Condo or Condon't

To condo or not to condo

Blah...HGTV lies. House hunting is not fun. I found a house I loved. But something screwy is going on with the owners and the bank so no go there. There is a condo that I like but I'm not sure that is the way I want to go. Advantages - Disadvantages? Come on Lois -"let me have it"
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The first house

I saw my first house today. It 'has potential'. Meaning, it's livable, structurally intact, desperately outdated but I could get it for dirt cheap. I just don't know if I am up to that kind of work.
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More house stuff

So I went driving around in a couple of areas that I have been considering on realtor.com. Ummmm...No. I cannot buy property there. Could I rent there? Probably. But not buy. Criminy, these people are on top of each other. I got claustrophobic looking at them! So if I am going to buy, I will have to resign myself to a commute again. I just can't live there if I can borrow a cup of sugar through the kitchen window.
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Waiting on the edge

I sent my paperwork to a mortgage broker yesterday. I am supposed to hear from her today. This is some scary stuff here. There is a decent possibility I will get pre-qualified and then I have to be an adult about looking for a house. I can't allow porch lust take over, or allow garden envy cloud my judgement. Being a responsible adult sux.

By the way, Lois...if I get approved, you may have to go with me to look. The friend's schedule is pretty erratic.
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Risotto

It may not be pretty but it was my very first attempt at risotto. I discovered, after I started the stuff, that not only did I not have an onion, I didn't have chicken broth. SO... I used frozen peppers and onions (I always have those!), and a couple of vegetable soup packets (the powdered kind you make veggie dips with). And you know what?....YUM, YUM, YUM!!!!!!!!

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It continues...

The first real estate agent called today. She suggested that I talk to a mortgage broker instead of a bank. I need to research that, because honestly I never heard of that. But I also pulled my free credit reports today (did you know that free means you don't get your score?) and was pleasantly surprised. It may not be as bad as I think. We'll see... I bought a book today about buying your first home, and I'm doing the research.

You know, I think this shows a lot of progress on my part. Anyone who knows me has heard me say I have financial commitment issues. When I bought my car four years ago, I had panic attacks for three days. That was largely due to the financial mess that my ex husband left me in. But I'm not panicking over the thought of POSSIBLY signing a 30 year mortgage? Now that's progress.

House, Schmouse...

I found one that I adore from the outside. Enough to send an email to an FHA lender (first time buyer). And to send an email to the realtor. It didn't show any pictures from the inside though, just said it needs some TLC. So it could be a trip straight to the 50s. On the other hand, if that is all that is wrong with it, I'm in heaven. I have painted every place I have lived since graduating college. Stripping wallpaper can be therapeutic. And I plan to rip any carpet out no matter what it looks like. Carpet...ICK. It has a fenced back yard, and just enough land to have my own little veggie garden, and all the flowers I want. :) Okay, this is bad. I'm getting way too enthusiastic. But I do think I'm going to try and get pre-qualified for a loan. Maybe not this house, but a house...soon.