Warning: not completely awake stream of consciousness post I don't have time to edit down.
Phone rings, and I am in that sleeping stupor where you haven't had nearly enough sleep when I hear our realtor say "Congratulations! They accepted your offer."
He says something to the effect that no wonder we weren't disappointed to be the second bid for the other home, because apparently this one is going to work out, and the purchase price is much lower, and a bunch of things I'm still not quite grasping as my mind is still trying to feel awake. Then I hear him say, "You both seemed so happy to be writing up the offer for this home, unlike the other." Then he says something to the effect of this home seems more meant to be for us, and I say a bunch of words I now can't recall which are really just me agreeing in spades. I did like the ranch for a lot of reasons, but 104 is...well, a more pleasant combo of what we both want. (Bonus internet cookies for anyone who caught the pun there.)
He reminds me we have 10 days to do the inspections, says he'll send me the info on a few to add to the ones I'd looked into in case we have a hard time scheduling, and just as it seems like the phone call might be ending, I ask, "Wait, what else are we supposed to be doing now besides calling our mortgage agent?" My brain is tripping over itself trying to remember all those websites that describe the order things go in from now on, and I'm drawing a complete blank.
He then laughs good naturedly and prattles on a few things, starts doing math out loud about numbers regarding the Purchase and Sale Agreement, reminding me while waking me completely up rather suddenly, that this house buying idea we have had for what feels like ages just might actually turn into a thing that happens in the not too distant future.
In a weird way, I feel like Zonker Harris when he realized that there was absolutely nothing he could do but graduate from Walden, even after checking his math on how many credits he'd earned twice. As Mike congratulates him, Zonker ponders out loud if he might manage to fail his pottery class if he breaks a kiln, and thus avoid graduation. I'm not despondent like he was about the news--I've had that riding a bike on your own first time feeling all the time with this process. It's more that sharp realization moment, kind of like when I found myself on an altar where I honestly didn't think I'd ever be, saying words to someone I've never regretted saying them to in the 15 years and change since. This is one of those "Are you an adult?" checkboxes my family used to pound into my head as a child.
If all works out, this is the largest single purchase either of us will have made in our lives. There are still so many unexpected hiccups that can happen that we don't even know to think about yet before we might actually close so the Fates might still decide that, "Nope, not yet", so I shouldn't get too excited just in case. I know for many folks here, buying a house is no big deal. For us, for a lot of reasons, we're definitely in the big deal camp. We had some very tight times after the economy tanked. There was a long stretch where I never thought it would be possible to own a home. I still have that doubt, but it's what will also make everything feel so much the better if this does work out.
Then I think about how we might get a bit of snow here tomorrow before the rain washes it away. Then I think about how if closing gets extended, spouse will be well into the Christmas Delivery Season, or we might wind up having to close near Xmas itself, and my brain yells at me, "WHO'S THE IDIOT THAT THOUGHT BUYING IN THE FALL WAS A GOOD IDEA?"
I've read lots of sites. I've noted countless "what to expect when buying a home" and "what not to forgets", etc., etc. I know that the bid being accepted is still training wheels, and we have lots to do before we can ride the bike free and clear of any help.
Then it hits me that we're taking steps towards buying a home built in 1850, much older than I honestly thought I would ever find. I am so very glad that I have found this community thanks to Bungalove's suggestion on city-data.
There are so many folks who will understand a lot of what is ahead of us, though this possible future home is in way better shape than what other folks are dealing with, and I honestly don't think I could have found a niftier group of folks to know in the days ahead.
Am I excited? HELL YES. Am I terrified? HELL YES. Do I wish spouse had a job where he could have answered a phone call instead of me having to send him a text so he at least knows what's going on before he calls to tell me he's on the way home today? HELL YES.
I can't wait for spouse to get home. But I've got stuff needs doing before that.
This might be a reality!