The house we are purchasing has been removed from Zillow, which has to mean it\’s offially ours! 
I liken it to an engagment: it is off the market, even though the deal has not been legally signed by the state. Our ceremony (closing) is the second week of July. We were hoping to close the third week of June when the girls are in Tennessee, but the current owners would be out\”on the street\” so to speak, and we are not quite that impatient. We are going from 5,200 sq. feet to 2,200 sq. feet. We decided to either rent an apartment or buy a small house while we wait for our Iowa home to sell. But, this adorable house may be \”the one.\” I sent my Aunt Karen (our dedicated realtor) a list of nine small houses last week that we wanted to see over the weekend. She checked them out, and sent me a response that six out of nine had offers on them, and then the next day the other three were gone too. Yikes! The larger properties we have been looking at over the past few months are still on the market, but the smaller homes tend to be gobbled up fast. When the little ivy covered English Tudor came up on Monday, I sent the Zillow link to Andrew. Seeing how competitive the market is for small houses, it was too risky to wait until Friday to walk through. I texted Karen and asked if she would be willing to look at it for us. She generously was. Following her walk-through, she had the savvy of a seasoned realtor to contact the selling agent immediately. She notifed him that her buyers were putting in an offer that afternoon. Her quick action secured us first spot in the bidding line–thank you Auntie Karen!! She recommended that we offer more than the asking price as there were several people interested. We put in a generous offer that evening, never having seen it. We knew that we could back out if the inspector found something we didn\’t like. Plus, we assumed that this was a \”temporary\” dwelling just to get the girls up in time for school to start. However, we absolutely love it! We are so in love with the house, the neighborhood, the walkablity to shops, restaurants, grocery stores, the lakes, trails etc…it\’s perfect. *sigh* We may never leave.
We didn’t walk through the house until Sunday. Saturday the girls had orchestra auditions for “The Greater Twin Cities Symphony Youth Orchestra.” They were both miserable all day Friday and three-quarters of Saturday dreading the looming audition. “Do one thing every day that scares you,\” said the wise Eleanor Roosevelt. And, the girls were terribly scared. After an hour of recovery time following the audition and eating a fine meal at the “Holy Land Bakery,” (one of our favs and who happened to cater for our wedding) they were feeling optimistic and chipper. Honestly (and thankfully), the girls did not want to return home after being in Minneapolis. They love the house, the yard, the lakes, the restaurants, the “Minnesota nice people,” and simply the excitement and complexity that comes from the richness of city life. While swinging in the backyard on Sunday of our home-to-be, they both agreed that they wanted to kick the current owners out “now” so we could move in and not have to return to Iowa. 🙂 Six more weeks girls, and we will be urbanites again!! hanks as always for checking in.
xoxo ~Autumn
Good morning, my dear! Nice to see I'm not the only one facing changes! And for good! The title of your text serves the situation perfectly, as I've been very anxious the past few weeks. A silent anxiety, eating me from inside out, but calm on the surface 😉 Such a sweet home it looks to be, and I wish you all the best in your new adventures! Changes shake the blood, when done wisely, and I'm looking forward to going to Germany! I'd love a visist! 😉 Love you all!
Good morning precious Sheila! Your English surpasses most Americans!! We would love to visit you in Germany. It is a more gut-wrenching change for you and yours to move abroad permanently than for us who are moving a mere state away (to where I grew up). The girls are torn. When they are here, they don't want to move; and when they are there, they don't want to come back. Love to you all & we will see you in Germany!! Xoxo
Dear Autumn. I am happy to hear the whole family is embracing the change. There is so much awaiting your family in MN. I can't wait to visit you there. Hugs! ~Leigh
Hi Leigh! I cannot wait for you all to visit Minneapolis!!! It's going to be fantastic!! Love and hugs!! Autumn
I think of you every morning when I use my delightful Jane Austen mug, my friend. Our shared routine…morning coffee date from afar. I am so very thrilled for you, Andrew, and the girls for your move. Change is always hard, I'm convinced, but I think this will be a change you can easily settle into. The home is just charming. I cannot wait to visit you! And vice versa! We can do a morning coffee cafe crawl together 🙂 XOXO