I'm with you, @PerraSucia. I really want NICE boots but the shafts are always too narrow! (that's what she said)
I have tiny feet and huge calves too, I finally found a pair I love and fit great 2 years ago but the heel is so high I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to wear them this late fall/winter being pregnant and all.
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
I'm with you, @PerraSucia. I really want NICE boots but the shafts are always too narrow! (that's what she said)
I have tiny feet and huge calves too, I finally found a pair I love and fit great 2 years ago but the heel is so high I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to wear them this late fall/winter being pregnant and all.
You guys, Zappos carries TONS of styles with extended calf sizes!
I'm so excited! H is a state employee of our neighboring state, and he just got a lateral transfer approved that will cut his commute from an hour to 30 minutes each way. This will be so huge with a newborn! It's also more challenging, satisfying work for him and a better funded project. So proud!
@HeatSparks, my twin pregnancy included more ultrasounds and towards the end, stress tests. A specialist is just focused more on high risk, and will monitor you closely. I loved my MFM, he takes back alumni so I went to him with my youngest and can't wait to see him again with this one.
Married - 7/29/06 Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09 Mia - 6/16/11 Surprise! due 2/23/17
DH and I are looking at our first house viewing after work today! We have 1 confirmed appointment at 6pm and they were trying to get another 1 or 2 tonight also but if not we'll pick up with them at 10:30 tomorrow.
It just so happens that our favorite houses from the listings/pictures happen to be older homes, like built in 1850s, any advice on things we should ask about specifically for an older home or in general? This is our first time buying a house!
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Oooo, I love older homes! I'd also ask about lead and asbestos.
Edit: And the heating situation. Our house literally came with a boiler from 1962, so we budgeted to replace it quickly. Updated windows will make a huge difference to your heating costs, too.
Yes to the suggestions already listed above re: older homes.
Since it was built in 1850, I would ask if it's considered a historical home ie. registered with National Register of Historic Places. Some states offer tax credits for preserving a historic home that you may qualify for. Also, if it is considered a historic home, there may be restrictions on what you can/can't do to the house. For example, certain updates aren't permitted, like updating shutters/windows/roof, unless they are exact replicas that will maintain the original character of the home. Often times, this is more expensive because it would be a rare find or need custom work.
I don't actually know if it's applicable, but from watching too much Property Brothers lately, I would also ask about lead paint (inside and out) and asbestos (wrapped pipes, floor tiles, etc). If it has a septic tank ask if/when it was last pumped.
We aren't even out of first tri and I'm obsessed with picking out all my baby gear so that I can watch for deals and sales. When we get ready to start a Gear thread, instead of one big thread that's a hodge podge of everything from car seats to wipe warmers, can we do a small series of threads? Like Gear: Swings, Bouncers, etc; Gear: Car seats, Strollers, and Baby Carriers; Gear: Feeding and Bathing Supplies; Gear: Diaper Bads; Gear: Other Misc sh** we think we need.
When I lurk on other boards and look at their massive gear threads it's nearly impossible to dig down to just the pieces I'm interested in.
@marriedhamstermom in addition to what others have suggested, you'll want to find out the dates of most recent updates of all major structures; HVAC, Roof, plumbing, electric, etc. You'll want to confirm that this was all permitted, and if you get an accepted offer on a home always do an inspection!
Also, check breaker size/brand. Normal today is 200 AMP to run all your modern appliances, but many older homes still have 100/150 AMP and these won't always be able to run what you'd want. There should be a sticker inside the door when you open it.
Also look for water/discolorations on ceilings, near air vents, and under sinks.
If they tell you the plumbing was "partially upgraded" ask to see the main line where it comes in from the street to the house. Often they will replumb what is visible under sinks, but everything under the house is still old metal.
Older houses also sometimes have plaster walls, which is perfectly fine. However, if you notice a random room/wall has smooth sheet rock instead, that can be an indication that something behind that wall had issues and was replaced. Plaster is incredibly hard to match.
Sorry if this is too much info!
ETA: forgot to mention, make sure you have three pronged electrical outlets everywhere. Two plug outlets are a quick indicator of old wiring with no ground!
@marriedhamstermom I kind of skimmed the last few so forgive me if I'm repeating something. Also most things were already covered so I left it out of my post. We bought a house last year built in 1912. Not quite as old but still pretty old. Our realtor did a great job of trying to get us all the safety info we needed. One of our biggest things was making sure the foundation was solid. We also had a termite inspection because we have all plaster walls and there is a lot more pieces of wood in the walls. We wanted to make sure there was no hidden damage we weren't sure of. Also it's important to know the "rules" of your loan. We couldn't have any chipping paint at all, so all the ancient windows and frames were required to be replaced, we worked it into the contract for the seller to take care off. If you get the house it might be easiest to go through an insurance broker, we couldn't find anyone to insure our house due to age and had to go that route.
Thank you everyone who responded! I made a list with everything to go over with our realtor. We are definitely getting an inspection done with any house. Whenever I watch HGTV and the couple doesn't do that I'm just like OMG what are you thinking??
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
OK. I got a Pet Peeve I'm sharing. I am a manager for a pretty large organization. One of our receptionist always feels the need to come into my office and sit down whenever she asks me a questions. Even if it's clearly a two second yes or no question.
Why do you feel like your okay to make yourself comfortable? Why is your job so leisurely that you feel you have a minute to sit back and relax while I hold your hand and walk you through something you should already know.
I know I'm probably just hormonal and extra irritable, but ughhhhh...
@marriedhamstermom have you guys talked with a loan officer yet about the type of loans you'd be qualified for? If so, and you are going the FHA route there things you'll want to make sure are done so there are no surprises later. Conventional are more laid back as far as requirements go. If you have at least 5% down and can go the conventional route that is what I would recommend. A lot of loan officers try and get people to go the FHA route because they get a higher commission base. The only time I recommend it for people is if they only have the 3.5% down that is required. Otherwise you're stuck paying mortgage insurance till you either a.) refinance or b.) payoff the mortgage. That to me is not worth it because that is throwing usually at least $100 away each month.
Depending where you live some states have first time buyer programs that are really nice.
Each state handles buying houses differently and the suggestions that have been given are great.
If if you get a full home inspection, it will tell you everything you need to know about the home. I wouldn't get one until an offer has been accepted with the contingency that the full home inspection coming back good. Most states I've dealt with have clauses in their contracts that require inspections and appraisals to come back good and within value or you are able to walk away.
Your realtor will also be a great resource in walking you through the process. If you don't feel you are getting the service you deserve or need, don't be afraid switching realtors. The same goes for loan officers. You need to feel comfortable and those who truly have experience with first time home buyers understand the anxiety that goes with buying a first home. They also offer a ton of helpful advice.
My biggest advice would be to not open any new accounts or have your credit pulled (only let a mortgage company pull your credit right now) until after you've closed. I can't tell you the amount of people who have ruined buying a house because they bought a new car or opened a credit card while in the process of buying a house. This messes with your credit and you have to stay within a certain percentage for debt to income calculations.
I know my response was really long. Feel free to message me and I can answer more questions for you. I've been in the mortgage industry for over five years now.
We have two sleeping beauties in heaven. Jack gained his wings on 09/02/2016. Kali gained her wings on 07/28/2015. They will be forever missed.
I mean, he buys them on the obligatory Mothers Day, Valentines etc. Or if he's in REALLY big trouble...
Lmao this is my H too. We're doing well that he's made it to buying flowers for anniversaries etc- which sucks because I love flowers. Then again, his father bought a bouquet of roses for his 30th anniversary, the day after... so I don't think his Dad was much on the flower game either.
Thank you @bdesterhouse! We have talked to a loan officer and will be going the conventional route. We unfortunately don't qualify for any first time home buyers programs which kind of sucks but we expected it which is why we've been saving up for so long. That's a great point about not opening a new credit card or buying a car, we hadn't planned on doing these things but we also wouldn't have known not to!
So far no one has run our credit but we got an initial pre-approval letter. The loan officer looked at all our bank statements, W2s, paystubs, and both DH and I have great credit so she did the calculation based off that but will do the official one when we want to make an offer. Actually she was really great and told us we'd qualify for a lot more but we told her our max budget and she wrote out the letter with that value instead so we won't be pressured to buy above our means.
Our loan officer was recommended to us by a friend who recently bought a house for the first time and our realtor helped DH's parents buy and sell their last 2 homes so they've had a relationship for over 20 years. So far they've both been helpful I'm just trying to be informed myself too.
Me: 33 | DH: 34 Married: October, 19, 2015 EDD 2/22/17 DS1 born on 3/2/17 EDD 3/8/20 DS2 born on 3/10/20 EDD 11/24/23 (Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
So I shared an article on my FB page about a woman stabbing her husband for bringing home the wrong doughnut order.. and it's gotten an unusually large response from my FB friends & family. I can't help but feel a little sympathy for the woman. Because, I mean, it's doughnuts.
That's awesome to hear! I'm a HUGE advocate for first time home buyers, because I felt like we got screwed around when we first bought our home, and I didn't realize it until I entered the industry after buying our house. So I make it a goal to educate people buying there first home as much as possible.
We have two sleeping beauties in heaven. Jack gained his wings on 09/02/2016. Kali gained her wings on 07/28/2015. They will be forever missed.
Re: Weekly Randoms (7/18)
any thoughts on what I might expect?
FWP.
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
________________________________________________________
Started TTC #1 November 2015
BFP 6/10/2016 - EDD 2/22/2017
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
It just so happens that our favorite houses from the listings/pictures happen to be older homes, like built in 1850s, any advice on things we should ask about specifically for an older home or in general? This is our first time buying a house!
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
@marriedhamstermom
Has the electrical been updated...definitely ask that. I'd ask about the plumbing as well.
Edit: Ask WHEN it was last updated.
ME: 25, DH: 27
TTC #1 since 09/2015
Miscarriage @ 10 wks 02/28/2016
BFP 05/28/2016!
Edit: And the heating situation. Our house literally came with a boiler from 1962, so we budgeted to replace it quickly. Updated windows will make a huge difference to your heating costs, too.
Since it was built in 1850, I would ask if it's considered a historical home ie. registered with National Register of Historic Places. Some states offer tax credits for preserving a historic home that you may qualify for. Also, if it is considered a historic home, there may be restrictions on what you can/can't do to the house. For example, certain updates aren't permitted, like updating shutters/windows/roof, unless they are exact replicas that will maintain the original character of the home. Often times, this is more expensive because it would be a rare find or need custom work.
Always, always, always have an inspection!
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
We aren't even out of first tri and I'm obsessed with picking out all my baby gear so that I can watch for deals and sales. When we get ready to start a Gear thread, instead of one big thread that's a hodge podge of everything from car seats to wipe warmers, can we do a small series of threads? Like Gear: Swings, Bouncers, etc; Gear: Car seats, Strollers, and Baby Carriers; Gear: Feeding and Bathing Supplies; Gear: Diaper Bads; Gear: Other Misc sh** we think we need.
When I lurk on other boards and look at their massive gear threads it's nearly impossible to dig down to just the pieces I'm interested in.
Also, check breaker size/brand. Normal today is 200 AMP to run all your modern appliances, but many older homes still have 100/150 AMP and these won't always be able to run what you'd want. There should be a sticker inside the door when you open it.
Also look for water/discolorations on ceilings, near air vents, and under sinks.
If they tell you the plumbing was "partially upgraded" ask to see the main line where it comes in from the street to the house. Often they will replumb what is visible under sinks, but everything under the house is still old metal.
Older houses also sometimes have plaster walls, which is perfectly fine. However, if you notice a random room/wall has smooth sheet rock instead, that can be an indication that something behind that wall had issues and was replaced. Plaster is incredibly hard to match.
Sorry if this is too much info!
ETA: forgot to mention, make sure you have three pronged electrical outlets everywhere. Two plug outlets are a quick indicator of old wiring with no ground!
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Why do you feel like your okay to make yourself comfortable? Why is your job so leisurely that you feel you have a minute to sit back and relax while I hold your hand and walk you through something you should already know.
I know I'm probably just hormonal and extra irritable, but ughhhhh...
End rant.
TTC since January 2016
BFP - 3/12/16 - MC 4/5/16
BFP - 6/11/16
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
I will turn into skeletor if I wait for my H to buy them...
Depending where you live some states have first time buyer programs that are really nice.
Each state handles buying houses differently and the suggestions that have been given are great.
If if you get a full home inspection, it will tell you everything you need to know about the home. I wouldn't get one until an offer has been accepted with the contingency that the full home inspection coming back good. Most states I've dealt with have clauses in their contracts that require inspections and appraisals to come back good and within value or you are able to walk away.
Your realtor will also be a great resource in walking you through the process. If you don't feel you are getting the service you deserve or need, don't be afraid switching realtors. The same goes for loan officers. You need to feel comfortable and those who truly have experience with first time home buyers understand the anxiety that goes with buying a first home. They also offer a ton of helpful advice.
My biggest advice would be to not open any new accounts or have your credit pulled (only let a mortgage company pull your credit right now) until after you've closed. I can't tell you the amount of people who have ruined buying a house because they bought a new car or opened a credit card while in the process of buying a house. This messes with your credit and you have to stay within a certain percentage for debt to income calculations.
I know my response was really long. Feel free to message me and I can answer more questions for you. I've been in the mortgage industry for over five years now.
Jack gained his wings on 09/02/2016.
Kali gained her wings on 07/28/2015.
They will be forever missed.
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
Or if he's in REALLY big trouble...
Lol the only time I ever got flowers from my husband was when he proposed.
And his dad bought me some once.
ME: 25, DH: 27
TTC #1 since 09/2015
Miscarriage @ 10 wks 02/28/2016
BFP 05/28/2016!
..........Maybe that's just in my house.
Big Bro 7/14/13
Little Bro 2/6/17
So far no one has run our credit but we got an initial pre-approval letter. The loan officer looked at all our bank statements, W2s, paystubs, and both DH and I have great credit so she did the calculation based off that but will do the official one when we want to make an offer. Actually she was really great and told us we'd qualify for a lot more but we told her our max budget and she wrote out the letter with that value instead so we won't be pressured to buy above our means.
Our loan officer was recommended to us by a friend who recently bought a house for the first time and our realtor helped DH's parents buy and sell their last 2 homes so they've had a relationship for over 20 years. So far they've both been helpful I'm just trying to be informed myself too.
Married: October, 19, 2015
EDD 2/22/17
EDD 3/8/20
EDD 11/24/23
(Formerly Marriedhamstermom Feb ‘17)
Jack gained his wings on 09/02/2016.
Kali gained her wings on 07/28/2015.
They will be forever missed.