Love Affair, Part Deux

Purchasing a haunted house wasn't part of the 5 year plan.  As with most Epic™ decisions, things came together so neatly, it was hard to believe it was not Written.  

The lease was coming due and Stepford had not been kind to Kai.   Several houseplant successes behind me and a compost bin that runneth over, I had been threatening my now live-in bf, MacGyver, with vermiculture and chicken husbandry "adventures."  Not conducive to apartment living.  

Two co-workers who couldn't agree on anything both strongly recommended Redfin.  So I took to browsing listings over morning coffee. SoCal doesn't have much architectural appeal for a city girl.  Basements and attics were verboten.  I did a lot of grimacing at hardscapes and googling alarming phrases like "swimming pool koi pond retrofit."  Heh.

Last week, I nearly tipped over the french press when I came across a listing in Santa Ana with my "huge lot, cut rate price" search filter on.  Normally I have to zoom out 5 clicks until I'm peering into Nevada to get any hits.  I speculate this will be a comfortably close commute  to Valhalla (employer's mythical proposed office park).  Legit Victorian architecture built at the turn of the century; before they got the memo about basements and attics.  Epic hardwood staircase!  Tear-jerking romantic backstory about a couple who had bought the place 40 years ago.  Now the widower wants to retire to their cabin.  Huh, the ask was $100K lower than I had idly budgeted for... Granted, it needs work,  methinks grass wasn't the only element photoshopped in the MLS images.  Fortunately MacGyver and his dad are as game as they are handy.    

So that's where we are.  Redfin has been rocking awesome.  Within a week, we had toured this property and 3 more "back ups" to put MaEpic at ease.  In similarly leet fashion, USAA pre-approved us online in less than 24 hours.  Now Katrina whose super hero power is Realty has volleyed an offer into their court to see what they'll come back with.  Meanwhile, MacGyver and I are getting MTM quotes on Stepford and googling alarming phrases like "steampunk decor," "antique replica light bulbs," and "Santa Ana landfill fees."  


[7/13 update:  Holy cow, is foundation work pricey!]