Haus Hunting

Well, things are getting busier around here.  My work has picked up considerably and Mac Mini is being her busy little self.  She drew all over one of the walls with the unfortunately unwashable crayons given to her by a well-meaning Grandma Mac, so priming and painting is certainly in my future.  I have all the fabric for my next quilting project, a duvet cover for my sister and brother-in-law.  It will be my largest project yet!  I've only just started cutting the pieces because I've been so preoccupied with my other giant project...finding us a house!

Mr. Mac and I have been renting our two-bedroom apartment in the heart of Belltown for almost four years now.  It's a great spot, and we love being able to walk to work.  We have a view of Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountains, and I love watching the ferries go back and forth across the water.  We're on the top floor of our large mid-1990s building, and the apartment is fairly large and comfortable.  This is our home, and it's difficult to consider moving out of the downtown area.

However, our rent has gone up 5% a year for the past two years, and we've reached a point in our lives where we really need to start investing in ourselves instead of giving our money to a building management company.  If we buy a house within our budget, we'll be saving hundreds of dollars in monthly expenses.  We're also kind of out of space.  I'm afraid to open the closet in Mac Mini's room, which is also Mr. Mac's office.  Our storage unit is completely packed full of boxes, outdoor equipment, and the enormous air conditioner we use in the summer heat waves.  Mac Mini's toys have taken over the living room, and our dining table also doubles as my office and sewing table.  It's getting very crowded in here.

I've been looking for a house for us since early December, and it's been tough.  This is a great market for first-time homebuyers in our price range.  But the good stuff only stays on the market for a few days before it gets snapped up, so we have to be ready to pounce.  So far we've looked at 50+ houses and toured about 20.  It's so tempting to stretch our budget and try to buy something more expensive...but the idea is to save money, so I'm determined to get a great deal.  Originally we were going to do the whole thing ourselves through Redfin, but it's just too much work and the good stuff disappears too quickly.  We met with a realtor yesterday, and I'm confident that she can help us find the right home.  Ugh.  This whole thing is so stressful!  It kind of makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it.

Mac Mini and I are headed down to Olympia today to celebrate Cousin Leontine's third birthday while Mr. Mac throws a Sportsball party.  I hope the weather is as beautiful today as it was yesterday!  I love Seattle's springy sunshine!