Current count of Washington days remaining? Forty-three. And nine of those will be spent house hunting in South Carolina. So, I've been a bit busy to say the least. I've been working regularly. We've been working to keep the house presentable on a regular basis should any prospective renters want to check it out. And of course we've been doing all of those fun Washington things that we won't be able to do in a month and a half.
Over the course of two weeks I went with friends to see Pink Martini in Tacoma, with my opera pal to see La Traviata at the Seattle Opera, and then on a double date to see A Streetcar Named Desire at the Theatre on the Square in Tacoma. Pink Martini put on an incredible show and reminded me of a band that would have played at The Tropicana with Ricky Ricardo. La Traviata was absolutely gorgeous and deliciously tragic, and Streetcar was thoroughly depressing but surprisingly well performed for a community theater presentation.
Aside from that we've just been continuously freaking out about the move. We leave on Monday to spend a little over a week getting to know the Charleston area. We're going armed with an army of worksheets, an extensive spreadsheet of houses we've been tracking, a preapproval letter, and the knowledge that the government is completely unsympathetic to our flight.
When we bemoan the state of our mortgage situation, helpful folks tend to remind us of the house-buying program for mlitary members who are being made to move during the current housing crisis. Bummer for us, we bought our house two months too early to qualify for that program. Then when the internet made me aware of the fact that the home-buyers tax credit has been extended through 2010 and is now available to current home owners, I actually got my hopes up for a moment before finding the fine print specifiying that eligibility is restricted to people who have owned their homes for more than five years. We're hovering right around three. You know, it's not that I expect the government to bail me out, and I fully appreciate the fact that there are people who are in far worse situations than I, but it's still a little disheartening every time you realize that some people are eligible for handouts and you aren't. But still, I'm a firm believer is smaller government anyway, so whatever, I DON'T WANT YOUR NONEXISTANT MONOPOLY MONEY ANYWAY, AMERICA!!
So, that's pretty much that. I'm excited about Halloween this weekend and the chance to spend a whole day thinking about something OTHER than the jumble of debt to income ratio, neighborhood crime statistics, and the vast difference a 5.0% interest rate can make on your mortgage payment as opposed to 5.25%... Sigh. In the words of Alice, it would be so nice if something made sense for a change.
I wish you guys much luck! We just finished the home buying process and I hope we don't have to do it again for a LONG time. We have a 30-year-fixed loan and I swear, I don't want to move until that 30 year mark is up. House buying sucks but it's also exciting. It's like a tug-o-war game I swear. Keep us posted on what you find!
Posted by: Sara | October 29, 2009 at 09:59 PM
If y'all can't get a house I've seen lots of people who seem to do just fine without one. They get free medical care and people in vans bring them soup and juice boxes. Unfortunately you won't have a place to keep your shoes...
Posted by: Brittany | October 29, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Only 5.5% - our house in Oklahoma was 15.5%.
You just better pray that Obama's goal isn't to take us back to the good old days of Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: Old Warrior | October 30, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Wow--another move? South Carolina is supposed to be so nice. I can't wait to hear what you think of it! Sorry about the move though and the house deal--those things are SO stressful that I don't wish them on anyone!
Maybe you can take us through your house hunting process like you do your shoe searching. That would be fun and interesting--and not stressful for us at all. (grin)
Posted by: Steph. | October 30, 2009 at 03:12 AM
Can't wait to see pictures of prospective houses! Definitely take a break this Halloween and do something fun and irresponsible!
Posted by: Jessica | October 31, 2009 at 06:45 AM
Well, however it pans out, I think you guys are going to end up where you are meant to be, and in a good place. Hope your Halloween was fun!
Posted by: Kate P | November 02, 2009 at 03:04 AM
Word. I am so afraid of buying a house ever. It seems like such a trap. But it's the only way I'll ever have CHICKENS!!!!
In happier news, we saw Pink Martini on October 2, and they were awesome.
Posted by: tasterspoon | November 02, 2009 at 10:27 PM