Flights: 04.11

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Our new house!!!

I can't even believe this. I'm gonna get whiplash from all the changes 'round here. I had no idea you could buy a house this quickly. Chris and I have been randomly going to open houses for years, so last Saturday when a friend's birthday party was cancelled we went to check out this new listing that had opened up. Usually I walk into houses and just kind of think "eh." This one I walked into and loved immediately. We went back the next day and I still loved it so we talked to friends and family to find out what to do next.

We called the sellers' realtor and he suggested a buyers' realtor for us. By Sunday night she was getting us started figuring out where to go next. Monday we were calling lenders to get mortgage preapprovals. The sellers said the earliest day they would take offers was today and they had three offers. I had written a letter to the sellers saying why we liked their house so much and the realtor told them the story of how we basically walked into their house, fell in love, and dropped everything in order to figure out how to buy it. They were so moved that we got it even though we weren't the highest offer (?!). I'm in total shock.

It's a great little place. It's just north of downtown Palo Alto right across from Dr. Edith Johnson park. This used to be Dr. Johnson's house (!!!) and she saw patients out of her office in the front of the house. I told a coworker this and she said "you know that means people have died in your house." I think it's balanced out by the fact that this doctor also delivered more than 3500 babies in her practice. The house is made of redwood (!!) which is great because it means termites and other pests are just totally uninterested in it. As Chris put it "This house really represents the phrase 'They just don't make 'em like they used to.'" The schools are really great and we're much closer to Chris's work now. Farther from mine, but we may put Geneva in daycare somewhere convenient for Chris to take her and I'll just take the train to work.

The house has a little cottage in back that has a tenant with a three year old daughter. The current owners say they're one of the best parts of the property. Hopefully Geneva will have a great new friend now!

The house is in great condition - so many of the older homes in this area just seem dumpy, but this one is a classic. The only thing we might want to do is change the kitchen countertops. I don't know what the deal is with California and grouted tile kitchen counters.

Ok, I'm sure I'll post more photos soon. In the meantime, YAY!!!!