Houses and Weddings

Erich has officially sold over his soul to the mortgage company. He should hear back on the official approval this week. :) In order to qualify for a first-time buyers program, he's the only one on the mortage. Together we make too much money to qualify.

BUT... considering the amazing rate he got (5.35% fixed), this isn't a bad thing. Especially when we saw the reports of rising interest rates. As fast as this happened, we've realized that we timed this really, really well. Between the interest rates and the stats from our lender and broker that Rhode Island real estate is going up in value by 23% a year, we made the Right Call.

And honestly, I already feel so much calmer than I did last week. I think figuring out the down payment was the biggest worry. That's now taken care of/in process. Now? It's mostly a waiting game.

House inspection is this friday morning. Hopefully all goes well with it, and it's just little things like missing washers and doorknobs, which we can fix ourselves. We do have four big concerns, though, for our planning...

1) How's the roof (which is 20+ years old)?
2) How's the wiring (which apparently still has some knob and tube original wiring)>
3) Is the house cable-ready?
4) Is there proper electrical current and a vent for a dryer in the basement?

We've already decided that our first order of business with renovation/remodelling will be the floors. We'll pull up all the carpets and get the floors sanded and refinished (as needed). There is a known spot of old termite damage in the family room/TV area. If we can replace a few boards, great. If not, we'll have them sand and refinish as best as possible and use an area rug for now to hide it.

The second thing is rewallpapering the kitchen and the master bedroom. Those are the two wallpapers that are just too deadly to deal with. Honestly, all of the others aren't that bad.

Once we have that done, we'll probably spend the summer doing yard stuff. Erich has told me that flowers are up to me. So last night I was looking online for some ideas. Hydrangeas grow very well in New England-- and almost all that I see rotate through the colors here.

Do day lillies NOT grow anywhere? I love how day lillies look, especially if they're tended in nice, thick bunches. Perhaps sprinkled with some Asiatic-hybrid lillies in the front. Just think-- Stargazer lillies in front of a house. That scent wafting into the Florida room in the summer? Heaven. Add some hostas for some extra texture where needed, and we're good to go.

I would like to plant a hydrangea bush on the south side or that side's corner of the house next to the Florida room-- I think there is more appropriate sun for them there. Minarae's right-- they look amazing next to white houses. Especially when they generally change colors through the season, as they do around here. Blue hydrangeas are just striking.

In any case, with a large yard, some bright flower patches will be good. Over time, I'll develop them, but to start I'd like a few things that don't need quite as much care (like the lillies) but add lots of color. But I want to start by making the front of the house pretty and welcoming.

ESPECIALLY since (somewhat of a wedding announcement here) we're planning to have the reception for the wedding at our house. Outside of our immediate circle of friends, the chance of folks being at our new home before the wedding is fairly slim-- so we're thinking that it will be a perfect time to have the family-appropriate housewelcoming party along with our wedding. After all, both are a celebration of starting a new segment of life together, right? :) Something a bit more intimate and laid-back. Appetizers, cocktails, and friends. Really--what more can we ask for?

But I will admit-- wedding planning is basically being put on hold now until probably August or so. That still gives us plenty of time to plan and arrange things, but will allow us to get ourselves settled in. I'll be keeping those arrangements in mind as we tend the yard this summer. THAT at least will have to be figured out this year so we can get the yard in good order by next spring.

So that's the update. Providence, May '06. Our house. Date still TBD. But not the 20th. Because I promised a friend it wouldn't be that weekend. :)