It seems we can't get enough of this it's September and somedays it feels like October weather. It's fantastic. To walk out of the apartment in the morning and face a chill is quite thrilling. Makes one want to load up on chai lattes, listen to Rosie Thomas (okay, okay, that's just me - Cliff doesn't even know who Rosie Thomas is), and don our best scarves. It makes generally being outside even more enjoyable.
Recent House Developments
Surprise! We've been debating when to break the news to the masses (and by masses we mean all five of you reading this) that there's been a bit of a change on the house front. We have enjoyed and found a great deal of motivation through the House Fund saving process but are now looking a bit more realistically at the reality of what we want in a home, where we want to be, and what the present conditions of everything around us point to.
No, we're not pregnant. No, we don't have house fever. No, we don't plan to live beyond our means. No, we're not doing it just for a tax credit incentive. Yes, we have enough money to make a great down payment on a good home. Yes, we want to stay in Franklin. Yes, staying in Franklin requires considering that the sort of home we want would probably be worth more than $160,000 in 2.5 years. Yes, even interests rates on 15-year fixed mortgages are incredibly low. And yes, we're ready for the responsibility.
And yes, it's been a quick process, largely because we've been fortunate to have all sorts of the right people around us from Cliff's resources at work to real estate agents and mortgage brokers who are on their game. Already we've been pre-approved for the mortgage amount we need for the amount we're planning to spend and have spent (and will continue to spend) part of the weekend roaming about town with our agent looking at homes.
Uh, crazy, I know. There are days where it feels pretty surreal to me, as well. But it feels right. Whether you consider this going back on our word, so be it. Plans change, you know, and sometimes you have to be willing to reconsider goals and opportunities as they present themselves in light of what God is up to.
No, we're not pregnant. No, we don't have house fever. No, we don't plan to live beyond our means. No, we're not doing it just for a tax credit incentive. Yes, we have enough money to make a great down payment on a good home. Yes, we want to stay in Franklin. Yes, staying in Franklin requires considering that the sort of home we want would probably be worth more than $160,000 in 2.5 years. Yes, even interests rates on 15-year fixed mortgages are incredibly low. And yes, we're ready for the responsibility.
And yes, it's been a quick process, largely because we've been fortunate to have all sorts of the right people around us from Cliff's resources at work to real estate agents and mortgage brokers who are on their game. Already we've been pre-approved for the mortgage amount we need for the amount we're planning to spend and have spent (and will continue to spend) part of the weekend roaming about town with our agent looking at homes.
Uh, crazy, I know. There are days where it feels pretty surreal to me, as well. But it feels right. Whether you consider this going back on our word, so be it. Plans change, you know, and sometimes you have to be willing to reconsider goals and opportunities as they present themselves in light of what God is up to.
Being in and Understanding Community
Gosh, we're thankful for our friends. Thankful for the consistency of a night a week to be with men and women who encourage us, challenge us, and share their lives with us. At the same time, we've found ourselves on a bit of a journey in finding a church community to plug back into after slowly feeling distanced from our previous home church. That being said, it has been refreshing to see the Church at work in different church bodies in the area and we're hopeful we'll find a fit here soon.
