Oh god. *is excited*

[paraka]

So, I haven't really been around LJ lately, what with my vacation, Easter and now, house hunting. That's right, I got pre-approved for my mortgage and am hoping to meet with a real estate agent tomorrow! I'm getting so excited!

I've been spending far too much time on MLS. I currently have 63 tabs open of potential places. I'm a little sad that all of them seem to be condos, I was hoping to avoid condo fees. Of the 200 or so places I've looked at in my price range, only about 8 have been freeholds. Still. I don't think a condo would be bad for me, it just seems like a lot when you're paying $200+/month for things like snow removal. Ah well.

Also, it's a little weird right now trying to figure out what part of the city I should look in. I'm planning on busing when I'm on my own, and I know that with the way the buses are set up (most of the routes go through downtown) sometimes living closer to where I work won't mean a shorter commute.

Oh god, oh god, oh god. Soon *crosses fingers* I'm going to be a home owner!

Comments

[kronos999.livejournal.com]

You are going to be a house owner! (Enjoying your excitement vicariously.)

[paraka]

I went driving around some of the places today looking in back yards and such. Very cool. There's one I'm eyeing that's just off Preston St. and really centrally located. Also some in Barrhaven, Uplands, one that was on the same side road as diurnal_lee...

Are you going to be able to make it to the meet up this weekend? It's been forever since I last saw you. Also, I have some house questions for you, like how do you like the area you're living in? I was looking at some that are kind of where you live now.

[kronos999.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm planning to be there. Hadn't gotten around to replying yet. And it HAS been a while. I'm kind of excited to hear about your trip. And your house hunting adventures.

[munchkinofdoom.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I've gone the building my own house route and am now in a retirement village, and there is nothing like the feeling of knowing it's yours.

Even if it is technically the bank's... *g*

[paraka]

Even if it is technically the bank's... *g*
Yeah... and while getting a house is super exciting and a generally great thing, there's something depressing about going from having $30,000 in the bank to being in debt for the next 25 years :P

[maekala.livejournal.com]

That is awesome! I hope you continue to post about it. I'm totally gonna enjoy your excitement vicariously. Congrats!

[paraka]

Gah, I was wondering if I was boring people with my talk of house hunting, because no one was commenting, and I figured that the post deserved at lease a few "yay"s, but it turns out LJ is being dumb and not sending out email notifications.

I'm sure I'm not going to be able to help but leave a running commentary, since it's pretty much the only thing on my brains right now.

I went driving around the city tonight checking out the neighbourhoods and exteriors of some of the places. I can't believe how close I'm getting!!! :D

[scatterheart.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'll keep all fingers crossed for you to find something awesome! :D

[paraka]

I've already looked at a couple cool places. I haven't gone in any of them yet (we were just scoping out neighbourhoods tonight) but so far there are two that have me wanting to see more (this one and this one each for very different reasons).

And there are a lot of places I still need to check out. When we went out looking today we went to the ones that are closest to where I live now, and really, they're just too far out of the city (that second one is right in the city, and it's a freehold which make it so appealing). Also, I'm sure it'll be better when I can actually go inside the houses rather than just skulk around outside :)

[elenorasweet.livejournal.com]

Iiiii, so cool!! 8D I'm planning to move out this summer, though I'll be renting with some friends... but it's my exciting home news of the moment.

Yours is more exciting, though.

[paraka]

Moving out is always exciting. :D

[elenorasweet.livejournal.com]

Well, if you need any help with it whenever you do move out, give a shout on the slashers comm, and some of us might be able to pitch in. ^_^

[kaaatie.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I love house hunting. Good luck with it. I hope you find the perfect place. :)

[paraka]

Me too! Luckily spring is the busy house season so the market is pretty full right now. :)

[anoel.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! Sadly I have spent plenty of time on MLS before even though I won't be buying a house for another 10 years or so. Hope you find something good!

Are you sure you don't want to buy one someplace warmer like say...California? ;)

[paraka]

Are you sure you don't want to buy one someplace warmer like say...California? ;)
You know, I hear it's nice and warm in California, but the daily commute to Ottawa is a bitch :P
Also, I would totally miss snow. So very much. I have, like, the opposite of SAD, where I get depressed if there isn't snow on the ground for at least 4 months of the year. I'm weird, I know :)

Looking at houses can still be fun though, even if you can't buy just yet. I kind of wish I had been looking a bit sooner, because now I'm not entirely sure what it is I want. Also, this is the busy season so some homes are on the market for less then a day, and I end up missing out in my hesitancy. :S

[anoel.livejournal.com]

There are places with snow here in CA near the mountains or up north. And jobs...I'm just saying.

Have you done tours to see what appeals to you? I'm sure you'll find something/

[paraka]

There are places with snow here in CA near the mountains or up north. And jobs...I'm just saying
Yeah, I did know that, just not as much as I'm used to I'm sure.
Also, last year I looked into what it would take to move, and can I just that it's a bitch of a time trying to get a Green Card without a job sponsoring you or someone willing to marry you? So not worth the effort.

Have you done tours to see what appeals to you?
I'm going on some tonight!