After returning from our separate mission trips, we had a thrilling gift waiting for us: closing the deal on our first home. Despite being in Spain, V had attentively worked on the final steps of the closing process while juggling her mission work. Meanwhile, I was in Guatemala, completely cut off from any communication, unable to actively participate in the process. However, V had everything under control and handled all the necessary tasks like a champion.
Signing the documents and receiving the keys.
The next day during my lunch break, I headed straight to the attorney’s office and met V there, where we signed a hefty stack of papers—and just like that, it happened.
We owe a big big gratitude to our incredible team of real estate agent and loan officer who guided us through what could have been a dreadful process. It feels like we’ve gained some of knowledge about home buying and the intricacies of closing a house.
In the afternoon, the attorney handed us the keys, and without delay, we made our first visit to the house as the new owners. Our team of four involved in the home purchase did a quick tour around the house, marveling at what we had achieved in such a short period of time. As we explored each room, we took a moment to pray and bless our new home.
Celebrating the milestone!
Of course, our day ended with a memorable celebratory feast at Rumi’s. We had a number of reasons to rejoice and express our gratitude, with our new house topping the list. To make the evening truly unforgettable, we made sure to include our all-time favorite dishes from Rumi’s: the amazing vegetable kabob and Shish kabob. And we didn’t forget some nice wine in addition to complimentary champagne on the house.
What is next..
I couldn’t be more thrilled about what the future holds for V and me. We’re already deep in conversations about the renovations we envision, even small details such as discussing paint colors for V’s home office. Moreover, I’m excited to put my HGTV-inspired home renovation skills, honed over the past few years, to good use, combining them with my architectural training.
After the excitements have settled down a bit, we worked on transitioning into our new home. Thus far, we have completed the following tasks for the new home.
Internet – We got a great deal including a gift card, two months credit, waived setup fee, and a Bluetooth speaker!
Water – We contacted the county water department and had the connection established.
Electricity – We called the local power company to schedule our new service date.
Based on the overall existing condition of the house, we believe that the first project we will undertake is updating the old laminate countertop. V’s mom has already recommended a contractor for the job, and we have received a quote for the project. I will provide updates on the progress of the kitchen renovation after exploring a few more quotes.
