The House We Fell in Love With is Now Pending

Pending...

We just saw the most dreaded word on the Realtor listing - Pending.

The house we really liked is now pending and we didn't make it happen.

It was actually the first house we looked at but it was outside our price range by $35K. So we couldn't make a realistic offer.

We decided to raise our loan limit. This way we could start looking at houses that are move-in ready and hoping this house will still be on the market to put an offer on. This took about a week and during that time some douchebag put an offer on the house.

The house is now pending.

You usually know if you like the house as soon as you step your foot inside it and this Pending House was it. As we walked through the living room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, back screened in patio and single-car garage, we already visualized ourselves living in it.

The house stayed with me and Stacey as the days went on. It became the standard that we now measure other houses to. But no matter how much you think you love the house, you must be willing to lose and be ok with it. Because you probably will.

First lesson of house hunting: do not fall in love with any house.

The house we fell in love with will probably be sold to someone else. And it should. It is a good lesson. It will toughen us up.

It is not your home until you move into it. Until then it is just a house that someone else doesn't want anymore.

The "perfect" house you can't get it out of your head is only perfect because you lack options. If you had multiple houses similar in layout and checked all the boxes you wouldn't be in love with any of them. You'd be more pragmatic and rational. Not emotionally invested in something that isn't yours yet.

Increase your options. Have multiple houses you are looking and considering. Options increase your IDGF attitude. This is what we need.

So if you are feeling anxious and stressed about the house you fell in love with and one that you might lose out on, REMEMBER:

• Someone else is trying to get rid of it because they are tired of living there and owning it.
• Increase your options by having more than one house you are looking at and considering to put an offer on.
• Separate house and home. It is not your home until you move into it. Until then it is just a house that someone else doesn't want anymore.
• Pending often falls through and the house can be back on the market. So you might still get what you want.