Missy’s Blog

Okay, I am a homeowner now. And now comes the had part. Making what I just bought into what I want. That means everything must go! All new paint, floors, light fixtures, blinds, bathroom,…. Is there anything I liked? The location and layout. Anyway, now also comes all the detail decisions to make of colors, styles etc. There are so many choices where do I start? I apologize in advance if I either I am not reachable for a while or all I talk about is whether I should go with the Soft Azure or the Artisan in the dinning room.

Today, May 21st, I did the last step of purchasing my condo; the last walk through and sign off that everything is in order with the property to finalize and close. I realized as I was walking through that I had not seen the inside of the place in over a month! I have not seen it since a few days after putting the offer in. I had forgotten some of the areas that need work or how small the bathroom is. Wow, deep breaths! It will all look great when I am finished, you’ll see!

Wow, I am a homeowner at the age of 28.

Dear agent, loan officer, and any other future real estate person I may deal with during this process;
Please be aware that I may not be your typical home buyer.  I will not sign where you tell me to and hand over check after check without question.  Maybe it is my profession as an auditor but I think it just being responsible and through. I am going to question anything and everything I want.  And if you think I will be happy with answers such as everyone gets charged that or we can address that later, you would be surely mistaken.  I understand there will be many a time where you will want to say to me, “Just shut up and do what I say.”  I just cannot do that.  I do not trust you.  Yes, I am completely lost in this process and must lean on you alot to get me through this purchase, but I can still be vocal each step of the way.     I demand proof, verification, and usually in writing that required actions will be taken, cost reduced as agreed, and so forth.  You may think I am being nitpicky or just plan bitchy, but you know what I am entitled to be!  You may try to avoid my phone calls but really I am use to that as an auditor.  And I am not afraid to go around you.  It is only my money at stake.

I am getting my home loan through a local credit union.  Last week they approved the loan and locked me into my rate, but than asked for further support on my bank assets and transactions.  Well, this action rather worried me.  Can the credit union rescind the loan approval if there is something they do not like?  According to my agent and loan officer, the answer is yes, but they said to continue through the process.  Apparently, it is a problem with the underwriter, whoever that is.  But do or do I not have a loan in place?  Is it safe to continue to cross a bridge knowing there is a lose support pillar back there?  Well, I have not heard anything further or different from the credit union.  Let’s hope that no news is good news.

I put an offer on this place on April 2nd and since than I have never been so lost and felt so out of control of a process before. I read books on the property buying process; escrow, loan…. and all that. I feel I have a trust worthy and knowledgeable agent. Everything appears to be going smoothly. Yet, I have never felt so dumb to something so big before. I feel like I am hanging on to a rope tied to an end of a car that is speeding around wildly. I have no clue where it is going, who is driving, and if they realize I am back here. I am just trying to roll through the turns and hope when the ride is over that I am not hanging off a cliff.

I have a better understanding how some many people got into bad loans and into homes they could not afford during this whole housing bubble fiasco. I am an intelligent person with a bachelor’s degree in business accounting and am becoming a CPA, both of which I would think would give me a better than average understanding of basic finance. But with all that expensive knowledge I am still at the mercy of my real estate agent and loan officer. They are supposed to be working for me and have my best interest at heart. How can that be true when they are paid mostly through commission on higher prices and returns? Anyone else see a conflict of interest and independence?

First, I just want to vent. A few people I have told that I am buying a condo for myself first asked well how are things going with your boyfriend and is that a smart move with that. What does that have to do with anything? Just because I have a great boyfriend does not mean I am going to wait around for something. Are we still in an era that a single girl cannot make smart financial moves such as buying property on their own? Please!

So, I am in the process of buying a small one bedroom condo and I am changing my blog to focus on this new experience; including the purchase, loan, and remodel process. Here goes, I hope my stress is not contagious. And my many thanks ahead of time for all those around me for their support, labor, and congratulations.

Watching: Oh, no cable. I broke down and bought cable after relying on bunny ears for the last ten years. However, I did get the cheap limited stuff. I hope that keeps me from mindlessly watching everything.

Wishing: I enjoyed watching the Oscars this year. I especially liked the Steven Colbert Report joke, “The Oscars winner, which evidently are being outsourced to India this year”. But I wish or hope that Brad and Angelina do not make movies this year. I do not want to see them there next year.  They were the ones that looked the most as if they would rather be anywhere else and how many times did they have to cut to them, really!

Wanting: More home cooked food and time for reading novels.

I remember the day in junior high school when we had to all answer the time old question of “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I do remember what I said but more importantly, I remember what I was actually thinking. I wanted to say I do not want to grow up. I do not want the responsibility or the stress it seemed to take to be an adult. Now as an adult, I have realized there are many benefits to being an adult. I appreciate the changed and better relationship I have with my mother. I can better talk to her as a woman and a friend (most of the time J). As a child, I looked at other peers’ talent with envy and alittle hate. Now as an adult, I can see on each individual’s talent with just awe and appreciation. And especially, as adult I direct my course! I only have myself to blame for where I am and who I am, and only myself to please (most of the time).

If I hear of any more money going to the digital TV conversion, I am seriously going….TV is not a right that we have to make sure everyone has access to. If only we put as much importance on access to quality education or healthcare as we do TV, we might be a tad better/smarter nation.