Structural assessment - COMPLETE!

Buying this house is definitely more complicated than buying our last one. Thank GOD for realtors. Honestly, I don't know how people buy and sell houses without them. Ours is like an angel and does EVERYTHING for us. We just make decisions, sign our names and write checks.

Our structural assessment went well yesterday.

I think the hardest part of this crazy process is over with now. We're many, many steps closer to knowing whether this house will indeed be ours, but there are a few to go. Now we're crossing our fingers in hopes that the seller will agree to the repairs we've requested. Wish us luck!

First round of inspections: complete!

This morning, we spent three and a half exhausting hours doing the home inspection with Brent (the inspector), JoEllen (our realtor) and my dad who just happened to be in town.

I learned a TON about the house, especially piers and pilasters. I even got to wear a jumpsuit and crawl around under the house with a flashlight!

I am slightly disappointed that I still have not located any secret passages in the house, but Brent says that there is still a good chance that they are there and we just haven't found them yet.

We have a few concerns now that we know the house more intimately, but we have a plan for handling them. Can't wait to get the inspector's full report in a couple days! This is getting really exciting!

Signing more paperwork today

Re-signing the offer paperwork today to reflect the price we settled on with the seller. Next is inspections and appraisal. Wish us luck!

Potlucks and trust

Back from camping today, and I went on a really nice walk with Natalie Spring of Cleveland-Holloway. Learned a lot more about the neighborhood from her. It's filling up with great people who are putting all kinds of effort and energy into making this little piece of the Earth a better place.

She and another lady are the leaders of their Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood club. As Natalie puts it, you don't need bylaws and official meetings to be a neighborhood group; all you need are potlucks and trust. Love that.

Getting more and more excited to be a part of the Durham Central Park District! Who knows - maybe I could be the leader of the Central Park District neighborhood club?! I'm crossing my fingers that all goes well with this house deal.

Offer made!

Yesterday was a very intense day. I was so excited and nervous I couldn't eat breakfast until we got to Rue Cler, which is where we met with our realtors, Sarah and Welsford. (Rue Cler is downstairs from Clinton's work and only 3 blocks from the house we're trying to buy!) Once I calmed down a bit, I was able to eat half of a famous Rue Cler blueberry muffin.

After two hours of paperwork, we made our offer around 11 AM. By that afternoon, we already received a counteroffer from the seller. Around 5:45 PM, we counter-counter-offered.

Buying this crazy old house is one of the riskiest things Clinton and I have done, but the more I get used to the idea, the more I know we're doing the right thing. Great things are happening in Durham, and we don't want to sit around and wait for it. We want to BE a part of those great things.

By the end of the day today, we might have a final answer from the Seller!! Wish us luck!

Now we're going camping for the weekend with 16 people and 12 dogs so that we can have some much-needed fun and relaxation. Have a great weekend, everybody.

We're making an offer in the morning!

We found the perfect home! It's a beautiful house in downtown Durham built in 1884. This year is its 125th birthday. It sits on the edge of Cleveland-Holloway and Central Park districts, and we're excited to be a part of both neighborhoods. Wish us luck!

Conclusions

Made some conclusions after today's visit to the big house downtown.

Basically, we are:

• Needing to really think about things and talk to friends about this
• A little overwhelmed about rehabilitation loans, permits, inspections, etc.
• Totally excited by all the possibilities

Touring the big old house today

Today's the big day: we're looking at the house. We won't say which one because someone might try to buy it before we do! (Why do I have that fear?)

Anyway, we'll tell you how it goes!

Okay, now you'll really think we're crazy

Clinton and I are reviving this blog because now we're interested in owning a historic home in the Cleveland-Holloway district. It's in great shape outside - new roof, new paint, foundation has been repaired, etc. BUT it needs major interior renovation. And we both think that sounds like a ton of FUN!