Thanks to all of you who told me the right house would find us, it did -- yesterday -- and today we are officially under contract.
What sealed the deal for me: the combination of location (within walking distance of downtown Safety Harbor) and charm (terrazzo floors and lots of beadboard trim).
What sealed the deal for Gary: the extra space (it's three bedrooms plus a study) and the price (it was $30,000 less than anything we'd seen).
What sealed the deal for Colter: a banana tree in the backyard with almost-ripe fruit on it that the seller told us makes great smoothies.
We are one happy family.
OOh, I didn't realize you weren't living in St. Pete! I'm from Palm Harbor and my best friend that I met at SPJC grew up in Safety Harbor in Phillipe Park. (Yes, in the park -Her mom was the ranger)
Congrats on the house, it sounds fab!
Posted by: FabGirlie | August 28, 2004 at 11:19 AM
Congratulations! I knew you will find the perfect house!
Best of luck to you and your family!
May the rest of your plans/paperwork etc. go well!
BBB
Posted by: Bianca | August 27, 2004 at 05:35 PM
Ohhh, I'm so happy you found your dream house. I guess this means there is hope after all!
Congratulations!
Posted by: Frankie | August 26, 2004 at 08:01 PM
I knew the "right" house would find you! I didn't have any doubts at all.Please ask Gary to post a banana cream pie recipe! YUM! Sounds delicious.
Extra space,good location and bananas. Congratulations to all!
Posted by: Robin P | August 25, 2004 at 07:19 PM
I hate to sound like a toddler but...
*sticks tongue out and chants (in an annoying voice)* I told ya so, I told ya so.
Ok, I'm no Mother Nature but finding a house is the easy part. Going through all of your stuff, packing or throwing it away and moving those same boxes, unpacking and the interruption of life that happens in between is the hard part.
Best of luck to you
Posted by: aPRIL | August 25, 2004 at 06:58 PM
Wow bananas! Any kid would love that!
Posted by: Angie | August 25, 2004 at 09:30 AM
yay you!!
Posted by: Amber | August 25, 2004 at 05:34 AM
Congrats!! You must be so excited. We may be relocating from Maryland to Summerville, SC this fall, so I know how the house hunting can go. Best wishes for a smooth move for you and your family.
Posted by: Nikki | August 24, 2004 at 11:24 AM
I'm so excited for you Julie1I know you can't hardly wait until it is truly yours!
Posted by: emily | August 24, 2004 at 07:57 AM
Congrats! Buying a new house is sooo frustrating and exciting all at the same time. I'm so glad that you found something that you are all happy with! :)
Posted by: Sheilah | August 24, 2004 at 12:38 AM
Congratulations on the house!! We used to have a banana tree in our yard when we lived in Hawaii. I miss those days!!
Posted by: Wendy | August 23, 2004 at 10:51 PM
Wow! Congrats! Sounds just like what you were looking for. May you have many many years of delicious banana smoothies! :)
Posted by: Chana | August 23, 2004 at 07:33 PM
Congrats to everyone. We have peach trees, so I can appreciate how exciting it is to have one's very own nanna tree. :)
Posted by: Helene | August 23, 2004 at 07:02 PM
congratulations! so happy for you!
Posted by: Rachel | August 23, 2004 at 04:03 PM
Funny what things draw us in to a house, isn't it? For me it was a huge picture window in my loft bedroom, and fruit trees (kumquats, oranges, tangerines, lemons) in my backyard. So I'm with Colter on this one...Banana smoothies are a good reason to love a house.
Mazel tov. May you have many years of joy in your new home.
Posted by: Tiny Coconut | August 23, 2004 at 02:17 PM
Congratulations to you and your family. Y'all must be thrilled.
Thanks also for the George Eliot quote currently posted; I needed to see that today.
Posted by: terrilynn | August 23, 2004 at 01:48 PM
That's great!! :) Congratulations! I'm so glad you finally found something you're happy with and got it!
Posted by: heather | August 23, 2004 at 10:37 AM
Yeah! Good for you!
Posted by: VJ | August 23, 2004 at 09:30 AM
Sounds wonderful! When will you get to move in?
Posted by: Lei | August 23, 2004 at 06:07 AM
That's wonderful news! Many congratulations!! It sure sounds neat(and unique) to have a banana tree in the backyard. I've heard of lemon, plum, apple, cherry, nectarine, and peach trees in people's backyards before, but I don't know anyone who has a banana one. :)
Hope you get to move in soon to your new home.
Posted by: betty | August 23, 2004 at 02:14 AM
Ooh, and bananas too! Congratulations!
Posted by: Lunasea | August 23, 2004 at 12:17 AM
Sounds like a win! win! win! Woohoo!
Posted by: Grace | August 23, 2004 at 12:08 AM
Way to go, julie! Congrats! Fran
Posted by: fran manushkin | August 22, 2004 at 11:38 PM
Pictures! Pictures!
Posted by: Mieke | August 22, 2004 at 11:10 PM
Congratulations! A banana tree sounds very exotic to me as I am from Minnesota.
Posted by: Sarah | August 22, 2004 at 10:19 PM
WOOOHOOO! Congrats to you and your fam!
Posted by: Jo | August 22, 2004 at 10:03 PM
We have banana trees in our backyard too. Sounds like a great decision. Congrats!
Posted by: Robin | August 22, 2004 at 09:14 PM