Julie's Blog

My in-laws offered to babysit for us this weekend so that Tony and I could go out for dinner.  Despite our favorite downtown Plainfield IL restaurants like Baci’s, The Front Street Cantina, and Bin 48… we opted to try something different.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to eat out sans kids, so we decided to take full advantage of not having to order from a children’s menu, cut up food into tiny pieces, or ask for extra napkins.  We could never “foudue” with our crazy crew with hot burners in the middle of the table, but it’s just what we needed to end a crazy week.  We wandered into The Melting Pot without a reservation, and the gracious manager made immediate accommodations for us as new patrons.

I grew up in Addison IL and there was a Melting Pot restaurant in neighboring Lombard.  I’d never been to that location, but I knew it was a fondue restaurant.  Then, quite a few months ago I noticed a new Melting Pot restaurant going in near the intersection of 111th St. and Rt. 59.  (near Caputo’s and T.J. Maxx)  I put an imaginary sticky note in my brain and told myself that someday we’d give it a try.  Despite almost giving into one our our old favorites, we ventured on past the Plainfield IL border into Naperville.

We had an amazing waiter.  Awesome food.  AND a great time.

If you are looking for an excellent fine dining experience in the Plainfeild area, I highly recommend The Melting Pot in Naperville IL.  We got lucky and got a table without a reservation, but like I said… we got lucky.  Reservations are recommended and proper attire is required.

The Melting Pot in Naperville is located at:
931 S. Route 59
Naperville, IL 60564

Reservations can be made by calling:
630-717-8301

Hours are:
Reservations Recommended
Monday-Thursday 5:00-10:00 PM
Friday 5:00-11:00 PM
Saturday 12:00-3:00 PM
Saturday 3:00-11:00 “By Reservation”
Sunday 12:00- 9:00 PM

If you are thinking about moving to the Plainfield IL or Naperville area, I’d love to help you find your next new home and tell you all about why you’d love to live here.  I’m active in the community, and I know why Plainfield is the best place in the southwest suburbs to call home!  Call me at 630-673-6233!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Nothing says summer like a heavy dose of festival food, carnival rides, and cotton candy.  I’m sure you’re sick of me posting about the many fests that take place in Plainfield IL, but I can’t help it… they’re my favorite.

This summer, the Plainfield Summer Fest is taking place in downtown Plainfield starting on Friday, July 16th at 5:00 pm and running through Sunday, July 17th to 6:00 pm.

This is the biggest of the three seasonal Plainfield Fests, and probably the most fun!  Bring the kids, slap on some sunscreen, and get ready to enjoy summer!

See you at the Plainfield Fest!

If you, or someone you know, are looking to become part of the Plainfield community, call me at 630-673-6233.  I have helped countless families join the Plainfield community in the last several years.  It’s easy to sell a home in Plainfield when you love where you live, and do business!  

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

My in-laws offered to babysit for us this weekend so that Tony and I could go out for dinner.  Despite our favorite downtown Plainfield IL restaurants like Baci's, The Front Street Cantina, and Bin 48... we opted to try something different.

It's been a while since we've had a chance to eat out sans kids, so we decided to take full advantage of not having to order from a children's menu, cut up food into tiny pieces, or ask for extra napkins.  We could never "foudue" with our crazy crew with hot burners in the middle of the table, but it's just what we needed to end a crazy week.  We wandered into The Melting Pot without a reservation, and the gracious manager made immediate accommodations for us as new patrons.

I grew up in Addison IL and there was a Melting Pot restaurant in neighboring Lombard.  I'd never been to that location, but I knew it was a fondue restaurant.  Then, quite a few months ago I noticed a new Melting Pot restaurant going in near the intersection of 111th St. and Rt. 59.  (near Caputo's and T.J. Maxx)  I put an imaginary sticky note in my brain and told myself that someday we'd give it a try.  Despite almost giving into one our our old favorites, we ventured on past the Plainfield IL border into Naperville.

We had an amazing waiter.  Awesome food.  AND a great time.

If you are looking for an excellent fine dining experience in the Plainfeild area, I highly recommend The Melting Pot in Naperville IL.  We got lucky and got a table without a reservation, but like I said... we got lucky.  Reservations are recommended and proper attire is required. 

The Melting Pot in Naperville is located at:
931 S. Route 59
Naperville, IL 60564

Reservations can be made by calling:
630-717-8301

Hours are:
Reservations Recommended
Monday-Thursday 5:00-10:00 PM
Friday 5:00-11:00 PM
Saturday 12:00-3:00 PM
Saturday 3:00-11:00 "By Reservation"
Sunday 12:00- 9:00 PM

If you are thinking about moving to the Plainfield IL or Naperville area, I'd love to help you find your next new home and tell you all about why you'd love to live here.  I'm active in the community, and I know why Plainfield is the best place in the southwest suburbs to call home!  Call me at 630-673-6233!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

The following luxury homes in the Grande Park subdivision in Plainfield IL have recently sold:

• 12825 Grande Poplar Cir. sold for $210,000 (S) on 2/12/10
• 26531 Rustling Birch Way sold for $230,000 (F) on 1/8/10
• 26609 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $238,000 (F) on 5/20/10
• 13323 Morning Mist Pl. sold for $270,000 (F) on 3/12/10
• 26232 Whispering Woods Cir. sold for $280,000 (F) on 12/30/09
• 12830 Grande Poplar Cir. sold for $285,000 (F) on 1/26/10
• 13318 Morning Mist Pl. sold for $285,000 on 1/15/10
• 26515 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $287,000 (F) on 4/7/10
• 13008 Grande Poplar Cir. sold for $295,000 on 3/12/10
• 26331 Whispering Woods Dr. sold for $299,000 on 4/13/10
• 12810 Grande Pines Blvd. sold for $300,000 (F) on 1/7/10
• 26531 Rustling Birch Way sold for $300,000 on 3/1/10
• 12921 Alpine Way sold for $315,000 on 5/28/10
• 26127 Whispering Woods Cir. sold for $320,000 on 5/10/10
• 26340 Whispering Woods Cir. sold for $330,000 (S) on 5/25/10
• 26428 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $340,000 on 1/4/10
• 13012 Grande Pines Blvd. sold for $350,000 on 5/25/10
• 13004 Grande Pines Blvd. sold for $359,900 (S) on 2/26/10
• 13413 Lindengate Ct. sold for $365,000 on 3/4/10
• 26415 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $375,000 (S) on 6/9/10
• 26144 Whispering Woods Cir. sold for $390,000 on 6/11/10
• 13310 Rosewood Ln. sold for $395,000 on 1/22/10
• 12903 Peppertree Dr. sold for $410,000 on 1/29/10
• 27022 Rustic Wood Ln. sold for $415,000 on 5/25/10
• 27028 Thornwood Blvd. sold for $420,000 on 5/10/10
• 13324 Wildwood Pl. sold for $466,500 on 5/27/10
• 13315 Rosewood Ln. sold for $515,000 on 5/27/10
• 12908 Peppertree Dr. sold for $540,000 on 6/7/10
• 12916 Peppertree Dr. sold for $545,000 on 5/27/10
• 27030 Thornwood Blvd. sold for $565,000 on 1/29/10

The Grande Park Subdivision in Plainfield IL is comprised of custom and luxury single family homes on premium home sites. The Grande Park subdivision is located near Rt. 30 and 127th  Street in Plainfield IL.  Construction in the community began in 2006 and homesites are currently available for new construction, though many of the custom home builders in that area have spec homes available for purchase.

Students attending public school in the Grand Park Subdivision in Plainfield IL attend the following schools if they are in the Kendall County and Oswego Township section of the subdivision:

• Grande Park Elementary
• Bednarcik Jr High
• Oswego East High School

Students attending public school in the Grande Park subdivision in Plainfield IL attend the following schools if they are in the Will County and Wheatland Township section of the subdivision:

• Walkers Grove Elementary
• Richard Ira Jones Middle School
• Plainfield North High School

If you want to know what your home in the Grande Park Subdivision is worth, or have a property in another subdivision in Plainfield IL, contact me at the tab on the top of this page or call me at 630-673-6233. It would be my pleasure to help you with any of your real estate questions.

Are you behind in your mortgage payments?  I specialize in short sales and I have been helping homeowners in foreclosure for over 5 years.  Call me to see how doing a short sale on your property can help you through this difficult time.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Luxury Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

The other day I touched base with a past client.  During our conversation I was reminded of a beautiful property they had made an offer on  in the Shenandoah neighborhood in Plainfield IL.

Unfortunately, this was a short sale property and things didn’t work out the way we had hoped… but wow, this house was beautiful!  The master suite had a sitting area, in addition to a double walk-in closet.  The finished basement had a cinema room, custom built-in bar, exercise room, and sauna.

If I had the energy to move again, which I don’t, it would have been on my list.  Yeah, I have a list.  An maginary list of homes that I’d move into if the stars happened to align just right…. oh, and if the market hadn’t totally tanked 2 years ago :o)

Shenandoah is located just off of 127th and Heggs Rds on the northern end of Plainfield IL.

13 homes have closed in Shenandoah since January 1st, 2010:

• 25846 Meadowland Cir. sold for $320,000 as a foreclosure on 5/26/2010
• 12909 Northland Dr. sold for $270,000 as a foreclosure on 12/23/2009
• 25715 Pastoral Dr. sold for $350,000 as a short sale on 2/4/2010
• 12927 Hawks Bill Ct. sold for $354,000 on 12/29/2009
• 25745 Meadowland Cir. sold for $367,500 on 2/16/2010
• 12724 Skyline Dr. sold for $385,000 on 4/22/2010
• 12907 Hawks Bill Ct. sold for $387,000 on 3/19/2010
• 25516 Pastoral Dr. sold for $425,000 on 6/4/2010
• 25700 Meadowland Cir. sold for $432,000 on 4/23/2010
• 25727 Meadowland Cir. sold for $432,500 on 5/28/2010
• 13033 Skyline Dr. sold for $439,000 on 12/15/2009
• 25508 Pastoral Dr. sold for $453,000 on 2/2/2010
• 12926 Hawks Bill Ct. sold for $457,000 on 4/23/2010

If you are looking for a luxury home in Plainfield IL you will definitely want to see the homes in the Shenandoah neighborhood located in the quiet and convenient location of northern Plainfield.  Whether you are looking to buy or sell a luxury home in Plainfield IL call me at 630-673-6233.  I know the secret between having a home that is for sale… and one that is sold.  It’s the best kept secret in real estate that everyone is too afraid to talk about.  Call me to find out what it is!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

Last week my sellers at 2212 Candlewood Dr. in Plainfield IL sold their home, and they needed to find a new home on the double!

One of the hazards of my profession is wanting to move into a vast majority of the homes I preview with clients.  Like... real bad.

It depends on the price range, and the sellers taste in decor of course, but I get a really bad case of "keeping up with the Jone's" when I see something I like. 

The awesomeness of home shopping with the Farrows is that they have 5 kids too.  They were looking for the "supersized home" just like I would be if I were in the market for a new home.  And if I were them, I, without a doubt, would have chosen exactly the same house that they did in that price range.

The idea of moving ever again just makes me nauseous, but I always think... hmmm, I can see my family in this space. 

It's amazing how differently you see real estate when you can see it from the eyes of a consumer.  Lucky for my clients, I can see it both ways :o)

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

The Plainfield IL luxury home market has slowed a bit due to the lack of buyers in the market in this economy.  Most of the buyers in this market are first time home buyers which has slowed the volume of luxury home sales in Plainfield, IL.  Sellers priced above $350,000 can expect longer market times and higher seller concessions during negotiation in this market, but the good news is that homes are selling!  Buyers have somewhat of  a limited amount of choices in this price range because sellers that don’t have to sell, are reluctant to sell in this market. With the right mindset and a good attitude, you can sell your luxury Plainfield IL home for a good price in this market!

Recent home sales in the Plainfield IL luxury home market include…

Dunmoor Estates:
13432 Skyline Dr. sold for $382,000 on 4/29/2010

Prairie Ponds:
13123 Skyline Dr. sold for 233,000  on 5/27/2010 (F)
13101 Skyline Dr. sold for $420,000 on 3/26/2010

Shenandoah:
12909 Northland Dr. sold for $270,000 on 12/23/2009 (F)
25846 Meadowland Cir. sold for $320,000 on 5/26/2010 (F)
25715 Pastoral Dr. sold for $350,000 on 2/4/2010 (S)
12927 Hawks Bill Ct. sold for $354,000 on 12/21/2010
25745 Meadowland Cir. sold for $367,500 on 2/16/2010
12724 Skyline Dr. sold for $385,000 on 4/22/2010
12907 Hawks Bill Ct. sold on $387,000 on 3/19/2010
25700 Meadowland Cir. sold on $432,000 on 4/23/2010
13033 Skyline Dr. sold on $439,000 on 12/15/2009
25508 Pastoral Dr. sold on $453,000 on 2/2/2010
12926 Hawks Bill Ct. sold on $457,000 on 4/23/2010

Farmstone Ridge:
12918 Stellar Ln. sold for $390,000 on 3/12/2010
22901 Eider Dr. sold for $415,000 on 12/07/2009

Grande Park:
12825 Grande Poplar Cir. sold for $210,000 (S)
26531 Rustling Birch Way sold for $230,000 (F)
26609 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $238,000 (F)
13323 Morning Mist Pl. sold for $270,000 (F)
26232 Whispering Woods Cir. sold for $280,000 (F)
12830 Grande Poplar Cir. sold for $285,000 (F)
33818 Morning Mist Pl. sold for $285,000
26515 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $287,000 (F)
13008 Grande Poplar Cir. sold for $295,000 on 3/12/2010
26331 Whispering Woods Dr. sold for $299,000 on 4/13/10
12810 Grande Pines Blvd. sold for $300,000 (F) on 1/7/2010
26531 Rustling Birch Way sold for $300,000 on 3/16/2010
12921 Alpine Way sold for $315,000 on 5/28/2010
26127 Whispering Woods Cir. sold for $320,000 on 5/10/10
26340 Whispering Woods Cirl sold for $330,000 (S) on 5/25/10
26428 Silverleaf Dr. sold for $340,00 on 1/04/2010
13012 Grande Pines Blvd. sold for $350,000 on 5/25/2010
13004 Grande Pines Blvd. sold for $359,900 (S) on 2/26/10
13413 Lindegate Ct. sold for $365,000 on 3/04/2010
13310 Rosewood Ln. sold for $395,000 on 1/22/2010
12903 Peppetree Dr. sold for $410,000 on 1/29/2010
27022 Rustic Wood Ln. sold for $415,000 on 5/25/2010
27028 Thornwood Blvd. sold for $420,00 on 5/10/2010
13224 Wildwood Pl. sold for $466,500 on 5/27/2010
13315 Rosewood Ln. sold for $515,000 on 5/27/2010
12816 Peppertree Dr. sold for $545,000 on 5/27/2010
27030 Thornwood Blvd. sold for $565,000 on 1/29/2010

Wallin Woods:
24653 Lincolnway St. sold for $300,000 on 5/17/2010
15232 Ingersoll St. sold for $306,000 on 12/30/2009
24743 Illini Dr. sold for $322,500 on 4/29/2010
24605 Ottawa St. sold for $325,000 on 1/15/2010
15365 Dan Patch Dr. sold for $365,000 on 1/3/2010
24719 Jolee Ct. sold for $450,000 on 6/3/2010

The Enclave:
24528 Kennedy Cir. sold for $300,000 on 1/25/2010

The Estates at Heritage Meadows:
12550 Lily Lane sold for $355,000 on 4/15/2010
12558 Lily Lane sold for $365,000 on 3/25/2010

I can help you sell your Plainfield luxury home in this buyers market. I also can’t stress enough how important it is to work with an agent that knows the market when purchasing a luxury home in Plainfield IL.  If you are looking to buy or sell a luxury home in Plainfield IL call me at 630-673-6233.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Luxury Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

In the world of short sales, there are no rules.  Just trends.  Lots of them.  That change like the wind.  On a daily basis.  Without notice.  Sometimes on a whim….

Can you tell I’m frustrated?  I could certainly use other words, but that wouldn’t be nice.

So before I get into this too deeply, I just have to put up this little disclaimer:  I am not an attorney.  I do not give legal advice.  All of the information contained on this website is for informational purposes based on my experience as a Plainfield IL short sale and real estate professional.  

Now, where was I?  Oh, yeah.  I was about to complain.

Deficiency judgments are getting nasty on the sellers side of the transaction by both the bank, and the sellers.  This week my seller had her short sale approved by Bank of America after almost a year.  The lender was not willing to consider the payment as a full satisfaction, which left the seller subject to the possibility of having a deficiency judgment filed against them.  Despite whether the seller sold short, or lost the home to foreclosure, the lender still has the right to file a deficiency judgment against the seller. Basically the end result is the same…. BUT my seller decided to reject the short sale approval and proceed with a foreclosure at the advice of her bankruptcy attorney.

Say what?!  You’d rather let the bank foreclose than wrap this thing up and be done with it?

Unfortunately, my seller has been getting some very bad advice from family and friends that know nothing about this process, and IN the process has lost sight of the reasons that she sought my services in the first place.

Well, the end result of this situation is that the buyers, who have been holding on to this transaction since the beginning of February, (and made repairs to the house at their own expense that preserved the value of the home because the seller was not willing to do so)  who have lost their $8,000 tax credit, who are getting married in a month… now have no where to live.

Will Bank of America change the language on their short sale approval?  Probably not.  Would the end result have been the same?  Probably.   Is filing bankruptcy the weapon of choice with homeowners who think foreclosure is better than a short sale?  Definitely.

What is the number one reason that a short sale is better than a foreclosure?  You can pick up the pieces of a short sale 2-3 years after you close.  It takes 7 years to recover from a foreclosure.  I can’t speak for anyone else, but this looks like pretty simple math to me!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
630-673-6233
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale &  Plainfield Short Sale Specialist

Now that the home buyer credit has expired for qualified buyers, those that missed out on the opportunity to get the credit will now be looking to save some money on the purchase of their new home. Short sales were overlooked during the frenzy to purchase a property before the credit expired because of the length of time it took to get them approved, but they are now back in the game.

But exactly how long do short sales to get approved?

Knowing that I wasn't going to get an easy answer, I decided the most objective way to get the info that I wanted was to analyze the data from the last 30 days. I found a lot of similarities among the listings, and a few surprises too. Among the variables in the world of short sales, the lender and the person behind the short sale makes all the difference.

In a nutshell, here's what I found out:

• 2017 Stafford St. was listed for 24 days. The property closed 5 1/2 months later.
• 4503 Wood Duck Ln. was listed for 174 days. The property closed 5 weeks later.
• 2304 Timber Trail was listed for 181 days. The property closed 1 1/2 months later.
• 1908 Crestview Dr. was listed for 435 days. The property closed 1 1/2 months later.
• 2916 Stillwater Ct. was listed for 14 days. The property closed 3 1/2 months later.
• 16316 S. Lexington Dr. was listed for 299 days. The property closed 5 months later.
• 2605 San Mateo Dr. was listed for 32 days. The property closed 5 months later.
• 24328 Bristol Ave. was listed for 38 days. The property closed 2 1/2 months later.
• 13351 Ione St. was listed for 139 days. The property closed 2 1/2 months later.
• 24225 Norwood Dr. was listed for 212 days. The property closed 2 1/2 months later.
• 14735 Independence Dr. was listed for 29 days. The property closed 1 month later.

Some lenders are great to work with... some aren't. Sometimes things get hung up with the bank negotiators... and sometimes the negotiators actually help us out. Sometimes the investors are given bad advice and they hold out like a hopeful homeowner that things will get better... and sometimes they realize that a bird in the hand now, is worth two in the bush.

If you are waiting on a short sale to be approved, patience is the now the new key to your front door.

Good luck!

If you or someone you know needs someone with short sale experience to guide you though selling your home for more than what you owe, call me at 630-673-6233. I can help you navigate your way to a successful resolution in regard to a foreclosure situation. References available upon request.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Short Sale Specialist
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

I'm a Realtor in Plainfield, Illinois. I specialize in short sales and foreclosures, so I'm no stranger to the aftermath that can be found within the confines of a former "home". I've seen some really destroyed places; sledge hammers to the walls, feces on the floors of every room, rotting food on the floors and counter tops, obscenities on the walls, roaches, abandoned pets, burst pipes, and the worst thing I've ever seen done by a homeowner who lost their home to foreclosure... they completely booby trapped the entire house.

It was a disgruntled homeowner in my neighborhood who pulled all of the live electric wires to the fuse box to the house, and then flooded the basement. If it weren't for the warning they were "kind" enough to leave on the basement door leading to the basement, someone could have really gotten hurt, or worse, killed. No matter how angry you are, how could you purposely and willingly set out to hurt another human being to that degree? It's something I don't think I'll ever understand.

As I mentioned around Christmas time, the first home Tony and I ever owned (and used sweat equity to build) went into foreclosure. We sold it about a year and a half before the market peaked. The homeowners who bought it treated it like an ATM instead of a home. 6 months into owning it, they took out a $50,000 line of credit. When they ended up in the middle of a divorce late last year there wasn't any equity left for them to sell. (They must not have known about doing a short sale...)

We only moved about 1/2 a mile away from our previous home when we moved into our current home. We built this house because we knew we needed more space, but we didn't want to move Mark around in school after switching him the year prior from a private school. Now, I'm not so convinced it matters anymore, but at the time it was one of my main concerns. It was just a lucky coincidence that a local area builder was completing an adjoining subdivision in our vicinity.

It was exactly like the house I just listed at 2503 Joe Adler Dr. that I posted pictures of earlier this week... a beautiful 4 bedroom 2 bath raised ranch that we put all of our blood, sweat, and tears into. We moved so far from where we were raised when we bought it, but we were SO proud of our first home. With the cards stacked against us, we crawled our way to the top. We earned every penny of the equity we had in that house when we sold it, by working hard and making good choices.

I loved that house... and I knew better than to go back and peek inside the windows today, but I had a dream about that house this week, and it finally got the best of me. My friend Laura lives across the street from our old house on Peyla Ln. so I knocked on her door today to make sure they weren't living there anymore. When I told her I was going to run across the street to peek in the windows, she told me to hold on... she was going to get her shoes!

There wasn't much to see from the front, other than the lack of attention to the yard and landscaping. The back of the house... on the other hand, told a completely different story.

It broke my heart to see what lay inside.

The kitchen cabinets had been removed. The garbage... OH, the garbage! The carpet had been removed, along with the wooden spindles on the wall that opened to the foyer. The appliances had all been stripped, and the reminder of their presence was echoed by the outlines of paint that now hold their place. The paint on the walls of the family room was still the same from when it once belonged to us, and I remember they day we painted it... and how pretty it looked that night when we put that room back together.

The playroom we made for the kids was now littered with dozens and dozens of Modelo beer cans and yes, more garbage. The cabinetry we added for toys were ripped from the walls. The cheery little room we made for kids to play happily in... was now a dumpster of angry intentions.

I honestly have to say that if I had any indication that the happy little house we once called home would have been victim to this foreclosure mess... I'm not sure I would have left. Don't get me wrong, I love our home now, but there's just something about your first home.

I'm guilty of personifying inanimate objects, places, and things. I think that's what causes me to be somewhat of a pack rat at times. I've gotten better... and no, I'm not a hoarder, ('only cause I tell myself that's what crazy cat ladies do!) BUT, I feel like I let that pretty & happy little house of ours down...

I let someone have it that didn't love it as much as we did.

Someone that didn't care about the hallway that Nathalie and Eric took their first steps in.

Someone that will never know that Mark got his first two quarters from the tooth fairy one night in June, in the bedroom in the front of the house.

Someone that didn't care that my dad, sick as he was with cancer at the time... helped us paint and prime all of the drywall before we moved in.

Someone that will never know how much my heart broke the night I cried into a pillow in my room the night my father died... and for the weeks and months that followed.

Someone that didn't care about the upgrades that Tony's parents surprised us with, that they paid the builder directly for, before we closed.

Someone that had no idea how hard we worked to put in a new ceramic floor in the kitchen, or to build a two car garage by putting money into a savings account for 2 years.

Someone that never saw how hard we struggled to keep our house when Tony lost his job and health insurance one Spring, when I was 7 months pregnant with Eric. Nothing on this Earth would have kept me from finding a way to keep that roof over our heads... nothing.

Someone that didn't care that we took a leap of faith and started over somewhere new with a shoestring budget and caviar dreams, and made it home.

I know it's not our home anymore, but it still hurt to see what someone else has done to it. It's going to be sad to go back inside when it comes back on the market. I will torture myself one more time. I have to.

Of course I'm a real estate agent. Of course I am! I know that "home" is more than drywall and plaster. It's where you hang your heart, and where your heart's been hung. My memories don't belong to 6613 Peyla Ln... but that address belongs to my memory and my heart.

This home we live in now, will be our home until we grow old, God willing. I'm a girl with roots, and jumping around is not my thing. I hope that my kids will always remember their roots and have the same attachment to home and family that I have. Home can be anywhere that we're all at together, and no matter what the future brings, we are in it 100%.

I'd rather have a shell of a home, than a shell of a family. Sure, we'll never be perfect... but we'll always be together. Tony is one Hell of a guy, I tell ya. He is my rock and my best friend.

We are fierce together... just like fire and ice.

Home will always be wherever we are together... but that doesn't necessarily mean we don't leave an eentsy-weentsy bit of ourselves behind when we go; or take a little piece of it with us when we leave.

What does home mean to you? What's your story?