Once we figured out where we wanted to live (a whole other debate), we began searching the city (via Internet) looking for homes for sale. I have to admit that we were very excited to see all the possibilies...
unfortunately with the bad housing market, we are able to afford a lot more than we thought. We were soo very thankful and excited to get to walk through the homes on our short list:) Just idea of living in some of these great homes in some of nice neighborhoods was humbling!!
But then we walked through the homes... oh, they were nice! But after walking through each we were disappointed :( One with bathrooms completely tiled (walls, floors!!)! Or a kitchen nook, not even big enough for a table that would fit us? Small bedrooms! And the list goes on...
it wasn't that we weren't still amazed we could buy the homes, it was that we starting getting "picky"! We've been told over and over, we'd KNOW the right house... and we just weren't finding it:/
Then we had a curveball thrown in....
Since I married a mountain, land man, he's perfectly content living in area with a little privacy ("where you're not sitting on top of one another".... his words) in a cabin home.... so when on Craigslist I found a great piece of property (5 acres, only a few miles from the "big" city and less than 30 minutes from where he works) we got excited about the possibilities!!
It was then we started looking at modular homes! A home that would be afforable and still be really nice! And possibly be able to put it on "our" 5 acres!
Of course that lead us to find a "dream" house.... LOL!!
Then we started looking for a smaller piece of property that would give us the financial flexiblity to get the "dream" home which is "on sale"!
So we have begun to ask the question: Do we prioritize the house or the land??
Both are beautiful, but we can't have both! We're fortunate to be able to even get one!
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
Let me also say this....
We are balancing all the above decisions and our house hunting search with the reality that we are sooo very fortunate to have the ability to purchase a house right now. And we've wondered if we've got too high of expectations or goals with finding/ building a house... especially since this is our 1st house purchase!!
And the truth is... no matter where and in what we end up... we are called to be deeply content!
Not because it's "perfect" but because our satisfaction isn't found in STUFF ... yes, even a house or land!! ouch
Some of the verses that are driving this all to my heart:
Tonight we were looking at already built homes, again!! And possibly a lead on another piece of property... possibly...
Thank you for praying for us. I don't want to be stress out over this. But I know it's a big decision! And we want to go into a home... really looking forward to living there (b/c we're really going to miss THIS home/community) but with contentment knowing that it's our family that makes "a home a home" and we have MUCH to be thankful for.
unfortunately with the bad housing market, we are able to afford a lot more than we thought. We were soo very thankful and excited to get to walk through the homes on our short list:) Just idea of living in some of these great homes in some of nice neighborhoods was humbling!!
But then we walked through the homes... oh, they were nice! But after walking through each we were disappointed :( One with bathrooms completely tiled (walls, floors!!)! Or a kitchen nook, not even big enough for a table that would fit us? Small bedrooms! And the list goes on...
it wasn't that we weren't still amazed we could buy the homes, it was that we starting getting "picky"! We've been told over and over, we'd KNOW the right house... and we just weren't finding it:/
Then we had a curveball thrown in....
Since I married a mountain, land man, he's perfectly content living in area with a little privacy ("where you're not sitting on top of one another".... his words) in a cabin home.... so when on Craigslist I found a great piece of property (5 acres, only a few miles from the "big" city and less than 30 minutes from where he works) we got excited about the possibilities!!
Our drive into the development.
A view from the "hill" on which the house would go... the back right corner.
It was then we started looking at modular homes! A home that would be afforable and still be really nice! And possibly be able to put it on "our" 5 acres!
Of course that lead us to find a "dream" house.... LOL!!
Then we started looking for a smaller piece of property that would give us the financial flexiblity to get the "dream" home which is "on sale"!
So we have begun to ask the question: Do we prioritize the house or the land??
Both are beautiful, but we can't have both! We're fortunate to be able to even get one!
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
Let me also say this....
We are balancing all the above decisions and our house hunting search with the reality that we are sooo very fortunate to have the ability to purchase a house right now. And we've wondered if we've got too high of expectations or goals with finding/ building a house... especially since this is our 1st house purchase!!
And the truth is... no matter where and in what we end up... we are called to be deeply content!
Not because it's "perfect" but because our satisfaction isn't found in STUFF ... yes, even a house or land!! ouch
Some of the verses that are driving this all to my heart:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:8
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21So... the hunt continues:)
Tonight we were looking at already built homes, again!! And possibly a lead on another piece of property... possibly...
Thank you for praying for us. I don't want to be stress out over this. But I know it's a big decision! And we want to go into a home... really looking forward to living there (b/c we're really going to miss THIS home/community) but with contentment knowing that it's our family that makes "a home a home" and we have MUCH to be thankful for.
7 comments:
For me, personally, I think the house is important. The land may be nice, but it's a TONNE of work to take care of a huge yard. Ours is quite large for a town lot, and we both don't like it. We'd like to live somewhere with a smaller yard. And while I know we need to be content with what we have, neither of us love our house either. I wish we had been more picky when we were house hunting. Now we want to move, but it's hard with the kids, especially with Rowan in school.
The best thing I learned lately, was from the book Just Do Something... God doesn't want us to stress about the decisions we make. Just DO something!
The house is the most important part. That one is gorgeous! Yes, the land is important too, but you won't be living in the backyard.
I hope you can find a great home/location that is just perfect for you all!!
Oh and I have to see the floor plan for that house. I love looking at floor plans!
We have a modular and I love it. There are obviously things I would do differentl if we ever build again, but I would recommend it to anyone. We went with a Home by Vanderbuilt in Sanford. Check them out. They have a HUGE location you can walk in and out of most of their homes on the lot.
I say go for a smaller piece of land and nice house. Our land is TOO much for us. 8.5 acres is a lot to take care of. We are looking at maybe an acre or two and building.
Just buy the land and live in a tent until you have the money to build a house.
Both are important but like several others have said the more land the more work! A house that fits ur family (current and any future growth) is the most important. You would hate to have 4-5 acres and have to squeeze everyone in:)
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