Brian (my ex/best friend/etc - wish there was a good word for whatever it is) were down over Woodridge way so I asked if he'd like to have a look around the area. I had been warned off it by a lot of people ("Woodridge - you don't want to buy THERE"), but when I'd had a look myself it didn't look too bad. I suspect its just a stigma which will disappear once people realise its only 30 minutes to the city, on rail, still affordable and has a lot of nice bush around it. Anyway, Brian (who had been one of those less than keen on the area) made very noises to the effect that it did in fact look quite nice. So, we drove around there for a bit up behind the Trinder Park rail station to spot houses for sale so I could jot down the agents details and get a further idea of prices.

We were driving up a street, and there on the corner was a house for sale that I said I liked. We overshot the sign, so Brian stopped and I went to get out to have a look at it... when a very professionally dressed lady hops out of the car in front of us and starts walking towards us. "That looks like an agent" says I.... and sure enough "Do you want to have a look?" she asks. They were just finishing an open house.

So, we have a look. The place is compact, but TARDIS-like in the number of rooms packed into the space. A total of 4 bedrooms, a study, seperate laundry, tons of storage areas (including access to the crawl-space), car port, above ground pool (might have to go - unlikely to be used by me and I know from my parents old place how much care they need), big shed in the back yard, neat courtyard style garden, wood floors in the large living room, about 10 minutes walk to the train station, and it backs onto the Karawatha Forrest. It ticks pretty much every 'need' and far more of the 'wants' than I had thought likely - and its about as close I can get to Brian, Work and my parents and money will allow.

The place is larger than I need, but then the extra rooms will also make it easier to sell/rent ultimately (singles living on their own being less common that families I guess). It also costs a little more that my original cutoff, but most of the places I have been looking at have been - and by comparison they were all dumps. This place is a LITTLE quirky, but not terribly so (just shaped to the families needs over the years) - all stuff I can change. One thing that I think I'll do eventually is add a second and LARGER bathroom - the existing one is tiny (although once again, good use of the space) and upstairs (the master bedroom is downstairs).

So. I get home. Check with the bank (all seemed OK - confirmation of new amount on Monday). Phone agent and make an offer (a little less than what they are asking, but not by much - it was I thought a fair price). Head over to sign it, then off to my parents in THEIR new home (I wasn't keen on it when shown, but seeing them in it with their stuff it now seems like a great fit), and get a call from the agent; the owners had accepted my offer (some conditions - they are moving into a rental property they own and need to wait until May for the tenants lease to be up - I decided I could live with that - I even end up with some rent from them).

So - in the space of one day, I end up with a house. That very morning I had said "I'm going to find a house this week."

More to do of course (inspections to arrange, solicitor to find, bank to sort out), but it is happening!