After 60 days of bunking at Gramma's, we are finally moving into the amazing miracle of our Avenue House.
First, the back story:
I knew when Mila came home we were on a 3-5 year plan to a new larger home that could accomodate a future to support semi-independent living of two adults with special needs and maybe even a on campus Gramma-suite should she need it. As Isaac finished his 3rd & 4th grade years, the summer between elementary and middle schools became the clear target date for the move: Summer 2023.
What we needed to move into was a bit more complicated:
- A single level ranch home to support Mila's orthopedic needs and any future adaptive equipment that any member of my family may need.
- Larger than our current home...2000 sq feet? 2500 sq feet?
- At least 3 bedrooms and a space for an office (I had been working off our dinning room table for the better part of 5 years), 4 bedrooms would be ideal so we could host guests.
- Either a completed additional dwelling unit or space to build one.
- Open sight lines so I can keep an eye on everyone.
- Fenced yard (so I can keep an eye on everyone).
- Room for Isaac's treasured basketball hoop.
- No more than 15min from my work.
- In a safe neighborhood off major roads.
- Turn key (as I wouldn't be able to navigate renovating on my own)
- All the above in a very specific single income price point.
- AND, the timing needed to be as such that I would sell Sweet Street AND purchase our dream home all at tht same time.
The answer was indeed simple..."I will bring your house to you". ~God.
Cool, cool, cool...The last item on the list didn't happen like I hoped, so the kids and moved into my Mom's basement at the beginning of June with no exit strategy outside of God's faithful provision. Sigh.
After months of searching Redfin, running to see a house after work or before appointments we spent June 30th exhaustingly looking at any house we thought may meet our needs. What could we make work? Could this one possible meet our needs? What about...? After 5? 7? 33? I don't even remember anymore, the question was tenderly asked "you have a very specific need list, is there anything you want to give up?" I paused and answered the only way I knew how..."God said He would bring our house to us. I don't know what else to say, none of these are it, we have to keep looking." We parted for the day and the kids and I kept busy with errands while I not so calmly reminded the Lord of the Universe of our current state of affairs and His promise to provide...excuse me, remember us?? I'm willing & obedient but also particularly miserable!
My phone binged at 2:30, with THE MOST IDEAL HOUSE and clearly a listing price typo; I texted our agent and we rushed over at 4pm to be the first to see this amazing house. It literally met EVERY SINGLE item on our Unicorn House Wish List and much more! Things I didn't even think to ask for or consider as a need were very clearly available in this house. But it was waaaayyyy under priced, we must have missed something?! We called the selling agent and asked for details "Nope, that's the price. It was fully gutted and remodeled. Just finished this morning and you are the first people to walk through. We are hosting an open house tomorrow but it's a holiday weekend, so we aren't sure what the response will be like..." 😮 We prepared an offer while sitting in the drive way and I prayed "Lord, if this is the one for us, hide this house from anyone else this weekend." 48 hours later, our offer had been accepted and we were full steam ahead with purchasing our blue House on the Avenue. (I would find out later, only two other people toured the house that weekend and both failed to place their offers in a timely manner).
Just two days after acceptance, the inspection took place. There were two issues that I would need addressed and a sizeable list of minor things that I could take care of over time. I already had a handiman who agreed to come monthly and help me cross things off the list in the coming year--it would be fine; we could make it work. My agent played the strategy of presenting the list of issues I was willing to address if they would fix the two larger issues at no cost to me. Expecting a negotiation of some kind, the selling agent countered with "Go ahead and put the entire inspection report on the fix it list and we'll do it all; we want the house to be safe for the buyer."
What?! The ENTIRE list?! My agent and dear friend kept saying THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN!
Now the only thing I would need to take care of would be adding air conditioning to the current furnace unit. With no fix-it list to address in near future, adding the a/c would be costly but a worthy investment.
Two weeks before closing I get this text..."Congratulations! The house appraised OVER asking price. You've already gained equity!" Praise the Lord!
1 week before closing, my agent gets this text:
"Quick update--everything is taken care of. And tell your buyer, turns out there is already an a/c unit attached to the furnace and the seller didn't even know it! A surprise for everyone!"
WHAT?! You've got to be kidding me! I was driving when I got the message and nearly drove off the road as the tears of joy and disbelief and provision filled my eyes. God had done exactly what He said he would do...provided a functionally brand new 3,000sqfoot ranch home with an in-law suite already attached and space for a second to be framed in, within 15min of not only my current clinic but the expansion clinic I'll be covering in 2025; open concept and even plenty of room in the fenced yard for Isaac's basketball hoop. Everything on our Unicorn List. Everything we need now. Everything we'll need later. God has brought our house to us. 💓 Ephesians 3:20.
