what i learned buying a house-looking sucks

Greetings readers. Hope your Monday hasn't been as craptastic as mine.

I've decided since I'm embarking on a new adventure I should document the good, bad, and the ugly so that those of you who choose to follow can have an idea of just what you're getting yourself into-unlike me. I'm TOTALLY starting to wonder what I'm getting myself into...

Saturday I went out with Radical Realtor to start the hunting process. We were armed with about eight listings we were going to try and see. 2.5 exhausting hours later this is what I have learned...

LOOKING SUCKS. No really. It does. Here's why:

-What looks GREAT on paper usually doesn't look so hot up close.
-Some homes that are listed as vacant...aren't.
-I have yet to find a house and a neighborhood I love. Although I'm hoping that will change, it seems I don't get to have my cake and eat it too.
-Some homeowners are just gross. Did you really leave garbage and all your junk in the house you want me to buy?
-As much as I like the area the old houses in Historic Midvale kinda creep me out...strike that-they REALLY creep me out. Especially when the basement looks like something out of the Blair Witch Project and it smells like hamsters. (I couldn't make this up if I tried.)
-I love dogs. What I don't love are big, scary pit bulls (don't start, my sister owns a pit bull and I love her, so I know not all pit bulls are bad. These pit bulls however were another story. I'm pretty sure they would have eaten me given the opportunity.) who try to eat my face. On the sidewalk. 200 feet away. No where near their 'territory'. The two foot extension to the top of the fence made from chicken wire made me feel oh-so-safe too.
-Whoever coined the phrase "location location location" was clearly looking for real estate. The adorable early 20-th century cottage with a deck and HUGE maple tree out front? Charming. The freeway "sound wall" (which does nothing to block the sound FYI) directly across the street? Not so much.
-You had better be prepared for the long haul. I'm an instant gratification girl. I can't find what I'm looking for in the store? I simply order it online. Too bad I can't order a house online. Someone should look into that...
-If I had $400k I would just buy this house in Herriman:

And that's what I've learned buying a house. So far...

excited and scared

Last year I moved into my first place. About six months into my lease the honeymoon wore off and it has been an...um...interesting experience since. If it's not completely useless management who can't answer simple maintenance requests or noise complaints or it's my downstairs neighbor smoking in his bathroom with the vent on making HIS second hand smoke vent into MY bathroom and adjoining bedroom and getting mad at ME when I politely ask him not to anymore it's the super young twenty somethings that took over chain smoker's apartment four months ago. They think that apartment shaking bass and drunken parties complete with barf all over the sidewalk every weekend are super fun. Ironically enough they are considerate enough to adhere to the "quiet time" hours; it's just the rest of the time they are a thorn in my side. Needless to say I am not the least. bit. happy.

Couple that with my well-meaning mother and sister telling me I need to buy a house and what do you get? Someone who is willing to consider something she hadn't even fathomed, that's what.

In other words....

I'm looking to buy a house. A HOUSE. Like a free-standing building. That I will live in. And OWN.

This weekend I called the "awesome" realtor who helped Superman Lover find and buy his first place. Well not really. I mentioned what I was considering and that I needed help. He came to my rescue and volunteered to send said realtor an email. Said Realtor called and left me a message this morning I have yet to return--no I'm not procrastinating...ok, maybe I am. A little.

I have been in a constant state of panic/shock/excitement/worry/stress/anxiety/disbelief/surrealism since the decision was made. I am still convinced I am not grown-up OR rich enough to be making such a huge decision--I mean come on. The biggest thing I've bought to date is a car and that's nothing compared to a HOUSE. I didn't want to be a single homeowner, but I'm tired of waiting for other people (read=stupid yet completely loveable men who are/have dragging (ed) their feet in popping the question), so I'm gonna see if I can do it on my own now.

I'm not holding any high hopes for anything because I'm still in my lease for another seven months, I hadn't planned on looking until after I was married so I have ZERO money saved for anything home related, and I'm fairly sure I won't be able to get a mortgage for close to what I'm paying in rent now. My mother DID make the comment "what's the harm in looking? If you find something, great, if not it's just experience for when you DO buy a house." And although I don't typically like to waste people's time I have to think she's right--again.

In other words I'm' hoping for the best, planning for the worst, and keeping my expectations low. I'll let you know how it goes.