Almost There!

Lender paperwork: check
Home inspection: check
More lender paperwork: check
Home insurance: check
Even more lender paperwork: check
Moving date, van & help secured: check, check, check
Yet again more lender paperwork: check
Utilities set up: check
Appraisal: almost checked
When does the lender paperwork end?!: still checking...

It's hard to believe that in less than three weeks from now we will close on our first home! It's funny how the sense of time transitions. When we made the offer on the house, the closing date seemed right around the corner. Then we started to get excited when talking about decorating (and Nate getting his grill) and time seemed to expand and the closing date all of a sudden seemed too far away. The moment that we started the moving "to-do" list time sped back up and panic of how close it was set back in. Are we going to be able to get all of this done in time?! I know the answers is yes, but we sure are feeling the pressure of getting everything done.

Before the chaos of the move sets in, we are lucky enough to have planned a week's vacation with Nate's parents and family starting this weekend. We've rented a lake house in Alabama and plan to spend all of next week relaxing. It couldn't have been planned for a better time! It should give us the energy we need to tackle the move which is of course happening at the busiest time at work for both of us :)

Our soon to be new home!

 

Front entry to the house. We love that it has the brick front as opposed to siding.

 

The living room as you enter from the front steps with a half bathroom to the right. 

 

Kitchen/Dining with brand new appliances and granite counter tops.

 

 

Off the kitchen/dining is a back deck where the house backs up to woods. Nate can't wait to grill!!

 

Staircase coming down from the upstairs. Because this is an end unit, we are lucky enough to have windows on both staircases, making them feel more open.  

 

Master Bathroom (there is another full bathroom on the upstairs level)

 

My favorite - soaking tub!

  

Master Bedroom with a wooded view (two other bedrooms facing the front)
 

Staircase leading to the basement

 

Finished, walkout basement with a gas fireplace. The garage is also off this level along with laundry and another half bathroom.

 

Walkout from the basement to the backyard with a swing! May not be big, but the fact that it's there is enough for us :)

 

View of the back of the house and of deck of kitchen/dining.

Countdown to Close!

Nate and I went a little crazy and bought a town house! As first time home buyers, this is a very exciting and nerve racking experience for us. We decided it would be a fun time to start a blog so we can document and share our experiences as we build a life together :)

We found a town house that has everything we would really like to have, including a little backyard and privacy - both rare items to find in the metro DC area! With 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (2 half, 2 full) we have plenty room for visitors (hint, hint). We are nestled in a community which includes a pool, tennis courts, running trails, etc. It is in Springfield, VA with a rush hour shuttle to the metro for Nate to easily get to work (or the metro is only 0.6 miles if we need to walk) and is only about a 15 minute drive to my office.

We feel very blessed to have found a home that is also in great condition and move-in ready. Our home inspection went very well with only minor items needing repair before we move-in. Now we are tackling the lovely lender's "to-do" list and have secured a closing date of August 17, 2011.

Knowing that date will soon be upon us we have decided to force ourselves out of the shock phase of the purchase and instead focus on the move. Pending the closing on the 17th, we have chosen that next Saturday, August 20, 2011 as our moving date. With the help of some fabulous friends volunteering to help us out, we should be officially in our house by the end of the 20th!

We're so excited and can't wait!