It's all about options.

This is Bond's favorite phrase and we finally have some as it relates to housing! Hooray! We have 3, but really 2 since 1 isn't even on the market, yet, and is currently housing some expats I met back in October that move out at the end of April.

The first house is HUGE. Like we could fit our 2200 sq. ft. condo back home inside this sucker three times over! BUT, because of the "global economic meltdown" this property is within our range. Amazing. Why such a big house for 2.5 people and a dog? Excellent question! Simple answer...it's secure, has A/C and we could move in by May! It also has room for all of our "big, American" appliances that we plan to buy in the US, use here and then upgrade ours back home when we return. 

The second house is stuck in the 80s. It has gold and silver accents throughout (gold handrail, gold and silver handles on everything that has a drawer or door) and some considerably dated bathrooms. It's also very big (like only 2 of our condos could fit in it!) is secure and has A/C and a great outdoor area. This is the one though that is still occupied and the current residents haven't even told the owners they are moving, yet. The timing really doesn't work for this one for us, but it could if we were willing to live in a hotel. For a month.

The third house we are referring to as the "estate." Holy cow. So, when the real estate agent first told me about this place, she said that there was a little lake when you drive through the gate. "Oh, that's nice," I thought. Thinking she meant the gate leading into the entire community, NOT the property itself. Language barrier...won't be the last time! So, I just stared laughing when we drove into the gated community and then pulled up in front yet another gate, where I could see a very nice little lake inside! (Again, amazingly, due to the crisis, this property is within our price range and actually only a few hundred dollars more than our condo back home!) The house itself is big, of course, but not so big that it feels overwhelming. I actually love the floor plan and it has a security alarm (Bond about did a cartwheel when he saw this!) and A/C in 2 of the rooms and fans in the rest. But, because it's in a fancier community and has it's own gate, I'm a little concerned about feeling like a lonely, little princess in this castle! There are other expats in this community, too, but it's smaller than the other 2 options are (like 30 houses vs 1800!) and the street outside of this little gated casa doesn't have a sidewalk, which is a necessity for using our fancy, new stroller and walking off the baby weight I'm sure I'll eventually gain!

We made an offer on the first house yesterday, got a counter-offer today, and then putting in another counter offer tomorrow. If they don't bite...we walk! Yikes! So, though we have options, nothing is ideal, but I know we'll have a house one way or another. Even if I do get lost in it!