Astute Observation

It's been my experience that realtors are in fact the devil's spawn. My house-hunting nightmare began last August, so the whole process took nearly a full year. Since I'm very impatient, it was absolutely excruciating but I've also got to admit that it's been totally worth it. We had very specific requirements for a home, were not willing to compromise & would only buy in a relatively small area, so a lot of the stressors were self-imposed.

For starters, I was pretty sure I wanted to buy but not 100%. I had reservations: It's a huge commitment. It's not cheap. We're solely responsible for everything, physically & financially. I was scared to death (and suspect he was too even if he never actually admitted as much). I'd almost done this on my own about 7 years ago, pulling out at the last minute on not one but two different deals & probably driving a nice young guy named Bill into a completely different profession.

We went through 3 or 4 realtors from hell & were about to give up. He was sure we'd eventually buy but I was beginning to believe that I'd be an eternal renter. It's simpler, less commitment, may end up being cheaper in some ways. All in all, it's safer & much less scary. Then my mom hooked me up with a coworker's daughter. I expected this to be the real estate buyer's version of a blind date with grandma's neighbor's "nice" nephew & it started out that way. She works in a totally different part of the county & was completely unfamiliar with our area. She spent months trying to convince us that her area was a better choice market-wise.

There was a lot of disapointment because many homes in this area are grossly overpriced. One home I really loved had just been purchased in October of '05. The owner had done nothing to improve it & it really needed some TLC. Very small yard on very busy street, no parking for company & a landslide nearby but seller was convinced it was worth double what he'd paid 18 months ago! There were too many other bummers to go into the boring details.

We found a cute little house with a so-so yard but lots of potential. It was way under our budget but seemed like it could be a good fit. Luckily, the seller's agent was 100% certifiably nuts. If he had been at all professional or competent, we would have bought that cute little cottage only to find the home of our dreams two months too late. So a big thank you to Howard Hanna for having an agent so grossly unprofessional & grotesquely strange that we ran, not walked, away from the property. Wanting to avoid Howard Hanna at all costs after that narrowed the search a little more, thus making the search a little easier.

I wasn't even sure I wanted to stay here so why should I buy? In my future field (nursing), UPMC's monopoly holds down the wages. This county is ludicrous with it's tax structure, our governor is a slimeball (My suggestion for the state slogan contest: If you can dream it, Fast Eddy can tax it), our state legislature is robbing us blind; do I really want to be committed to the area for that long?

My defense mechanisms were in overdrive, my commitmentphobia at an all-time high. But when I walked into this house, I knew it was mine. Nothing else mattered. I felt at home in a way I hadn't felt since childhood. It's in good shape so the fear of expensive repairs can be held at bay, at least for now. We can afford this place so we don't have to live there forever if we don't want to. For my life right now, it's perfect. I can walk to work, parks & trails. My school & our parents are a 15 minute drive in rush hour traffic. Rocco the bossy dog has a half-acre to himself.

I truly believe that there's a home for everyone. You don't necessarily have to buy it, either. It may be as simple as renting something different from what you're renting right now. Being "home" is an indescribable feeling, a calmness of the spirit & contentedness of the mind. It's comfortable in a way that nothing else is. The key to finding it is patience (even if you have to fake it) and perserverence. It takes time & effort.

It also takes money, whether you need closing costs or a security deposit or first & last month's rent. But no matter how frustrating the effort to get there, it's worth it when you arrive. It takes different forms for different people but everyone deserves to have that feeling. So if you don't feel at home, check the classifieds & go look at some apartments, condos, townhouses or whatever. And if you think you might want to buy, I know a realtor so great that she doesn't deserve to be referred to as one. Drop me a line & I'll pass on her contact info.

Time Flies

Hard to believe it's been 2 whole months since posting. It seems like just yesterday I was ranting away. All of my time had been occupied by two main duties: buying a house & being a bridesmaid. It was the first (and hopefully last) time for both activities.

Being a bridesmaid was torturous. I've warned all of my friends "don't even bother asking" because I'll never do that again. Weddings are hell & everybody should just get married in Vegas. I was under the (mistaken) impression that once all the fittings, showers, rehearsals, etc. were over, we could enjoy the ceremony & then celebrate.

Umm, no.

Who knew that wedding photographers were spawned from one of the 7 levels of hell? I think the mass was over around 4:30 but we didn't actually get to the reception (a whole 3 miles away) until almost 7:30. Yes, it took nearly 3 hours for him to realize his artistic vision. Sorry but I truly believe that various members of the wedding party took some better shots . . .

It was great to see friends & relatives that I normally only get to see at funerals but all in all, I wouldn't want to do it again. Luckily, she's my only sister & I know in my heart my two brothers won't make the same demands of me.

Buying a house was an interesting experience but fraught with frustration & anxiety. My realtor is an absolute saint, one of the most knowledgable, patient & diplomatic people I've ever had the good fortune to know. The seller's agent was a frightening reptile of a woman, crazy as a shithouse rat & often speaking in tongues. No kidding.

The house is perfect for me & I can't wait for moving day (not far away). There's one small drawback, however -- crazy-selling-agent lives next door. Yep, we'll be neighbors. If I drop off the radar for a few days around the end of the month, it's because I'm hard at work constructing an 8 ft. electric fence with barbed-wire topping down one side of my property. Right now, I'm just wondering how much it's going to cost to change all those locks?

But the important thing are taken care of, so that's all that really matters: All utilities will be on before the closing's over & the Dish installer should be finished before I'm done moving my furniture. After all, how can a house truly be a home if one is unable to watch Family Guy?