Fixed Rate or AR 5/1 ... or just win the financing :)

So today my hubby entered us to win a $10k sweepstakes... :)  I'm crossing my fingers but for now without that I still haven't been able to figure out much more for qualifying in a good priced mortgage.  We did stop at mountain america credit union and talk to a broker.  They have a 100% financing loan for first time buyers and there is no mortgage insurance because its an in house loan.  Its a good rate and an affordable payment, the downfall is that we wouldn't qualify until almost december because of how many pay stubs they need, even though my hubby has a solid teaching contract (other mortgages only need the contract as proof or 1 month of stubs).  The other downfall is that its an adjustable rate mortgage 5/1, so a locked rate for 5 years and then who knows whether the rate would totally derail our life like it did so many others in this housing crisis a couple years ago.  That scares me not to have a fixed rate.

A Way To Save - Bank Registry

Last night I had a weird dream and when I woke up I had an amazing idea.  My hubby just graduated and so we could totally open a bank account registry for graduation and home purchasing funds from anyone wanting to help our family out (through Mountain America Credit Union).  I hope opening that helps.  I'm getting so anxious.  Every day that passes since we had to turn down what the seller wanted us to pay I worry that someone else will snatch the home away from us or like I need to do more homework to make it work the way they counter offered.

The Perfect House

So we found the perfect house for us.  When we first pulled up with the realtor I didn't think much of it.  The curb appeal could be improved a lot with a little TLC to the flower garden and yard out front, but that can be fun.  Its funny though 'cause my family all walked inside and all of us seemed to feel so at home in this house, like it was meant for us to be there.  I know it sounds silly, but its true.  There were lots of things that could be done, but all those fixes were cosmetic and not urgent at all.  

It has a beautiful front room that we could easily utilize as a studio space to photograph or film our clients along with enough room for us to have an office seperate from our family work/play space.  We have always had to have our office computers in family space which gets tough with kids around screaming or breaking equipment.  

It also has extra storage space in the basement which we are in desperate need of. We would utilize a good portion of the basement for my hubby to be able to set up all his instruments again.  He hasn't been able to play much since we were married 5 years ago, but hopes to be able to set up the drums again.  He plays a lot of instruments that have been in storage a while, so that would be fun.  I am a sucker for exercise equipment, but most of what I accumulated before kids isn't safe to use around them, so my exercise fun mostly has been stowed away as well, I would also put that in the basement floor space.  

The home is a rambler and on the main floor its all original wood flooring.  The rooms are big enough to fit 2 sets of bunk beds!  It is rare to find that now, but that is my rule because I think its healthy for kids to share rooms and we have always talked about having about 8 kids (at 3 now).

I think my absolute favorite part of the home is the back yard.  Its enough space for the kids to actually run around and play without feeling like they're caged in.  Its fully fenced, and there is space to put their outside toys along with a little sandbox (which would be so good for their development) along with space for us to try our hand at a garden.  Its not crucial, but its fun that from the backyard there is a room attached to the back of the house with a hot tub.  Hot tubs are dear to my heart because when I was dating my hubby the home he lived in had one in the back yard and we would sit in that tub for hours talking about our dreams and hopes for the future and what our life might be like together.  It was very romantic.  So, though not necessary, it adds something very special to the home for it to have that for us.  

It seems like a lot of people want us to wait... and maybe we'll have to, I don't know.  Somehow though, I know I am not going to be able to let this one go emotionally the way its been so easy to let others go.  The problem is I have liked homes before but we have to be picky for what we actually buy so that it can function for both our family, our business, and all of my hubby's hobbies and projects.  Anyway, even though we've seen things that could work, we've never seen a home that fit us as well (close to our price range) or that just felt like home when we walked in the way this one does.  Goodness gracious, I hope I can find a grant or some way to get past those thousand dollar boulders that seem to be in the way of what seems like home.  The seller came down to our maximum price that we offered however said we have to pay closing costs, and wouldn't budge from that.  Meaning that we need to come up with about $10k instead of just needing $4k to close the deal.  I hate money so much right now.  We need it to get things, but it also stands in the way of so much. 

job landed... next step home?

Life... it brings so many unexpected and wonderful things to us when we let it.  Our little family has grown so much since we sealed our marriage 5 years ago.  We have a four year old girl, a 22 month old boy, and a 5 week old baby girl (quickly and happily born at home).  My hubby graduated this year in teaching high school art along with digital media certifications and just landed his first teaching job at an amazing high school known for its art program.

Finally... The job is landed so we can actually be serious about buying a house to be a home right?  The answer to that is not yet determined... I think its yes one moment and no the next...  

The problem is no matter the answer I want to get into a place we can really call home so bad it hurts but the places close by to his new career are just barely out of price range, like by a few thousand... about ten thousand to be more exact.  I keep trying to figure out grants and there just isn't anything out there any more, all the cool programs I've found were discontinued a few years ago.  Its so hard to ask friends or family for gifts of down payment or closing cost money (although the thought has run across my mind a few times).  So this blog is going to be my outlet (to keep me from going crazy while we figure this all out).