We are gearing up to - wait for it - move, vacate, and SELL OUR HOUSE next week!!
It's been a very long process, stressful in the worst way. I will not go into mundane details here, only to say that relocation through a company is sometimes more stressful than selling on your own. And selling 3,800 miles away is even harder. But we have been sucessful! We did it! We got a quick offer, and after a lot of negotiations, it's pretty much done. There is a "Sale Pending" sign in front of our house and there is a signed Purchase and Sale agreement... and next week I will be going to Boston to see all of our stuff packed, loaded, and shipped off to California. Phew! We thought this day would never come.
While keeping track of everything on that end has been very difficult, it has been equally as hard finding a home here. We saw several that we liked, but rejected for various reasons (or they rejected us)...one we liked but at the last minute Justin decided it was too far of a commute (I am glad he decided that now!) One the owners decided to rent to their friends at the last minute. Then, last weekend, we were lucky enough to get two! We got very aggressive on the applications and two landlords picked us as their first choice of tenants. The properties each had different "selling" points, but we went for the one in the better neighborhood that was a little older. We really like our new landlords - they had us over to their house last night to sign the lease and get to know them a little better. They also dote on Jack like he's their own son, taking him by the hand around the house to show him balls and books and other cool things. The best part about the house (in my opinion) is the outdoor space - a fully fenced-in backyard, with plenty of running space, a little brick patio for Jack's bike or Justin's grill, and tons of natural fruit trees. I think we grow lemons, mangos, oranges, and Fuji apples in our backyard! They also said we could till and plant a little vegetable garden, and Justin is very excited about that.
The house needs some TLC, but it has lots of space and the bedrooms are very large. Jack's room here will be at least twice the size of his room in Boston, and we will have a nice guest room again. We are very lucky to have found this house and that the landlords liked us (I saw it on the Friday it went on the market. Chin - our new LL - told us that he had three offers above market rent on Saturday trying to steal it out from under us!! But thankfully he is a very honest man.) He also told us that he liked us because he saw Justin being "an attentive father. A caring father makes a good tenant." Very true! Justin will probably be the best tenant he's ever had. :)
So next week, we are back on the rental market again, and we are no longer homeowners. But it feels good and it feels right. (And our bank account will think so too.) We look forward to welcoming you to our new home in Cupertino once we get settled!
