Realtor 411

We all know the story of the house hunting debacle.  It was a mess.  But, hello...this is me...so of course I'm going to tell you about the silver lining.  Get excited.

Long story short, I saw a listing for a house in my desired area, but no pics were listed.  So I went to the listing realtor's site to see if there was anymore info there.  Negative.  But, they had a sweet little button that said "request pictures".  Check that, Roger Rabbit.  I filled out the little mandatory contact form and got a call from the listing agent about an hour later.  Turns out, his daughter (also a realtor) was going to be at the house that night to take some pics and would be happy to meet me there so I could see the place.

I met Chaley, and we clicked instantly {the house and I...not so much}.  She was awesome!  I told her a little about my financing issues and the house I was looking for.  I had a list of houses (different from what I'd been shown before!) in my inbox before I even got dinner done that night.  She was on top of it.

Turns out she and her fiance, Derek, work as a team at Hamilwood Realty.  They showed me some houses together, and they were both very nice and incredibly helpful.  Lord knows, I'm picky...especially when it comes to houses!  They never made me feel rushed, or like I should settle for less than exactly what I wanted.

When I found THE ONE, Derek was the one to show it to me because Chaley was already booked.  Just another bonus of using a "team" of realtors...no waiting!  We wrote a contract on the spot, and from that point on, Derek has been my go to guy for all things "house".  I couldn't have asked for a more attentive, go-getter, of a realtor.  Even though I'm on a lease-to-own contract at the moment, he still calls me to check in, and offer possible financing solutions and ideas.  We can close this deal this summer, but he still hasn't stopped working for me.  I cannot tell you how above and beyond he's gone.

So, if you're looking to buy or sell a home in Oklahoma, I can 110% endorse Derek Haffner and Chaley Watson!  Call them today - you won't regret it!  [P.S. Tell them I sent you...I want them to know I appreciate them enough to refer my friends!]

#1 Reason You Should Choose Hamilwood To Be Your Oklahoma Realtor...

We know how to sell homes and we do it every day! 

Home Sweet Homestead

Sorry I've been MIA lately. But, I have a good excuse...

I've been working on the house! More details and posts soon.

Thank you so much to everyone who has prayed and supported me during this trying time. God has blessed us greatly with this home!

{Hopefully} Home Sweet Homestead

Things are on track for our August 30th closing date.  Still waiting on the credit junk to get cleared up, but after talking to my realtor, lender and credit repair dude, it appears I'm the only one who is nervous.  So, I've decided I'm done being scared and refusing to get excited.  Because, let's face it...we all know I'm excited.  Even if I try SO HARD not to be.

I'm waiting on the Lord to deliver this blessing.  I'm choosing to have FAITH and TRUST in Him.  He's opened every door so far, and I believe he will continue to do just that.

Get excited [I know I am!]...here are some pics of the future HOMESTEAD!

Time to Put Up or Shut Up [House Update]

I think it's time to bring you all into the house hunting loop.  I've kept you out of it because it's been a roller coaster.  I've looked, I've liked, I've waited, I've been turned down...and up until recently, I hadn't fallen in love.

After walking through the doors of this place, I certainly knew that this was THE ONE.  Dad kept telling me to wait until I found the house that made me 'feel butterflies'.  I thought he was nuts, because nothing in my price range was going to do that.  They were all fixer-uppers in some form or fashion.  Not this baby...

Meet Henry

I haven't talked much about it on the blog, but I have still been house hunting.  I've have some financing issues {even though I've raised my credit score 100 points in less than a year!} and I decided not to drag you all along on the ride until things were a bit more certain.

Well, I'm breaking the rule so that you can meet Henry.

Testing... Testing... Is this thing on?

Hello darling!  I contemplated telling you I've been on a fabulous vacation...

Or abducted by aliens...  But, I figured I'd just be honest and just tell you I've been crazy busy.  Work has been insane, lots of end-of-year stuff at school for Hayden, holidays, bff birthday festivities [which means a road trip to T-town]...just to name a few.  But, it's been fabulous!  Wonderful friends, amazing family, adorable son...I certainly cannot complain about the things that have taken me away from you!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'd been a bit discouraged with my house hunt.  That was an understatement.  I thought paying off all my old debt would really give my credit score a kick in the booty, but it didn't.

I even opened a secured credit card off my savings account (oh Lord, don't tell Dave Ramsey on me!) and was using it for gas and paying it in full each month.

But, I still didn't have the 640 required to get a mortgage loan.  Someone told me it might take a year to get my score up...and I nearly passed out.  I miss my stuff!  I miss having my own space!  What does this mean for Hayden & schools?  I was a basket case.  And, beyond cranky.  Did I mention I miss my stuff?  Storage sucks.

After a small panic attack, I decided to take a closer look at my credit report.  I found 3 negative entries and I disputed all of them (they were PAID, hello - go away!).  I also had my credit card limit raised from $1150 to $3000 to show that I'm more "credit worthy".  The report doesn't show that it's "secured" so I just look awesomely credit worthy...FICO doesn't need to know it's my savings account.

Typically I get an email if my credit report or score changes, but I hadn't received anything.  Last week I decided to go in and try refreshing it.  You know, just in case... 

Well, tickle me pink, it was 655!!!  Keep in mind that is still a pretty crappy score, but it'll qualify me for a home loan!  BOOYA!  I'm not going to try to get pre-qualified until after the bureaus report for May.  It'll show one more PIF and my credit increase on my card  (that isn't showing up yet).

So, credit's up...let's house hunt, right!?  Eh, there's a change in that too...

I knew I had to have a "Plan B", just in case, since I wouldn't be able to transfer Hayden to Washington schools in the fall if we were still living with Dad & Bonnie.  (What if I can't find a house!?)

I just assumed to get the type of house/land/life I wanted, I would need to leave Norman and move to a small town.  Well, I'm a sheltered nerd, and totally wrong.  After a random Zillow search, I was educated!  My Mom then told me that my friend Krista from church lives out by the lake on 10 acres.  I immediately picked her brain.  Her kids go to Lakeview, she subs there, and she's the volunteer coordinator for the PTA.  Krista talked to the counselor about our situation and hooked me up with a phone meeting.  Uh, did I mention Krista is pretty awesome?!  Mrs. Misell, the counselor, was fabulous.  She answered questions I didn't even know I had!

Norman was just a "Plan B" until last week.  H has started having some weird vision problems and his pediatrician is sending us to see the pediatric neurologist at Children's hospital.  Worst case scenario: Hayden's Tourette's diagnosis was wrong and he's actually got a tumor.  His tics have been pretty much gone for a few months, but the vision problems have started in their place.  Very scary, but I refuse to freak out until I know exactly what's going on.  Until then, I pray...a lot.  Something is clearly wrong, but I know God can fix anything!

We're looking at houses on the east side of Norman in the area out by lake Thunderbird.  It's the best of both worlds!  I'll get the country life I so desperately crave, Hayden will be in a small elementary school with LOTS of parent/PTA involvement and it'll still keep him in the Norman school district.  Big schools mean big money with means more resources for whatever may lie ahead.  I pray we don't need any of them, but at least I'll know they'll be there if we do need them.

We've also been going to my Mom's church.  It's small, and not Baptist {which I've been attending for 15+ years}, but I've pretty much decided no denomination fits me 100%, so I need to find a church where I agree with their core beliefs, feel comfortable, and Hayden will thrive in (and isn't too far from where we want to live).

I've spent far to long taking up a spot on a pew.  I need a church where I can serve, and I've found it.  The people are loving and welcoming.  I already feel more at home than I have in a very long time.  This Wednesday night I'm even helping with a youth outing!

So, that's a where we are right now.  In need of prayers, a house and a clean bill of health for the little man.  Hopefully good reports to come soon!

The ONE?

Monday after work I went with my fabulous Realtor, Kara Cavallo, to check out the only 2 houses left in my price range.  Can you say STRESSFUL!?  ONLY 2 stinking options!?  Yikes.

The house that I gave you a sneak peek of here...

...was beyond frightening.  I'm not sure what is required to condemn a house, but this has to be pretty darn close.  And WAY over priced for it's current state of disrepair.  Yet again I say, nothankyou.

On to house numero dos.

Isn't it cute!?  Originally I really wanted a house outside of town on some land.  But, this house is a corner lot on nearly a quarter of an acre.  After looking at it, I think it will suit us just fine.  Clearly I have no clue how big an acre actually IS.  Woops.

Plus, this house keeps Hayden in town where he can ride his bike and have friends close.  He needs that.  Heck, I need him to have that!  A bored kid is a cranky kid.  And he hates to play alone.  It's just not as fun.  I have to say I agree with him on that.

The house has great bones, but there's a lot I'd change.  Shoot, there's a lot I'd change on a brand new house (which I learned after looking at some last weekend just for fun).  My taste is pretty specific and it's not what the mass population typically likes.  However, 70% of the flooring in this house is exactly what'd I'd pick (this is big since flooring isn't exactly a cheap re-do).  WHOO!

Here are a few of the things I had on my house wish list:

• Lots of yard and room to breathe - check
• Fireplace - check
• Wood flooring - check
• Open kitchen/dining/living room floor plan - check
• Book cases (built in) - check (3 big 'ens!)
• Room for a large garden - check
• Room for lots of flowers and fun landscaping - check
• Trees - check
• Neighbors close enough to hear me scream...but not hear me sneeze - check
• Covered back patio - check
• Granite countertops - check (not the color I'd pick, but it's workable)
• Large bedrooms - check
• Big kitchen with lots of counter space - check

I've still gotta get the "Dad Stamp of Approval" this week sometime...but I have to say, so far I love it! 

If this thing goes down, I'll have an entire post with interior pics.  I just don't want to jinx it.  I'm already a nervous wreck!  You're going to have to suffer with me until then!  [Insert evil laugh here]

Wish me luck!

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Crazy busy week/weekend around here.  In the interest of saving the best for last, we'll start with...

The Ugly:
Ohmygoodness, the dream house was U G L Y.  (Please stop singing...I can hear "you don't need no alibi...you ugly...hey, hey, you ugly" all the way over here!  HA!)

Whoever took these pics...

...seriously deserves a Pulitzer.  Don't get me wrong, the place has got potential, but is WAY over priced.  I cannot believe it's dropped $30K since it was listed 15 months ago.  Still needs to drop another $30K to make it something I'd be interested in.

No thanks...not the one for me.  But, there are/will be others.  I'm certainly not the kinda girl to give up hope this early in the game.

The Bad:
Still. No. Rain.  The heat and lack of rain around here make it feel like July, not April.  Not a fan.

The Good:
Hayden and I went to First Baptist Church in Washington today.  I loved it and so did he!  My friend Michelle was super sweet and introduced me to her friends there.  The Sunday school class she's in is full of people my age that have kids around H's age.  Perfect!  I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to a new church, so I'm so very thankful God put Michelle there.  It makes it so much easier for me knowing I'll know someone there.  I think I'll try out Sunday school next week.

There's a house on the low end of my price range for sale in Washington.  I drove by today before church to check it out.  It's pretty run down, but I'm still very interested to see what the inside look like.  It's on 1 acre, so should be just enough room for my soon-to-be homestead.

I've prayed a lot about whether we should stay in Norman or move to Washington/Goldsby.  I asked God for open doors and signs to point me in the right direction.  God has met my request with some of the funniest signs and "coincidences" (I don't believe there's such a thing as a coincidence!) to lead me down this path.  I've just smiled and laughed as each one came along.

Here are a few for your enjoyment:

• As Hayden and I were waiting to meet our Realtor Saturday(to look at the non-dream house), a tractor drove down 24th street.  Yes, a TRACTOR...in Norman...on one of the busiest streets we have.  He might as well have been waving a big ol' flag that said, "Yes, Merissa, you need to move to the country". 
• Washington schools still believe in God.  They pray before class starts each day, they have Christmas (not Winter), Easter (not Spring), etc. parties.  Their school Christmas play is about Jesus, not Santa.  Love it!
• In the past week I've found that I'm connected to people who lived in Washington at one time and I've heard wonderful stories about what a fabulous community it is.  I didn't know any of this info before this week.

Here's a pic of the house (courtesy of http://www.realtor.com/) I hope to go see tomorrow.  I'll keep you all updated!