Finally, the end to our real estate journey.

I was beginning to wonder if our home-buying process would ever come to an end.  But, guess what?
WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!

Our official closing date is April 12th.  And then I'm a real homeowner!  Two weeks ago we finally received our short-sale approval from the bank after two months of waiting.  Much to my surprise, after that was processed, everything has moved very quickly and smoothly.  We had our inspections last week and everything looks good, and all the paperwork is done and turned in.  Now I just show up with a down payment check, sign closing documents, and get the keys!!  I don't think I can come up with words for how excited and relieved I am to be done with this process.  This is big.

Our new house needs a LOT of work.  It was built in 1950, and walking through it, you might think that the interior of the house has not changed much since that time.  We're talking horrible carpeting, pink and purple paint, wood paneling, funky hanging ceiling tiles, and nasty fixtures.   Structurally, it's a great house and it's in great shape... but cosmetically, we've got our work cut out for us.  Luckily the exterior has been spruced up relatively recently, so we won't have to do very much to the outside.

I'll post more photos of the whole house once we've actually closed.  And then you should expect a slew of posts about the various projects we'll be doing to the place.  I love before and after pictures, and we're definitely going to have some good ones with this place!  We're thinking that we'll spend a good two or three weeks working in the house before we actually move in.

It feels pretty amazing to finally know that we will be settling down soon.  Our current house has been half-packed for months and I can't wait to unload in a brand new space.  I am completely ready to jump head-first into fixing up this new place and making it awesome for us.

Oh, but first (and the reason we're not closing on the house until the 12th), we're going to go to Hawai'i for a little beach and volcano time!  Celebratory umbrella drinks will be consumed.  Then we'll be nice and refreshed to come back and start in on our new home.