Monday, June 29, 2009
Our new Neighborhood
So far, we’ve found our new neighborhood to be a pretty friendly one. It’s mostly Asian with sprinklings of Caucasian and African American throughout, and there are quite a few Africans and Hispanics nearby. Our part of Beacon Hill is definitely a working class neighborhood. Both of these facts make our ‘hood very different from the bleached out rarified hues of our old Leschi Digs. Plus, plenty of people have come up to introduce themselves to us – again, much different than Leschi, which to me is the “Seattle Freeze” typified. I’m looking forward to what the upcoming years will bring.
At Last!
It almost didn’t seem like it would happen. Our initial lender fell through at the last moment, and our mortgage company stepped up and scrambled trying to get a replacement. The replacement lenders didn’t offer the nice slim interest rate of the first lender (the later was half a percent higher), and demanded that we carry more insurance on our property – but we ended up getting things done in the long run.
On what was supposed to be closing day, we discovered that, due to a miscommunication between the lenders and our escrow company, a single document hadn’t been signed! That held closing up for a day, which meant that we had to close and move pretty much on the same day. We had to wait until 3:30 before we could get the keys and step foot inside our own house. Oh – and note to self – never rent a U-Haul from the location on Ranier. The people there are very poorly trained, and the “manager” has a major attitude problem.
But I digressed. It took us six hours over two trips to move out of our old place and into our new one. We’re still unpacking and cleaning to this day, but it’s well worth it. We have a beautiful place that we are in the process of truly making our own.
On what was supposed to be closing day, we discovered that, due to a miscommunication between the lenders and our escrow company, a single document hadn’t been signed! That held closing up for a day, which meant that we had to close and move pretty much on the same day. We had to wait until 3:30 before we could get the keys and step foot inside our own house. Oh – and note to self – never rent a U-Haul from the location on Ranier. The people there are very poorly trained, and the “manager” has a major attitude problem.
But I digressed. It took us six hours over two trips to move out of our old place and into our new one. We’re still unpacking and cleaning to this day, but it’s well worth it. We have a beautiful place that we are in the process of truly making our own.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Signing day
Carrie and I signed a bunch of documents yesterday - about half an hour in, our hands were getting tired, and we were still looking at three inches of paperwork still to go - at the very end, we had to sign a piece of paper attesting to the fact that we had just signed a bunch of other pieces of paper. How meta! Anyway, the deal's not quite done yet, as we now have to wait for the VA, Lender and King County to bless the union between humans and house. We'll know (and possibly) celebrate by the end of the business day today!
Martyr
No matter how loudly the self-pitying egocentric martyr within me screams, I shall only regard the things that go well in my life, and do so fondly; the things that are true for me, and do so often; and the friends that are dear to me, and do so with great reverence. Grace shall grant me the perseverance, wisdom, patience and fortitude to deal evenly with all else.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Exploration
Whenever the inevitable wanderlust churns within my soul, I quell it with the gentle reminder that sometimes the best way to truly explore one’s inner self is to sit still.
Monday, June 22, 2009
It ain't real until you sign the paperwork!
Well hell, another snag...
The thing about going through a mortgage company - even though they may underwrite the loan themselves, they will still (generaly) go to another company to actually provide the funds. That is what happened to us - we were approved for financing from one source at 5%. However, that source is in danger of failing, so, as a backup, our man at the mortgage company went to another source to secure funding in the event that the first one failed. Thing is - that second company approved us at 5.5%, and they are requiring us to bump the dwelling coverage amount on our insurance policy. So, not only do we get to pay about $10 / month more for our insurance, we also get to pay $100 / month more for our mortgage payment as well, which, this being Seattle and all, is pretty substantial.
Everyone is working to make it so that in the case of our having to go with the second company (there is still hope that the first will pull through), enough money will be available so as to pay down the percentage points of our loan, from 5.5% to 5.25%. Just shaving off that extra quarter of a percent will save us $50 / month in loan payments. What really sucks, though, is that we may not be able to move into the place on our original date - and you know how much planning goes into that!
All this is why I always say - It ain't real until you sign the paperwork!
The thing about going through a mortgage company - even though they may underwrite the loan themselves, they will still (generaly) go to another company to actually provide the funds. That is what happened to us - we were approved for financing from one source at 5%. However, that source is in danger of failing, so, as a backup, our man at the mortgage company went to another source to secure funding in the event that the first one failed. Thing is - that second company approved us at 5.5%, and they are requiring us to bump the dwelling coverage amount on our insurance policy. So, not only do we get to pay about $10 / month more for our insurance, we also get to pay $100 / month more for our mortgage payment as well, which, this being Seattle and all, is pretty substantial.
Everyone is working to make it so that in the case of our having to go with the second company (there is still hope that the first will pull through), enough money will be available so as to pay down the percentage points of our loan, from 5.5% to 5.25%. Just shaving off that extra quarter of a percent will save us $50 / month in loan payments. What really sucks, though, is that we may not be able to move into the place on our original date - and you know how much planning goes into that!
All this is why I always say - It ain't real until you sign the paperwork!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Part Tres
Well - the time is almost upon us!
We agreed to a price, had the appraisal, had an inspection, gotten all of the major issues taken care of - now, we just have to wait to sign papers.
This has been a trying process for the two of us. Very emotional - from the high that we first had when we saw the place together, to the lows of the negotiation, to the almost endless waiting for the appraisal to take place (and be approved by the VA), to getting the inspection - and issues found as a result of such fixed. Now, on Wednesday, we get to sign papers, walk through the new house - and next weekend, we get to move!
Much fun, heartache, and (almost) tears. But I've faith that it will be worth it!
We agreed to a price, had the appraisal, had an inspection, gotten all of the major issues taken care of - now, we just have to wait to sign papers.
This has been a trying process for the two of us. Very emotional - from the high that we first had when we saw the place together, to the lows of the negotiation, to the almost endless waiting for the appraisal to take place (and be approved by the VA), to getting the inspection - and issues found as a result of such fixed. Now, on Wednesday, we get to sign papers, walk through the new house - and next weekend, we get to move!
Much fun, heartache, and (almost) tears. But I've faith that it will be worth it!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Hi-Spot cafe, Madrona
I've been to this place about four times now. We go there just because it's close and we enjoy strolling about the Madrona neighborhood. But on all three occasions, we've noticed the following:
- Wickedly long waiting times (exacerbated by a clientele that seems to enjoy lounging about for half an hour after they are done eating)
- Slow service; our waitress took five minutes to get us water, fifteen to take our orders, ten to deliver our check, and another ten to get our credit card back to us. For each one of these stages, there were people who were seated after us who received the same service before us.
- Mediocre food. We didn't have a single dish that we could not have done better at home for less cost and aggravation.
The pluses:
- Friendly service. When we did get waited upon, the waitress was very charming and accommodating.
- Food delivery. It didn't take long for the food to make its way out to us - once our order had been taken.
We'll be moving out of the neighborhood soon, so I severely doubt that we'll be going back to the Hi-Spot.
- Wickedly long waiting times (exacerbated by a clientele that seems to enjoy lounging about for half an hour after they are done eating)
- Slow service; our waitress took five minutes to get us water, fifteen to take our orders, ten to deliver our check, and another ten to get our credit card back to us. For each one of these stages, there were people who were seated after us who received the same service before us.
- Mediocre food. We didn't have a single dish that we could not have done better at home for less cost and aggravation.
The pluses:
- Friendly service. When we did get waited upon, the waitress was very charming and accommodating.
- Food delivery. It didn't take long for the food to make its way out to us - once our order had been taken.
We'll be moving out of the neighborhood soon, so I severely doubt that we'll be going back to the Hi-Spot.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Essential Bakery in Madison Park
First off, my wife and I have been coming here a lot over the past year and a half. This place used to be one of our regular stops on our way downtown into work in the mornings. The coffee's good, and they do a pretty good job with their freshly baked selections. As a cafe and a bakery, I'd say that this place is above average.
However, as a spot to grab brunch - I'd definitely pass. The brunch service was sloooow - I ordered French Toast, my wife ordered a scramble, the total order took almost a half hour to prepare - so much for keeping to a schedule!
When the food finally did come out, the two of us were greatly disappointed. My French Toast as either too crispy or too chewy, her scramble was a disheveled mess, and neither tasted all that great. For ten dollars more, the next morning we went to Flora down the street and had much better fare and quicker service.
We might come back to this place for coffee and pastries, but never again for brunch.
However, as a spot to grab brunch - I'd definitely pass. The brunch service was sloooow - I ordered French Toast, my wife ordered a scramble, the total order took almost a half hour to prepare - so much for keeping to a schedule!
When the food finally did come out, the two of us were greatly disappointed. My French Toast as either too crispy or too chewy, her scramble was a disheveled mess, and neither tasted all that great. For ten dollars more, the next morning we went to Flora down the street and had much better fare and quicker service.
We might come back to this place for coffee and pastries, but never again for brunch.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Ninas crepes on First Hill
Granted, I only had a simple caramel crepe, but if a supposed creperie can't get that right, then there really isn't any point.
I stopped in early in the morning (before 7) in the mood for a simple sweet crepe. Not finding either of my old standbys on the menu (crepe with butter and sugar, or crepe with butter and honey), I opted for the crepe with butter and "Imported European Caramel". Which came in a can. And tasted like tin. Nice.
So - she makes the crepe. Except that she has to make it twice, because she didn't have all of her equipment up front ready waiting for her when she poured the batter, and wasted a crepe in her attempt to smooth it over the element. All in all, she spent ten minutes making a crepe that it would have taken most others three.
All that would have been worth it had the crepe itself tasted fine. As mentioned before, the caramel topping had a tinny aftertaste to it. The crepe itself tasted vaguely like cardboard - not appetizing at all.
I stopped in early in the morning (before 7) in the mood for a simple sweet crepe. Not finding either of my old standbys on the menu (crepe with butter and sugar, or crepe with butter and honey), I opted for the crepe with butter and "Imported European Caramel". Which came in a can. And tasted like tin. Nice.
So - she makes the crepe. Except that she has to make it twice, because she didn't have all of her equipment up front ready waiting for her when she poured the batter, and wasted a crepe in her attempt to smooth it over the element. All in all, she spent ten minutes making a crepe that it would have taken most others three.
All that would have been worth it had the crepe itself tasted fine. As mentioned before, the caramel topping had a tinny aftertaste to it. The crepe itself tasted vaguely like cardboard - not appetizing at all.
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