Just Kidding
The deal came through at the last second, and it looks like we are on track to get the house on Sunnyside. I can't believe it. We thought the deal was dead. Totally off the table. We signed the paperwork killing it...but waited to submit it until closer to the deadline. That's when the seller came back and offered just a little bit more off the sale price of the house as a final offer. I don't know how it made the difference for us, but it did. Ultimately, the seller and us were only apart by an amount of money that, while still a LOT of money, would not make a difference in the long run. We knew we'd regret it if we didn't get the house. We've been shopping for houses high and low for the better part of a year, and we know enough to know that a house this perfect for us would not come around again.
The solar lease deal is not optimal, but the seller gave us just enough of a concession during our negotiations that we can kind of justify it. We will buy out the remainder of the lease, which would cost much less than monthly payments for the next 21 years. In the end, it will roughly equal what we'd be paying for our electric bill for the next 21 years, so it's kind of a wash. Of course money is worth more in the present than in the future, and paying our electric bill up front is not a wise thing to do from an investment standpoint...but it was our only option. This isn't just a financial investment, after all. More than that, it's an investment in our family and our life. If it ever comes time for us to sell the house, at least we won't have this awful lease agreement to kill the deal. Plus, the panels are guaranteed for the life of the lease, so there's that.
We're getting the house "as is," and it needs a LOT of repairs. We also want to re-do the floors and paint. After that, I don't know if we'll have anything left, but I'd really like to figure out a way to build a pantry in the kitchen. I have no idea where we'll put all of our food if we don't. Also, the master closets are unreasonably small. We're going to have to get really creative to figure out where all of the clothes will be stored. If we can do any cosmetic kitchen and bathroom renovations and expand the master suite, then we'll do it. If not, it will have to wait, and that will be fine. I have a list a mile long of things I want to do...brick the fireplace, new front door and windows (the original windows are still there, and they're 34 years old), crown moulding and wainscoting. It goes on and on, and this will be a work in progress for a very long time.
We are super excited, and though I don't foresee any problems with the appraisal or financing, I'm remaining cautiously optimistic. We will not announce to the world that the house is ours until the deal has been closed and keys are in hand. It should make for a very busy and exciting holiday season. Our plan is to stay rooted in our own home until at least after Christmas. We'll put up our tree here and decorate, just like normal, while also working on packing boxes. We can store things in the guest house and garage until repairs and renovation are complete. As far as Morning Vista, we will get very aggressive on lowering the price as soon as we're out of here to just get it sold. It's scary to think that we'll have to float two mortgage payments for an indefinite period of time, but I just trust in my heart that everything works out for a reason. God has perfect timing. This journey has been a learning experience, and it's not over yet. I'm sure we'll have more obstacles and frustrations over the course of the next few months, but we are better equipped to handle them now than we've ever been. For now, it's just prayers, positive thoughts and preparation!
The solar lease deal is not optimal, but the seller gave us just enough of a concession during our negotiations that we can kind of justify it. We will buy out the remainder of the lease, which would cost much less than monthly payments for the next 21 years. In the end, it will roughly equal what we'd be paying for our electric bill for the next 21 years, so it's kind of a wash. Of course money is worth more in the present than in the future, and paying our electric bill up front is not a wise thing to do from an investment standpoint...but it was our only option. This isn't just a financial investment, after all. More than that, it's an investment in our family and our life. If it ever comes time for us to sell the house, at least we won't have this awful lease agreement to kill the deal. Plus, the panels are guaranteed for the life of the lease, so there's that.
We're getting the house "as is," and it needs a LOT of repairs. We also want to re-do the floors and paint. After that, I don't know if we'll have anything left, but I'd really like to figure out a way to build a pantry in the kitchen. I have no idea where we'll put all of our food if we don't. Also, the master closets are unreasonably small. We're going to have to get really creative to figure out where all of the clothes will be stored. If we can do any cosmetic kitchen and bathroom renovations and expand the master suite, then we'll do it. If not, it will have to wait, and that will be fine. I have a list a mile long of things I want to do...brick the fireplace, new front door and windows (the original windows are still there, and they're 34 years old), crown moulding and wainscoting. It goes on and on, and this will be a work in progress for a very long time.
We are super excited, and though I don't foresee any problems with the appraisal or financing, I'm remaining cautiously optimistic. We will not announce to the world that the house is ours until the deal has been closed and keys are in hand. It should make for a very busy and exciting holiday season. Our plan is to stay rooted in our own home until at least after Christmas. We'll put up our tree here and decorate, just like normal, while also working on packing boxes. We can store things in the guest house and garage until repairs and renovation are complete. As far as Morning Vista, we will get very aggressive on lowering the price as soon as we're out of here to just get it sold. It's scary to think that we'll have to float two mortgage payments for an indefinite period of time, but I just trust in my heart that everything works out for a reason. God has perfect timing. This journey has been a learning experience, and it's not over yet. I'm sure we'll have more obstacles and frustrations over the course of the next few months, but we are better equipped to handle them now than we've ever been. For now, it's just prayers, positive thoughts and preparation!
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