Master Bedroom Gets a Makeover

I am finally making my way to create a bedroom design that encompass both William & my taste in our new home.  Below is a photo of the bedroom.

Housewarming

Yesterday, we welcomed friends and family over to celebrate the purchase of our new home via an official housewarming party. I felt so blessed to have family and friends travel from far and near to share in this momentous occassion with us. Below are the beggining stages of the decoration of our home focusing on the children's rooms.

Phase I of Jade's Bedroom

Jade and William's Bathroom

Phase I of William's Bedroom

Phase I of Vanessa's Bedroom

Vanessa's bathroom

Ribbon Cutting Celebration

Today, will forever be etched in my memory. For once I am at a lost for words. The only word I can use to describe how I feel is GRATEFUL.

Mayor Vincent Gray serving as the keynote speaker.

The girls, pop-pop and I before the celebration

We Closed

Our new home

Final Walk Through

Today, we had our final walk through of the house. Everything checked out okay. The only items that need to be fixed are a broken shower rod in master suite, faulty fence door and a non-working light fixture in the fourth bedroom.

I am so excited for tomorrow morning's closing!

Final Approval

Received my final approval from the underwriter. We are "cleared to close. " I am soooo excited right now. Final walk through of the property is scheduled for tomorrow at 6:00 pm and closing is Friday at 11:00 am.

House Update

It has been a mini ordeal to close on our house due to a lot consolidation issue.

For the past month, I have been calling the surveyor's office for updates on the property. Unfortunately, I have heard numerous time that a new lot number has not been assigned. Today, I was garnered good news because the lot has officially been consolidated and recorded.

Over joyed with this news I immediately contacted the realtor and seller and informed them of this and asked them to verify the information and share with the title company.

I then, contacted everyone who was aware of the lot consolidation issue and informed them of the good news including my loan processor.

A few hours from my initial message to the seller I received an email requesting for me to call her. Of course I was eager to speak with Elin because I couldn't imagine a better Christmas present than a new house.

My conversation with Elin went better than I could have even imagine. We discussed a possible close date...we are shooting for December 19th. Also she discussed with me details about the planting of the new trees and erection of the fence. Both of these will be completed next week. Then she asked if I would be interested in hosting a "party" for all of the new homeowners. The "party" would actually be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new community with my home being the designated site. I was both humbled and honored to be asked to host this event.

Today, was a great day indeed!

Fences and Trees

Tonight, I received the following message from my realtor as a forward:

Dear Realtor,

We have a ‘little bit left’ in our construction budget to offer all buyers some wooden fencing at the properties. As well we are planning to have Casey Trees plant trees on December 16th free of charge to the buyers on all lots (2-4 per lot). Most of these will be in the rear, some in the front. Can you please give buyers who will be closing this week, and all buyers the heads-up that this work will be done in the next couple of weeks?

Thanks,

Developer

This is the best news that I have heard in a very long time.

Ivy City Community Meeting

Tonight, the girls and I attended our first Ivy City community meeting.

The experience was very unique because I met current residents and advocates that wanted to empower the neighborhood. Many of these individuals no longer had their zeal or belief that the elected city officials would honor their requests to improve the community. After hearing these community members share their experiences I started to wonder if I made the right choice to purchase a home in Ivy City.

After second guessing my decision I then decided that my I would create the community I want Ivy City to become by serving as an advocate for my neighborhood.

At the community meeting an association forming committee was created and I volunteered to be a member of this group because it will be key in shaping what Ivy City becomes. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, October 25th.

Hooray to transforming Ivy City into the pride of Washington, DC!

Latest House Details

Our porch officially has rails, the address numbers are up and the parking pad is in place.

House Walk Through

Today, I visited the house for an inpromptu walk through. The stairs (with rails) are up and very beautiful. The builder was at the work site and told me the house will be complete by the end of next week.

I am so excited! It is more than a year since I discovered the Ivy City project. Initially, my credit score was not where it needed to become a homeowner however I decided that I would do everything it took to ensure that one of the two 5 bedroom homes would become mine. I did exactly what I said I would. Other than paying off my student loan debt in one year, this process has caused me the most growth.

Dry-Wall is Up

William went out for an impromptu visit to the house for a walk thru. He told me the dry-wall is up and the inside of the house is starting to come together. Also the builder gave me bathroom tile options today and we decided on mushroom.

As you can tell we are excited and counting down the days until we can move into our new home.

Our Porch is On

The builder has finally begun creating the porch to our home. Across is a photo of the latest progress.

Our House is Almost Complete

Each day our house looks more and more like a home. The children are so excited about their rooms. William is even getting excited about helping me to decorate, especially the "man cave."

front of home with hardi-board siding up

side of home with hardi-board siding up

I love OUR House

Thanks to my daddy I have some new photos of the house with the workers adding the siding.

It has been magically to see our home built. I have decided that I am going to name it so maybe the next post will include that tid bit of information.

Windows and Doors are In

The house is coming along nicely. The windows and doors are all in. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we close before August 26th so the we can have our keys in time for my birthday :)

front view with windows and door 6.11.2011

Side view with windows and door 6.11.2011

Also we picked out paint colors for the children's rooms. We are still undecided about the rest of the house though.

Updated Home Pictures

Getting so excited as the house transorms into our new home. Latest photos below.

Full Roof - front view 5.28.2011

Full Roof - side view 5.28.2011

Partial Roof - front view 5.27.2011

Partial Roof - side view 5.27.2011

First floor - front view 5.25.2011

First floor - cata corner view 5.25.2011

First floor - side view 5.25.2011

OUR Home

My fondest childhood memories were all created in my family's home on "T" street. I lived in the same house from the age of eight until my grandmother passed away in my arms within my bedroom. The myriad of happy (and even sad) memories created within this house are the ones that molded me into the person I am today.

Since 2007, I have wanted to give my daughter's a place in which they too can create lifelong memories and one day visit with their own children and reminisce on the past.

Through God's blessing I will soon become a DC homeowner.

Over the years, District government has rehabilitated numerous communities to insure that quality housing is provided for low and moderate income families. Like previously rehabilitated communities "Ivy City" is slated to be transformed from its current state into one of Ward 5's newest gems by way of 58 new condominiums and single family homes. These homes are being built through a partnership with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the DC Local Initiatives Support Corporation (DC LISC), DC Habitat for Humanitiy, MANNA and Mi Casa.

OUR home will be a beautifully constructed energy efficient 5 bedroom single family dwelling sitting on a lovely corner lot with space for entertaining or maybe a small swing play set for the girls.

Joyously, I will share photos of the pre-construction of OUR home below.

Land Prep

Framing of the house