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Friday, August 31, 2012

SOLD OUR HOUSE

This is an honest, true evaluation of our life, that we are sharing with you, maybe some part of it is what you need in your life right now.
As many of you know, we tried to sell our home before we left to Jamaica. It did not sell, so we tried for a home modification loan ( which is where they will lower your interest payment because Mark was laid off and had been for almost a year) The entire time we were in Jamaica we were sending and re sending them documents to get an answer of what our new house payment would be. They had already told us we could make a cheaper mortgage payment until they finish up with there end.  So we had enough money saved to make our house payments up through July 2011.  That was the magical date because we were coming home, after serving for a year. Well we did not go to Jamaica to adopt a child, but God thought differently, so consequently the adoption was not final in July and stayed that way until the very end of November 2011. We did not have any money left to make house payments, we actually didn't have any money left period. I was selling things long distance and depending on  my girls to take care of it. Until we just had to dip into our retirement.
When we got home, we still hadn't heard from the mortgage company about a loan modification. and it had been a year and a half.  Seemed very strange to me.  So I called them, that is when the shocker of a lifetime hit me square in the forehead. They told me they denied us months ago and we were in foreclosure.  "WHAT REALLY"! They never sent a letter or nothing informing us of this.  Only little sticky notes on our front door making sure we still lived there. How could we be in foreclosure when we have over two hundred thousand in equity?  I was so confused.  They went on to tell me that if we go into a home modification process the foreclosure would stop. "REALLY"!   What did I just get denied from??????  So that is what we did immediately. But we also right away put the house on the market. We were not liking how Chase  was taking care of us, or not taking care of us and we did NOT want to loose all our equity. So from Feb 2012 to Aug 2012, we had 35 people come through our home, and not a one put an offer on it.  Even after lowering the price down to a profit of ten thousand in our pocket.
While we were in Florida at the NFED conference for Dontae's condition, we got an unexpected phone call from chase telling us we were denied once again. But that we were  givin permission for a short sale. ( kinda put a damper on things a bit )When we got we started the process and the first people that looked at it put an offer on it.
So that is what our life looks like through a microscope. Everything we worked so hard for, down the drain...... or is it???????? 
God decided Mark and I were Dontae's parents. That became totally clear to us while in Jamaica. And how can you put a price tag on a life? You can't !  So one way of looking at it is Dontae cost us close to three hundred thousand dollars.  Is he worth it???? OH YEAH!!!!!!!our life is amazing with this little man.
So, now we are in the process of selling furniture and downsizing big time, then comes our huge moving sale, then we move into my in laws basement apartment to begin saving money again.
Some ask us if we are sad or bitter about loosing our home. To answer that truthfully, it is just a house and our stuff is just stuff.  We are a family that is together and where ever we are that is our HOME.

2 comments:

Melanie ~ but you can call me Mel! said...

Wow Kim, couldn't have said it better. I am in the process of "losing" the house I spent 6 years designing, building and turning into our home. I am a bit upset, but yes, in the end it is just "stuff". And you are so right, wherever the people you love are is HOME. I am glad your house has sold, even if it was not the way you had imagined it...can't wait to see you again and catch up. Are you going to Flagler this fall?

Kim Lau said...

thank you Mel, and yes I am going to Flagler.