Sinking In

We'll, we are officially building a new home. This is a new adventure for us. I am full of so many emotions right now. I literally fell to my knees last night in the kitchen while trying to make dinner, cried, and thanked God. I've been thanking him ever since!

I have been blogging (another blog) about our experience with trying to get a new home. I changed the name of it now to include the fact we are building. A running blog of the experience.

When I researched Ryan Homes online, a lot of complaints did show up. Good things too, but mostly complaints. But I also remembered that people who are satisfied go on with their lives. It's people with issues and complaints, people who are unsatisfied that take the web.

I thought I would keep my blog running and keep an honest account of what we go through and deal with. I won't sugar coat.

I became kinda proud of myself for doing this. But then a thought hit me, what if others are doing this too? And you know what? THEY ARE!! Just today I got a comment from some who are doing the same thing! (I changed the name of the blog last night to include Ryan's name).

I am now following several other blogs from people who are building with Ryan homes. The closest one is in D.C. Most are Penn. and Ohio. Hard to find anyone in the south blogging about the experience. But I'll keep looking. lol

From what I can tell, in the north, Ryan has closed homes with NO driveway yet. Several reported it having to be poured in the spring (they do have gravel in place for now). I can only attribute that to the awful winter weather they have up north.

I am excited!! A bit nervous, but excited! I still can't believe all this is really happening to us! It's too good to be true. We have prayed and prayed about this. We prayed honestly. Yes, that we wanted this home, but not if we couldn't afford it, would get in trouble later with payments, or it somehow did not fit into the Lord's plans for us. I'm in still in awe!

We've been pre-qualified for our loan. Meaning we meet all the qualifications of getting it, and the lender Rep does not foresee a problem. HOWEVER, it does not mean pre-approved. And when it goes to underwritting it's all in their hands. This is the cause of my concern. The qualifications state bankruptcy discharge of 2 years, a credit score of at least 580 (Dude...I'm well above that), and good credit history since.

On April 15th, we can officially send it to underwriting. We have paid off our credit cards (well, I have $100 left on mine which will paid off soon). I do have a blip though. A medical bill that went to collections. They IDIOTS sent the bills to our address from 2 freaking years ago . We had NO idea until collections called. I paid immediately over the phone. I am thinking they are going to want to letter stating what happened there. No problem. What ticks us off is that the collection people understood the issue and said it would NOT be reported on my credit since the error was not mine. It was reported. =/ This is when I wish I knew someone who was an underwriter who give me an honest thought/opinion about this. Sadly all we know is one lender, no underwriters.

Still, with every little tid bit that came my way that seemed to confirm this step of building, with the offer being so darn good, I believe that this is God's will for us. And yet at the same time, it's still so hard to believe that. I know, confusing, right? But we kept praying for him to close the door to building this home if it wasn't right for us. He never did that either. So, if this is truly a blessing he wants to bestow on us, I have to believe we will be approved by underwriting.

It's finally all starting to sink in. Slowly. I want to run back over to the model! LOL But it's a good 30 min drive from here and with gas prices, not a trip worth taking just because I feel like it. If I had someone who wanted to see it or a question about it or something to measure, sure!

We meet with our Rep on Wed. to pick out our color scheme. I think we already have it. LOL

I still find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that we are building a new home, in a wonderful location. A nice place to raise my kids!! And we plan on putting our roots down. This is our home for the next decade at least (or so is our plan). We will finally have a beautiful home, in a good neighborhood, to raise our three girls. A place we can all call home. A place we all love. How does it get any better that?