| George and Carol had been married for three years, | | | | For all of these things, it was difficult to find exactly the |
| but still lived in a cramped one bedroom apartment in | | | | right house for them. Carol wanted to live in the Valley, |
| downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Carol was an | | | | so they could take the TRAX into the city whenever |
| Administrative Assistant at the Horsley Company, | | | | they wanted without having to deal with parking or |
| while George was an excellent Senior Structural | | | | rising gas prices, plus it's easier than going through rush |
| Bridge Engineer working with the city planning | | | | hour traffic every day. |
| committee to help with bridges and road work. | | | | One night, over dinner, they decided that this was the |
| Salt Lake City was expanding and George and Carol | | | | last year they were going to be renters. They had |
| were thinking of expanding their family, but the current | | | | been doing splendidly on their debts and their credit |
| housing situation had them scared of trying. They didn't | | | | card was almost paid off already. They had six |
| have any major outstanding debts, but they did have | | | | months left on their lease and decided they better |
| car payments and the price of gas was truly | | | | start looking now. They decided to do the smart thing |
| frightening. Carol lived walking distance from her office, | | | | and contact a Realtor - someone who knew the |
| but George would variably take the TRAX, the bus or | | | | current market conditions and who would know what |
| drive to work, depending on his job site for the day. | | | | houses were going on the market and what they |
| On her lunch, Carol would look up housing listings online. | | | | were like, what matched Carol and George's dream |
| She felt she knew the neighborhoods she wanted to | | | | home criteria. |
| live in, but she wasn't sure. George did not typically | | | | They went house hunting for several months. With the |
| have time to look this kind of thing up, though he would | | | | current market being what it is, it's definitely a buyer's |
| often voice his displeasure at still being in the same 1 | | | | market! There were LOTS of homes for sale, some |
| bedroom apartment that they had been in for years. | | | | were foreclosed properties, some were for sale by |
| Carol had drawn up plans of what they wanted. They | | | | owner. Some needed a lot of work, others were way |
| wanted a one story, three bedroom home with a | | | | too huge and elaborate for Carol's tastes. Neither of |
| finished basement. They wanted a master bathroom | | | | them felt like they needed to build a new house, but it |
| with a large tub to take baths in, and a second full | | | | turned into a fun game to them, looking at all the |
| bathroom for overnight guests or children (in time). | | | | houses available. |
| They also wanted a half-bathroom in the basement. | | | | Their Realtor never took them to a house they couldn't |
| George wanted an office to work on things and he | | | | afford. He knew they were looking to start a family |
| thought it would be best if he could set it up in the | | | | and suggested neighborhoods that were near to |
| basement level of his home. | | | | reputable public and private school systems, with |
| They had some other desires in a home - they | | | | pediatricians and parks and playgrounds nearby. |
| wanted a two car garage, and they wanted their | | | | Eventually, they found the home of their dreams. It |
| basement to open out to the back, so they wanted a | | | | came complete with two huge oak trees in the yard |
| house built into a slope. Carol wanted a kitchen with an | | | | that shaded the house, and was located on a quiet |
| actual window or two, and she wanted a dining room | | | | road with what looked to be friendly neighbors all |
| where they could fit an actual table fit for guests and | | | | around. They passed their credit check and made |
| with several chairs. She wanted bright lighting and she | | | | plans to move out. Their Realtor helped them find their |
| wanted it to be gorgeous! She liked hardwood flooring | | | | dream home, but they were the ones who could make |
| and open, airy floor plans. | | | | it a reality! |