We had our Christmas card photoshoot scheduled for the Tuesday that the offers would be evaluated. When the photographer asked where we wanted to take pictures, I told her I wanted to head towards the house we had offered on, and Lord willing, take some pictures of our family in front of the house once we found out our offer was accepted.
Our whole week was like that. Psalm 81:10 says, "I am the LORD thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt; Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." So, we actively took steps in faith that our offer would be accepted. We painted through every room of our house, cleaning, decluttering, and packing up boxes in our current home to get ready to put it on the market. We didn't look through the real estate apps to see if anything else interesting was up for sale. We sold the Camaro for extra cash towards the down payment. Matt tore up and replaced the deck (with help!) to get our backyard market ready.
Our mouths were open, ready for God to fill them. When my phone rang on Tuesday, I can honestly say there wasn't a piece of me that doubted. God was going to prove Himself bigger than cash offers and a bidding war. He was going to show Himself mighty to our family, our children, our realtor, friends, and the strangers who were invested in our journey online.
Our realtor summarized, "The cash offer sent in a month-old screenshot to prove funds. The sellers aren't comfortable with their offer...
I need to get you guys to pray for all of my houses! You've got it!"
God gave it to us: The direction to save for a down payment starting way back at the beginning of the year, the opportunity to offer on a home that was out of reach, and the winning bid when everyone was saying, "We don't have a shot."
It starts back before March, really. If God hadn't led us to pay off our first mortgage, and then worked out the timing in a way that only He could so we'd buy a cheap foreclosure January 2020 but then changed the market/scarcity/bidding wars so we'd get the maximum amount when we sold in summer 2020, and now our home is on the market for way more than we imagined we'd get a year and nine months later, we may have been able to take some credit; but, no, it was Him every step.
1st House: Bought for $109k . Sold for $179k.
2nd House: Bought for $191k. Selling for $300k.
Do you see how in 8 years, God took $109k and turned it into $300k, all while we got to live in and love on these houses?
So that $300k, plus the down payment God led us to save, will go towards the new house, and we will take on one last mortgage. Another part of the journey. A beautiful home to make ours and grow our babies in and host missionaries in and invite people into... Our forever home.
We have one full-price offer in, and rumor has it we're getting in a second offer today.
Someone on Instagram messaged me and said, "I'm not religious, but I told my husband, 'If this lady on Instagram gets this house, I'm gonna start praying!'"
Praise God for our mustard seed of faith and the mountains He moved to show Himself mighty!
I love this whole story. Tryin not to get covetous 😂😂 Seriously, you are inspiring.
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