Plan B and Peace on Earth
Sat, Dec 29 2007 09:25
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My bank says they will not loan me the money- because the house is "non-traditional" and the new comps are 15 miles away in Granbury. The underwriters in Georgia see those 2 things in writing and will not insure the loan. No taking into account my personal history, the actual house plans, the local geography (Granbury area is perfect for comps). I am told the current climate in the mortgage industry is making everyone from underwriters to loan officers pretty darn jumpy.
The revised appraisal will be completed next week and will take it to another local bank.
It will happen in God's time. The right people will be a part of this whole thing. I pray for wisdom through the process. Oh yes, and patience.
On a higher note, on Christmas Eve I burned brush for several hours and after sunset was tending the dying fire. Mike and his four children were there waiting for "Santa" to wrap presents at their home. On the far northeastern horizon over the sparking lights of Glen Rose I saw a slither of red across the horizon. At first I thought the town was afire (of course I did), but then Mike and I watched in awe as a blood red moon just one day past full rose up over the horizon's edge in about a minute. It was my best Christmas gift.
I watched for several more minutes and then headed back to town, filled with the Christmas spirit.
Peace on earth. Indeed.
The revised appraisal will be completed next week and will take it to another local bank.
It will happen in God's time. The right people will be a part of this whole thing. I pray for wisdom through the process. Oh yes, and patience.
On a higher note, on Christmas Eve I burned brush for several hours and after sunset was tending the dying fire. Mike and his four children were there waiting for "Santa" to wrap presents at their home. On the far northeastern horizon over the sparking lights of Glen Rose I saw a slither of red across the horizon. At first I thought the town was afire (of course I did), but then Mike and I watched in awe as a blood red moon just one day past full rose up over the horizon's edge in about a minute. It was my best Christmas gift.
I watched for several more minutes and then headed back to town, filled with the Christmas spirit.
Peace on earth. Indeed.
Comments (2)
Be Careful What You Pray For
Tue, Dec 18 2007 08:27
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Especially if it is patience. I should have been more specific; I just wanted patience for that ONE thing......I am learning that I will need more patience in this endeavor than I had bargained for. I am still waiting for electricity, but that is actually the bright spot (get it?) in this week's progress report.
The appraisal process is painful. The apprisor appraised the wroung land, and though that might explain part of the low appraisal amount, it means I am looking at a post-Christmas date for she returns before we can move on to the next phase. I was able to get a meeting this coming Friday to go over the house plans and give her a better view of the house plans- which will hopefully aid in finding more comparable homes, which are apparently scarce.
The appraisal process is painful. The apprisor appraised the wroung land, and though that might explain part of the low appraisal amount, it means I am looking at a post-Christmas date for she returns before we can move on to the next phase. I was able to get a meeting this coming Friday to go over the house plans and give her a better view of the house plans- which will hopefully aid in finding more comparable homes, which are apparently scarce.
It will happen like it is meant to happen, and I'll be ready to do my part, and be so very patient. Soooooo patient.
Earth, Wind and Fire
Tue, Dec 11 2007 10:53
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That and a lack of water equal a bad combination for burning brush. This Thursday at lunchtime I decided to squeeze in a bit of brush burning- my version of a lunchtime work-out. I wanted to burn just the dry stuff from the cleared path for the electricity. Well, a gust of mighty wind helped the fire skip onto an adjacent pile of newly cut branches and from there things went downhill (or rather downwind). Before I knew it I was running as fast as I could from fire edge to fire edge, stomping and scraping the fire inward with my hiking shoes and even my gloves until they got so hot I had to throw them off.
I quickly reached the point where my chest was burning from all the sprinting, and I seemed to be losing the battle. In a quick moment I made the decision to call in Somervell County’s finest. Twenty-six minutes later as I was stomping out the last of the burning edges they arrived, first one brush unit then another and quickly went to work dousing the entire thing.
The whole thing has ramped up my respect for my smallness in the scope of woman verses nature. It also confirmed the decision to have the roof rain water collection system with a reservoir and sprinkler system down hill from the house site.
I went back out there on Saturday and dragged the half burned remains of branches to the very well cleared out fire pit area in the middle of the future house. No more burning on grass.
And please, please please, don't tell Dad!Still waiting for electricity. This has been a very long process. I have word from United Cooperative Services that my path will be staked on Friday. That’s 2 weeks after I cut the swath for them. I have a feeling I need to sllooowww down in my expectations of turn-around time for any jobs related to this house building, or else I will find myself to be one very frustrated single professional lady.
I am also waiting to hear from Mike the total construction estimate. He has asked a lot of questions and in so doing has shed light on all the decisions I haven’t begun to make. I will just keep to my new mantra…form follows function. Form follows function.
On the current home front, The Tour of Homes last Sunday was a hoot. I had over a hundred folks come through my little house. I was still in my work clothes decorating and cleaning when the first (ok and when the 20th) person showed up. But now everything is all decorated and clean and repaired. If I hadn’t already promised myself I wouldn’t add another thing on to my December schedule I would throw a party!!!
Comments (1)
'Tis the Season....
Mon, Dec 3 2007 09:38
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...for exhaustion! I say every year that I will not over commit, that I will slow down and enjoy the season....oh that sounds so good. I just finished one of the busiest weeks of my year- three trips for work, singing on the square in Glen Rose (in 35 mph wind gusts!), having the "Little House on Grace Street" in the Christmas Tour of Homes, going to my company party. Sleep last night was SO delicious!
I had a chance to run out to Big Hill for a few short minutes on Saturday to gather some "frosty purple berry laden juniper branches" for wreaths (as I was quoted in the Glen Rose paper in an article about the tour of homes). The late autumn colors were absolutely incredible. The changing view never stops amazing me. The oaks were deep orange and golden and red, and the grasses maize to deep ombre. While I was there the heavy cloud cover broke over the town in the distance and made it look like a shining white city. I could have sat and looked at the view for a lot longer.... had I not been so overly committed!
Well, the initial appraisal for the Big Hill home construction loan has been completed. The appraiser couldn't find a single comparison home, due to some extent by the setting and mostly to the unique design of the house, so it was appraised using standard local building costs and then adding in my upgrades. E.K. (head of our local bank) says the mortgage industry will also red flag any loans for the house, since generic homes are considered safer bets when it comes to resell. Resell? You gotta be kidding me. Anyway, both Mike and I think it is very low.
My brother Glenn sent the final house plans this week. He told me that in his entire career this is his most favorite project and that he has had more fun with it than with any other project. It is an amazing design. Everyone that will be involved has been asking for months when we will start building.
I have completed clearing the path for the electric power to be buried on the land. Will have to meet with Gary again to agree on the fully staked path to the home site, get an invoice, pay a LOT of money, and then "presto!" I will have electricity. Simple.
Once Mike completes his detailed estimate for building I will meet again with E.K to see how much they will lend me. Then start the loan process. I fell like I am packing for a very long camping trip. So much prep work, such long "to do" lists, and I don't feel like I will EVER get on the trail.
But, it is closer, much closer than it has ever been.
I had a chance to run out to Big Hill for a few short minutes on Saturday to gather some "frosty purple berry laden juniper branches" for wreaths (as I was quoted in the Glen Rose paper in an article about the tour of homes). The late autumn colors were absolutely incredible. The changing view never stops amazing me. The oaks were deep orange and golden and red, and the grasses maize to deep ombre. While I was there the heavy cloud cover broke over the town in the distance and made it look like a shining white city. I could have sat and looked at the view for a lot longer.... had I not been so overly committed!
Well, the initial appraisal for the Big Hill home construction loan has been completed. The appraiser couldn't find a single comparison home, due to some extent by the setting and mostly to the unique design of the house, so it was appraised using standard local building costs and then adding in my upgrades. E.K. (head of our local bank) says the mortgage industry will also red flag any loans for the house, since generic homes are considered safer bets when it comes to resell. Resell? You gotta be kidding me. Anyway, both Mike and I think it is very low.
My brother Glenn sent the final house plans this week. He told me that in his entire career this is his most favorite project and that he has had more fun with it than with any other project. It is an amazing design. Everyone that will be involved has been asking for months when we will start building.
I have completed clearing the path for the electric power to be buried on the land. Will have to meet with Gary again to agree on the fully staked path to the home site, get an invoice, pay a LOT of money, and then "presto!" I will have electricity. Simple.
Once Mike completes his detailed estimate for building I will meet again with E.K to see how much they will lend me. Then start the loan process. I fell like I am packing for a very long camping trip. So much prep work, such long "to do" lists, and I don't feel like I will EVER get on the trail.
But, it is closer, much closer than it has ever been.
