....and we're out of the gates!

We went to see the other house, still just a few blocks from where we currently live, on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Our breath caught in our throats as we wondered if we might be able to buy such a gem.

.

We immediately got the name and number of the loan officer and made a call. We spoke with our agent and talked about what sort of number we might offer. And then sat on it. For weeks. We didn't know what was coming job-wise and it was a bit earlier than we'd anticipated moving and we weren't sure if we were being romanced by a great house in a location we were happy with. So we waited for a couple more weeks. (That's four weeks, if you're counting.)
.
Finally, the week before Christmas, we submitted the paperwork for the loan pre-approval and saw the house again on Christmas Eve. (Yes, I realize we're a little crazy, but everyone was available then, including our friends who are "old house people".) A day or two after Christmas, we submitted an offer. We were surprised when the offer was accepted with a few minor changes.
.
The day we were looking over the changes and preparing to submit a minor-counter- to their counter-offer, we heard that they were expecting another offer. Against our better judgement, we decided to accept all conditions in their first counter-offer. Of course, this was right before a holiday weekend, so we didn't hear anything until the next week, when they asked for our "best and highest offer".
.
We submitted that right away, since our agent had anticipated that and we'd already discussed what that would look like. It turned out that the other offer was better, so we lost.
.
Of course, we were disappointed. But something (Someone?) whispered in my ear that it wasn't over yet. I was convinced that the Lord took this house off the market then for some reason and that we would have another opportunity when the timing was "right". .... and... my husband thought I was crazy.
.
Everytime we'd drive past, I would lament the "house that could've/should've/would've been". But, at some point in that month, it was made clear to me that it WAS God's work! Due to company changes, my dear had no job in this state. He headed to the midwest while they "tried to work on something here". Through this whole process, we chose to trust the Lord with our lives and our livelihood. We prayed daily (multiple times daily) that He would reveal His will to us. My husband wondered if we might have to make a move to the midwest, while I was convinced this was just a bump in the road. We did, however, look at one other house - as a back-up. We didn't love it, but it needed no work at all and we knew that if that was where we were led, we would make it into a cozy home. At this point, we just wanted to be together.
.
On the day he received the call to tell him that the job in DC was definitely going to be available to him, the house was relisted as active. The contract had fallen through!
.
We submitted a third offer right away. Then found out that due to conditions in our offer, the listing agent wouldn't submit the offer to the bank that owned it. They were only interested in "As Is" offers. Over that weekend, they lowered the price, due to the demo in the basement and lower level half bath. We rescinded our contract and lowered it, submitting a fourth offer. The next day, before they responded, we heard again that they expected another offer to come in.
.
As expected, we were asked for our "best and highest" offer. We submitted one after a visit with a contractor gave us a good estimate for repairs. We were uncertain what would happen, because we did know that the other offer was a cash offer from an investor and that would be preferrable to our construction loan offer.
.
We were surprised and excited when we received a counter-offer that changed only minor aspects of our fifth offer. Within a couple days, we had a ratified contract!
.
It was expected that, due to the type of loan we will have - a 203k construction loan - the next part of the process would be harrowing.