Ups & Downs to Home Buying

Now that our blog is private, we'll probably start posting things in more detail. People we don't know very well could read it and I didn't feel like telling everyone our life story etc. We mainly wanted to make a blog so that we could keep in touch with family, and to record stuff so that we could remember things that go on, so if you're able to read this, thanks for keeping in touch :) We love you all!

So I wanted to write a little bit about the ups and downs of home buying. We've been on a roller coaster for some time now... but we're learning a lot. We initially started looking to buy a home out of curiosity and trying to get out of our apartment due to crazy neighbors. Well our crazy neighbors moved out, that was a blessing because we've been in our apartment longer than we thought we'd be. We started looking this past Summer at all the homes available in all of the surrounding cities close to Bryce's work in Riverton. We loved a couple homes and neighborhoods in Riverton but we soon found out that we couldn't afford any of the homes there. The affordable homes are in West Valley and up that way. Those affordable homes closer to Salt Lake are also in the creepy crime neighborhoods, so yeah... we passed on those. So we decided to go more south, towards Lehi and Eagle Mountain. The Eagle Mountain area called "The Ranches" seemed perfect and it seemed like a great family community. 

We looked at houses around there and we got in contact with a real estate agent that was advertising a cute (tiny) house in Eagle Mountain. We loved the area and we loved the home for the most part, but on the way to sign the contract for the tiny home, we had a feeling to turn around and think about it more. So we called the real estate agent to tell her we needed more time to think about it, and we went to California to visit family that week. When we got back, we found out that the sellers of that home would not budge on the price, even if the home was worth less. So we would've lost money either way trying to get it. We felt like the Lord was directing us, and even though it was disappointing to not get that home, we knew that the Lord would help us find the right place to buy. We've learned that God wants us to make our own decisions and to do what we feel is right. Sometimes though, when our decision is not the best for us, the Lord will direct us to other options that are better, especially in the long run. We've realized this several times in our lives as we've tried to make important decisions.

Anyway, we kept looking at other homes and kept an open mind to all the options. There were of course the really cheap ones in terrible locations, or the mid-priced ones that were condos or tiny homes, and the really expensive ones that seemed over priced. (Salt Lake City home prices are more expensive than other areas we've come to find out. A home that is 3 bd 2 ba in SLC is generally above 230,000 ...  where a similar sized home in St. George is less than 190,000. It's a bit ridiculous, but oh well. We decided to start considering town-homes again, and we looked at a bunch in several places. We finally found one that was in a good area, with the things we wanted in a home, an unfinished basement to finish to add more space, and it was within our budget. It's a bit towards the top of our budget, but what we will pay monthly will still be around the same price as renting up here. Renting in SLC is also more expensive than St. George. We'd rather own than rent... and invest in a home we can sell later, and have a place we can stay in as long as we want/need to. So we made an offer, and the seller's accepted our offer. For a while, we were signing tons of papers, and sending endless documents to the loan people. We finished the normal steps towards buying a home (which usually take a month), but now we are waiting for our loan application to go through the rural housing office step. The Rural Housing loan option for some of the northern Utah rural towns is no longer available after Sept. 27, so their office is pretty busy trying to process all the loans. We haven't heard back yet, but we'll hopefully hear back within the next couple weeks. It's been two months since we put the offer on the home, so it's taking a bit longer than anticipated. 

Sorry that was a long shpill, I wrote it down mostly so we could remember what happened. Hopefully it all makes sense.We're so excited to buy our townhome! We're so glad we found it (that the Lord has helped us to find it) and that things have been progressing for us to be able to buy it. There's a settlement deadline on Sept. 25, so prayers are definitely appreciated if you could spare some for us ;) We're grateful for the support from our family. We're definitely indebted for several reasons to 'you know who you are'. We appreciate all you do. We have the greatest families, you all deserve a vacation. 

  Though there are ups and downs to buying a home, it is an awesome experience that we're learning a lot from. We feel like this is the right home for us right now, and it's a miracle that it's a nice place in a nice neighborhood AND affordable. We've seen a ton of other homes, but none have felt as right. I know that was a way long post, but thanks for reading! 

Love ya!

-Bryce and Tiah

Football season & other stuff

It's been a tradition for us to go to football games together since we met. We usually just go to local high school games, but since Bryce has started teaching, we try to support the high school he is teaching seminary at. We went to a game recently where his school beat a team from St. George, by a lot... so it was kind of uneventful, but we're excited for the new season. We used to go to Dixie State College football games, but they lost almost every game so yeah... haha... We're hoping to go to a BYU or USU game someday...since they seem awesome. (Go Utah State, woo!) Anyway, part of our tradition is listening to "Friday music" on the way to the game and on the way home... it's definitely the most fun way to start a weekend :) Bryce has a great singing voice by the way, and he makes me laugh like no other. I love him! 

 

We're excited to be in school again. We're going to whip out these degrees eventually and all the hours of homework is going to pay off... with a piece of paper and another cap&gown. Haha... just kidding. Education is one of the greatest things you can acquire in life, you can start to think for yourself rather than relying on everything everyone else says. Going to college is one of the best decisions we've made, plus we met each other in a college class, so hey, stay in school boys and girls. I'm grateful that I didn't switch out of that class that I met Bryce in. I didn't think I could pass the class and I didn't know anybody... but I felt like I should just stick it out and make the best of it. I eventually made some awesome friends, including my future husband ;) Funny story time....     

Before class one day, I was the first one there of the people that sat at my table. The other people there were Bryce, his friend Justin, and a few of the girls that sat at their table. Other than that, the class was pretty much empty. You can probably picture me sitting there looking like a loner... haha... but they all started teasing me saying why didn't you choose to sit at our table? "The cool table?" And other comments like that ;) I didn't have a very good explanation, but then they said... "You're going to have to explain to your grand-kids someday why you chose not to sit at the cool table in your Child Development class." I joked back and agreed with them, I definitely should have sat at the cool table :) Ironic, right?   Little did Bryce and I know, they were teasing me about his grand-kids too hahah.... Even though we didn't sit at the same table, Bryce and I became friends anyway, and eventually fell in love (and by eventually I mean almost immediately once we started spending time together.) Hehe it's fun to remember how you met your significant other. Write down your story... or consider it. Your kids will love to read it, I bet.

Anyway, there's a little tidbit of how we met. I just have to add that God's timing is perfect and He knows exactly when the right time for something is. We may think we have it all figured out, or we may feel like giving up, but God is just waiting to bless us with a blessing greater than we could have planned for ourselves. Also, getting married is a huge decision, and you will know when you have found the right one, not to be cheesy but for real. No one can pick a better spouse for you than you, trust your instincts and include God in your decision and He will help you to know. 

For anyone that is curious, we still haven't closed on that house we put an offer on. It's been in a waiting line with a lot of other people's housing applications for the Rural housing loan (USDA), and we're still waiting to hear back. We're hopefully going to close on the house this month though, yay! 

Some other random facts that you may not care to read about... The apartment complex we're in has crickets, ants, wasps, and mosquitoes. Haha... it's a bit of a change from the also nasty bugs in St. George. Bryce is brave and punches the bugs for me, we try to tell them not to come to our house, but they're ignorant. Also, winter is coming. In other words, snow is coming. The Summer in northern Utah has been so sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet, it's hardly been hot (compared to St. George weather), so we've enjoyed this long Spring weather ;).... We're excited for all the amazing fun holidays coming up and Bryce's birthday and our anniversary though. 

More random....

 We skyped with some of the family while Tyler opened his mission call. Congrats Tyler!! (Mississippi!) You're going to be a great missionary!

 Clearance at Walmart.... just got serious.

I finally tried the curling wand Bryce got me for my bday. I like it but it takes too long. I highly recommend the curling wand though. I wanted this one because it is blue hahah.

Also, fresh lime salsa is the best 'addiction' I've ever had. I want to make it every day but then I would look like this...

(I don't own this picture, but ain't it the truth. Gotta love those sharp salty chips.)

 And...

a sunset. :] 

Good job getting to the end of this long post. You deserve a cookie... from someone. We don't get to talk to all our friends/family that often, but we think about you and hope you're doing well!

Love, Us