Tuesday, November 8, 2011

I'm a Homeowner!!

HGTV makes it look so simple. You find three houses you like, you pick one, and by the end of commercial break it's yours. The actual home buying process is a little bit longer, a little bit more complicated, and a lot more emotionally draining.

In my path to home-ownership, I looked at a ton of places, varying from nice and out of my budget to just creepy, small, and unlivable. I put in offers on three different properties. Negotiated on prices. Got emotionally invested, heart-broken, super-excited and finally just relieved to have the keys. It is a process that I do not want to do for at least another 5 to 7 years.

But after all that, I finally have a place of my own. Somewhere that I can paint and hang my pictures without thinking what the landlord will care about it. I don't have to save big bags or boxes for the day my rent is up and I have to move. I can just settle and make it my home.

I have some big plans for my new place. I owe a huge thank you to my most amazing parents for helping me out this whole time and for giving up their weekend to help me paint and get everything set up before I move in. My aunt Cin surprised me on Saturday with paint brush in hand and even came back on Sunday to help pick up furniture. She is awesome!! My bf also pitched in bringing his box of tools and even went on a much needed caffeine run for us all. Greyson decided he wanted to help paint the wall with his face and then watched conveniently from my lap. It was a very busy weekend and a great way to kick-off my new adventure of being a homeowner.