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We Found Our New Home

House shopping has consumed my family for the last few months, since we sold our small condo back in May and moved into an even smaller dwelling “for now”. Living in limbo in this in-between time, cramped and saving towards a larger down payment, it’s incredible how great any house on the market appears after one too many weekends going to open houses.

I had to be reminded, repeatedly, that while it seemed to be taking forever, rushing was a bad idea. It was hard at times despite being a buyer’s market, because no one wants to sell in a buyer’s market.

But I finally found the house for us, and after lots of haggling, the home owner finally accepted our offer. We went to contract. I wrote the second biggest check of my life when I handed over the down payment (the first being the check I wrote when I bought my condo almost ten years ago).

Soon I’ll have my first home. My family’s first home. A place to call “ours”. I. am. thrilled.

We are waiting to close on the new house now, and our already busy lives are now a mess of paperwork and planning. I don’t even own a home yet and my head is spinning with all the work that has to be done.

We chose a home based on the quality of the neighborhood. Our new home is a brick and stone house with a small yard and extra rooms for an office and play room, and suits our family needs perfectly (except that I always wanted a fireplace, but apparently I can just get am almost-like-the-real-thing artificial fireplace to put into the living room and turn it on and off with a switch… so of course I will).

house shopping

Because we chose based on the neighborhood (flourishing, safe, great schools, near important things like our church and family) we couldn’t get the most opulent home (it’s not move in condition), but that is ok because with a fixer upper you have to renovate.

(and I love a good project)

Renovating is a blast for me. I can create a home to suit my taste, and the fact that this house needs a new kitchen and bathrooms and windows means we got a great price on it considering the neighborhood we are moving to (you know, location, location, location…it’s better to have the most modest house in a good area than the largest home in a bad neighborhood…that sort of thing).

So now I get to look for things, like kitchen appliances, light fixtures, porcelain pedestal lavatories, paint colors, carpeting, back splashes, and more, and it’s a lot of work, but I love it. It’s for my home. For my family’s home. And I can’t wait!




  • Congratulations! You are going to have a lot of fun making into your own place.

  • Congrats!!! I hope your family can put your special touches in it soon

  • I can’t wait to read about the remodeling projects and I’m so happy you found a home!

  • Congrats!!!

  • Your home looks lovely and like a great corner lot! I can’t wait to see more pictures and how you end up decorating it to reflect your own style!

  • CONGRATS!!!! How exciting! I’m the total opposite- while I would love to make a home my own by adding my own touches, I can’t be bothered with the 72 trips to home depot to pick out tiles. I just don’t have the patience for that!

  • So exciting! Congratulations…. 🙂

  • Congrats Penelope. I can’t wait to see your pics from your renovations.,

  • I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to see more.

  • Congratulations, Penelope. I’m so excited for you guys.

  • Billie

    Lots of fun work coming, congratulations!

  • I am totally in love with the front of your new home, it is so cute and pretty! Congratulations!! I can’t wait to see what you do as you begin renovating and decorating!

  • Jenn

    It looks so roomy! Can’t wait to read about your projects.

  • So happy for you! Can’t wait to hear about your upcoming projects and congratulations! 🙂

  • Stefanie

    How exciting!! Congrats!

  • Congrats! Such a gorgeous place to call your own 🙂

  • It is adorable and just perfect for raising a family.

  • Congratulations! I hope that closing goes quickly!

  • It’s a beautiful home

  • debra

    It’s just beautiful! So very happy for you. Now the fun begins!

  • Rachel at managedmoms.com

    Congratulations! It is charming! Now it is time to make your new house a home with all of the fun stuff you will do inside. Enjoy and share with us what you do!

  • Congrats it looks adorable and homey from the outside already!

  • Congrats!!!!!!

    We chose based on neighborhood and school too — definitely not the biggest or fanciest on our street but we love it And, like you, I’m now in the midst of picking decor, planning upgrade projects…. things that will make it “home” and put some equity in the house.

    It’s stressful but fun!

    And, I love your new house!

  • I can’t wait to see how everything turns out for you and your remodeling to taste. I’m still trying to get to things from almost 10 yrs ago and the projects are slow moving

  • Yay! I’m so excited for you!

  • Leilani

    Congrats! That’s so exciting.

  • Heather!

    Congratulations! Looks like a lovely home, and I KNOW you’re going to have fun putting your own stamp on it. I can’t wait to see what projects you get into!

  • Congrats on buying your home. I wish you all the best as you move in and renovate.

  • Tammy

    How fun! We’re going to be (hopefully) in the same position soon. Originally we were going to rent, but with mortgage rates being so low, it’s just smart to buy – but the neighborhood we want means an older home as well. I’m looking forward to seeing all the things you do with your new home 🙂

  • Nicole Renee

    Congratulations on your first house!