Back In The Saddle

I realize it’s been a while since I made a post here. Its been a combination of not thinking I have anything to say, being a little lazy, and being really stressed by this whole apartment buying situation. For the last few weeks I have been pursuing the Utrecht apartment that I saw and liked. I’ve been playing the bidding game, waiting for responses, and making new bids. The whole process is dragging out, and it’s getting me down. It looks now like this will all be resolved one way or the other by the end of the month now.

I spoke yesterday with a mortgage advisor, I guess I should say my mortgage adviser. I have a mortgage in place, so it’s really just almost waiting for the current owner to say yes or no. What struck me was how much it’s all going to cost me. I sat down last night and, armed with the monthly mortgage amount, worked out expected costs for things like phone, internet, TV, gas, electric, and so on. It sure does all add up!

I notice it so much because for the last five years my rent has been fixed at a very low price, I have a roomate, and everything is included in the price that I am paying. So I have been very lucky. It’s just going to come as a shock to me when I do eventually get something sorted. And these are the planned costs that are freaking me out! What if something unexpected comes along and needs a chunk of change? I think my wings are going to get clipped, I’m going to have to take less trips, eat out less, and drink less. But I’m sure it will all be worth it!

I’m off to Munich this weekend, and this is my last planned trip for a while. Actually, after this one, I have nothing planned, and this is so not like me. I normally like to have my next trip planned at all times, so I am never without plans. However, after this weekend, its’ going to happen!

A Decision

I decided on Wednesday this week to make an offer for the apartment in Utrecht. I had a reservation about an unused shop unit under the apartment. I found out this week that I could go to the local council, and inquire as to the status of the building underneath. They were able to tell me the planning status of the whole property, so I got a good picture of the whole area. So, with my fears alleviated somewhat, I was able to head off to work with my thought process almost completed

I had already talked through the offer process with a friend of mine, so all that remained was to put together an offer letter. That done, all I had to do was sit and wait. At the end of the day, I received confirmation that my offer had been received, and they would contact me when they had consulted with the owner. And still I wait. I thought the process might have moved quicker than this.

However, there is nothing I can do about it. So I will just wait patiently, and see what happens. I’m off to Rome this weekend to see Scotland play their last match of this seasons Six Nations tournament. I was in Rome for the game two years ago, and loved it. Have kilt, will travel!

2nd Look

I’ve just made an appointment to go back and see the apartment for a second time. I’ve been thinking about it for the last week, and I haven’t been able to talk myself out of it yet. I am normally pretty good at talking myself out of things (I’ve been debating about buying a $200 set of headphones since Xmas, and I still can’t decide on that!). I am convinced that if I thought about it long and hard enough, I could talk myself out of breathing! So I’m going back, and taking a friend of mine with me to give me a second opinion.

I’ve now seen two different mortgage advisors, so I know now what I can and can’t afford, which definetely helps when searching for a new apartment!

Nerves are still there, but they are starting to give way to a small wave of excitement. Still a long way to go, but it feels like I am on the right track. And if things don’t work out with this one, then I am all the more informed for the next one that I see and like.

Its such a big step to be making, and I can imagine it’s up there with getting married as the biggest decision that a person can make. I guess this one would be second to marriage. At least if this doesn’t work out or I change my mind, I can sell it, and walk away. I’m not likely to produce baby apartments to complicate things, so thats good. It just all seems so permanent and grown up. I like this apartment, but what if I wait, I might see one next month that I like even more?

I know thats silly, because if we went through life thinking like that, we’d never do anything. I just have to make the best decision I can with the information I have available at the time . I just hope I make the right one!

The Apartment Search Hits Utrecht

This week I went to look at an apartment in Utrecht. I work in Utrecht, and socialize in Utrecht a fair bit now, so I’m not adverse to moving to Utrecht. The apartment I saw was in the vicinity of the centraal train station, and a short walk from the center of town. The location was perfect.

The apartment itself was something quite special, and for the first time I got an indication of the much talked about ‘feeling’. I could really see myself with this one. However, it transpires that it may be slightly out of my budget

I had a meeting last night with a Mortgage Broker to get an indication of what i could afford. I realized last night that the world of mortgages is a minefield, so many options, each with so many numbers attached. How I’m supposed to make an educated decision is beyond me. I think there will have to be a lot of blind faith placed in the mortgage broker, and a belief that I’m not getting screwed

The further I get into this apartment searching, and the actual research for the whole house buying process, the more scared I become. Almost every part of me is screaming to leave it and run away to my safe rental life. It’s what I know. But deep down I know that this is the right thing to be doing

The Utrecht apartment, I’m trying to decide if its worth me going for a second look. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do for sure

Another Apartment

I went to see another apartment in Amsterdam this week. I found it on the funda website. This one is in a similar location to the one from last week. It was on the fourth floor, and had a great view out of a huge window in the front room. Again, I love the location, and this time I loved the front room. However, the kitchen and the bedroom were a little on the small side. After last weeks experience, I talked with a few guys in the office. And it seems that when you see a place that is for you, you just seem to know, you get a feeling, and that helps you decide that you have found the right place.

So, whilst I got that feeling in the front room of the apartment, the rest of the apartment didn’t quite match up. Close but no cigar!

The Apartment Search

I’ve been in Amsterdam for almost five years now, and for at least three of those I’ve been thinking of buying my own place. I’ve lived in the same rented apartment for the majority of those five years, and I’m always thinking it’s time I should buy my own place.

I go through phases where I will look at places, and see one or two that I like. But when it comes down to it, I’ve never felt brave enough, or committed enough to take that big step. It always just seems like such a big step to me, so I always pull back and stick with the status quo.

Yesterday saw me embark on another phase of apartment viewing. Only time will tell whether this is another pretend phase or not. This apartment was in an area of Amsterdam that I really love, the location is just perfect. The place itself is really nice, and modern, the building is only three years old. But ultimately, as much as I love the area, I think this apartment is not for me. It’s an open plan apartment, a 70m2 studio essentially, and whilst there is scope to build a wall or two, I think I’ve decided it’s not for me

So, for now at least, the search continues…