Packing and moving forward.

It's been almost a week since we submitted what we hope to be the last piece of paperwork the bank will need for it's final package.  We've now started to pack in earnest.  It's about 2-3 weeks before closing on this end and we will have to put our stuff in storage.  We've resloved the issue over where to stay.  We will be staying with the kids until we all move in to the Milton Mills property.
Packing is so tiedious.  Box after box of packing your life up to move on to a new life.  I'm hoping this will be the very last move we ever make.  I hate the thought of all my stuff going into storage.  I love my stuff.  I like being surrounded by my stuff.  But the end will justify the means.  The house looks so  bare.  I do realize I have way too much stuff, but maybe living in a bigger place it will look just right.  The kids have friends that live up the road from the Milton Mills house.  They spoke to them last night and told them they were going to be neighbors.  As with all old houses people start to talk and wisper about why people don't live there too long.  So we heard the story about the house being haunted.  It was something about a bed raising off the floor with 2-3 teenagers on it.  But with teenagers you have to take stories with a grain of salt.  I don't mind sharing the house, long as the spirits are quiet.  Matt and Amy were showing Andy the house during the downpour on Tuesday.  They found two little spots where the roof was leeking.  Looking up at the roof at the spots, I'm thinking they are coming from the lifted flashing around the chimney.  The roof is just under 6 yrs old so I'm hoping it isn't anything major.  The chimney rebuild was on the list anyway.  I'm hoping we hear from the bank this week and then we can start the financials.  Our preapproval ends mid August.  We'll be busy over the next couple weekends.  Packing this week, renting a storage unit next and then hauling all the stuff to storage.  If we rent a U haul next weekend we should be able to get it all done.  We'll use the last week to clean the house and get it ready for closing.  Keep your fingers crossed it's still a long process.

Yay!!! Our offer has been accepted.

After months of whining we finally got news that our offer was accepted.  I was so excited today.  I gave the realestate agent my biweekly call and just before I was ready to leave work he called and told me he was sending me an e-mail.  I waited at work and accessed my home e-mail.  I read the first line... "The offer is good"  along with more paperwork to fill out.  I was excited to say the least.  I called the agent just to make sure it was right.
I went to Shaw's and got a cake, I had them write " We got the House" on the top.  The kids were home making us dinner for our anniversary.  I told them the cake was for after dinner and not to look at it.
When Scott got home I broke out the cake and told them to read the top... HeHeHe.... It was great.
Thank everyone for all the support, now the fun begins.  Submitting financials and getting the HUD loan to fix the ol'girl up.  Replace the furnace, fix the kitchen floor and ceiling.  Not to forget to mention replace all of the fixtures because the last tennents kind of left with them.  Now starts the adventure!!

Another Week

Another week has gone by without word from the bank about the Milton Mills property.  Maybe this week.... seems to be the mantra.  On a good note we had the inspection for the mobile and it's new owners.  Next week will be the Assesement.  It is getting closer and closer.  Scott is in his den packing up his CDs.   Those will be some heavy boxes.  I'm going to be packing my books next.  We'll work our way down from the front of the mobile to our bedroom at the other end.  Next week we will be renting a storage unit.  Once we hear the closing date we'll try to get a temporary rent.
Tomorrow is Scott and My 25th Anniversary.  It's amazing how time flies.  I remember that year 25 years ago like it was yesterday.   Like any couple it's had it's ups and downs.  Thankfuly we've had few downs and plenty of ups.  I am always grateful for that.  Another reason for the Milton Mills property.  It will give all of us, Matt, Amy, Scott and myself, not to mention Joshua, fundamental roots.    An extended family living together.  I am so looking forward to that. 
Milton Mills is such a cute little village.  Only over 500 residents.  It will be a good place to spend the rest of our lives.  Banks and their paperwork, rules and regulations never seem to add that into the equation.  I know they will be losing money on the property and they want to try to get the best offer.  But if they added everything up and looked through human eyes they would see they would be getting the best deal.  As it sits right now the property is wasting away.  Every day that passes is an opportunity for somthing or someone to damage the property.  If someone were living there and maintaining the property it only brings the properties around it up in value.  Right now it just looks like an old empty house that you can throw stones at, or shoot bbs as someone has already done to one of the front windows.  Well keep your fingers crossed that next week will be the week... what a nice anniversary present that would be.

Another week...

Another week has gone by.  We went up to the property yesterday, we took a look at the house next door to see if that might be a back up plan. It's a very nice house but I still like the corner lot.  Even if the house next door has fireplaces.  Someone mowed part of the lawn.  I should say they hayed part of the lawn the grass was so tall.  We are still waiting on word from the bank.  I was cruising the web last Monday and for giggles just googled "Bank of America Short Sales"  OMG what horror stories there were online going back to 2009 to present.  Some Short sales took over a year.  I'm hoping in this case it goes a little faster.  I would like to have everything done and in before fall. 
The new grandchild is due on Sept 1st.  We went last Tuesday with them to the Ulrasound.  It was so amazing to see this little baby boy in the womb.  He has his fathers head so poor Amy might want to have drugs lined up for the delivery.  It will be fantastic sharing our life with this little child. 
Once the bank gives the Ok ( and we are hoping beyond hope that they will ) then we will need to re-do the paperwork and file all of the documents for the loan.  They say all good things come to those who wait, so i'm thinking this will be fantastic. 
This really means alot to us.  For one, the kids moving in with us.  It would be the first time we actually spent Christmas day together.  We usually unwrap presents Chrismas Eve and then Scott and I spend Christmas day just chilln.  I am so looking forward to sharing Christmas morning with them.  Not to mention my favorite Holiday which is Thanksgiving.  That house was built for family and Thanksgiving.  We also paln to grow alot of our food.  I want to plan out a large garden, not to mention we are going to go from 3 chickens to about 20.  In the spring I want to look into getting two pigs to harvest in the fall.  So like I said there is alot riding on us getting this house.  I hope I haven't set our hopes too high.  I'm hoping we hear somthing soon.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Our closing should be by Mid August for the house we're living in now.  This means I have to pack and get a storage unit, not to mention look for some place to live in the meantime.  At least if we hear from the bank we won't have that part to stress over once we close on the mobile. 

No News

Well I was hoping that Friday we would get some word or update from the bank, but no such luck.  Amy, Audrey (my sister) and I went down to visit my Aunt.  We drove through some of the old neighborhoods and down Essex street, Audrey having been brought up in Lawrence, and myself being 14 when we moved up north to Rochester,  we were quite disapointed.  The urban decay was horrible.  I cannot even picture myself living there now.  All the more reason to purchase the Milton Mills property.  Today I'm cleaning out the shed, yesterday I tackled the soffits and the fence, having painted them white.  Next week I'll be packing.  I also want to get a storage unit.  Still keeping our fingers crossed the bank will accept our offer.

Long process

Woke up at 4:30am stressed with a million things going through my head.  The need to pack, clean ect.  No word yet from Bank of America, if they have accepted our offer.  I wish there was some way to communicate how desperately we want this and how soon we would like to have it happen.  I  hate short sales they take so long.  I'm going to start packing this weekend and rent a storage space.  It seems the most logical thing to do.  We should be closing on the mobile in about 4- 6 weeks which means we will need to find temporary housing.  I didn't realize I have so much stuff.  Where does it come from?  So here's to hearing from the bank hopefuly soon.

Yesterday we went up to visit the property.  The grass is very overgrown and looks like it needs to be hayed.  We're getting very excited about the house and the new baby (grandchild).  We all want to be finished with this process and move on to the repairs and the moving.  It would be fantastic to be in before the fall.  You would think the bank would move a little faster, as each day goes by the house falls into greater disrepair.
We have a purchase and sale on the property we are in now.  A nice young couple with a little boy want to buy our mobile.  They seem to love the place and I believe they'll be very happy here.  It's just a cute little homey place.  Plus, the neighbors are great. 
I am so looking forward to doing homesteading.  Raising our own vegtables and animals.  This house and it's acre of land is just perfect for that.  It has a nice flat acre, plenty of room for fruit trees and a couple pigs.  The barn is already sectioned off for the chickens and the goats.  Plus plenty of storage on the second floor of the barn.  The house needs extensive work.  First and foremost will be getting a new furnace and making sure the well and the water are working.  The chimneys need to be re-done along with the ceiling and floor of the kitchen.   The last tenents were oh so nice enough to take most of the light fixtures and the pedastal sink in the upstairs bathroom.  In the scheme of things those are some of the little hurdles we'll be facing.  Overall the house has good bones.  Straight roof lines, new windows, all new electrical (minus the fixtures) and a recent paint job on the outside.  I'm posting some of the pictures we took, it will give you an idea of how it looks before we get in and get working.