It’s funny how things all come together at one time. I updated briefly earlier to say that I got accepted officially into grad school, and now I’m updating to let everyone know that I closed on my house this morning.

There are potentially some issues with some encroaching property, because part of my deck (the rear steps) are semi on the neighbor’s property. The lawyer says that’s not really a big deal, and since I bought the house and it was already that way and the neighbors bought their house when it was already that way, they sort of waived their right to complain. He did offer up that I should get a survey done and have the property staked and flagged so that I know where the property boundaries are officially.

Another neat thing I found out at closing is that my first mortgage payment is due September 1st, so it’s almost like I get to live there for a month for free! I’m not going to go hog wild with the extra financial leeway next month, especially with gas costing what it is these days.

So, I have joined the ranks of the first-time home owners. I’m already scheming on what to do with the house now that I have free reign to change it as I see fit. Mom and my sister are coming up the first week in September to bring me my inheritance check and help me spend it on paint & supplies and then some new living room furniture. I’ve got to pay back some borrowed money I used for closing, pay off a credit card or two, and put the rest away for a “rainy day.”

That being said, some things I’d like to get, but may decide to wait on:

  • Gas Grill
  • Deck Furniture
  • Area rugs
  • Power Tools / lawn tools (new mower?)
  • Dining Room Chairs
  • iMac (maybe while the free iPod offer is still going on?)
  • new speakers for living room TV setup
  • Vinyl Siding for the house?
  • Pressure washer / air compressor & tools
  • Ramps & blocks for changing the oil in my car
  • Pre-pay a WoW subscription for a year?
  • Kitten care (Spay & Neuter, shots, pet carrier thingy, toys)
  • Omaha Steaks
  • Wall Art (probably some photography prints in nice frames)
  • Some plants

If anybody has some useful (or practical) things I could do, let me know in the comments. I’m already setting aside some of the money to pay off debt, and I may put a little into an investment portfolio and play the stocks.