On house buying, and the difficulties thereof

How to be a homeowner in ten easy steps

or
It's going to cost how much?

1. Get pre-approved for a home loan. This will involve all manner of weird questions, faxing of crazy documents you never even thought you'd need, lots of signing, and credit checks.

2. Find a house you adore can live with. This is actually not all that hard, usually, but it does take time.

3. Make an offer. This involves a lot of signatures. This is ok if your name is simple, but the longer your name, the harder it is to fill in the paperwork.

4. Wait. Forever. Seriously. No, really.

5. Get excited when the offer is accepted. Then wait some more.

6. Close escrow. Get keys.

7. Be horrified at the mess that was hidden by the furniture that used to be in the house.

8. Call your friends; beg for help.

9. Work your ass off.

10. Sleep. Wake up in the morning and start at #9. Repeat until you are done. Which is never. Because you can never ever again call the landlord and have them deal with anything.

(I know I sound bitter, but I am really very excited about getting closer to living in our house. I can't wait. It's hard work, and we've spent a LOT of money we really don't have to clean it, but oh well!)