The New Home That Could

This is my first post on Gosh...Jam it!. It will probably be my longest, but it's a story that has been a long time in coming. As many know, Jim and I have been waiting a long time to finally move into our new home.  And today, we just crossed one more hurdle to moving in - we cleared underwriting!   Albeit, for the second time, but this is the time that really matters.  On Friday (tomorrow) we will be three weeks away from closing and we couldn't be happier.  After months of saving and practicing being frugal, we even splurged a little over the weekend and bought a king sized bed for the new home as well as a washer and dryer.  Not many girls can say their Valentine's day gift was a bed. :) Technically, the washer and dryer were also part of the Valentine's gift but a W&D just seems a little less romantic than a bed.  Anyway, I digress.  Clearing underwriting today really was a momentous event. There were many times over the past year where it seemed the deal was going to fall through, and we've still made it this far.  It's been over a year in the making and to everyone who worked so hard to keep our dream of home ownership alive, we are forever in your debt.  It really has been a story of cooperation, patience, anxiety, belief, and sheer determination.

Jim and I started our home search in Washington, DC January 2013.  We had been married for less than a year, I had just returned from working on a Presidential campaign and was studying for the Maryland Bar.  Jim had a crazy work schedule with intense deadlines.  We looked everywhere in DC for our home, but there was such a shortage of inventory - we even thought we had found the right house, but lost during a bidding war.  Finally, we discovered Dakota Crossing - these town homes had so much square footage AND they were still in DC.  Score! And they were located right by DC's Costco.  For this Washington State girl - Double Score!! We provided our earnest money deposit signed all the paperwork on February 14th, so I guess it can be said that for Valentine's day last year, Jim bought me a house. ;)

We then began the exhilarating process of selecting our customizations and upgrades.  We were giddy with excitement.  Then the first shoe dropped. The Friday before we were to finalize the contract with the full down payment Jim lost his job.  We thought we had lost our home.  (I had already mentally begun moving in, even though construction hadn't even started yet.) But, there was a bright light at the end of that dark weekend. The sales staff at Ryan Homes were amazing, as was the staff at the lender - they all moved mountains to ensure we were able to keep our home ownership aspirations alive.  They gave Jim time to find a new job (about 8-10 weeks) and moved the delivery date of our home from August, until December.  We hadn't lost the home yet...

So, things progressed. Jim found a new job, and officially saved the house! I learned I had passed the MD Bar and I began my real estate career at W.C. & A.N. Miller.  Oh - and we moved to Rockville leaving our wonderful apartment at Capitol Yards with views of the Capitol, and our city life, behind.  But the move was viewed as a strategic money saving opportunity that was only temporary.  Later that summer, the building schedule was pushed back about 8 weeks due to permitting issues with DC.  Our delivery date was now late January/Early February.  Everything was moving along smoothly, construction on our home began, we had scheduled our pre-drywall walk through and then, BAM!  The second shoe fell.

Beginning of December Jim learned that contract he was on was being cut after the new year and his position may not survive.  Jim began job searching, yet again.  He has an amazing skill for job hunting.  I had faith.  I knew he was going to save the house again.  Something I regularly reminded him of whenever he had any anxiety or self-doubt about finding a new job.  And he did.  He even found a job that took him out of government contracting - yay!  But, we had to start the underwriting process all over again, and out closing date of February 6th was now pushed back to March 14th.  But guess what?  This was the little house, the new home, that could.  Determination, faith in each other, amazing support from the builder and our lender, and patience have made this process a success for us.  Purchasing a new home can be such a trying process for many, but if taken one step at a time, just like this little house, you can survive this process too and come out on top.

Now the last three weeks will progress.  It's a crazy schedule, movers are coming the day before we close and are storing our items for two nights.  Jim may even be out of town for his new job, so I may be closing without him, but its happening!  And no offense to Rockville, but I can't wait to be back in DC.  22 days and counting....Gosh...Jam it!  :)

Our home back in Early December - it's now done and we've had our new home orientation...just waiting on closing!!!