The past eight weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement for Michael and me. We found a property that checked nearly every box on our wishlist, and after some strategic negotiations, we secured a deal and went under contract in early September. Thanks to the Next Door Program, we were able to take advantage of amazing benefits that made buying our home more affordable. Now, as we dive into renovations and begin transforming this house into our vision, we’re thrilled to share the journey with you. Read on to learn more about our home-buying experience, the perks of the Next Door Program, and the progress we’ve made so far!
Top Features on our Home Wishlist:
When searching, we had specific criteria that were exceptionally important for our next property:
Acreage (Preferably Flat) – We wanted room to grow, with plenty of outdoor space for Kirby & Sadie to roam freely, plus space to build a workshop for Michael.
Away from the Neighborhood – Privacy was a priority, and with our construction equipment, trailers, and off-roading toys, we needed a place where we could spread out without restrictions.
A Blank Canvas with Good Bones – We hoped for a sturdy home with potential, a place we could transform and truly make our own.
This property was exactly what we were looking for and we instantly fell in love with the area and vision we have for the property. After a few rounds of negotiations, we agreed on a sales price below asking and purchased it as-is. We included a 7-day due diligence period, along with a 14-day appraisal and financing contingency. We chose to go with an FHA loan which includes a mandatory well and septic inspection covered by the seller. Overall, we were very happy with this deal!
(Photos from left to right: Michael & I on closing day, Before image of the home, Our view from our front yard)
Unlocking the Benefits of the Next Door Program
As a firefighter, Michael qualified for the Next Door Program, which helps local teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and government employees buy homes in their local communities. Through this program, we saved on lender and title fees, and received an appraisal credit (up to $525). This program also provides access to down payment assistance, and credit repair. We’re incredibly grateful for this program, which made our purchase so much more attainable.
A special shout-out goes to our amazing lender, Sam Wagner with the TruView Team at New American Funding. Sam went above and beyond to make this dream possible, finding quick solutions and guiding us through every step of the loan process!
We officially closed on Tuesday, October 15th and dove into renovations to bring our shared vision for this home to life!
The Start of Our Sweat Equity Journey
Our property is the blank slate we’d envisioned, and we couldn’t be more excited about the progress made! We’ve designed a brand-new layout that’s made the space far more functional for our lifestyle. The updated floor plan nearly triples the kitchen size, includes a walk-in pantry, adds a convenient half bath off the living room, expands the living area, and creates a master suite complete with a his-and-hers closet and an en-suite bathroom. With an open layout and raised ceilings, the home now has a bright, airy feel that flows seamlessly from room to room.
In just three weeks, we've made incredible progress thanks to our amazing family and friends (special thank you to Michael's parents and my amazing in-laws, Mike & Theresa)! The house is fully demoed, the new layout and kitchen addition are framed, the new kitchen floor system is built, and the vaulted ceiling and roof are secured. Electric and plumbing are now underway! Next up: insulation and sheetrock.
In addition, we’ve officially moved onto the property! Shout out to the Krik family for allowing us to use their 5th wheel camper as we finalize the last few phases of the remodel process. To be able to move, we rented a temporary Conex box on the property for storage and of course set up a new deer feeder on the property!
We’re thrilled to share each step of this renovation journey with you as we build our home from the ground up. Stay tuned for updates on our progress, the lessons we learn, and our experience through the process & our vision for our property! We can’t wait to move in and make this house our home!
Until next time!
With warm regards,
Brooke Dyer
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