Gonna Buy Me A Condo

I know I have mentioned briefly here and there, but this June, I became a new condo owner. I rented for 7,300 days between when I moved into my first apartment, and my condo closing.

The long story, told short. Or not.

I'd been saving up a down payment for a while. Old school, 20%. And in the spring of 2002, I was seriously planning it. Talked to my real estate agent Kathie, and was really serious. But my company was sorta in the whole "Enron thing" so I decided to sit pat, and see what was going to happen. Good thing I did, because by that fall, I was partaking in my 53 week forced 'sabbatical' others would call 'unemployment'. That's a story for another time. Needless to say, the down payment took a bit of a hit while I was living off it that year. But thank the gods that I had it, eh?

Then, with my 20th anniversary of living on my own approaching, I had to do something. I'd been in my current place since the summer of '99, and while it was a nice, modern, one bedroom apt. in a really nice section of Lincoln Park that is kinda Old Town-ish, it was time. I had a full 20% down, and with the other stuff reminding me that I'm not a kid anymore, it was just time to do something nice for myself.

And, as my real estate agent Kathie (same one) told me, I was in a great position. I was a first time buyer (no contingency) with 20% to put down and great credit. (Kathie facts: Both she and her husband are former co-workers of mine, both of whom I've known for like, 10 – 15 years; She was EXTREMELY pregnant at the time of the search (was due 1 week after my closing date); and she's afraid of birds.) We went out looking a few times, and I saw some nice stuff, but never had that "you'll know" moment people talk about. I though it was a load of carp. "When you see it, you'll know." Yeah right.

I saw it. And I knew.

Totally pissed me off.

But it was the last place we'd seen on a day when we saw maybe 20 units across 12 properties. So we went out one more time, and then I narrowed it down to the final three. I took another friend with me to serve as the objective critical eye on the 'Night of the Second Showings'. And she told me that I'd be a complete IDIOT not to buy my place. (But probably didn't sugar coat it that much.) And I knew it, too. Of course it's at the very top of my price range, but it's new construction 2 BR, 2 BA with den, garage parking, blah, blah, blah.

You got a little glimpse in the chili posting, but why don't I just show you.



Yeah. Sick and I love it. The only upgrade in the place? The ceiling fan in the "dining room." There was a hanging light there, but since I knew that I was going to be putting my computer there, and I knew that I'm 6'5", that light had to go.

Oh, and the door mat you can't read is THIS one.