The Adventure Begins

I think it was a Saturday in March when my sister Nancy called me to come over to her house; she had something she wanted to talk to me about. I'm immediately curious and head over. In a measured and logical manner she walked me through a scenario that ended up with the plan to see if it might be possible for me to build a new house. Those that know me well know that I'm a home body and the thought of moving triggers a high stress response. Yet here I was thinking this idea of not only moving but building a new house was something I might like to do and I was cautiously optimistic.  There were several things to do before I could definitely make that decision.

Well - over the next several weeks (which with the benefit of hindsight seem to be only a few days) I determined I could sell my house for enough to buy a new lot and build a house and my lender said it was doable. I remember, upon learning that the numbers all looked good, feeling excited and anxious and ready to go.   And in a bit of disbelief.  I never imagined I could ever build my own home.  I'd dreamed about it but that was all it was - a dream.  Now it might actually be happening!

Nancy and her husband just built a new house. Nancy LOVED the process of researching and making decisions and making changes and in October of last year they moved into their new house. So I agreed to go down the same path with Nancy as my Project Manager.  She's going to do all the hard work; I'm going to make all the final decisions (and pay the bills)!

I'm going to build my house literally across the street from their house (across the street and over the levee). In Les Maisons Sur La Rouge, on Barataria Boulevard.

So the preparations began. I did some needed home improvements, listed my house and I now have a contract on the house. It's scheduled to close escrow on July 6. (An unexpected foundation issue has to be resolved next week.)  And I'm packing (and throwing away 13 years' of accumulated stuff)!  I'll be living with Nancy and Randy while I'm "homeless". (Turn about's fair play; they lived with me for a few months while their house was being built.)

So - the preparatory work and initial required steps are almost finished. Now on to the really fun part. I decided to chronicle this journey through this blog and with pictures. Here's the rendering of the house I've chosen and the floor plan (it will be reversed on my lot to accommodate the design of the lot and most importantly a beautiful, mature pecan tree on the corner of my lot).

I have lots of ideas, have poured over the plans long enough to be able to start seeing how it will look when it's finished and I'm ready to get started.  So - my current house closes July 6 and ground breaking will probably be 2-3 weeks after that.  I'll keep you posted!