The Fennels: HGTV in REAL LIFE!

I still remember the day at The Little Gym that I told my friend about Matt and I getting pre-approved for a mortgage. We were newly engaged, had just moved to Madison in the beginning of that year, and we were finally ready plant some roots and buy our first house.

It just so happened that a mom at The Little Gym over heard our conversation and jokingly added, "You should buy my condo!" We chit chatted for a little while about the details of 204 Meadow Oak Trail. The home had sat on the market for a year and the current homeowners were ready to add on to their family. She gave me her realtor's name and info, and within a week or so, we had walked through the condo and had fallen in love. FATE.

In October, we made an offer. It got accepted. And on December 15, 2011 -- we closed on our first home. Property Virgins no more!

The day we made the offer.

We're homeowners!!!!!!

Celebratory closing dinner

Matt and I had lived in two apartments together prior to buying. The first one (in Loves Park, IL) for a full year and the second (in Madison) for eight months. We were SO ready to finally settle down and stay in a house for the next five (or so) years to come.

In fact, we planned on staying for even longer. Five to seven years was always the plan. We knew this was house we'd come home to as newlyweds and we hoped this was the house we'd be able to bring our first child home to, as well.

Well - just like Matt always says.... My schedules and detailed plans never happen the way they're supposed to. God does a great job reminding me that I'm NOT the one in control here. And he actually had a better plan for us all along....

On August 9th (right before our trip to the Bourbon Trail), we joined Matt's parents in Edgerton to go house hunting for their retirement home. Thank Heavens, its been their plan for quite some time now that once they both retire, they are going to move to Edgerton (near Matt's grandma and aunt and uncle) and closer to Matt and I (which is only a thirty minute drive from Wauankee). We were so excited! And on top of that, we planned that within five (or so) years, once we sold our condo, we would join them in Edgerton and build our dream home.

Well, on that day --- We looked at some amazingly, beautiful homes off of the river. Tom and Lori's realtor, Eric, mentioned he heard that I liked old tutor homes and that there happened to be one on the market for a great price. We decided that after we finished looking at possible homes for Tom and Lori, we'd stop by "just to see it".

Matt knew there was trouble right when we pulled up. I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. The house was adorably charming. Quaint. In perfect condition. Exactly what I had always dreamed of. After touring the home, I laid on the grass in the backyard protesting that I would not leave until Matt agreed to put an offer in on the house. I still remember his little smirk. That smirk he gives me when he's about to give in. I was so so so happy.

We drove back to Eric's office and put an offer on the house off Blaine St. For closing October 9th. After signing all the paperwork while getting ready to leave, I quickly asked the square footage of the house.

"Around 1200," Eric replied. I looked straight at Matt who had turned pale white by this time.

Uhmmm...... our CONDO is around 1500 square feet.........

Matt just sat there. Processing the fact that he had just signed paperwork to buy a SMALLER house on the contingency sale of our BIGGER condo.

Cue: Matt's panic attack

As most of you are all aware, I am an impulse kind of chick. I see something. I want it. I'm getting it.

Matt is much more responsible. He's slow. He researches. He weighs the pros and cons. Then makes an educated decision.

Which is WHY he had a panic attack on the drive home that night. He stayed up ALL NIGHT long researching old houses and all the problems that could go wrong. The next morning, I reassured him that everything would be okay. The purchase was contingent on the sale of our condo (which wasn't even ON the market yet) and this condo took the previous homeowners A YEAR TO SELL! We most likely weren't getting the house, but it didn't hurt to try, right?!

So, that week we had Eric come to Waunakee. He toured the condo. Took pictures. We set our price. And he said the condo would go "live" (or on the market) that Friday - August 15. In the meantime, there was another offer on the house off Blaine St. -- so we were officially in a bidding war. We went above asking price on our final offer and were supposed to find out that weekend (while in Kentucky) if we had gotten the house or not.

Click here to see our condo listing!

Bourbon trail trip = something great to take our minds off the chaotic life that was happening back in Wisconsin.

Eric and I texted back and forth. One person (he knew personally) was interested in our condo and had gone to see it a couple times. At one point, Eric texted me a message with one single word:

"Patience"

I was a little anxious. I wanted that house off Blaine Street so badly. And we were supposed to hear whether or not the seller chose our offer by that Friday and ....

Friday came and gone. We heard nothing.

Saturday came and gone. We heard nothing.

Saturday August 16th: We had guessed and accepted that the seller went with the other offer. I was bummed. But also, a little relieved. We hadn't sold our condo yet. And at least, now, there wasn't a time crunch we had to stick to. Driving home from Kentucky, we talked about what kind of house we'd like to buy (if we ever sold our condo). Would we build? Would it be an older home? A newer home? What kind of house did we want?

We both agreed that we most likely wouldn't find an old house in as good of condition as the house off Blaine St. We also both agreed that the house we wanted to build was WAY beyond the amount of money we wanted to spend. We finally agreed that the next house we bought would be in a new subdivision, with sidewalks, and a park. And a house that we could grow into and stay in for several years to come. 3 bed. 2 bath. Finished basement kind of thing.

We were interested in brand new builds, but didn't like the idea of landscaping, buying all new appliances, window coverings, etc. So, we also decided to look at homes less than 10 years old.

But this ALL DEPENDED ON THE SALE OF OUR CONDO. Otherwise, we'd just stay in our condo for awhile....

Driving back to Wisconsin.

Around five o clock, Matt got a call on his cell (that's hooked up to the speakers of our car.... bluetooth? I think). Anyways. It was Eric. We could both hear him and both talk to him which worked out perfectly because he said:

"When are you going to be home? We have a full asking price offer on your condo......"

AFTER BEING LISTED FOR A DAY AND A HALF!

YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FULL ASKING PRICE.

And it wasn't even his friend -- it was some random buyer!!!!!!

"The only thing is that they want to close on September 26th. Which means we need to find you a house... soon! Meet me in Edgerton tomorrow morning. We'll go house hunting."

So here it is, September 26th. And we've officially sold our first home. We closed at 9AM.

Thanks for the memories 204 Meadow Oak Trail. We love you and will miss you.

Some of our favorite times in our condo: