The New (to us) House

As previously stated, I wanted to write about our journey to become homeowners once again. You may remember we bought a small condo last time we lived in Tacoma. It was great for us, just the right size and the right price. I loved the circular layout and was sad to see it go.
When we started house hunting this time around, I was sure we'd end up in a junker that we'd end up paying a fortune to fix up.
Then, it happened. We walked into this house and had a movie moment. You know how when you walk into a house and know that's where you're supposed to live? When you picture your kids as teens thundering up and down the stairs, and you see family bbqs in the backyard, and you see your kids complaining because they have to weed and the dog you don't have yet running in the yard? That's what I saw.
This place was priced a little higher than what we wanted to pay, but we could still afford it. It's a little more rural than I imagined living, but it's not too far away from stuff. Someone had bought it as a foreclosure and tried to flip it, but the remodeling work isn't the greatest and we still have a lot of stuff to take care of inside, but not nearly as much as with some of the other houses we were looking at. Plus, it has a bay window. As in, what I've dreamed of owning for my whole life.
I'm pretty sure Dan saw the look in my eyes and knew I was a goner.
We made an offer, and after much negotiating, we almost lost the house due to a low appraisal. It felt almost like losing a family member (not a close one, but a distant one you still really liked).
Thankfully, the sellers were ready to let go of this place and we bought it.
It took a lot of time, repairs, prayers, and phone calls to finally seal the deal, but May 3, 2011, this house (yet to be named) is now ours. Casa Call. La Sebastiana. Bag End. Toad Hall. Whatever.
Mi Casa es Mi Casa, but you're still welcome to visit.