a Home? a HOME!
5/14/16 - after a year of mulling over the idea, "we should buy a house", but not being too aggressive about it, we had seen an ad for a community that offered $99 down payments, so we went to look.
a year prior-ish, after a co-worker had bought a giant house in Trinity, we realised, ya, what a waste. we have been renting this house for 11 years now, paying someone else's mortgage. personally, I had been brought up in apartments, and being an only son, etc.. "owning" had never been a priority for me. then add to that the deep appetite I have for alternative news, economics my favorite, I've been fairly convinced the bottom is ready to fall out again at any time. lastly, despite having finally achieved an adult credit score and having a good income, the down payment was the real obstacle. I make too much to qualify for any of the incentives. so a $99 down Ad was attractive.
we made the trip to palmetto and looked. highland homes. nice enough, but not that nice. on the edge of a tract of government housing. and mostly built out, only one home left. not really our liking, besides, I made too much to qualify for their $99 deal.
but that started the ideas flowing. stopped at the KB Homes new development on Seminole blvd, where the old orange blossom groves once stood for decades. the old florida industry, seemingly fading in a globalization trend, of citrus groves, gift baskets, cheap juice, and cheap shipping. I thought I recalled the original sign saying from the $150's (K). hadn't been that impressed watching them build there.. block 1st floor, wood and stucco 2nd. all the same. california close to each other, a time of indoors and no barbecues, I guess. cell phones and internet, game consoles. indoor life. who needs a yard, or even wants one? the more completed rows in the back of the property, off the main blvd, actually nice looking. reminds me of a row of brownstones, but 10 feet apart. venice beach. anyway... mid $300k's! no.
we returned home, but with interest. DeLina was checking her mailed links and homes. the journey to palmetto opened a new vector.. south of the skyway could be alright. I work in downtown st pete, right off the highway... we hadn't considered that direction, but, maybe we should. so wide open that way, still. old florida. ccows and pastures. flatness.
DeLina had signed up for emails from a builder in tampa, actually all over, Lennar homes. they have a few nice properties under development in Ruskin, due east for us, on the other side of the bay. we decided to go look.
5/15/16 found our way there, "Hawk's Point", a gated community, all new, still building out, by Lennar, the "everything's included" homes. found the models and office. The agent, Terenia Recupero, was with a customer, there are 2 models immediately adjacent, have a look. the first model, the "Raleigh", was too big, so we went to the next, the "Delaware". OMG. Gorgeous! 2 story, walk into a nice large foyer, staircase, and wide hall to the giant first floor.. big kitchen, angled, granite bar, breakfast nook, dining room connected to the living room. very large. upstairs, 3 bedrooms, the master suite very large, master bath with garden tub adjacent to a large tiles shower. we both felt immediately, like this was home. the place is comfy. 1810 sq. ft. not too big, but big, worthy of the success we had built for ourselves, being 45-54.
Terenia the agent came in and we talked, we told of our thoughts, our circumstances, our hoping to be first time home buyers. good credit, good income, no down payment, etc. she showed us around, pointing out the features etc. we walked through the "raleigh" too, for good measure, loved / hated the extra size, 5 bedrooms.. way more than the 2 of us, plus one chubby chihuahua needed though.
she made a call and I spoke to a loan officer with Lennar's preferred lender UAMC, spoke to Jamie Andis, gave the relevant info. wow. qualified.. for the whole nine yards. heck, I could get into their biggest homes if we wanted to. but after a second or two of ego on that idea.. why would we? 2 adults and a chubby chihuahua dont need that much, even if my ego wanted it. extra bedrooms would be a waste. I talked about down payment, the obstacle. again , I make too much for any of the standard support in that area. but she mentioned I should look into my 401k, should be able to get a loan against that.
Terenia took us all over, showed us the various styles. 1 story, 2 story, etc. great homes. but ya know what, we really just loved the "Delaware". the very first one we wandered into. it was getting late, Terenia gave us a bunch of brochures, etc. and we went home. we were excited.
Monday 5/16/16 got to work and went to the fed 401k site. what do you know! I CAN get a loan against it, interest is 1.75%, and it's actually paid to ME. no brainer! we called Terenia. It's on like Donkey Kong! we were pretty sure we wanted that "Delaware" but let's dbl check. that night, I missed my home group and we went and met Tee. we looked at what "Delaware's" would be coming available and when, and chose. It backs up to a retention pond. it's "elevation B" ( different garage roof, river stones partially up the pillar in the front. - a nice difference ) due to be completed late June 16. would have a eta closing date of 6/30/16. we walked inside, there were hispanic workers on stilts, slapping "mud" on the drywall seams. the home also has the "Legacy" package.. their single available option - granite counters, garden tub, stainless appliances, better baseboards, tech shield - a thermal roof internal reflective lining ( added insulation and thermal efficiency ) and blown in R30, upgraded fixtures, garage door opener, etc. back to the office, wrote a $1000 check, signed 60 pages of contract.
the next day told Jamie from UAMC the deposit was in, and our intention to move forward with the Mortgage app. she sent the document checklist. we gathered it all buy that evening, and wednesday, the next day, 5/18, I drove to the UAMC office and delivered the packet of requested financials. I submitted the request for the 401k loan, but sent in the wrong supporting document. a cash to close summary, but they need the signed contract. initial denial, but never fear, the contract was with corporate Lennar, and we would soon have a copy, which I could submit for the loan.
Friday evening, 5/20/16, we received a link to a document repository for UAMC, some new loan disclosures etc, requiring signature. DeLina and I worked through the docs, applying digital signatures ( I love tech like that ) but a few required printing and wet signatures applied.
saturday, 5/21, we picked up Jessica and her boyfriend, chris and maynard our loving grandson, and brought them down to see the house! they saw the completed model for the full effect. blown away! like us!
also, 5/21/16, we received he signed contract back from Lennar Corporate. w00t. we went to Rooms to go, considering furniture. I like brighter stuff. home interiors greys carpet, black granite, espresso cabinets. I floated the idea of maybe a red pit group, or sofa, contrast the greys. calypso! brights? maybe
5/22/16 spent the day at home, dreaming, reading about water softeners and treatments, air purifiers, whole house surge protectors.
Monday, 5/23, printed and faxed the 60 page contract with the 401k loan docs again. standard day, joy is here, but doing my best to let it go, no expectations. expectations are foreplay for misery!
Tuesday 5/24/16.. called the 401 k to check if in order. yes, yes it is! should have the down payment money within a few weeks! w00t!
all in a week. boom. largely completed. out of the sky, on our lap. something DeLina and I are pretty clear about at this point in our lives: dont push on strings. but when the universe sees fit to make a choice clear, walk confidently through the doors presented.
we bought a home, lovers. congratulations!
a year prior-ish, after a co-worker had bought a giant house in Trinity, we realised, ya, what a waste. we have been renting this house for 11 years now, paying someone else's mortgage. personally, I had been brought up in apartments, and being an only son, etc.. "owning" had never been a priority for me. then add to that the deep appetite I have for alternative news, economics my favorite, I've been fairly convinced the bottom is ready to fall out again at any time. lastly, despite having finally achieved an adult credit score and having a good income, the down payment was the real obstacle. I make too much to qualify for any of the incentives. so a $99 down Ad was attractive.
we made the trip to palmetto and looked. highland homes. nice enough, but not that nice. on the edge of a tract of government housing. and mostly built out, only one home left. not really our liking, besides, I made too much to qualify for their $99 deal.
but that started the ideas flowing. stopped at the KB Homes new development on Seminole blvd, where the old orange blossom groves once stood for decades. the old florida industry, seemingly fading in a globalization trend, of citrus groves, gift baskets, cheap juice, and cheap shipping. I thought I recalled the original sign saying from the $150's (K). hadn't been that impressed watching them build there.. block 1st floor, wood and stucco 2nd. all the same. california close to each other, a time of indoors and no barbecues, I guess. cell phones and internet, game consoles. indoor life. who needs a yard, or even wants one? the more completed rows in the back of the property, off the main blvd, actually nice looking. reminds me of a row of brownstones, but 10 feet apart. venice beach. anyway... mid $300k's! no.
we returned home, but with interest. DeLina was checking her mailed links and homes. the journey to palmetto opened a new vector.. south of the skyway could be alright. I work in downtown st pete, right off the highway... we hadn't considered that direction, but, maybe we should. so wide open that way, still. old florida. ccows and pastures. flatness.
DeLina had signed up for emails from a builder in tampa, actually all over, Lennar homes. they have a few nice properties under development in Ruskin, due east for us, on the other side of the bay. we decided to go look.
5/15/16 found our way there, "Hawk's Point", a gated community, all new, still building out, by Lennar, the "everything's included" homes. found the models and office. The agent, Terenia Recupero, was with a customer, there are 2 models immediately adjacent, have a look. the first model, the "Raleigh", was too big, so we went to the next, the "Delaware". OMG. Gorgeous! 2 story, walk into a nice large foyer, staircase, and wide hall to the giant first floor.. big kitchen, angled, granite bar, breakfast nook, dining room connected to the living room. very large. upstairs, 3 bedrooms, the master suite very large, master bath with garden tub adjacent to a large tiles shower. we both felt immediately, like this was home. the place is comfy. 1810 sq. ft. not too big, but big, worthy of the success we had built for ourselves, being 45-54.
Terenia the agent came in and we talked, we told of our thoughts, our circumstances, our hoping to be first time home buyers. good credit, good income, no down payment, etc. she showed us around, pointing out the features etc. we walked through the "raleigh" too, for good measure, loved / hated the extra size, 5 bedrooms.. way more than the 2 of us, plus one chubby chihuahua needed though.
she made a call and I spoke to a loan officer with Lennar's preferred lender UAMC, spoke to Jamie Andis, gave the relevant info. wow. qualified.. for the whole nine yards. heck, I could get into their biggest homes if we wanted to. but after a second or two of ego on that idea.. why would we? 2 adults and a chubby chihuahua dont need that much, even if my ego wanted it. extra bedrooms would be a waste. I talked about down payment, the obstacle. again , I make too much for any of the standard support in that area. but she mentioned I should look into my 401k, should be able to get a loan against that.
Terenia took us all over, showed us the various styles. 1 story, 2 story, etc. great homes. but ya know what, we really just loved the "Delaware". the very first one we wandered into. it was getting late, Terenia gave us a bunch of brochures, etc. and we went home. we were excited.
Monday 5/16/16 got to work and went to the fed 401k site. what do you know! I CAN get a loan against it, interest is 1.75%, and it's actually paid to ME. no brainer! we called Terenia. It's on like Donkey Kong! we were pretty sure we wanted that "Delaware" but let's dbl check. that night, I missed my home group and we went and met Tee. we looked at what "Delaware's" would be coming available and when, and chose. It backs up to a retention pond. it's "elevation B" ( different garage roof, river stones partially up the pillar in the front. - a nice difference ) due to be completed late June 16. would have a eta closing date of 6/30/16. we walked inside, there were hispanic workers on stilts, slapping "mud" on the drywall seams. the home also has the "Legacy" package.. their single available option - granite counters, garden tub, stainless appliances, better baseboards, tech shield - a thermal roof internal reflective lining ( added insulation and thermal efficiency ) and blown in R30, upgraded fixtures, garage door opener, etc. back to the office, wrote a $1000 check, signed 60 pages of contract.
the next day told Jamie from UAMC the deposit was in, and our intention to move forward with the Mortgage app. she sent the document checklist. we gathered it all buy that evening, and wednesday, the next day, 5/18, I drove to the UAMC office and delivered the packet of requested financials. I submitted the request for the 401k loan, but sent in the wrong supporting document. a cash to close summary, but they need the signed contract. initial denial, but never fear, the contract was with corporate Lennar, and we would soon have a copy, which I could submit for the loan.
Friday evening, 5/20/16, we received a link to a document repository for UAMC, some new loan disclosures etc, requiring signature. DeLina and I worked through the docs, applying digital signatures ( I love tech like that ) but a few required printing and wet signatures applied.
saturday, 5/21, we picked up Jessica and her boyfriend, chris and maynard our loving grandson, and brought them down to see the house! they saw the completed model for the full effect. blown away! like us!
also, 5/21/16, we received he signed contract back from Lennar Corporate. w00t. we went to Rooms to go, considering furniture. I like brighter stuff. home interiors greys carpet, black granite, espresso cabinets. I floated the idea of maybe a red pit group, or sofa, contrast the greys. calypso! brights? maybe
5/22/16 spent the day at home, dreaming, reading about water softeners and treatments, air purifiers, whole house surge protectors.
Monday, 5/23, printed and faxed the 60 page contract with the 401k loan docs again. standard day, joy is here, but doing my best to let it go, no expectations. expectations are foreplay for misery!
Tuesday 5/24/16.. called the 401 k to check if in order. yes, yes it is! should have the down payment money within a few weeks! w00t!
all in a week. boom. largely completed. out of the sky, on our lap. something DeLina and I are pretty clear about at this point in our lives: dont push on strings. but when the universe sees fit to make a choice clear, walk confidently through the doors presented.
we bought a home, lovers. congratulations!
posted by I Trust My Gut at 8:20 PM
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