I can't help but notice that it seems everyone around me is buying a house. I'm only 23 years old and a lot (I'll try to avoid the word most) of my friends, my same age, are all announcing the exciting news they're going to be home owners! I wont even deny that I am instantly a tad bit, extremely jealous. Haha. Right now, renting, basically throwing away thousands of dollars each month really really sucks lamebeans. And I dream and drool over the day Matt and I will be able to renovate our own home. I am such a sucker for landscaping, interior design, really...anything HGTV related. So I'm sincerely and totally excited for my friends!
But at the same time it really makes me wonder and evaluate where I am in my life, where Matt and I are. And I have to admit...it makes me feel exponentially less mature and responsible then them.
Let me explain.
Right now we have a awkward 3 story townhome (you know the tall and skinny kind) and even though it's pretty dang small and only 2 bedrooms, it still feels way too big. Also, we're in a neighborhood full of retirees. Which is wonderful because watching old people walk around with their ski-polls and walkers is kind of charming in it's own way, not to mention everyone is super friendly...but...we might feel a little bit out of place. Also, we have Sawyer. And as much as I'd like to deny, he does have some control over the easiness of our travel plans. Even simple trips down to Disney Land require much thought as to where to put the little soybean. Of course there are tons of options of where to put him but after putting him in the "Disney Land Kennel Club"...don't be fooled.
It only looks like a smaller version of Disney Land...on the outside.
Believe you me, we will not be doing that cruel and unusual punishment again. Ok, so I love Disney Land too much to completely dis it's Kennel. It's just that when you put a dog in any kennel period...it's going to be awful and sad and heart breaking! I love my puppy too much.
So even though we wouldn't give Sawyer up for anything, he's already a huge commitment.
Also, there's the fact we have no idea where in the world (is Carmen SanDiego...yeah, did you guys ever play that game? Awesome.) we want to live long term. Basically since we've been married we've moved every 6 months. Until now. And we actually probably would move if we had a 6 month contract but it's 12 months so we're forced to stay, kinda like hostages. Yeah, maybe we're weird. But we just want to find a town that we love. One that's suitable for family, fun, vacation, every day living...basically we're looking for the perfect place. And that's only a little bit sarcastic because I'm sure anyone over the age of X (I don't want to offend anyone) reading this and thinking, "Oh, those little whipper-snappers! Don't they know that doesn't exist!"
Yes.
Although Matt and I may be a bit naive, and we tend to do things more complicated the first time around, we realize life includes compromises. We have a list of our top important musts and we just haven't found those yet.
So, after having mentally (and now bloggingly...that words a bit awkward) made that list I thought...if I don't feel ready now I wonder what the experts would say being ready to buy a home is. I honestly thought we'd be far off the list, but surprisingly only about 2 of them didn't fit us.
See if you can guess.
1. See if you have too much debt. A lender is going to want to see this first thing.
2. Determine your net worth to make sure your "A" aint broke. Meaning, make sure your expenses aren't greater than the money your bringing in.
3. Check your credit score. We should all know why this is important due to those amazing "free credit score.com" commercials. Such a catchy jingle!...always gets stuck in my head.
So far those questions are just to make sure you can afford a house, let alone if your ready. So let me get onto those...
4. Steady and reliable income. If you can't hold a job, you probably can't hold a house either.
5. Be in control of your money, have a budget, blah blah blah. Know where your money is going!
6. Excluding the bank loan, have enough saved up for closing costs, down payment and moving costs. Because even though Matt and I have moved so so so way too many times we're always surprised by how far off we plan for moving costs....gas station treats add up!
7. If you've passed so far, and you can indeed pay for a house, make sure you can pay for a house while paying for all the other expenses that come with owning a home. Taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, homeowners association fees, water and sewage and garbage services are just a few to name.
8. Does your life insurance cover the mortgage and other expenses if one of you dies................that is a very sad depressing thought. Life insurance. Isn't being an adult so much fun??
9. If the list above didn't give you a head ache then congratulations!! The people over at this random website think your ready!!
Pretty much Matt and I want to skip out on the whole mortgage scene and go gangsta style. We want to show up on someones doorstep, Oprah Winfrey style, with a suitcase of money and buy their house with cold, hard, gloriously stinky cash. And then all we'll need is matching sweat suits, like these lovely people...
Add some some gold chains and we'll be set!
Hahaha! Ok. I kid. Let me be serious.
I was a little comforted to know that the failings we had were small and not 1-8. I think when it comes time to buying a home, Matt and I will know. We'll be ready. Until then we get to enjoy renting and all the joys of not getting to paint the walls, or hang nails in them (even though we do anyway), or basically do anything to improve the area...even though there's so much potential and I'm pretty sure the landlord would love what we'd do with the place.
Thus is life.
...gangsta style =)
