So Dave and I want to buy a house (oh, I suppose I should introduce Dave- that’s my husband. We just got married at the end of May. He’s awesome). Dave and I have lived in all sorts of cities and we met while touring the country in an educational theatre production. Together we have been to 47 of the 50 states (Hawaii, Alaska, and-wait for it-North Dakota are left on our list). We have experienced cities like Jordan Valley, Oregon which at 2.1 square miles and 239 residents, as of the last census, literally looks like a postage stamp as you crest the mountaintop above it, and we have lived in the jumbled concrete beauty of New York City with a census count of 8,244,910 residents- or roughly 34,498 times the resident count of Jordan Valley. New York and Los Angeles are the cities we each lived in the longest (beside our respective hometowns) until we relocated back to the Boston suburbs this past January. I have affectionately dubbed Boston our Goldilocks city. While we loved the other cities we lived in, and though at first they seemed the perfect fit, in the end there was always something that wasn’t quite right. However Boston is just right. It’s not too big, but not too small. We can get our city fix and be exposed to the unique culture and pulse of a bustling urban center while still being able to escape to, and be grateful for, the quaint charm and values of small-town living a mere 30-45 minute drive away. It is literally the best of both worlds and we love it. In fact the only downside I can see is that they seem to root for this silly team called the Red Sox and I’m a diehard Yankees fan, but I am sure there will be many a future post on that down the line…
Which brings us back to our wanting a house. See when Goldilocks tried out all the bear beds and found one that was the perfect fit, she didn’t wait around for the bears to return to see if she could negotiate a reasonable lease, fair rent, and off-street parking. She just plopped right down and claimed it as her own. Okay, so maybe it’s a bit of a stretch, but I think you’re all with me. We didn’t mind paying rent in New York or Los Angeles (let me clarify, we didn't mind that we weren't homeowners yet...I don't think there is anyone who enjoys losing half their paycheck every month towards living expenses) and I think it’s because at some deep-seeded place in our mind we knew they weren’t our forever cities. But when you find that forever city and you have the choice of throwing $1600 a month away on a concrete shoebox of an apartment or paying $1900 bucks for a cute little cape house of your own, it sort of changes your perspective. And yes, before I receive seven thousand comments below (ahem, Mom and Dad) about how home ownership can be a lot more expensive than we think, we are still willing to take those financial risks over throwing money away every month on yet another non-descript apartment. An apartment where we have absolutely no control over the management or, even better, the weird guy downstairs who feels the need to blast reggaetone and chain smoke at 3am, both of which will inevitably make their way through the paper thin walls we are paying an obscene amount to live within each month. At least when inevitably surprised with needing to replace the [insert any home item here] in your house, it’s yours. And damn if I couldn’t get used to bragging about my new water heater while the girls at work show off their new shoes. Didn’t I read somewhere that large expensive home appliances are the new trend? Yes. I’m sure I did…
Now, typical home prices for the Greater Boston area range from $350,000 to $850,000 depending on which area you are looking. Where I grew up, $350,000 would not only get me a couple thousand acres of land and a mansion, but probably a full staff to go with it. And maybe a pony. Not quite what your money will get you here, but that’s to be expected. After scouring the house listings here I like to comfort myself by glancing at the home prices in our old neighborhood in LA, or in similar suburbs of New York. That usually does the trick and makes the homes prices here seem like a bargain. After accepting the sticker shock we started thinking more seriously about buying. Luckily for us, we have been living with my in-laws since relocating and getting settled into new jobs, getting through our wedding, etc. It has been an absolute blessing and we are beyond grateful. It also allows us to shop around without feeling the pressure of an expiring lease on our backs. But we are also ready to have our own place again.
And so a few weeks ago we found a house. And of course
Us: Hi, one mortgage please.
Bank Guy: Okay well let’s just take a look at all your stuff here (checking our paystubs, tax returns, and recent Facebook status updates….pausing) Okay, so really- I’m going to need to see your income to approve you.
Us: Umm, that IS our income.
Bank Guy: (bursting out laughing) No seriously, come on…oh that is just too funny, seriously (starting to realize we’re not joking)…oh…OH, you weren’t joking. I see. (buzzing his intercom) Yes, Dorothy could you show these kind kids out? Thanks.
But to our surprise they didn’t laugh at us. Turns out our modest little income wasn’t an issue at all. Instead, it is our work history that which poses the challenge because for some strange reason the state isn’t sure about lending $350,000 to someone whose previous work history includes playing Bar Patron #3 (seriously, I promise you can see the back of my ponytail on the edge of the screen right before they switch shots).
And so now we’re playing the waiting game.
Waiting for the Mass Housing underwriter to scour every scrap of financial paperwork we could gather from the last three years, a two year work history they asked me to prepare for each of us, and even a personal letter of statement regarding our work ethic that I threw into the pile for good measure.
Waiting for Mass Housing to determine our fate for the next two to thirty years (interesting how that sounds like a prison sentence).
And waiting to see what life has in store for us next.
