house updates

Background:
we spent months wandering the MLS (list of homes for sale), doing some research, running the numbers and eventually came to the conclusion that we were going to build a new home, rather than buy an existing one. (more home for our money, plus we get to pick it out.) we made several visits to the different builders around town, toured their models (some of them several times).  We drove around the neighborhood, watched the flow (and speed of traffic), talked to a few neighbors and picked a lot.  It's the last available lot of the block and a corner lot that faces west.  We have since found out that it's the ward "party block" (in a good way).  The backyards are all open to each other, sharing trampolines and play equipment.  Our lot, upon first glance is a big pile of rocks.  Upon closer look, you can see piles and paths.  It's actually a town called "rocks of loxen" and among the children there is a local sheriff and mayor.  Hopefully they won't be too upset when the rocks disappear.  With the help of our amazing agent, we signed a contract to build our favorite floor plan and chose a few upgrades to make it the perfect home for us.

More recently:
We had our design center appointment in which we needed to choose all of our paint, fixtures, flooring, cabinets, hardware, lights, etc.  Husband and I were joined by our agent (who has fabulous taste and has done this several times with other clients), our builder's agent (who is actually new so this was his first time) and our design representative who would soon reassure us that it "wasn't his first rodeo".  He was incredible, readily answering our questions, giving us detailed information and making it a fun experience.  I got my beautiful gourmet kitchen and luxurious master bathroom.  We picked out our hardwood floors, added ceiling fans, more electrical outlets, etc.  It took us four hours and my head began to swim after awhile but we managed to design a beautiful dream home.  A few days later, he emailed us a copy of all of our selections and the final sticker price.  We spent a few days thinking and reevaluating before returning to the design center to finalize those decisions.  We made a few changes, being very careful to stay with in our budget and before long we signed the official plans for our new homes (coming in exactly $23 under our budget joking that that was pizza for our first night in the new home).

Hurray!

Up next:
Right now we are still in the "permitting" phase.  Once the builder receives permits from the city, the house is to be completed 90-100 days from groundbreaking.  Husband is betting it will be finished in May.  I'm betting June.

Keep you posted.