So here's what's up

We found out at Christmas that my husband got a new job, starting February 6, 3500 km away in Calgary! So... our house is up for sale, and meanwhile we have to find a place to live there.

The three of us flew out a couple weeks ago for a weekend and viewed about 20 houses. We saw one that we loved, but it had a couple of things that gave us pause - a preserved wood foundation instead of concrete, and it backs onto a golf course that has been sold to a developer - and there's no way of knowing what's going to be put in directly behind it. We've looked at the developer's website, which shows a neighbourhood full of trees and a green belt where the house backs on to - but anyone who's seen a developer's plan versus the reality of neighbourhood construction knows things can change and trees are often just a pretty fantasy. We contacted the City planner to find out if plans have been submitted, and the answer is no. The wood foundation is okay, if it's in good condition (life span of preserved wood is 98 years, concrete is 103) - but it has a stigma to it that can hurt resale.

We also took a look at a show home of a custom builder. Very nice - at $1.2 million bucks! The house we are considering building would be less than that! However, on discussing with the builder since then, there are all sorts of costs they keep adding on to the amount they initially proposed. It's kind of a rehash of our last experience with a builder, which was an ordeal we're not eager to repeat.

All that pause and hemming and hawing - we finally decided to put an offer in on the house we loved. I was so excited. It's truly a beautiful home. And... a couple hours before we could sign it, our real estate agent emailed to tell us the house has sold. It had been on the market since May, and suddenly it's gone. I'm so disappointed.

Meanwhile... my husband starts work in three weeks there, our house hasn't sold yet, we have nowhere to live there, and no real solid prospects for houses at this point.

Stress? Oh, my. I'm drowning in it.