DAY ONE - MAY 4th

DISCLAIMER: This first entry was really written last night when I was under the impression that everything would go according to plan today :) Damn was I wrong! Only one phrase truly conveys my thoughts on the evening...WTF!!!!!

I will make an amended posting tomorrow, giving full disclosure of tonight's events. Its just too painful to relive right now.

“The long and winding road, that leads to your door...”

The lyrics to that 1970’s Beatles song just might sum it all up :) It has been a long road, but FINALLY the day have come!!! Yes! I am finally a homeowner (again) only this time, its in California! And this time, I have the word BEACH in my address! How I have longed for this day! And I do seriously mean it...many people have told me that I was geographically displaced at birth. I am a sun person and the beach has been calling me home for many years and now I’m home. Even though HB has been my home for almost eight years, now I am really home. And this is the start of MY BIG PHAT REHAB ADVENTURE!!!

Here’s a little background. Really, I’ve been on the househunt, or in my case, condo hunt since I moved here. But, in 2003, EVERYTHING was out of my price range and it only continued to get worse. (see the movie: INSIDE JOB) Originally, mortgage companies were handing out money to anyone who asked for it even if they couldn’t afford it. But I’m too sensible :) I know what I can afford and don’t need a bank to tell me otherwise so that they can make money. So, I waited for prices to come down only when they did, the mortgage companies had already fucked themselves and weren’t loaning money to anyone, much less a freelance contractor! So, I waited again...to get approved. Finally, in the summer of 2010, I did get approved! And that’s when the search began.

It was supposed to be an exciting time. Looking for a place I could call my own. Secretly hoping to finally have my own private HGTV series, where I’d rehab my house and friends would come over to help and all would be fabulous and I’d live happily ever after in HGTV-land. RIGHT! That came to screeching halt when I realized that now, even in the worst financial crisis that America has seen in years, the only thing that I could afford was a short sale or a bank owned foreclosure!!! WTF! How bad could it be, right? Well, that’s a whole different topic/posting that I will come back to one day. No more negative thoughts :) now. Many friends & family have heard me get on my soapbox and preach to the invisible world about the corrupt mortgage/banking/financial system in this country and the fucked up ways people live...and I’ll be happy to preach about it again one day on this blog. But not today :)

Today marks a new day. A new chapter...going forward with the rest of my life. I picked up the keys for my new place today at 5:00pm! The sale was a long, uneventful process that lasted about four months. A short sale (ha!) even though nothing about the process is short (ironic!). So, after four long months of barely no activity aside from a few conversations between real estate agents...and then...in less than three weeks, I have bought this place and I am picking up the keys! Crazy crazy crazy!

The home buying process here in CA is NOTHING like it was in Chicago or apparently like anywhere else in the country. The “closing” isn’t an actual event that is attended by both parties involved. Its merely a transaction...or a close of the business that has been conducted. Both parties do everything separately, the escrow company handles the transaction, it is recorded with the county and that’s it. Good times.

So, back to the reason I started this blog. Those who REALLY know me, know that I have a great love for interior design and all things related. With many friends & family scattered across the country, I have been trying to keep everyone in the loop as much as possible regarding this condo purchase. So, I thought it would be fun to share the journey. To document the progress of my (now) dream home. I really did want to start it sooner, but back to “no negative thoughts” and trying to keep a positive outlook so that I would get the place of my dreams, I just couldn’t document anything until the “closing” :) Until the transaction was final. Its not over til its over and all that :)

But now, it really has “only just begun” (Carpenters...how fitting :)

I’ll start with this clip, entitled...”BEFORE.” This is what I saw at my inspection...work in progress comes to mind...which is actually a nice way of saying...NOT MY STYLE & NEEDS LOTS OF WORK :) So, if anyone has any contractor friends :) let me know!

I’m super excited to get started on MY BIG PHAT REHAB ADVENTURE!!! A super big THANK YOU to everyone that has consulted with me along the way and that has listened to all of my crazy questions, theories, etc.

My goal is to post a daily progress report with pics so that you can track the project (or not) on your own :) I’d love to hear from you. Post your thoughts, questions, comments, suggestions, etc.