In a perfect time to be blogging my rants about building a new home and all the headaches that I never thought would come with it. I have written nothing. It's been a surprisingly scary last month. So many things that I couldn't have imagined would happen went wrong. But it looks like I'll still get a house and things are mostly smoothed over for the time being. But all I can say is, when times get rough, your builder can be a complete ass, and the bank, well they can make your life a living hell. But oh well, you live and you learn. I have had a major life lesson this month. You never ever trust anybody you are paying. They're only being nice to you because you are paying them. And if you run into a problem, the bank certainly doesn't have your back.
I'm not excited about his house anymore and I just want it to be done with. But unfortunately, I can't even set any deadlines when it will be done anymore because my builder keeps completing work so slowly. You'd think he'd want to get done and get the rest of his money and be out of my life, but somehow I think it brings them pleasure to string me along. I don't know why. It doesn't make any sense.
Showing posts with label home building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home building. Show all posts
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The foundation is up
Well now that things have gotten started, they're really rolling! They've almost completed the foundation. On They will be pouring the basement walls. This is all very exciting! Well it is to me. I bet you're yawning right now, but that's OK :) There will be more updates of this kind in the future, I'm sure. My general contractor is really doing a good job penny pinching so that I can get a couple necessities added to the house for resale, so hopefully I'll be able to sell it if the market stays where it is for a couple years.Kristin and I drove around the area today and every time I do I am excited to explore it more. I'm less than a mile away from a river and there a bunch of riverfront cottages just down the road from me. It was such a beautiful area. I feel like it's a vacation home community. I'm sure a few people have weekend homes out here. It's not that far from downtown, but probably far enough for some people to feel removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. So it's a pretty calm area. I am told that there are hot air baloon launches every weekend from one of the local parks, so that will be really fun to watch and photograph once I move in. There is a lot to be excited about!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
construction... Finally!
Today they finally started digging on my lot. Four and a half months after originally signing my real estate contract, construction is beginning!!! I finally have something to be excited about! Supposedly it'll be all done by 8/1! I'll have a house on 8/1!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A break from life
Looking back, I didn't realize it at the time, but even as my family and I spent most of our time driving back and forth between relatives and my dad's work engagements. My vacation really was a much needed break from the stress of my everyday life. I wish I had appreciated it more. Because already I've had more stress-inducing events happen to me since arriving home at 2PM yesterday than I can even remember. But just for the sake of this post I will list some examples....
$700 car repair estimate, first mortgage bill came in, signed lease for apartment for another 2.5 months (not by choice), dropped eBay item in parking lot and scratched it, received 587 emails in 3 business days while out, expense department rejected $3500 hotel bill for company mandated trip, company rejected $500 airfare (both for no good reasons) etc...
On my vacation, I temporarily forgot about all these things going on in my life, and at the very least I told myself that I didn't have to do anything about any of it because I was "off the grid." It was great. I ate a lot, slept a lot, and had fun with my family. Life should be more like that. Work and money should not be nearly as prevalent as it became parent over the past couple weeks.
Life is hard. I want to take a break. Where can I file a grievance? I mean there is a lot of exciting stuff going on, like building a house, getting a promotion (supposedly), fixing my motorcycle and the simple fun I have hanging out with my girlfriend. Even with all that, it's hard not to let all this stress bother me. I wish I could just tell the world to stop for a minute so I can catch my breath. My life is going just fine. I just wish I had some sort of personal assistant or more money to throw at everything to make it all go away. No bills would solve so many problems. An assistant would mask a lot of problems, but oh well. I'll just have to keep pushing on. At least Friday is tomorrow.
$700 car repair estimate, first mortgage bill came in, signed lease for apartment for another 2.5 months (not by choice), dropped eBay item in parking lot and scratched it, received 587 emails in 3 business days while out, expense department rejected $3500 hotel bill for company mandated trip, company rejected $500 airfare (both for no good reasons) etc...
On my vacation, I temporarily forgot about all these things going on in my life, and at the very least I told myself that I didn't have to do anything about any of it because I was "off the grid." It was great. I ate a lot, slept a lot, and had fun with my family. Life should be more like that. Work and money should not be nearly as prevalent as it became parent over the past couple weeks.
Life is hard. I want to take a break. Where can I file a grievance? I mean there is a lot of exciting stuff going on, like building a house, getting a promotion (supposedly), fixing my motorcycle and the simple fun I have hanging out with my girlfriend. Even with all that, it's hard not to let all this stress bother me. I wish I could just tell the world to stop for a minute so I can catch my breath. My life is going just fine. I just wish I had some sort of personal assistant or more money to throw at everything to make it all go away. No bills would solve so many problems. An assistant would mask a lot of problems, but oh well. I'll just have to keep pushing on. At least Friday is tomorrow.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Banks
No wonder the banking industry is in the mess it is. I've been trying to get a mortgage set up with one bank, which I was told is "very good" and I swear the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing there. I was assured several times that my loan would be approved by close of business on Friday, but when I called on Friday I was told that for some unknown reason the "underwriting department" hadn't finished their credit approval. They have had my paperwork for several weeks. Earlier that week I had sent them an official bank statement instead of printouts from the web, like that mattered. But even with my t's crossed and my i's dotted, they still are functioning with half a brain.
On Monday I called and was told that the approval still hadn't went through, but I should still be able to close on Thurs with the documentation I had already provided. I call on Tuesday and provide every single document humanly possible to the bank for the construction side of things (the official contract, and proof of payments already made to the builder). And somehow as of now, they still don't have the loan approved. So wait, I already provided you with all my bank statements, home cost spreadsheets, and the appraisal has been done already.... soooo, what is the hold up. The bank's response now. The "construction loan dept" wouldn't look at my paperwork at all until they received a signed contract from the builder... Wait, why didn't you tell me this before??? So anyway, they had all my other paperwork in one form or another for weeks, but somehow they still can't turn this around in 48 hours? banks....
Update: I just received a call from the appraiser, who was apparently just contacted for the first time today to do the appraisal! wow, just wow. hi left hand, how are you? I'm right hand.
On Monday I called and was told that the approval still hadn't went through, but I should still be able to close on Thurs with the documentation I had already provided. I call on Tuesday and provide every single document humanly possible to the bank for the construction side of things (the official contract, and proof of payments already made to the builder). And somehow as of now, they still don't have the loan approved. So wait, I already provided you with all my bank statements, home cost spreadsheets, and the appraisal has been done already.... soooo, what is the hold up. The bank's response now. The "construction loan dept" wouldn't look at my paperwork at all until they received a signed contract from the builder... Wait, why didn't you tell me this before??? So anyway, they had all my other paperwork in one form or another for weeks, but somehow they still can't turn this around in 48 hours? banks....
Update: I just received a call from the appraiser, who was apparently just contacted for the first time today to do the appraisal! wow, just wow. hi left hand, how are you? I'm right hand.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
It's happening!
So the first step is happening in my home building journey! I made an offer on a lot and the seller accepted. After a good year and a half of serious looking, I finally am about 2" from having something to show for it!!!! I am so excited.
the lot
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