Life Update - New Kids On The Block
Hi guys! I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend! First off, I just wanted to apologize because I've been super MIA here on the blog this month (I make sure stay up-to-date on Instagram though... so you can always keep up with outfit/sale updates there). But, it was for good reason, because there were quite a few life decisions/changes going on.
In short..
we're the new kids on the block because we are officially HOMEOWNERS!!
I'll start by saying that Albert (my hubby) and I sat down right around this time last year (2017) and set a goal to seriously start saving for a house. Up until this point, we were putting away small amounts of money, but not taking the house thing too seriously. Our goal was to put away as much money as we could and START house hunting in June of 2018. Well, April rolled around and Albert and I started looking at homes to get a feel for what we liked, and how much we realistically needed to have for a significant downpayment.
The housing market in California right now is INSANE. It's so competitive that a lot of young buyers can't compete with all cash, $50k OVER asking offers (if you think I'm exaggerating, I'm not...). So, we actually decided to put our names down ON A WAITING LIST to build our own home. Yes, there are waiting lists just to get a plot to build because there is a significant shortage of construction labor. So, we knew we would be looking to get a plot within 3 or so months and then it would be an additional 6-8 months to build. But, we were okay with that because we essentially could just keep saving until then.
After putting our names down for a plot in two different new housing communities, we kept looking... mostly for home decor inspiration. Well, the last week of April rolled around, and we walked into a house that COMPLETELY exceeded our expectations. It was an older home (built in 1975) in an established neighborhood with lots of trees and big backyards. This house was bought by a flipper who gutted the entire thing (knocked down walls, and re-configuerd the entire house), and wasn't even on the market yet (our realtor knew the investor so we caught a peak before it officially went on the market). The house met all of our needs... at least 3 bedrooms, hardwood floors, white cabinets in the kitchen, a backyard for our pup. We knew the market was hot, and were urged to put in an offer ASAP if we were seriously interested. So, that same day, we went back with my parents and received the nod of approval.
We put in a full ask offer, and it was accepted the next day!! The paperwork was literally signed by both parties when I received a phone call from our realtor. She said another buyer had reached out to the broker and offered $10k over ask, all cash. BUT, the paperwork was done so we scored!!!! It was honestly so surreal. We weren't even looking to buy quite yet, but when you know, you know.
Signing the last piece of paperwork at the title company is usually everyone's favorite part. Couples sit together, sign together, and celebrate the moment. But, that really wasn't the case for us. Albert and I both work full time jobs in the medical industry and travel A LOT (my territory covers all of Northern California and Albert's covers all of California and Hawaii). So, we did not have even one day together the week we were supposed to sign. I went in one evening at 7pm to sign, and Albert went by the following morning. We basically celebrated over the phone... haha typical. The notary gal literally asked me if I ever see my husband after I told her I was flying out to LA the next morning, and my husband was flying in from Hawaii that evening. HA!
But, it all worked out, and we could not be more excited! After getting married almost 3 years ago, Albert and I have set some pretty significant goals and checked them off one by one.
With that all being said (I hope it wasn't too boring), I am SUPER EXCITED to start sharing more lifestyle (centered around the home) inspired posts with you! I have a serious passion for decor, so I can't wait to share this new space and amazing journey!
I have already been receiving A LOT of feedback on Instagram that you all love the decor I've been sharing and want more. Next week, I will be releasing a full post with all of the items on my wishlist and the big ticket items we've already purchased. Below, I've linked a few home decor pieces, as well as outfit details (obviously). As always, reach out with any comments or questions.
Love you all and THANK YOU so much for your continued support.
>>> Photos by the AMAZING Nicole Quiroz <<<
