closing, closing, closed

It actually happened. We've completed closing (yesterday)...it took hours, Eastern Shore Time (EST), but it's ours (and the bank's). The house is ours to work on, live in, love. Now to own it.

closing 2

One week later we're now closing on the 29th.

The attorney called at the nth hour last week to disclose that he hadn't gotten around to getting the survey done, no survey, no closing. Lots of back and forthing about what happened but with the Thanksgiving holiday & bank requirements nothing could happen before tomorrow.

I've got to work so husband, J., is heading down with my power of attorney to get us onboard. Cross your fingers!

closing

All systems go. We're driving to the Eastern Shore tomorrow to close on the house, then a quick stop by to measure windows, get more pictures, then home again. It'll be a long day but lovely...

still waiting

Still waiting on the appraiser & the bank. No new news. It's hard to wait when I want to get moving.

I'm hesitant to do any more planning (floor plans, searching for fixtures on Craigslist.com, pricing floors, so on) don't want to get any more attached if it all falls through.

waiting

The bank & the appraiser are reassessing the deal, so we wait. This go-round is to see what AMH will appraise for as-is (unfinished interior). Not sure what that will do for us...but letting the bank & the appraiser duke it out. Have to trust that the right outcome, whatever that is, will occur.

exterior shots

pictures of the Alice Moses House (AMH) froom different angles

house details

a rough photo-merge of
house details
-the front door is original to the house
-eaves are restorations, new roof
-all siding & plain windows new
-stained glass windows are salvage

a bump in the road

I have spent a lovely few days collecting information on flooring, appliances, and light fixtures…all the things we will need to complete on the Alice Moses House or AMH as the husband calls it. I have collected folders full of pictures and articles about finishing rooms, installations, furnishings. I think AMH is a Folk Victorian or Vernacular Victorian...also have heard it called a "Victorian Farmhouse," need to reseach the style & get confirmation. I've registered on the Old House Web site and have been cruising the forums, collecting information. I've also been looking looked for pictures of fixtures from the 1900s. Not exacty sure of the house style though. I’ve been laying out the rooms in my mind, done multiple drafts of floor plans, planned on transplanting some of daylilies from our Leesburg house to AMH, and even bought bulbs for the yard (around here we can put spring bulbs in the ground as late as December).

Things move slowly on the Eastern Shore, and I remind myself many times of the different pace as much as I want to hurry up & get started. Cape Charles is a different time zone, ESVA time. The house inspection was delayed, first weather, then illness. Applying for the mortgage took a while, papers & forms, multiple signatures & photocopies, then approval. I’d forgotten how much information is needed. Finally, the appraiser is lined up…we are nearing the end of the purchasing process.

Closing is scheduled for the first Monday in November, and I am planning on our first trip down the following weekend.

Stop. I may have been premature.

The appraisal came in low, too low. Hard to understand how the appraiser could come up with a dollar figure for the finished house since it’s not finished…but he did.

Everyone involved wants the sale to go through. I am just going to sit still, let the banker & the appraiser battle it out, and try not to worry. I love this house, I can see us in this house, now I just have to wait and see if this house will be ours.