#$^&*%

OK, the original title to this post was "The end is in sight", because I wrote almost an entire post about how I think we have found a house we both like, but at one point I tried to close Firefox while I was in a separate tabbed window, and forgot this post was still unfinished in another tab. And ignored the warning. So I lost the post. Hence the actual title.
The reason I was in another tab is that I was saving this picture:



Neither of us thought I would like it, because although it looks fine, even great, from the front, the back is what I call "flat-back house". It has no thought for design or architecture put into it at all*. But we were driving around, Leo knew the house was vacant, and we decided we might as well look, so Leo called to set up an immediate showing (the perks of being married to a Realtor!)

The first thing I noticed was there was an office on the first floor that was not mentioned on the listing sheet. An office, not a bedroom, because it did not have a closet. Four bedrooms were already listed. I started warming up to the house.

Other things that fit the vision in my head:

• A decent sized kitchen with enough counter and cabinet space.
• A large laundry room with a planning desk and additional cabinet space, as well as a pantry. I started envisioning this as the command center/office/my room I've been hoping for.
  
• Closets both at the front entry, for guests, and at the garage entry, for us.
• A large master suite, room in the bedroom for both a crib and a cosleeper, both of which we'll probably need at the same time for at least a couple of months.
• Master bath is bright with a garden tub jacuzzi deep enough for a waterbirth.
• Every room is bright in the daytime. One house I previously rejected because the two main rooms I'd be spending my time in, the kitchen and the great room, were too dark. Not good for someone prone to depression!
• A large backyard set against a cul-de-sac.
• And of course, it has a basement. Full, partially finished.
  

The list goes on. There are a few things I did not like, such as the electric stove (not even a flat top, and I prefer gas because I like being able to adjust the temperature quickly) and the fact that both the dining room and the breakfast area have carpet. Yuck. But the latter is fixable, and I can live with the former.

We're going to see it again in a couple of days, and hopefully, if all goes well, we'll put an offer on it. Another plus is that it's bank-owned, which means the previous owners foreclosed, and now the bank just wants to get it off their hands, which further means it's priced lower than it otherwise would be. Also, unlike most bank-owned homes Leo has seen, the previous owners did not trash it, and in fact the bank has invested a little money in paint and carpet (the carpet is cheap, but that's also eventually something we can fix).

I'm going to post this before I lose it again. At least I was smart enough to upload the picture first this time.

*We also realized we can fix the "flat-back house" if we eventually add on a screened porch or even a sunroom.