We start in the middle of how we purchased our dream home

It is said to start a story at the beginning... although that would start with a horrifically bad first date and over a decade of chapters. Instead, I will start a little later. 

Just as we are about to move into our dream home. 

Neil and I have been in our home for almost 13 years. It's a bitty semi-bungalow in a great community. Although we have outgrown our house. There isn't a place for guests, there isn't an office space for me, the bedroom for our daughter is... cramped. For a few years we have been voyeurs on MLS, looking at what is out there. We start the process of looking for a new home. Find nothing that is better than what we have for space (and so much further behind on upgrades). Then it stalls and we go back to creatively fitting everything in to the home we have. 

This time, in September, the peeking led to... a dream home? Outside our price range. But so perfect! And the hunt started again. This time with more purpose? Trying to find the cheaper twin of the house outside our price range. Much hunting, much time searching, a few visits to stranger's homes... 

About 10 houses in, we asked to see *THE* house. And as we walked up to it... we found out there was a conditional offer on it. But we went in. And it was more perfect than it appeared in the pictures.

Instantly, I was happy. Smiling at the quirky details, original lights partnered with 1990's spotlights. Very worn and dated glass kitchen cabinets. Tile. SO much tile. And as a clumsy girl that wouldn't bode well with everything I drop. But the creaking original wood floors. The thick wood (unpainted)  banister. The clawfoot tubs. The 2 fireplaces... So much space to live and to entertain. 

It was love at first sight. 

But there was that pesky offer on it already. 

More hunting online, more visits in person. And still nothing came even close. Beautiful homes! Just not right for us. And *THE* house still whispered to me. 

And then, the conditional offer was expiring. We could throw in another offer? See if it would be considered? It was still outside what we considered our price range... but SO MUCH less than what the banks would be willing to give us. Numbers were crunched, conversations about "extras" were had. And we could do it. 

Then someone else saw it. Someone else fell in love too... and we were in a battle. Our realtor was fabulous. Supportive, kind, knowledgeable. We made our best offer Sunday night. And were told they would review offers on Monday at 11am. 

We waited. 

Monday at 11am. Noon. 3pm. Nothing. we got home from work, made dinner. And began the emotional eating. Rationalizing the loss of our dream home... 

We got the call at about 7pm. We braced for the worst... and spoilers... 

They accepted our offer! 

And we had 30 days to sell our existing house (a condition). Hot damn. 

We staged our home. Emptied it of the extra things. It was listed on Thursday. One showing Thursday. Three showings Saturday and an open house. We spent the day outside our home, trying to stay distracted from thinking about what was happening in our house.

Then as the open house was wrapping up we got a call from our realtor. The open house was a bust. No one showed up. But... there is a but to this story. 

Someone else found their dream home in our little home. Actually, 2 someones.

We had two offers coming in.

We got the news in a Benjamin Moore, in front of the paint swatches. I ugly cried into Neil's jacket. And everyone else in the store carefully avoided the part of the store they came to visit in fear of the sobbing lady. 

In the end, both homes passed the home inspections and appraisals and all those other hoops. Other than bankruptcy by 1,000 micro-transactions (seriously, another $200 every time I turn around) and slight carpal tunnel from the number of signatures the lawyer required. We're moving. From our amazing little home to our dream home.