my fingers crossed for you…..
Hi Lisa,
We live outside the perimeter. the burbs. the cun-tree. the redneck side of town 🙂
xo – kb
Hi Kelly,
He works for Equifax 🙂
xo – kb
I was about to ask the same thing. It is so great that you all three can be home together during the day. I would love that one day….
Congrats and that is super exciting. We are stuck in TX for a couple more years, but seeing y’all and YHL moving into dream homes really makes me that much more anxious to get up north somewhere and get settled into our “forever” home. Best of luck!
Sending prayers your way!! I hope y’all get the house!! And I can’t wait to continue reading and see how everything turns out!!
Highest & Best. Ugh.
Those were the most dreadful words when we were house hunting and placing offers. We put in about 12 offers on houses before we finally got our house. It was a forclosure that had been sitting empty for over a year. Sad to say that our 280-k only afforded us a MOJOR fixer upper in Southern California . It was a wreck. Pictures to prove it are linked in my name.
I’ll pray that you get your house if you pray that I can convince the hubby to move back to the South!
Pretty Lady, I am crossing my fingers for you and the family. Hope it goes through. How exciting! And coming from California I can’t tell you how jealous I am of what you get for your money. The blessing and the curse of being born and raised here.
Hi Katie,
Thanks for being so honest. I choose to live a different way in my marriage but I very much respect your perspective and think whatever works for a couple and makes them happy should be respected. I think it’s nice to hear someone talk so honestly about it.
Good luck on everything, and I’m sure it will all work out for the best!
SO excited to see you looking for a new home! I have had so many hopes and dreams for a “forever home”, but for us, God has had other plans. Instead of a home and settling in one place, He has moved us to Argentina. We have lived in so many places over the last two years, but God has ALWAYS provided the right kind of place for us to live. The house we live in now is SO much more than I had hoped to find and live in. (No, we are not those missionaries that live in a grass hut- God knew I wasn’t cut out for that. I love how He knows us.).
I will be praying for you and Jeremy to know what the Lord wants you to do. I know He will lead and direct your steps. What an awesome testimony you already have in how He has been guiding you to a new place. (Um- I loved that you want to open your home to missionaries and youth groups- whoot, whoot!)
I will also be praying that the Lord will give Jeremy wisdom, guidance, and discernment in knowing what decisions to make. There’s something fantastic that happens when the husband takes the lead from the Lord and the rest of the family follows :0)
Thanks for sharing, friend! Prayers for you right now.
Woot! So excited that you dropped the new house bomb! And too bad it’s not next door to ours. That would totally make my life.
xo,
s (& j & c & b)
p.s. C-dog sends her best flirty grin-squeal to W-man
Katie,
I just bought my first house in August – what an emotional roller coaster! I know how you feel!
Before I bought my current house, I had found the “perfect” house – I became attached, the whole thing. Long story short, I was out-bid and lost out. Then their deal fell through and it went back on the market – and I was AGAIN outbid. Heart break! Stress! Frustration!
The very next day I found a house WAY nicer, put in an offer and got it that same day! And I love my house!
I live in Michigan and 300k would be… wow, more house than I could handle!! I have an almost brand new home with 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths and I barely paid 6 figures!
I’ll send a prayer out for ya! 🙂 I know how you must feel!
P.S. I love my job but wow lady, you have the life!! 🙂 My live-in boyfriend is going to school full time for his masters (biochemical engineering) and is unemployed, so for now I gotta hold it down, it can be rough sometimes – like when I want to feel like the “take care of me and I’ll bake you cookies in high heels” kinda partner, but instead I gotta get up and go to the office so the mortgage gets paid. We are very blessed though, I swear I’m not complaining, lol! 😛
Oh PS I also just built the Farmhouse Bed!! I’m lovin it! Your’s is waaay prettier though 🙂 I love the antique white finish you gave it. I did a mediumish stain on mine.
Yay Bower Family!! Saying prayers, crossing fingers and sending positive vibes… keep us posted 🙂
Not wanting to butt in on your conversation, but I am pretty sure I had WAY t0o many opinions and way too much power in my last relationship (which is probably why it is now ending in divorce) and I think I might try Katies road next time….. :o)
I like how you quoted me (twice).
I also love your house.
Congrats, Katie!
—-Austin
iamsojealous
Really hope and pray that you guys will get the dream house katie.
Keeping fingers crossed
Katie, Your post brought tears to my eyes! Your description of living in your dream home was so beautiful!! Your want list for a new house is great – it is exactly what I dream to have one day as well. Good luck on the new house journey. I am sending prayers your way!!!
Wow. Highest and best. Boy do I hate those words.
Lots of love and prayers being sent your way. It’s scary, it’s crazy, and it’s a wild market out there. Heaven knows we’ve had our trials just trying to find a house. 4th offer on the 4th house was put in yesterday for us, so here’s hoping you get it.
And Michigan must have the same housing economy that Georgia has. Looking at the home prices now compared to what they sold for even 5 years ago shocks me. I’m not sure if it’s the same, but out here, it’s sometimes upwards of 1/2 as much as what it sold for 5 years ago.
Thumbs up! Good luck!
Yay! Excited for you all and definitely praying all goes well!
Lots of luck with your move! I would love to move south, but the hubby won’t leave Jersey! Hope you sell quickly and settle quickly. I’m looking forward to your posts on all of your new projects you will be doing on your new home!
Definitely saying prayers for your family tonight! We are moving in two weeks, crazy timing because my husband is deployed and we are expecting our first baby in March, but we knew the timing was right. We’re from the South and have no family out here but God is faithful and has provided direction, speed with paperwork, and friends to help. Ephesians 3:20 might help!
I will definitely keep you all in my prayers!! No matter what happens things always work out. 🙂
We’ll all be on pins and needles with you until you tell us everything is final! Your dream home sounds lovely, and it will all work out for you whether it is this house or a different one. Look at what happened when the first house didn’t work out – you found an even better one! Imagine what you’ll find if this one doesn’t happen! (Ok, don’t imagine it because that might send you into emotional freak-out territory, but just trust that it will all work out for the best!)
Sending prayers from West Georgia by way of I-20. Hoping to hear big news of great blessings!
First, let me say that my fingers and toes are crossed for you! I’ll think lots of good housing thoughts for you.
Second, let me say “UGH! I need to move to Atlanta!” We live in in Towson, a very close in suburban of Baltimore (inside the beltway) and we paid $600K for our 2050 sq. ft house on a whopping .33 acres. And trust me when I say it is very much a work in progress. Of course, there is cheaper housing in the area if we were willing to move further out but my husband cannot stand the idea of a longer commute to his downtown office. And, we LOVE our neighborhood. Think community pool, neighborhood swim team, three blocks to excellent elementary school, Easter egg hunts, Oktoberfest parties, Halloween parades, babysitting co-op and more. As we are all fond of saying, “we didn’t buy our Stoneleigh houses for the kitchens, bathrooms or closets.” We won’t live in our house forever. We dream of a rowhouse in the city where my husband can walk to work and we can walk to shopping, restaurants, etc. That will come later. By the way, I grew up in D.C. and all I can say is “yep – a box.”
I am glad to hear that you have found your dream house and I hope it all works out for you. Can’t wait to see what you do to the new place!
lol I was wondering what Jeremy does too! I was impressed that you qualified for 2 mortgages, I thought maybe you were secretly millionaires 🙂
I can’t believe you can get all of that for under $300k- I’m going to have to convince my husband to relocate!!! I live outside of DC and under $300k gets you teeny condo!
Praying and crossing my fingers for you guys that your forever home works out!!
Super exciting! Praying for God’s plan 🙂 His is the best! And I’m with ya on the Georgia market… gotta love house pricing! We are still in love with our first home, but if we ever move, we are staying right here in North Metro! Can’t wait to here updates on the potential future house!
Katie, I’m so excited for you guys!! And your story is all to familiar…sounds so much like ours! And as I said in my post about it, God is awesome and he totally loves to surprise his children. I’m happy to see you guys are getting your very own home-y surprise!
Praying for you guys!
What an encouraging testimony! Thanks for sharing how the Lord is leading you guys and giving you peace in what He has for you! We’re praying about buying a house, and we’re learning to trust that Jesus has a home for us and will Provide in His way and in His timing! I’m not very patient, so this is hard! 🙂
God bless you guys, we’ll be praying!
Best of luck with your new adventure! I just said a prayer for you guys. I hope you get your dream home! I can’t wait to see all the new house posts!! I love your decor style and projects you do.
Xo
Kelly
I literally WOL (woah’d out loud-yah, just made it up! :D) You and the Petersik ‘s moving?! Throwing me for a loop guys!
My prayers to you and your family. Hopefully God wants the same things as you do for your new house. 😀
Just prayed for you guys!! I think you guys will get it, you deserve it 🙂 But in case not, just remeber that God works in mysterious ways, always for the better, even if we dont know it yet. xo
Is your maybe new home next door to the Petersiks by any chance?! That would be awesome times a million! 🙂 Really, though, sending prayers & everything happens as it should. Best of luck!
Yep, this is me as well! Been working two jobs to support my husband while he was in school and supporting him still until some teaching jobs pop up! Nice to know I’m not the only one like this. 🙂
wow what a fabulous story – I will keep you guys in my prayers!
I bought my first home two months ago – wow the Australian housing market is craaaazy compared with yours, I wish I could have found something 1/2 as amazing for that price, wow!
Anyway, I’ve been praying that God would continue to provide as he clearly bought about the purchase of the house and I was feeling anxious about a mortgage etc. Fast forward a couple of weeks and I find out I don’t have a contract for work for 2011 – yes wonderful timing, I settle in 2 2 1/2 weeks and I’m STRESSED out of my mind! But it is amazing only four days later how much God is proving his ability to provide. I was offered part time work today and I am hoping to secure more in the coming days. I would love to have it sorted so I can enjoy Christmas without work stress, but if it’s God’s timing for it to occur later then that’s the best for me (he’s proven that repeatedly in my life and many others!) This is fairly miraculous because it’s summer here in the southern hemisphere and everything is shutting down for Christmas and a summer break!
Thanks so much for sharing about the process and I want to thank you especially for being so open about your faith in this forum. It is not at all cheesy (which it certainly can be) and is such an encouragement and reminder to me to keep trusting God with EVERYTHING!
I don’t believe in god but I do send my best wishes to you and your family. I hope you get the house of your dreams.
Dear Katie,
I’m probably one of your younger readers (yay 16!), and I just wanted to say thank you for the Godly example you are through your blog. It’s one of my favorites because you do what you love with God up front. It’s awesome to be able to think of some bloggers as role models and know that they are amplifying Jesus through it. That’s what I want to do. I’ll be praying for you!
Thanks,
Linley
Prayers said and fingers crossed!!! It sounds like a beautiful house! You lucky dog! I think we should love to Atlanta. Here in Miami, a house like the one you want would easily cost you twice what you want to spend.
Praying for you! 🙂
Congrats! I can’t wait to hear more about the new place. Sending prayers your way… 🙂
I don’t think this has been asked … at least I haven’t seen it in the comments. But how is the sale going on your current house?? Will you have to assume 2 mortgages if you can’t find a buyer?
Hi Ashley,
Like I said in the post, we are planning and hoping to sell but if we can’t sell then we plan to rent. So far, our listing just went up online just a couple days ago so we shall see. We are definitely praying that the perfect family comes through the front door 🙂
xo – kb
Good luck! My prayers are with you guys. From what I could tell in the photos I really liked the house you have an offer on now better than the first one. Not that you care about my opinion. 🙂
Best of luck to you!
My husband and I are actually doing the exact same thing right now (but in the DC metro area). We are waiting to hear back from the bank if our offer was accepted. Our plan is to rent this new home out for a year and work up plans for a MAJOR reno and then rent out our current home. Crazy, exciting, scary times!
Keeping my fingers crossed for you and us!
Yay, Bowers! Congrats on your recent approval – and THE dream house.
Will keep you in my prayers. Here’s hoping you get in that new house soon!!
Thanks for such an open post, Katie! My husband and I started building a house in July (well, we actually started the contract in April, so it has been a work in progress for awhile). We were scheduled to close on November 23, but then my husband lost his job on November 12. We were devastated. I know exactly how you and Jeremy felt when you thought, “Why did God let us get so emotionally attached to this house, and now the door is just slamming in our face?” We had been dreaming about our house for seven months, and were heartbroken at the thought of losing it. Long story short, we did a lot of praying and reorganizing of finances. We were able to qualify for the mortgage and closed yesterday afternoon! We’ll have to practice a lot more self-control with our money than usual, but we both have faith that everything will work out. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). Hang in there!
Wow congrats! I’m pretty sure my perfect home criteria are the same as yours!
And now I’m thinking of moving to Georgia because I’m jealous of those prices. I live in NJ…you know how that is….
Not to take any steps back with equal rights, but Katie, I’m jealous! 🙂
I just had to LOL when I saw your image of a box when comparing a Washington, DC home to a Atlanta home. It is sooo true! We just bought a house in DC and my hubby’s family (from Kentucky) cannot believe how small it is and how much we paid for it. I’m glad that although you have an option to buy a McMansion you are opting for something with more personality! Good luck and I hope this one is it!
Do you also work from home, Katie?
Hi Liz,
My only job is taking care of the house, Will and the blog 🙂
xo – kb
Katie- best of luck on yoru dream home! Will be sending prayers your way.
We just closed on our house on 11/29 after almost 7 months of looking. Many of the houses we put offers on were outbid by investors who paid cash. It was heartbreaking for us. We also put offers on a short sale that took FOREVER. We’re happy with our house now but know its our starter home not forever home. We also know when we sell we’ll get so much more than what we paid for it(it was a short sale approved so we closed in less than 30 days). We’re planning major renovations(both bathrooms, garage, driveway, and backyard).
Good Luck
Felicita
I can’t say that I pray much, but I do believe in the power of positive thoughts….sending lots your way!
Praying for you Bower family! What an exciting time! I can’t believe that you and the Petersik’ss are both moving on up!
I can vouch for the all the DC area people commenting. I live in a Suburb 40 minutes north of DC. Townhouses sell for $350K. I dream of moving down south. 🙂
I absolutely love that you’re taking these decisions to the Lord in Prayer, and I’ll add my prayer that Jesus will see you through the process and get you into the home that He has chosen for you!! Congratulations in Advance!!! :))
I totally agree with and quote Lin.
Mutual respect is the key in every relationship: wife/husband, blogger/reader…
And I find your future house (fingers crossed) really awesome.
Best wishes your way from Italy!
Wow, I am dying to know what Jeremy does for a living! To work from home & make enough to be approved for the 2 mortgages…
Good luck with the house contract!
P.S. Have you ever noticed the Mayhem guy from those insurance commercials looks a lot like your boyfriend??
Praying that you get your dream home and that your current home sells to a wonderful family and fulfills their dreams!
will totally be adding you to my prayer list. I’ve only commented a few other times on your blog, but can I just tell you how much I enjoy it? you crack me up, and we have lots in common- living in the South, babies, handy husbands, etc.
thanks for the laughs and all the diy inspiration. prayers goin up for ya now…
Hi Christine,
I didn’t notice…but I am off to google him now!
As for what Jeremy does – he works for Equifax. He’s just a lowly sales guy but he works very hard.
xo – kb
Prayer. Done and done!
I’m praying for you!!!
Exciting news…will be praying with you guys!
Wanted to share this bacon page….some of these treats look yummy the rest, umm not so much!
x
http://www.uncrate.com/guide/bacon/
Wow, you are spoiled down there in Atlanta! Trying to find a house up here in NY/NJ area I’m so jaded about what homes should cost! I loved your photo side-by-side comparison of $400k in DC and Atlanta!! So true!!
I’m about to vomit – our place is a 2k square foot *townhome* in a small condo assoc. and it was over half a million! Ach, the price of living in Boston is truly gag-worthy.
The hopefully-yours place is gorgeous (at least from the doctored photos). Fingers crossed that you get it!
Gotta love when my neck of the woods is your example of SOL housing market.
Boogers.
It is so heart warming to see a young family trusting the Lord to lead them in the direction that He would have them go. As someone else said in a previous comment; “God’s timing is perfect”. I try to remind myself to “Be still and know that I am God” when I find myself getting all worked up/excited/anxious/worried about something.
prayers from MD! between you and the petersik’s im jonesing for a new house now….!
Definitely will be praying for you! If we could even get one item on your list, we would be thrilled! San Diego doesn’t offer the same amenities at decent prices 😉
Good Luck! Everything happens for a reason. I was crushed (ugly crying) when a deal fell through on our first home buying attempt but I thank my lucky stars that it did- we would have been majorly over our heads.
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/
That’s fantastic! Moving is such a difficult time in more than 1 way. Good luck and many prayers your way, Katie and family.
Lots if positive thoughts coming your way from Miami! (Well Pembroke Pines really but close enough, eh?) We just went through the same thing, put a contract on a house in May and went through months of not knowing if we would get it and if our mortgage would go through, we just closed at the end of October. If we were able to, with 344, 323 problems, you will be able to!! Keep hope alive and just think of all the fun you will have in your new home!! Hope everything goes smooth for you! Love your blog, this is my first comment. 🙂
Was totally thinking the mayham guy was Jeremy. . . glad someone thought to ask that. Thought crosses my mind every time I see the commercials.
Not trying to be creepy… but I figured out where you live. My dad actually owns a house five minutes and two streets away. I live in Athens with my husband but I used to live in that area.
I really have to say it’s amazing that you are so open and honest in your posts. From the “Letter to Myself” post, where most of what you were saying had me thinking…Oh thank goodness I’m not the only one that feels this way…. to this post. Your postings make me feel like I’m having a good cup of coffee and a long vent/talk with a close friend–strange since we’ve never met face to face and I don’t even know if you drink coffee, but not the point. Your honesty and ability to be so open is very refreshing. Not just with your feelings towards DIY projects and home issues but most importantly your feelings regarding the relationships in your life. I struggle with my relationship with God every day and hearing your faith and strength in your relationship with him makes me want to build mine.
Thank you, Katie, for being so willing to share your ups and downs.
Oh! and I also wanted to thank you again for answering my stocking question. We hung them last night and I used one of the ideas you found. Thanks!!
Katie,
Over the last few years I have had to send many many requests into the ether hoping and praying that the right outcome happens for me and my family.
I hope that the right thing happens for your family….I know how heart breaking it can be when things don’t go as you planned/wanted them too….but I hope, pray and believe that eventually, what you need comes right to your front door everytime.
Prayers and thoughts are with you guys, thanks for sharing your experience,
Lucy in Australia
I am very excited about your news! I hope you sell your home quickly and that it works out for you to buy this new home of your dreams! It sounds just perfect!
Do you plan to post a general floor plan of the new place? (I asked the same of YHL….I’m crazy about space planning 🙂 LOL)
Good luck with getting the forever-house! *crosses fingers* And if you do get the house … good luck with moving that brand-spankin’-new bed of yours! 😉
Praying for you Katie! Your hopeful-house looks gorgeous, and I’ll be praying it’s where you and your family are supposed to be. If it’s not, know that there is an even better fit out there!
Hey Katie,
I’m joining my prayers to yours. The patience thing is one that the Lord is still working on with me, so I can empathize. 🙂 God will sort everything out just the way it needs to be! (Jeremiah 29:11)
I must say that this post just made me want to sell my house and move to Atlanta! Of course, it would be a bit of a commute to work in Canada. 🙂 I had a great LOUD laugh at your cardboard box vs. mansion side-by-side photos. Thanks for making me laugh. 🙂
Keep trusting!
I just came back to read this post again as my husband and I are buying our first and forever home in the morning. It’s also a foreclosure, and it brought tears to my eyes to read your story again- I feel so the same, it’s been the hand of God getting us into this home as well. I’m so glad you found your perfect place, love your blog and your sweet family.