After a very aggrivating couple weeks the house is finally ours. I drove up to Portland last Thursday because the house was to close on Friday the 13th. Normally Friday the 13th is a lucky day for me but not this time. The closing got delayed, delayed and delayed again and finally we signed on the 18th. Now this was not my first house buying experience but it was certainly the most frustrating. Even after the signing was done the official closing didn’t happen until today, Monday the 23rd. This is because the funds had not yet been wired and the county had to record the title transfer.

We had been informed that the signing would happen on the 13th for sure so we scheduled the delivery of our household goods for Tuesday the 17th. Then when it was delayed we had to postpone the delivery. We found out then that the moving company would hold the stuff at a $240 per day charge. We pushed to get the deal done and was assured the signing would happen on the 18th. We then told the movers to bring the items and we got a ‘early occupancy’ agreement done with the sellers. While the moving truck was being unloaded I had to leave to go sign the papers.

I am not in the mortgage lending business but I would think that certain things are done right up front when you apply for a loan. I received a call here in the office today from the lender. Get this… he was verifying the employment of my wife and I! Can you believe that? We had already signed all the loan papers last Wednesday! They call today to verify employment? Well I verified our employment and then we just got the word that the county is recording the deal today. I was waiting on that word before posting any new news on the house buying. Now the wife can begin putting everything away.

So, now the family, dogs and our worldly posessions are moved up to Vancouver. I must remain here in an empty house until this mall closes. I took a nice offer to stay here and finish out the de-leasing of this mall. Yes it does mean separation from the family for 3-4 months but the money is worth it. I hope.