The DU community has supported my family & I through a lot of BS, so now, some GREAT news to share!
My wife and I will always be very grateful for the support, kind words and good vibes we've received from our DU community through some HORRIFIC times recently. Some of those are here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002282915
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002311756
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002514497
I remember several years ago when Kephra passed on, Plaid Adder made the comment that we are a cyber "family" and we need to let each other know about the goods & bads of our lives. I wholeheartedly agreed, and continue to agree, with her.
After all the bad news BS I've shared with you these past few months, now for something truly wonderful!
My wife and I reached an agreement to buy a house tonight.
I know that many here have a very low opinion of home ownership, but both of us have always been of the home ownership mentality. We had a house in the Philly suburbs before we moved here 10 years ago. We've been living in rentals (sometimes really crappy rentals) for most of the last 10 years. for 7 months of 2009 we were homeless and living in a 9 unit transitional apartment house where there were 2 drug dealers and a woman who, shall we say, rendered professional services and a family who was hiding their fugitive sister-in-law in their apartment.
After my recently concluded 10 month nightmare of unemployment, we thought that we were at least a year from this. We were looking for a house to rent or lease/purchase in the city where my wife works. Our Realtor suggested that we talk to a mortgage broker to see what we may be able to qualify for when we would qualify. We found out that we qualified under my wife's income and job for a mortgage of the size that we wanted.
As of mid-August, we will move into a 3 bedroom, 1 bath (for now) ranch with an attached garage in 1/3 of an acre of land and within walking distance of a beautiful residents and guests only lake/beach. We will also be within walking distance of our son's new school (that has a sterling reputation) and some FINE ice cream, pizza and roast beef restaurants. We believe that this will be our final move. We believe that we will buy this house but our son will sell it in about 30 or 40 years when we leave the house feet first.
If I can master the technology, I'll post a picture after closing!
Our mortgage payment will be less than our monthly rent for a 600 sq. foot 2 bedroom apartment. Our combined round trips to work will be about 200 miles less every week. Our auto insurance and home owner's insurance will be less than our current auto & renter's insurance.
You've shared some very dark and difficult times with me and have been a great support to my family and I. For all of the faults and squabbles that we may get into in this community, DU is fabulous at coming together for it's membership in time of need.
Please allow us to share our joy with you tonight!
PEACE!
= new reply since forum marked as read
Very exciting and I hope you have many happy years in your new home.
PEACE! 
...IF I can get to sleep! 
PEACE!
...welcome to DU! 
PEACE!
...it's work we'll be doing for ourselves! Thanks for your kind words!
As far as the location, it's a little town called Winthrop. We've wanted to go there since we moved here to Maine 10 years ago.
PEACE!
The late & great Brook Benton's voice is ALWAYS welcome in my home!
PEACE!
hope you and yours will be very happy and be able to make your house into a home very quickly.
...the presence of a family that genuinely loves each other; my wife, son, me and our 2 furry boys (our cats, Spirit & Oreo)!
Thank you for your good wishes! 
PEACE!
PEACE!
PEACE!
PEACE!
after life has kicked you around, home is where the heart is
That's a great graphic. One funny thing is that one of our crappiest rentals was a mobile! 
PEACE!
lower than I can remember, not to mention the prices of houses today. You will never regret it and I wish you all the best in your new house. I think you deserve a break and this is a really good one. Can't wait for pics. Congrats.
You'd be amazed if you knew what we're going to pay for this place. Let's just say that up here in Maine, the prices are low as well as the interest rates.
PEACE!
In thinking of that, you're a DUer who DUne good!
PEACE!
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PEACE!
...but at least they'll be OUR downsides! 
Thank you madrchsod!
PEACE!
... , , 
, , 
& 
back at'cha!
PEACE!
Didn't you post some photos of your wife some time ago? She's very lovely so I can say that you & I have wonderful wives in common!
PEACE!
amidst the avalanche of troubling news that is DU on any given day.
Thank you for spreading your gratitude and appreciation. It's infectious and we're catching it here 
I think you've made the absolute correct choice!
Great smileys, too!
PEACE!
PEACE!
It's a joy to hear this wonderful news.
Thanks for sharing your good news with us. 
I'll be nice to everybody and NOT dance! 
PEACE!
is fine with me. I am a horrible dance and did the kind you see Ellen do as she goes up the aisles on her show.
So glad things are going better for you!
PEACE!
It IS great news! Also a & a back at'cha as well!
PEACE!
and when is the party?
Our tentative closing is 8/24 but I'm hoping that we'll be able to close by the 10th. That way, we'll be in that weekend and in time for our 14th wedding anniversary (the 15th). We;d also probably be in before our son comes back from visiting my in-laws in PA, but now he's growing so damn fast that HE may be the strongest member of the family!
I'll grill a burger for you. My son will probably eat it though. At 12, he eats EVERYTHING!
PEACE!
It's great to have awesome news to share!
PEACE!
That is wonderful news. 
Today, your screen name describes my wife, son & I!
PEACE!
So, what shall we bring to the housewarming party?
...a box of Corona! 
As for me, I'll stick to my Pepsi. I stopped drinking because I got tired of taking my pants off over my head!
PEACE!
thank you for sharing your joy~
Thanks, DrDan.
PEACE!
Also, welcome to DU!
PEACE!
PEACE!
It's nice to see things are turning around for you
My wife and I went looking at paint samples and house knick-knacks today. We had a lot of anticipatory fun!
PEACE!
