We Finally Did It!
After almost 2 years of extensive savings and months of aggressive house hunting & open house viewing, on Saturday the 21st of June 2008 (apparently the shortest day of the year) we finally found our perfect little home and made our biggest financial commitment..ever!
Having a mortgage here in OZ has been a very scary thought for us. It's such a BIG thing! From the very start, we've always planned that we're gonna be ready to own a home by the middle of 2008. That's the target and that's what we've got written down on our list. But with interest rates going up and just last week, news broke that property prices will be on the rise too, our plan was becoming a bit unrealistic. We did have our doubts and we thought of pushing the target back and try to save more if we have to. After all, we're not really in any real hurry to buy.
Price has been a very critical factor to us. We really didnt wanna go any higher than what we've budgeted for but from what we've seen available in the market, at the location that we want (the Shire), it's almost impossible to find anything within our price range. And those that we did find, they either gave us this 'blergh' feeling - old & needing lots of TLC that we mite end up paying more for renovation or we lost them to other bidders. Although that frustrated us, i thought they're just simply not meant to be. We probably inspected close to 50 houses over the past few months and it was getting very tiresome.
Last weekend was supposed to be our last open house day before we put our house mission on hold. We arrived at about 11.00 in the morning at this cute lil old house and it was love at first sight. We both have a really good feeling about it and most importantly, the price's right. It's an old house but it's freshly painted with polished timber flooring (that we always pictured!!). The only thing that we need to change is the very old bathroom which we're confident we can have renovated at a reasonable price and still be within our budget. (note: new bathroom that i can have paip air tepi jamb**. Typical Aussie bathroom only have toilet paper roll instead of paip air!)
Other than that, it also pretty much fulfilled most of our criteria and more!!
- Good size back yard (which is rare at a price that we want!)
- Close to train station (7 mins walk) & shops (even close to HALAL kebab shop! :p)
- Close to Michael's parents' home (10 mins drive)
- 3 bedrooms with lotsa room to extend if needed
- Good size garage
- Good & peaceful neighbourhood
We sensed that other viewers present for the inspection were feeling the same way and so, we made our offer..
After going back & forth with the agent negotiating the price with the owner, he proposed that he would let us sign and have it on the very same day if we accepted his final price. We accepted and by 4pm, it was ours!!
It was all so quick & surreal. We felt like it mite all be a bit hasty but we were also feeling confident at the same time. I was unexpectedly calm, but all so excited and very nervous too. But it felt good. Especially after we asked Michael's parents & sister and bro-in-law to come and share their opinion and they all love it too! It did feel like it was the right thing to do, the right place & the right time.
I really CANNOT BELIEVE that we did it!! Now more than ever, im truly feeling the power of attracting and writing things down and of course, doa & tawakkal.
It is still very early and we still need to have a building & pest inspection, laywers & bank stuff to deal with. If all goes well, we'd be able to move in to our new home in about 2 months time! woohooo!!!!
Im SOO excited!!!!!
Having a mortgage here in OZ has been a very scary thought for us. It's such a BIG thing! From the very start, we've always planned that we're gonna be ready to own a home by the middle of 2008. That's the target and that's what we've got written down on our list. But with interest rates going up and just last week, news broke that property prices will be on the rise too, our plan was becoming a bit unrealistic. We did have our doubts and we thought of pushing the target back and try to save more if we have to. After all, we're not really in any real hurry to buy.
Price has been a very critical factor to us. We really didnt wanna go any higher than what we've budgeted for but from what we've seen available in the market, at the location that we want (the Shire), it's almost impossible to find anything within our price range. And those that we did find, they either gave us this 'blergh' feeling - old & needing lots of TLC that we mite end up paying more for renovation or we lost them to other bidders. Although that frustrated us, i thought they're just simply not meant to be. We probably inspected close to 50 houses over the past few months and it was getting very tiresome.
Last weekend was supposed to be our last open house day before we put our house mission on hold. We arrived at about 11.00 in the morning at this cute lil old house and it was love at first sight. We both have a really good feeling about it and most importantly, the price's right. It's an old house but it's freshly painted with polished timber flooring (that we always pictured!!). The only thing that we need to change is the very old bathroom which we're confident we can have renovated at a reasonable price and still be within our budget. (note: new bathroom that i can have paip air tepi jamb**. Typical Aussie bathroom only have toilet paper roll instead of paip air!)
Other than that, it also pretty much fulfilled most of our criteria and more!!
- Good size back yard (which is rare at a price that we want!)
- Close to train station (7 mins walk) & shops (even close to HALAL kebab shop! :p)
- Close to Michael's parents' home (10 mins drive)
- 3 bedrooms with lotsa room to extend if needed
- Good size garage
- Good & peaceful neighbourhood
We sensed that other viewers present for the inspection were feeling the same way and so, we made our offer..
After going back & forth with the agent negotiating the price with the owner, he proposed that he would let us sign and have it on the very same day if we accepted his final price. We accepted and by 4pm, it was ours!!
It was all so quick & surreal. We felt like it mite all be a bit hasty but we were also feeling confident at the same time. I was unexpectedly calm, but all so excited and very nervous too. But it felt good. Especially after we asked Michael's parents & sister and bro-in-law to come and share their opinion and they all love it too! It did feel like it was the right thing to do, the right place & the right time.
I really CANNOT BELIEVE that we did it!! Now more than ever, im truly feeling the power of attracting and writing things down and of course, doa & tawakkal.
It is still very early and we still need to have a building & pest inspection, laywers & bank stuff to deal with. If all goes well, we'd be able to move in to our new home in about 2 months time! woohooo!!!!
Im SOO excited!!!!!
Comments
nanti jgn lupa hapdet lagi okeh? and on regular basis please. blog hopping is really tiresome dowhh..
Ateenku! aku tak sebanyak idea cam ko yg happening tu! ;) wei..jadik tak dtg this year ni? :p
Dila! come & relocate here jek lah..be my neighbour..;)
It's beautiful! You definitely have my vote!
anyhoo, terima kasut sebab cakap aku happening, even tho am not. :P
Congratulations on the house, i can already see it as one cozy and lovely home for you and mike and your babies that's on their way SOON!
Love, KDi
lots of love,
witut
ateen: bila2 masa pun OK!
K.Di dearest: mari le mari! the more the merrier *wink* ;)
leymah: ha'ahle! tak terpikir laks..haha lawaks..
witut!! rindutnya kat gelak tawa ko yg special tuh!! :)) ko kat sana till end of this year ke? cam tak sempat jek nak ke sana...ko dtg sini ah! ;)