We're Back in the Saddle Again

It's beginning to be a crazy ride. The latest update is that we are back on the house hunt! To give you an abridged version -- we took our house off the market to really evaluate a couple of things - how much could we really afford, and what house did we really want? Having been through this experience, we can firmly say we are no longer property virgins who react in panic and sign contracts without getting counsel, and miscalculating hidden fees with selling, closing, and commissions.

Since I didn't have pictures, I thought this one was appropriate of us in this situation: property virgins, young and green! This was taken six years ago, when we first married.

After we foolishly locked ourselves into a new house, we started to feel a lack of peace. We then decided that the Lord didn't want us to spend this much money on a house, so we submitted to His authority, and gave up a dream of a new house. So, we backtracked, and tried to do this the right way. I truly believe when you decide you will honor God, He blesses you, and throws money your way!!!

We took all our accounts to a Crown certified financial planner who surprisingly came back and told us not only could we have afforded the house, but we actually could have afforded more! You can imagine our surprise, and my delight! Also since that time, I found a new realtor who is willing to give us a HUGE rebate, 2% on the buying and 2% on the selling, and would negotiate our new construction house with no closing costs (also giving us back another 3% of the new home value) and possibly buying down our interest rate. So Patrick did the budget, we know exactly what we want....now, we just need to pray that He will show it to us!

Older and wiser (can you see the gray hair?)

This whole thing has taught both Patrick and I so much about ourselves, our marriage, and how gracious God is to us! It was incredibly stressful, but looking back, we're grateful for His sovereignty that we didn't have that house with that price tag!