House Selling & Buying

Hi Everyone,
Just a quick post - I'm working through lunch but decided to take a quick break. Did you know in Regina right now it's +33 but with the humidex it feels like +42? That's 107F! And it's supposed to get hotter!

So it is now day 22 since the people who bought our Saskatoon house have taken possession. That would be 15 working days. We were told it would take 7-10 working days for Land Titles to process everything and for us to get our money for the house sale. In the meantime, we had to take out a loan for a deposit on the house we bought here in Regina, along with some fancy bridge financing to cover our down payment to the bank on the new mortgage before the money came in from the sale. Once again - this was only supposed to take 7-10 working days! What do I learn this morning when I call the lawyer? Someone messed up (not at land titles however) and our paper work ended up just sitting there. At day 15, we are still $400,000 in debt because we are carrying two mortgages. Our money is supposed to show up today. Everyone I talk to is quite sure they mention that we are getting interest on this money that hasn't shown up yet. However - that's not our problem! It will be nice to have some interest on that but we aren't getting the interest even until the same time our house money shows up! Oh well, it's supposed to come today so we'll just wait and see...

So I suppose our advice is - please know what you are getting into when you are buying/selling. This market is crazy and businesses are behind with the backlog. Plus people on holidays probably doesn't help. We are dealing with this and it's not a huge problem - just rather annoying! And as for it being so hot - someone get me this house money so I can get air conditioning installed! :D

Take care!

We moved!

So I guess I've been slacking on the blogging! It's my facebook addiction. I promise soon I will post some pics of our move and the fun we've had since!

Take care everyone!

New Owners of our House

So here's a question for you all...

I awoke from a nap on the couch yesterday while James was at work to the door bell. I was kind of in a daze. I just ignored it as I'm thinking - who is at my house - I'm not expecting anyone. (yes we get enough people selling stuff at our door that I really didn't want to go see who it was with my nap hair).

Now that I was so rudely awaken, I decided to get up. There was a strange car parked in front of the house but neighbours always park there I thought. I go to the kitchen and there's an older couple in my back yard, with a measuring tape. The new owners I'd presume? So I just went out there...that's who it was and what was said to me? "Oh we rang the door bell and no one answered so we assumed you guys went away for the weekend." So I'm thinking, just because I didn't come to the door (which I wouldn't have done if I was downstairs or in the shower cause I wouldn't have heard it) I can expect to anytime have complete strangers in my back yard just cause you thought we weren't home? Do you happen to know that's called TRESPASSING? Apparently you don't know how to use this thing called a telephone to let people know or ask permission to come by first? It's not your freakin' house yet. Do you see me breaking into the back yard of the house of the people in Regina we bought the house from? Nope, we sure aren't.

We have a right to think this is not right. Are they coming in while we are away at work? What if we are away on the weekend? That does not give them the right to just come into our yard. Just because James & I are passive people will we do something about this? If we don't say something to our real estate agent will they think it's ok to come by and do this whenever they want?

Arg. All I ask for is some common courtesy.

It's My Party...

Another Regina weekend and what a tour...

Thursday - May 3rd

We left after work as I piled my work into the car to take with me. No big plans Thursday night, we just hung out with Kimby as Chris was working nights.

Friday - May 4th

Kimby went to work as the rest of us slept. I got up and did some work on the laptop that I brought with. Then what did I do? I went to check out the location for the AODBT Regina office. Sherry, the lone employee of the Regina AODBT Office - what does everyone think about that? Apparently my boss thinks it's a good idea. :D Friday night we went for supper with Kim, Chris, Chuck & Stacey at Moxies - yum. Oh and I shouldn't forget the visit to Polar Palace. Later, the boys went to a concert and Kim & I watched a movie with Jo. Holy moly are we exciting people.

Saturday - May 5th

Kim had this great idea to go to this ceramic shop where you can pick a piece of ceramics and then paint it! Kim & I, Tammy, Jen & Carmen all went and paint we did - what a fun idea! Look at the concentration...

Saturday night, a bunch of us went out for supper to BP's - how fun! Jen & I are HOT! I LOVE this picture of us!

Oh and I think someday perhaps I should scan and blog about how crazy Carmen and I can be...

Brewster partied hard...

So did I ever mention how happy I am that this move is happening?

We Bought a House!

The next step has come and we've succeeded. Last weekend when we were in Regina we looked at three houses. House #1 was only a few years old but was way in the North end, the yard wasn't done yet and it didn't really "speak" to us. It was a little more than we were thinking to spend - heard later they got 12 offers on that house.

Before I go on, perhaps I should tell you about the housing market in Saskatoon & Regina. Since the market is so hot, a house is listed at a suggested price. When buying, you then have to look at the house and really "guess" what you think it's worth and how much you would pay for it. If you really want it you have to hope that you are the highest offer and with no conditions or conditions that the seller will accept. If you are the highest offer, you really have no idea how much higher you are. This same thing happened when we sold our house - good for when you are selling! Our house went for way over asking price - that I like! Houses are selling like hot cakes and with in days or even just a day!

Back to my story...House #2 - we shall call "Slopey House". I don't think there was one straight or not droopy part on this house. It was huge and ah, slopey. It could have really been a nice place but it just hadn't been taken care of. In this market it had 40 showings and not one offer - not a good thing.

Now for the good stuff - House #3.
We loved this house and the people who own it were kind enough to let us see it before it even went on the market. The house didn't go on the market until Thursday April 19th and actually closed that night. What is the news? We made an offer and the house is ours! Yipeee - wooohooo - yaaaaa It's close to Jen & Jay, Tammy & Regan and not too far from Kim & Chris and Carmen & Jared. Yipity Skipity. Alright - here are some photos of the new place.



The outside is pretty...wait until the grass is green.

The living room and kitchen are all open to one another.

Probably going to be my office on the main floor.
















The outdoors...
















No, there won't be any animals on the walls downstairs.

SOLD!!!

Our house is SOLD!! No turning back now. Our house went on the market Friday, April 13th and on Sunday, April 15th we came back to find 37 real estate agent business cards on the kitchen counter and we had 5 offers awaiting us to open from our agent. So we picked one and got above our asking price so I guess we can't complain at all! You have NO idea how crazy the Saskatoon real estate market is!

Now the hunt begins in Regina - we saw a few on the weekend. We weren't so crazy about the sloping slanting house with the wood basement. Maybe it was that in combination with the 5 freezers, 3 stoves, 4 fridges. There was one we liked though...

Alright - I'm off. I'll let you know when something happens with a Regina house.

later

Never Seen the Place So Clean! - BUY ME - BUY ME!

Our Bedroom




















Kitchen













































Spare Room


































My Office















Living Room





























Dining Room















Hallway

SURPRISE!!

Sooo here's some news for everyone from the house of James and Sherry. No, sorry to those who thought it was a baby but big life changing news none-the-less.

WE ARE MOVING!

Yes, that's what I said, moving. Some of you say "Moving - but you guys just bought a house a year and a half ago." I say, yes I know and well, we didn't really think it would happen like this BUT (alright Sherry - get to the bloody point already)...we aren't just moving to a different house, we are moving to Regina. Yes, moving down south (the weather will be warmer there - right?)

So this may come as a surprise to some of you and some of you already know. My work has been notified - although I've been informed that my letter of resignation has not been accepted. I guess that's better than a boot out the door. :D

James has received a promotion which he has taken in Regina. I on the otherhand - I'm in limbo of what I will be doing. I will be working yes, just hopefully not to the extent of the hours that have been going on. I have a ton of friends in Regina - social life here I come!

Things will be crazy for the next two months...selling our house, finding a house, packing and moving. Oh did I mention about all the work that's going on at the office? Apparently working until midnight isn't getting everything done. James starts on June 18th at his new job so I have just over two months left here. Then we'll see what happens.

Although it will be sad to leave our life behind, I'm sure new and exciting things await us down south.

Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone out there.
Take care.

Shannon, Steve & Bennett

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post in case some of you don't know already but my friend Shannon now has a baby! Bennett was born March 8th and talk about a real cutey! Someone's going to have to watch the girls around this little guy. I knew that he was coming soon as the evening of the 7th, Shannon and I were chatting on msn and every so often she'd type "oooh just a minute - contraction!" Shortly there after she decided she better lay down on the couch. The next evening I got a call from her friend Caroline saying baby Bennett had arrived at 7:33pm at 7lbs 15oz. and 20 3/4" long and that everyone was doing well. Prayers had been answered for this littleone to come along! Take care Shannon, Steve & Bennett (oh and Skittish the kitty too). Love you guys.

Edmonton for the Weekend!

We left just after lunch on March 2nd for Edmonton with Kim and Chris for a big adventure in the new Grand Am (K&C's). Our first stop...Timmy's of course...

Chris was feeling "sex ay" so Kim labelled him with my new label maker.

Kimby drove for awhile then Chris took over so Kim & I could make licorice jewelrey.

The girls wanted to stop in Vegreville to see the big Easter Egg. Apparently the boys didn't agree. Due to this, I feel like my readers have been ripped off so I will try to accomodate.

Friday Night

We checked into the hotel which was just across the street from West Ed. Mall...how handy! Then we ate at Hooters. Yes, I said Hooters. See picture below. It was as classy as their sign is.

Saturday

The girls went SHOPPING and we shopped until we dropped! We started at 10:30am, only stopped for coffee and supper with the boys. We got back to the hotel at 9:20pm! We were exhausted. The boys went to the Lamb of Gob and Trivium show.

That was our big adventure.

The Coffee Pot

What's "The Coffee Pot" you are wondering? It's Mama's new cafe! That's right - Mom has a new place and it opens Monday, February 26th. The location is pretty much across the street from the old place. The new spot is smaller (holding about 25 people). The menu will be much simpler serving a few breakfasts, soup, sandwiches, salads, fries & poutine. She will be open Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm. These hours should be much easier on Mom and she'll be home in time for supper. From the stories I've heard there are a TON of people that are so happy to see her return to the business. In fact I think a few people practically begged her to come back. I must say she did such a wonderful job with Big Heart Cafe and it obviously shows since so many people were sad to see her go.

Good luck to Mama in her new adventure! I know she will do wonderfully. We are so very proud of her and wish her all the best.

P.S. Logo design by the great amazing logo maker Kimby

Down South for the Weekend

Down south for a visit with great friends makes a weekend great. I apologize to those Regina friends that I never had a chance to call while we were down there but the time just went too fast! I PROMISE next time I'm down I will let you know.

Friday night we saw Chemical Horizon (see below). Saturday afternoon, Kim & I headed out with Jen & Ethan for a tour. Ethan went out for his first restaurant visit and what a good boy! He slept through the entire lunch! Yes - we did eat at DQ but no blizzards - we did buy a cake for supper however.

Uncle James and I (Auntie Sherry) had some quality Brewster time...

Brewster likes to hang out with Mom and Dad too

Saturday night we celebrated Jay & Chris' Birthdays...however Chris wasn't able to come - but he was there in spirit. Or in the spirit of a bear? We had a delicious supper made by Kimby. Isn't Ethan the CUTEST little guy?