I can hardly believe that I’m FINALLY typing these words – I BOUGHT A HOUSE! My first house.. which is crazy insane and all of the good things all in one. It’s been such a long process + I’m going to share all of that with you guys here. You also asked lots of questions over on instagram, so I rounded all of those up + am answering them in this post! So.. let’s get to it!
A little back story…
I started house hunting in the summer of 2017 – I was quickly outgrowing my apartment and getting sick of apartment living all in one and knew the time was coming for a house. A friend recommended her realtor to me, so I made a phone call, gave her some direction on what I was looking for, and things started up!
Fast forward to 6 months later, I had gotten engaged, and my then fiance and I actually were looking at homes together + had put an offer on (what I thought) was my dream home. A brand new build in the area I wanted, and everything down to the colors was perfection. We were in negotiations and unexpectedly the builder went around our communications and accepted another offer – it was devastating, I actually cried when my realtor called. Hindsight is 20/20 though, and I am so glad that whole thing fell through as my fiance and I broke our engagement a few months later. The house falling through was a true blessing in disguise and something I am now so grateful for.. dealing with a broken engagement on top of a house would’ve been that much harder.
I put things on hold last summer as I took some time to process + heal and then started back up looking in the fall. I looked at what seemed like 100 houses and each time, just knew that none of them were ‘mine’. I was on the edge of throwing in the towel and actually headed back from an open house this past February with a friend when I saw the listing for my house now pop up on realtor.com. I quickly scanned through the photos and thought it looked gorgeous. I showed my friend and they instantly said Maris, I think you need to see this one.. but was SICK of feeling let down so closed the app and blurted out “I’m done! I’m not going!”.
My friend convinced me that night I needed to go see it, so I reluctantly called my realtor and asked to schedule an appointment for the next day. Turns out, there were several other appointments already on the books for it so I knew walking into it if I liked it I would need to act fast.
I walked into the house and two steps in the front door, I knew it was the house. It sounds so cliche, but I just KNEW IT. And I felt God whisper in my ear – ‘you’re going to live here’. I was trying to contain my excitement and actually look at the house, but I truly didn’t even need to walk through it all because I knew it was my house! I told my realtor before I even went upstairs that it was perfect and I would be offering.
A quick tour of the upstairs 100% confirmed what I already knew and wanted to do. I had a friend (same friend who encouraged me to go see the house) meet me quickly to walk through and after looking at just one room, they looked at me and said “Maris, this is your house.”
I offered that night and amidst several other offers, mine was accepted within the day. I was OVER THE MOON! I dropped off my deposit the following week + we were getting ready to nail down closing dates and what not when my realtor called with startling news… the then owners had to rescind our contract due to the house they were buying falling through. Again, devastated. Because I was SO sure on this one! It was such a test of faith for me – to say okay Lord, I don’t know what you’re doing but I trust you and if it’s this house but not right now.. I’ll wait.
And wait I did.
The previous owners were kind enough to tell me that if/when they found another house + were ready to move, I would be notified before the house was relisted and given the option to go right into contract – but that was a total toss up of how long.. would it be 1 month, 6 months, a year? I had no idea. I was dying at the thought of waiting even longer.. and also antsy because my apartment lease was ending in May + I was hoping to have something lined up so I didn’t have to resign a whole year lease.
I spent the next 3.5 months waiting. I looked at a few more homes, but nothing compared + I was constantly comparing each home to this one – knowing I wouldn’t find something as close to what I wanted, with as many things done/added to the house as this one. So I wrote them all off + just decided I’d wait. I had a huge summer of travel coming up and moving in the midst of that would have been crazy so figured I would pick things back up in the fall.
Fast forward to 3 days before I left for Alaska. My realtor called + said Marissa, I have news. The owners found a home and are moving and they want to know if you want the house. It took everything in me not to shout into the phone a big YES! I went back the next morning to walk through again and make sure I loved it just as much as the first time (duh I did haha) and immediately gave them my offer. We had to wait for some logistical things to work out, so I went off to Alaska (and limited service) not knowing if I was 100% getting the house. The day after I got back, I heard that I did!!!
We decided on a quick closing so their kids could be in a new school system for the fall + that worked perfectly for me since I had no strings attached with my living arrangements… which brings me to share another crazy element: I had gone to my apartment complex reluctantly ready to sign another year lease two days before my realtor called me about the house. I let them know I would be resigning and was expecting the paperwork the next day. Well, it never came! And then the next day my realtor called me with this news – IMAGINE if I had signed a whole lease + had to go through the legalities and finances of breaking that just a day before the house came through?!
Down to nearly hours, the timing was perfect. From where I was in my life personally (mentally + emotionally being ready and stable whereas last summer I was not!), living wise with the apartment, the closing being right towards the end of our summer, and other personal factors – it just WOWed me entirely. And totally showed God’s hand in the whole story. A little over 2 years later, I finally found my dream home – with frustration, disappointment, heartbreak, reluctance, patience, excitement, and joy all worked through and mixed in the process..and SO worth it in the end!
Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe my heart right now. Overwhelmed with how I’ve been blessed. Excited for this new chapter! Expectant for all that’s to come + SO EXCITED to share with you all in the process of decorating and making this home mine. 🙂
God is so good!!! This is such a great story and I’m soooo happy for you!! The house is everything ♥️
So happy for you!!! You deserve this, hard work pays off every time! Praying for you as you start this new chapter in making this house a “home”!! Much love, girl!
I needed this encouragement so much!!! Currently in process of looking for a new place. Found a place I love. Felt the lord all over it but in waiting… thank you for sharing this!!!!
It’s a beautiful house. Amazing! Congratulations.
Congratulations! Your house is beautiful! House hunting can be so stressful, but it looks like it paid off!
Thank you for sharing your experience! It really is a true testament that God’s time is always right and although it may not be what we want at the time, it is what we need! I am looking forward to following your new journey.
https://thegirlfromconnecticut.com
Congratulations!!! I’m a homeowner as well and bought it while I was single too. Best decision ever!
Congrats on the new house! I went down the same road a few years ago and it wasn’t easy, but I felt such a sense of accomplishment when I finally moved in. GOD is GOOD!
xx, Merritt
https://thestylescribe.com/
I just stumbled upon this post and let me tell ya, God’s timing is truly perfect because I needed (so badly) an example of waiting, patience and trusting in God’s timing. This story was truly the perfect example for me. Wow. Thank you for sharing. SO happy for you and your beautiful new home! All the best of luck!!