With everything going on in the world today ––I’m looking at you Coronavirus (COVID-19) ––it’s been tougher to find my usual humor in life. However, there’s never been a greater need to do just that.
For the past several months, my husband and I have been in search of a single family home with hopes to move back to my beloved hometown of Severna Park. The following timeline is how Lauren’s Law came into play when we tried to buy a house amidst an unprecedented global pandemic.
February 19, 2020
Blowing out my birthday candles, I wished to find our dream home. The next day, a charming Cape Cod located in Severna Park came onto the market.
February 22, 2020
We toured said house and fell in love with the location, community, and potential of the home. Some much-needed renovations would be in order to make a few of the bathrooms usable for all tall immediate and extended family members. The best comparison is Will Ferrell trying to shower in Elf. He towers over the showerhead while splashing water onto himself.
March 1, 2020
My husband, Scott and I enlisted both sets of parents to come see the house. Despite mixed opinions, Scott and I decided to make an offer later that week.
March 4, 2020
We made an offer on the house, fully confident the seller would counter.
March 6, 2020
As expected, the seller countered. We countered again. He accepted. We were in the early stages of buying a home! Mortgage rates were at a historic low at 3.25%. Score!
March 7 – March 10, 2020
Scott and I drop everything and focus on getting our home ready to put on the market. Houses in our neighborhood are selling like hotcakes, so we’re hopeful ours will sell quickly too. I confess to doing none of the heavy lifting like painting and decluttering. My job was to chase our 21-month old daughter, Charlotte around.
March 11, 2020
After painting the deck, Scott headed to the inspection of the Severna Park home. There were some items that needed addressed.
March 14, 2020
The seller was willing to fix all issues, but wanted to raise the price. By this point, mortgage rates had climbed to 3.99%. Coronavirus concerns were beginning to get serious. Now, the challenge of selling our own home while “social distancing” would have proven unsafe or simply impossible. We thought long and hard about what to do. However, a decision that previously felt so right no longer did.
If there’s anything I’ve learned from this chaotic time, it’s knowing when to hit the pause button. Trusting your gut of when something feels right or wrong is also key. We decided to get out of the contract.
The greater takeaway of this story is what I gained during a time where there’s been so much loss around the world: an appreciation for the most valuable things in life like my loving family and friends. And, our beautiful home.
Lauren's Law 