Thursday, October 22, 2009

Waking Up From A Dream

The unfortunate thing about waking up from a dream is that you then have to face reality and many times, it would have been better if the dream had just remained that…a dream.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support after reading about our serendipitous stumbling upon my dream home.

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Although my dream is still alive, at this time it is only hanging on my mere threads.  We had asked our realtor to provide us with the answers to some of our major concerns such as yearly costs for heating, electric, taxes, rural high speed internet, trash collection and any other incidentals that would affect our monthly carrying charges.

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We were certainly given a dose of reality to awaken us from our dream when Jenn, our realtor, came back with the answers yesterday.  The brutal truth is that the basic everyday costs to run my dream home would cost us approximately $500-$600 more per month than our current costs, with the majority being the increase in  the cost of heating.  There is a substantial  cost difference between heating with natural gas which we currently have and oil.   What a slap in the face that news was!

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The truth of the matter is, unless we can do some serious negotiations with the list price of the house, it looks like our dream might just fade into the proverbial sunset.  We still have time to think about it and to crunch more numbers, but in our heart of hearts, we know that the bottom line won’t change, given the volatile price of oil  and both Mr. Painted Quilt and I are not risk-takers when it comes to this sort of thing.

So I’m prepared to allow my dream remain a dream…until my next serendipitous encounter with a stone house with a ‘for sale’ sign on the lawn.   *wink*

Have a super day and as always…

Happy stitching!  

Kaaren ♥

36 comments:

Jenny said...

Wow, love that house! Oh man. It is totally gorgeous. Maybe it will still work out!

Katy said...

Oh no :(
Let me make a suggestion...what about taking out a loan and getting an outdoor wood stove? I don't like to be in debt..but the cost of our monthly loan payment is less than what our other heating costs were! And oh how cozy we stay with the heat!!! Oh how I hope you can get this house...best wishes!!!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

It is HARD tro see our dreams squashed, isn't it? I am sorry the monthly costs are so much higher. Heating is a huge expense isn't it? Especially clean heat that doesn't pollute our lungs - or our neighbors. You are in my thoughts as you crunch more and make your final decision!!

Quilt or Dye said...

I would certainly look at alternative ways of heating the house before simply letting my dream go.

Pat said...

The house is beautiful Kaaren. I hope that it will work out for you. If it is to be...it will.

Susannah said...

Kaaren..I have been thinking about you alot lately..wondering about the house. If the numbers don't work out right and you aren't comfortable with it...then maybe..it was not meant to be. I know you are probably very disappointed. You will find just the right one someday.

Take care -
Susannah

onlymehere said...

I hope some how, some way your dream can become a reality. I'm like you, I'm not a risk taker, especially when it comes to real estate. We have a dream home too that may never be a reality but it's fun to dream about!

Melanie said...

hey--I'll fight you for that house...gorgeous... In the land of pretend...who needs heat right?!?!?! Rethink things... be objective. Maybe things can work out. But if they don't... the reality is very few people purchase their dream house. They buy a house and it becomes the dream.... I have my fingers crossed for you....

Sue said...

Do you know sometimes things seem harder than they really are. We found our dream home 7 years ago and have made a lot of sacrifices to own it. No regrets, we love it here and one day will have to downsize but in the meantime life is sweet.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Oh Kaaren, You have a great attitude what will be will be, but you are right “it's not over yet” !!!

Jocelyn said...

oh my dear sweet friend Kaaren. We have traveled that road so many times. And with so many disappointments. For years we thought we would build our dream home, only to find now (that we can afford it) it costs WAY more to build then to just buy in the current market. The house is so gorgeous. Are there other heating options. Or perhaps better insulation? We live in Florida so heating is not the biggest issue, but electric is pretty expensive here too. I hope your dream really does come true.

Abby and Stephanie said...

My mother always says things happen for a reason. Somehow I think if this doesn't work out you'll travel down another road and find another dream.

Anonymous said...

If it is meant to be....if it doesn't happen you just have to know with good reason....something else better in the future perhaps!

Deb said...

Karen...sometimes dreams are meant to stay as dreams..if you have this house there will be another dream house sooner than you think.. so keep dreaming and enjoy what you have.. I have seen your lovely yard that you work hard to keep and some of your lovely rooms you decorate so lovingly...
no harm in keeping that dream just a dream girl..

Stina Blomgren said...

Oh Kaaren....
I hope everything will solve... maybe it wasnt this house that was your DREAM HOUSE after all.. maybe after the next bend on the road.. there is another DREAMHOUSE just waiting for you.. I will cross my fingers for whatever it will be.. as long as you are happy!!! :o)

Francien said...

Oh Kaaren...so sorry for you...i know how it feels believe me...we found our "dreamhouse"onces but we were to late!!! somebody else placed a bit just before us and won...i was sick for a week or so...calculate some more with Mr.PQ...maybe there are some more options...you never know!!
greetings ♥ Francien.

zigzago said...

Hi Kaaren, I'm so sorry your dream cannot become true! But you shure will find another dream to become reality! Hugs, Renata.

Lee Hill Primitives said...

Kaaren.... I am so sorry for you. I
I hope everything will solve soon as you expected, maybe this house was not that house that GOD had for you. Probably, your DREAM HOUSE will be the next in the road and waiting for you. Hugs, Evelyn

Karen said...

Oh, darn! Better to know the costs before taking the plunge & getting a sock of reality afterwards. Maybe another perfect house is waiting just around the corner.

I really like the arrangement of fall items you have in your header photo.

Micki said...

The house is gorgeous, so I hope that something can be done for you to get it. It is out of this world.
Micki

Rumi said...

It is good to be realistic. You don't want your dream to become a nightmare! If this is not the house for you, it opens up the opportunity to find one that is!

Heidi said...

Sorry to hear that the news was not good. If it is not meant to be, there is a good reason for it. Keep believing that. We just went with the builder of a new apartment building to look at where the penthouse is we were going to buy. Yes, I said were. There is a caged area below my studio that is for kids to hang out and play soccer. We just cannot see paying so much money for a penthouse where we will probably have problems with kids there. *sigh* We have been hunting something to buy for 5 years now. So I do understand how you feel.

I also got news that the latest complication is not good as there is not much to do about it. *sigh again* There is nothing for it but to sit and quilt all those sighs away. Want to join me? :-)

Hugs ~
Heidi

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Sometimes reality just bites, doesn't it?

Janet said...

Heating is a killer and the price doesn't go down either. If it doesn't happen, maybe there is a better one down the track waiting just for you.

Allie said...

Ugh - reality bites. But good for you for investigating all the costs.
I'm wondering if there aren't any alternative heating options. Maybe a wood pellet stove or something. That house is truly gorgeous!

Julia said...

Oh Kaaren, what a dissapoinment for you..heating can chew up a lot of $'s.
it's a beautiful home, ..here's hoping you can work something out to make your dream come true..
Julia ♥

Beth Karese said...

Ooo, ouch. That's harsh. I was so hoping it would work out. Thank you for sharing your little journey. (P.S. I like the little black kitty on the pillow in your header. Very cute.)

Sherri said...

So sorry...hopefully with one door closing another will soon open!

WoolenSails said...

Heating an old house is a big cost, the best way is to change the heating system. I hope you can either work things out or find something that will be easier to care for. The stress of upkeep and expense, isn't always worth it.

I love your wooden kitty ball on the banner, did you make that or buy it?

Debbie

Miriam said...

I love your new banner.

I do hope your dream house is achievable.

Candace said...

Oh Kaaren - I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel - I've been there before and have a good idea, though. Is there any value in looking at converting from oil to gas - or is there no gas line to the property? Gosh - this house is so YOU - but if it doesn't work out, then it must be perhaps there is even a better one around the corner. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you and Sam!
Cheers!

Carrie P. said...

Well, I just have to say you were both smart to check into all those things because as you found out it does make a difference in what is affordable.
I am really sorry it didn't work out but perhaps another drive will reveal a more perfect house one day.

Rae Ann said...

I love the house! Just never stop dreaming. The right one will come along. I always think, if there is one out there, then there's two. Another will come along that you also dearly love as well and it will all fall into place perfectly!

Kim D. said...

Good thing you were savvy enough to check out the costs before hand. Many people buy the house and worry about that later. It always seems like it cost more to heat an old house with less insulation also. I'm sure you'll find your dream home one day if this one wasn't meant to be.

Pieced Pastimes said...

The house is so lovely! Don't give up on your dream - you never know!

Nanette Merrill said...

Life is full of choices. Sometimes things we want happen for us and sometimes not. Your dream home sounds like such a wonderful dream. I'd love a little more property and a historical home, too. But the lessons the country have learned in the last few years make us hesitant to risk. ANd rightly so. You'll do the right think. I know that.