House Hunters

Written by on in Dinner, Tidbits and Treats

I’ve learned a lot of valuable life lessons this week.

Lesson #1: Don’t speak too soon. Although we put our first offer on a house last weekend, this one was not meant to be. We went back and forth a few times before the mystery buyers swooped in and made the sellers an offer they couldn’t refuse (also known as full list price). Although we had prepared ourselves in case something like this happened, it still stung a bit knowing we had to give up on a house we loved. It was hard not to picture ourselves in it.

Bye bye, pretty view.

Lesson #2: Searching for houses can be stressful, but it should be fun. I think I let myself get a little carried away with the initial search process. To quote football, it seems like both Bobby and I – OK, mainly I – have been playing hurry up offense trying to find and visit all the available houses in the neighborhoods we like before someone else snatches them up (Type A, much?). This is partly because we have experience with that happening – good houses sell quickly here – but as our entire family and many friends have reminded us this week, there is no need to hurry. We have the luxury of being patient buyers and there is still so much of the Valley that we haven’t explored. Already we’ve found two new neighborhoods that we plan to check out this weekend. I’m excited again.

And in the meantime, we’ll enjoy this pretty view instead.

Lesson #3: When all else fails, let Papa Bender cook dinner.

Calamari and steak fajitas, to be exact. Papa Bender knows the cure for the house search blues.

Hey, we’re patient buyers. Might as well take advantage of it. 😉

As cliché as it might sound, I know we’re going to end up in the home that’s right for us. It’s just a matter of where and when. Until then, I’m going to enjoy this time we have under the same roof as family and focus on doing what I love most rather than fretting over MLS listings. If the past three weeks are any indication, we’ve still got a lot of solid searching to do. One day at a time!

Home owners: how did you know when you found the place that was just right?

Abrazos,

18 Comments

  1. Wow, that was a pretty view! If that’s the kind of house you’re finding, I’d say you’re in good shape. I know you’re going to land a great place, and it sounds like you’re really taking the right approach. Super excited for you guys. Just make sure to reserve a “twin suite” room for us! 😉

    • Thanks, Cara! The “twin suite” room will always be available for you! 🙂

  3. Bummer! But I know you WILL find the house thats right for you! We actually found our house when a realtor took us to a development we would have never looked at (due to price). Luckily for us….they ended up just starting some awesome deals and we got the house of our dreams! I want to come visit AZ and you….and Papa B so he can make me dinner 😉

    • I loved reading the story of how you found your house! That’s sort of how we felt this weekend, so we’ll see. 🙂 And you are welcome in AZ anytime!!

  4. Sorry to hear that the house didn’t work out. We’re currently waiting to hear back about a house rental we applied for, and it’s driving me slightly insane. I’m type A all the way too, so I hawk Zillow and watch House hunters religiously. Hope you find your dream home soon!!

    • I know the feeling! I’ll definitely keep my fingers crossed that you get the house you applied for. Hawking Zillow is my new middle name. 🙂

  5. The first house my husband and I bought went like this . . . we took the tour, went out to eat dinner, and sat in the booth without uttering a word. I looked and him, he looked at me and almost the exact same time we said “I love that house”. Here was the problem, it was the first and only house we looked at. Every logical fiber of my being screamed at me that this was not smart. No one buys the first and only house they look at. Except us! Yep, we bought that house . . . and although we don’t live there anymore, to this very day I wish we could have picked that house up and moved it to our current location. Take your time, enjoy the process and I guarantee, you’ll be happy once you’ve found the house you love!

    • That is such a fantastic story, Mo! Thanks for sharing – my husband and I actually did that with our apartment in Chicago. We left to go to lunch and ended up returning right afterward to sign our lease. When you know, you know, if you ask me. 🙂 Can’t wait to find the house we love!

    • I totally agree that things happen for a reason! We’ll see what comes our way. 🙂

  7. I’m so like this when house hunti g. I get excited and enjoy it then I get stressed that I’m going to miss out on the house of my dreams… You are right slow and steady wins the race. You’ll find the right place and then it’ll all fall into place.

    • Thank you, Jess! That’s definitely what I needed to hear – deep breaths. 🙂

  9. We went through a similar experience last year when moving to Central Florida. We searched and searched and all the good homes went quick. We decided to rent for a year. Towards the end of that year, started looking again, same thing, the good homes went quick. We were ready to give up and sign another years lease when a neighbor called and said someone in our neighborhood was selling. I called them we agreed on a price that day and 30 days later the house was ours. It fell right into our laps!! Keep up the faith…your house is out there!!

    • Wow, Debbie! Great story – though I’m sure it was very frustrating during the process, it’s nice to see your patience paid off in the end! We’re definitely keeping the faith and trying to stay as optimistic as possible. Thanks for sharing!

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