AUTHOR: M. DATE: 10:04:00 PM ----- BODY:

In the past two days, we've raced around like maniacs, and have successfully managed to: 1) Get a lawyer 2) Get pre-approved for a mortgage 3) Decipher all sorts of ridiculous mortgage-related jargon (it's like stupid St*rbucks - why can't I just order a medium? Pisses me off every time) 4) Set up another appointment to see the condo this weekend, with my father-in-law in tow to be another set of eyes 5) Drive through the neighborhood during daylight hours and clock the distance from the house to approximately 47 different important locations (like our favorite brunch place - this is critical information, folks) 6) Exchange at least 9 emails with the buyer's agent 7) Call my real-estate agent aunt at least 4 times and pepper her with questions 8) Call my mother at least 17 times and talk her ear off about this process. Can you think of anything I've forgotten? Now that just about everything's in place to make an offer, and we know how much we want to offer, and we actually know how to make an offer, we're panicking. I KNOW this is "good" debt, I KNOW this is a good price, I KNOW we like the neighborhood, I KNOW no one buys their dream home the first time out. But holy cow this is a lot of money to be signing onto. Our Alleged Future Kids will be out of college before we finish paying this off. And if my calculations are right, the amount of money we can put down should mean that we would own... let's see... the living room! Outright! Are we panicking because this isn't the right place? Or are we panicking because this is far and away the biggest financial committment we've ever made? And how on earth do we figure out which it is?

-------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: art-sweet COMMENT-DATE:11:48 PM COMMENT-BODY:I dunno about the condo stuff.

But I am SO with you on the Starbucks issue. Take your "grande" and shove it!

Good luck with all the tough decisions! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:9:59 AM COMMENT-BODY:When we bought our first house, I had some real panic attacks and sleepless nights. My god, lots of money, what if we can't make the mortgage, 30 years is a long time.

I got over it, and the two houses we have since bought are a piece of cake emotionally on the committment thing.

It's overwhelming at first, but you will quickly adjust. Good luck. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:7:35 AM COMMENT-BODY:I have to chuckle!! I so remember being the crazy panicked wanna be homebuyer! Lots of sleepness nights, lots of days spent agonizing over every detail and possible future scenario. That was 2 houses ago, soon to be #3. You become an old pro after the first. Good luck! -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Johnny COMMENT-DATE:9:37 AM COMMENT-BODY:It's normal for the first house. You will also be getting a hand-cramp from all the "initial here, sign here" you'll be doing.

Also, you'll be self-guessing and miserable (financially) for the first 2 years. In the third year, it will look like a piece-o-cake. -------- COMMENT-AUTHOR: Anonymous COMMENT-DATE:12:55 AM COMMENT-BODY:I think everyone feels like they are 'signing their life away' but it is so worth it. Much better than giving your money to someone else. --------