Update (Not Foster Related)

Sorry I haven't been around in so long. The financing fell through on the house I was hoping to buy, so I've been spending every spare moment looking for a new place to live. Here are some things I've learned in the past month:

- Mobile homes are not like regular homes. They are more difficult to get financing on, among other things.
- Private lenders will not give a conventional loan on a mobile home that is not on a foundation.
- Homes that have been foreclosed on and are owned by a bank will only accept conventional loans or cash.
- Having excellent credit does not matter, if a house has a problem with mold, or structural issues.

The first home I hoped to buy was a manufactured home not on a foundation, and a foreclosure, so I couldn't get financing. The second home I hoped to buy turned out to have a major problem with mold, so I couldn't get financing. The third home I hoped to buy turned out to have structural issues. And the fourth home also had mold and a few other issues, so I found out this afternoon, that once again, no financing will be available. I'm very fortunate to have both a wonderful realtor and mortgage broker that are helping me with my search.  They are definitely earning their money with all the work I'm putting them through in finding just the right place.  I don't care how big it is or how new it is, I just want it to be a place I can have foster dogs without bothering anyone. 

So far I have viewed listings on 496 homes through an online listing service. Basically I've looked at information on every home that is within one hour of my work and is being sold at a price I can afford. I've ruled out most of those homes because they're in cities or subdivisions with pet restrictions. I've driven by the rest of them, and ruled out another 25 or 30 because they were in very bad areas, or in homes that wouldn't work for fostering (no yard, etc). That has left me with very few choices. I did come across one home that is my dream house, but wouldn't work for fostering. I seriously considered giving up fostering and moving in with just me and Merlin. Okay not really. But I wanted to consider it - especially when I got home and found the dogs had entertained themselves while I was gone by eating my new (used) couch. A tiny cabin in the woods with just me and my cat didn't sound so bad right about then.

It has been an adventure, shopping for houses. I've seen a lot of wildlife. I've picked up a stray dog. I've driven through rainstorms and across flooded roads. I've walked through woods and fields, and acquired over 200 bug bites in one night. I missed an entire weekend, including a big adoption event, due to a much-needed overdose of Benadryl to survive the bug bites. I now carry bug spray in my car, along with a flashlight, for my evening house hunting trips. I have driven most of the major roads in Lincoln County and am starting to learn my way around Warren County as well (I live in St. Charles County).

I am having a rough month, and with five dogs at home, I dread every time the doorbell rings that it is the Animal Control unit coming back because the neighbors have complained again. I check the house listings constantly, just waiting for that next house to come on the market and hoping it will be the perfect fit. I'm going back out again tonight to drive around and look at a few more possibilities. So please don't give up on me - I miss you guys and will write more about my fostering adventures as soon as life improves a bit!