Search

Kath Eats logo

Search
You are here: Home / Home / House Hunted.

House Hunted.

And the news is…we’re buying a house!!!!

House4

Early this spring, I started to do some research. Could we get a mortgage? What is the market like here? What timing would be ideal for us to buy? Which neighborhood did we want to live in? We love the house we’re renting right now, but it’s on the other side of town as the bakery, downtown, the gym. I know people roll their eyes when I say that the 3 mile commute to the bakery is “tough” but when you are a biker and you live in a mountainous city, 3 miles vs. 1 mile is huge. We knew we wanted to move closer. After all, walkability and proximity to downtown is why we moved to Charlottesville in the first place!

I met with multiple mortgage brokers and we chose a real estate agent – Karen Ball – who I highly recommend!!

We met to discuss what kind of house we wanted to buy, price ranges, timing and more. I imagined us buying an older home that we could fix up over time, add onto and live in for 30 years. The problem is, those kind of homes are pretty expensive here – even for fixers!

On our wish list in order of importance:

    • Location.Location.Location
    • Charm
    • Hardwood floors
    • 4 bedrooms
    • 2+ bathrooms
    • Guest quarters with its own bathroom
    • Updated kitchen
    • Space to grow into

I was willing to do one or two projects (like a kitchen or bath) but not a whole house.

I met with a mortgage broker and got the ball rolling there, but it was really a big question mark, which is why I’ve been keeping this news a secret. The bakery’s income is not countable since it’s a new business (we’d have to wait 2 years of tax returns to count it) and thus we’d be going off of my income alone.

Karen took us to see a few houses in our range. At this point we still didn’t know if we’d be buying now or a year from now, but we figured it would be wise to get a good feel for what was out there.

House #1

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Price: 4/5 stars

this !

The best thing about this house was the location. The interior would need quite a bit of updates, and I’m not sure the floor plan was that idea. And the guest room situation was pretty dismal.

Pros

  • Amazing location
  • Gobloads of charm
  • Amazing backyard
  • Big master with closets
  • Sunporch for blogging
  • Good storage
  • Really nice yard + deck

Cons

  • No guest room (would need to go in basement)
  • Bathrooms needed help and possibly relocation
  • Not too much of an open floor plan
  • Older kitchen, although somewhat spacious
  • No front porch

House #2

4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms

Price: 5/5 stars

I really loved this house for its mega historic charm. I could see us living there for 30 years and more. There was space for an addition in the back where we could have grown into in 5-10 years, and room for a master bath upstairs, but ultimately, Matt vetoed this house. He absolutely hated the upstairs floor plan saying it was very claustrophobic (which it was). This house made me a little nervous too because it was at the very top of our price range and had things like plaster walls that made upkeep a little scary.

Pros

  • CHARM
  • Pretty good location, but not totally idea
  • Big enough to grow into
  • Big pretty dining room
  • Sunporch for blogging
  • Nooks + crannies
  • Guest quarters with nice bathroom
  • Pretty enclosed yard
  • OK storage

Cons

  • Kitchen was a bit weirdly laid out
  • Two of the bedrooms were TINY – one was more like a closet
  • Would need some significant renos
  • No brewery area
  • Guest room was open in basement – not ideal
  • Driveway/street not great
  • No front porch

Houses 3-10

I went in many open houses during this time. Most of them were in neighborhoods that I wasn’t crazy about. We’re not having kids quite yet, but I kept imaging myself pushing a stroller to the bakery or downtown and some of the other neighborhoods  had less-than-ideal pathways to get from point A to point B, even if the street the house was on was very nice.

Some of them were just not our style, some were too small, and some were just right but too expensive or with a major flaw – like only 2 bedrooms and no room for more.

I literally stalked the housing market for weeks. Finally, I started to think outside of the box. One house in particular caught my attention a second time. I had overlooked it in the past because it wasn’t historic or 4 bedrooms. It was 3 bedrooms, but it had a lot of other features we were looking for.

Our New House!

[Please note this is NOT the house we bought – photo was for artistic purposes only!]

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Price: 3/5 stars

Pros

  • Great location
  • Lowest price we’d seen!
  • Mid-century charm
  • Hardwoods
  • TONS of storage. TONs!!
  • Modern kitchen
  • Awesome architectural features in basement
  • Completely updated including finished basement in 2009
  • Fenced in flat yard with nice deck
  • Walk-up attic
  • Spacious master
  • Guest quarters with own bath
  • Built-in desk charm
  • Really awesome downstairs bath
  • BREWERY space
  • Front porch
  • An incredible laundry room!!
  • Coat closet and linen closet
  • Family room and living room

Cons

  • Probably not a 30 year house…closer to 10 years
  • Nice, but pretty small kitchen
  • Small dining room
  • Reverse floor plan
  • Small guest room
  • No sunroom for blogging
  • Street parking on a quiet street, but room for a 1-car driveway to be built

The house really grew on me. I kept thinking about it. The location is really walkable and great! The house is 2,000 square feet with equal space on the first floor and the basement floor. The basement, however, is very light and bright and feels more like a first floor than a basement. It threw me off at first, but I think it’s really livable.

After some thought, we put in an offer. A pretty low-ball offer. After a few days of relatively painless negotiations, we had ourselves a really good deal!! Our contract price is way lower than we were initially looking, and that makes me so happy. The inspection went really well – the house is really well built. I’m thrilled to be buying a house that won’t have cracks in the floors and all the quirks that I love about old houses but hate at the same time.

Since going under contract in late July, I’ve been anxiously waiting to find out if we would be able to get a mortgage. And earlier this week, we got approval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crazy me likes to add on more projects within months of opening the bakery, but that’s why I’ve been home more than usual. I’ve been working hard on all things house related and moving. Matt hasn’t had to bat an eyelash.

Closing: Sept. 7

Moving Day: Sept. 12

We’re painting before we move in (rather, having it painted – we are too busy to DIY) and are considering putting a screened in porch / blogging porch on the back.

I’m not sure if I can post interior photos that I took, so you will have to wait patiently until we close for those : )

Home Neat Home Part II will be in full swing this fall!

***

Whew!

This morning I met with movers and wrote a quick piece and then went for a run. I haven’t been able to run during the day since May! It was nice to go around lunchtime. In the spirit of back to school, I ran around the UVA Grounds, including up the famous Observatory Hill. HARD. I walk/jogged up the hill. It was tough.

5 miles covered.

Time for lunch!

IMG_6210-2Blog

I made a big ole salad with greens, green pepper, feta, corn, bread hunks and clementine!

IMG_6203-2BlogIMG_6202-2Blog

And on the side – the most delicious smoothie!!

IMG_6212-2Blog

1 cup of cantaloupe, 1 cup milk, 1/2 packet Vega Tropical Smoothie mix (from HLS swag bag) and ice. It was incredible!

IMG_6204-2Blog

IMG_6201-2Blog

And that’s the end of that chapter!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Amelia (Eating Made Easy) says

    Congrats Kath and Matt!!! I’ve been excited to see this news on the blog and hear the deets!

  6. Lauren @ Lettuce Eat Cake says

    Awesome news! I kinda suspected that might be the case when you said it wasn’t a book deal or baby. My fiance and I are house hunting right now, and with our wedding coming up in 45 days, it’s definitely a bit overwhelming. So excited to see more pics!

  9. Baking N Books says

    I KNEW IT!!! So weird, I went out for a walk – and thought – I bet ya she’s buying a house. But then I thought when would you get time to do all the research into it. Good secret!

  10. Gina @ running to the kitchen says

    COngrats! I bet you guys are so excited to have your own home again! Can’t wait to see the inside pics and all you to do it 🙂

  13. Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says

    Congratulations!! It just occurred to me there could be a sequel to Home Neat Home 🙂

  15. kelly bean says

    yay, i was right! And HUGE congrats!

    I know the feeling… there’s something about buying a house that brings out the jinx & superstition fears like NOTHING else.

    Congrats again!!!

  16. Angie @ Musings of a Violet Monkey says

    Congrats! I had a feeling… 😉

    New houses are so exciting! I love to sort through, and weed out my possessions, and plot furniture arrangements, decor, etc. Such a dork am I. 🙂

    Can’t wait to see more!

    ~

  17. Krissy @ Make It Naked says

    Congrats!!!!! What great news! And congrats on the o-hill run. What a fun post!

  21. Kori says

    Congratulations to you both!!!! How exciting! =D I love the way that you presented the photos of the different homes. Very neat. I can’t wait to see more photos of the inside and outside of your new home!

  22. Grace @ Healthy Dreaming says

    Congratulations on your house! I just closed on my new house LAST thursday and have had my hands full. House hunting is fun but definitely emotionally draining especially between agreeing to terms and actually closing.

    Good luck with everything 🙂

  25. Adriana says

    Congratulations!!!! That is such wonderful news! My husband and I also just bought a house and are closing in October. It’s such an exciting process! I hope the closing goes very smoothly 🙂

  26. Kathryn @ Flopoodle says

    Yay, congrats! So excited for you and I hope you get your blogging porch 😉 Can’t wait to see interior pics.

  27. Allison @ Can't Wait For Breakfast says

    That is GREAT news! Congrats! I can’t wait to buy my own house in the future!

  28. Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews says

    That’s wonderful news! Good luck. My husband and I had tons of fun house hunting but it can also be very stressful.

  29. Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet says

    OMG That’s insane! Congrats, and I’m sure your new house will be gorgeous before long. I love Cville, and once I have a family, I’m definitely considering moving there 🙂

  30. Alison says

    congrats! I love love love that you qualified for the mortgage on your own – seriously impressive.

  31. Lauren says

    Congratulations! Clever with the watercolor pictures 🙂 Cville looks beautiful and charming. And I can’t wait to get even more organizational and design tips from you!

  33. Erin @ The Grass Skirt says

    Congrats! That’s awesome, and such a great place to put down some roots. I am sure you’ll be very happy there!

  34. katie @KatieDid says

    That is SO exciting!!! I cannot wait to see how you decorate, organize, and clean it all up! Congrats 🙂

  35. Christa says

    Soooo exciting!! I looooove house hunting and looking at houses and will be so excited to see your new space! 🙂

  38. Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says

    Congrats on the house, that’s incredibly exciting! I’m all about canteloupe and other melon in smoothies this summer.

  39. sonya says

    I’ll miss seeing the porch and the table. It so relaxing to look at the pictures! Congratulations on the house! Getting a home that is a good fit at the right price and in the right city is plenty to smile about! Congrats!

  42. Amy says

    Congratulations on the house! Can’t wait to see pictures, I bet it’s great. I loved on one of the descriptions you said “nooks and crannies”. No one understands me when I say I like nook and crannies in a house. I don’t really like open floor plans.

  44. Marie@feedingfive says

    I am so happy for you both. Can’t wait to see inside pics. Making a house a home is so fun & exciting. Impressive that you did it all on your own, my way would be to look at & pick out the home and make my husband deal with all the nitty gritty financial & boring aspects. There is so much that goes into the process. Congratulations!!

  45. Jackie Smith says

    congratulations! Looking forward to seeing how you turn your house into a home (only as much as you want to share, of course!).

  46. Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says

    Whoa! Congrats! That is super awesome 🙂 Let us know details about how it all goes down for those of us that will buy a house soon-ish!!

    Love your salad idea–fruit in salads is thebombdotcom!

  47. Nana Phyllis says

    So excited about your new house. Can’t wait to see actual pictures – what a fun time of your lives! Enjoy every minute!!

  48. Katie @ cooklaughmove says

    Yay! Congrats!!!

    VERY wise decision to get the painting done before moving in! When I got my house (single, 21 year old female home owner), I was so anxious (and had so much on my plate emotionally) that I just moved it. Now painting/remodels/anything seems like a HUGE deal in a house full of furniture and stuf!

  50. Colleen says

    Congrats to you and Matt! A house to call home. Now all you need are some mini-me’s…:)

  51. Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) says

    Yay!!! congratulations lady!! So great to own a place of your own and fix it up however you like 🙂 good luck with moving!!

  52. Laura (On the Threshold of Greatness) says

    I’m so happy for you! 🙂

    I’m excited to see how you’re going to fix it up, especially during the fall/winter because Cville is so pretty then!

  55. Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says

    Congratulations! So much has been accomplished within the last few months–crazy! Very impressive too that you’re taking so much on with a new business. I work for a small bakery now, and I know how much of a time suck it can be. Can’t wait to see pictures! 🙂

  57. Blessing @ Working Mom Journal says

    Congrats to you and Matt. You guys are working hard…glad to see that things are really looking great for y’all.

  59. Kristin @ STUFT Mama says

    Congratulations! So excited for you. Holy cow a lot has happened in the past few months for you! Yay! Ca’t’ wait for the pictures!

  60. Susan D. says

    Congratulations! It seems like you are buying at the bottom of the market, with record lows on mortgage rates. Nice timing. 🙂

  63. Charise says

    Yay, house buying! We just moved from a condo to a house a month ago. Stressful, but so exciting and worth it! We plan on staying in ours for 10-15 years. I think trying to make your first house your forever home can be overwhelming – so much pressure, and our budgets now probably don’t allow for what we can afford for a second house further down the road, along with having different priorities at different life stages. Congratulations, Kath, and I hope everything goes smoothly with the closing and moving!

    • Susan says

      With housing prices as low as they are now is probably the best time to get your forever home. That’s how my BF & I ended up in ours. We never could have afforded our house if the market hadn’t tanked.

      • Charise says

        It sounds like Kath and Matt had a difficult time finding what they would consider their forever home in their price range even with the market being low, since different areas were affected differently by the economy (for example, where I live and in our price range, houses are maybe $10-20K cheaper, which is way different than areas where you can get a similarly priced house for $100K less than previously). I was just pointing out some of the positives of not buying your forever home as your first place. But it’s of course different for everyone, and everyone is looking for different things!

  64. Sweet and Savvy says

    Congrats!!! 🙂 Good luck with the move! So happy that you found something you love!

  65. Karen says

    Huge congratulations, Kath and Matt on this major investment in your future…I hope you enjoy many years of happiness in this house! I know you will make it a “home” in no time at all! (What a fun, creative method of showing us your selections while preserving privacy!)

  67. Kelly (meatless with a man) says

    Congrats!!! There is something wonderful about owning your first home – it’s just an indescribable feeling! It sounds like you’ve really enjoyed the whole process so far, which I think is very important. It can be overwhelming – but most life changing things are! So exciting!

    • Chris says

      This is not the first home they have owned. They owned their house in Charlotte prior to moving to C-ville.

  68. Jennifer says

    Congratulations!!!! That’s fantastic news!!! I love how you did your post “Househunter” style. 🙂 I felt like I was watching the show. The house looks really nice and has charm from what I can see in the picture. I’m really happy for you guys. 🙂

    So you now have your own business, your own house…hmm….what could possibly come next in the chapters of life. 🙂

  70. Ashley J says

    Yay! I was hoping this was going to be your “big news!”
    Can’t wait to see new pictures! I am in love with your rental, so I can only imagine how awesome your brand new house will be! When you move out, could you post a link to the rental or share the address so I could look at it? We’re starting to brainstorm moving ourselves!

  74. Lindsay @ Lindsay's List says

    YAY! So exciting!! There’s just something about owning your own HOUSE! And then turning it into a HOME!

  75. Amy at TheSceneFromMe says

    Congratulations! Moving into a place that you can call your own is so exhilarating and fun! Enjoy it:)

  76. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says

    Wow, congrats Kath! I agree that no front porch is a con – after all, you need to be able to say “Isn’t this an ideal porch for enjoying your morning coffee/oats on?” 😛 I’m excited for you!

  77. Jennifer says

    Congratulations! Can’t wait to see pictures. I’m probably in the minority, but I love moving. I love the feeling of starting fresh, getting rid of things we don’t need anymore, and decorating a new space. YAY!!!

  78. val @ lots of dishes says

    wow this is super exciting. i have been house hunting since march and haven’t found the one. i think i’m being too picky! i too am looking for a 30+ year home, and am glad you found something that will work for 10 years!

  79. Sarah@The Flying ONION says

    YAY!! How exciting! It’s so awesome, and the house from what we see of it looks adorable. So YOU. 😀

  80. Lea @ Healthy Coconut says

    Congrats to you and Matt on the new home.

    I am on my second home ownership and learned a lot during the 1st home buy, the 2nd time around is easier and more enjoyable process, I hope it’s the same with you guys too.

    I love your Home Neat Home series and how you make it so simple to achieve simplicity. I look forward to more.

  82. Robin @ The Balanced Life says

    Congrats! I’m in the exact same boat you are, or WERE a few months ago. I’ve been doing so much research on mortgages and it’s so overwhelming, ESPECIALLY as a business owner! I’m happy to see you two were able to do it. So exciting, congrats 🙂

  84. Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says

    WOW! Congratulations!! That is wonderful news and I am so happy for y’all!!

  87. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    Kath, congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I have bought and sold lots of real estate in my life (and also have my real estate license here in CA) and I am so happy for you two!

    Getting a mortgage is hard enough in this very nitpicking economic time, doing it self employed and with a less than traditional job and on your income only…I understand exactly what you went thru (been there myself)

    The fact that it was ALL redone in 2009 is so amazing…you don’t need any more immediate projects it would seem right after opening the bakery and then moving in to this place…just being able to move in and enjoy….is great 🙂

    Congrats so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  88. Ida says

    how exciting! I can’t wait to see pictures. Being so close to the bakery will be a huge help I’m sure.

  89. Krista (kristastes) says

    This post makes me smile…congratulations on your new home Kath! I’m sure you guys will add your own touches and make it as gorgeous as your others. Love your style!! Hope the settlement and move are both smooth as nut buttah 😉

  90. J3nn(Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    I had a feeling!!! So exciting! Congrats!! I can’t wait to see pics of it. So lucky to get this all settled before the holidays. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

  93. Maria @ Maria Makes Muffins says

    Congratulations! I can’t wait to see what you do with it – I am sure that it will be gorgeous!

  94. erica says

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!
    this is so exciting! can’t wait to see all your posts on this new adventure!!!

  95. Heather @ Side of Sneakers says

    YAY!! That is SO exciting!!! And coming in lower than expected on price is a HUGE plus, because you never know what surprises may come up- and having a house can get expensive! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what it looks like in all your blogging pictures.

  97. Kelly says

    Congrats! Not going to lie, I am quite jealous. I’ve been house hunting since November of last year and it hasn’t been tremendously successful to say the least. (Put in 2 offers, first was not accepted even after negotiation. Second was, but inspection revealed a lot of problems, which the owner was not willing to give us me many monetary concessions for.) I’m still (somewhat) hopeful though. Good luck with the move & I love cantaloupe in smoothies.

  99. Annie says

    Congratulations! My husband and I have been in our first house for about two months now and it’s amazing! I can’t wait to read the new HNH on a new house. 🙂

  100. Kim says

    Congrats!!!! I remember talking to you at the bakery about searching for homes! Can I rent out your current rental now?! 😉 I can’t wait to hear all about the new place.

  102. Jessa @ Happy Tummy Point says

    Congratulations Kath! That is so exciting. I’ve just started my first home hunt and it’s a very exciting time

    If you don’t mind me asking. What were some of the qualities you liked about your Realtor to choose her? What were some questions you asked? thanks 🙂

    • KathEats says

      I really wanted someone young and hip who also was established – Karen is all of these. She’s won awards and also I felt she could related to what us 28 year olds would be looking for. She specializes in the neighborhoods we liked too

  104. Brenna says

    How exciting!! Loved the House Hunters (love that show) format! Congratulations to you & Matt.

  106. Katie says

    CONGRATS!! So happy for you guys! Wow this year has been a BIG year for you!!!! Exciting things!
    I can’t wait to see your house, Im sure its amazing!!

  108. LauraJayne says

    Congratulations! I can’t wait to see how you decorate and move – you always inspire me so much!

  112. Emily Malone says

    Wheeeeeeee! Happy for my friends! Once you move and buy a pack n play, Baby C and I will come test out the guest room. 🙂

  113. Kristin @ eat healthy. be happy. live well says

    How exciting!!! You’re amazing for being able to handle the blog, bakery, conferences, and buying a house!!!!! Can’t wait to see pictures when you can show them!

  114. Christina @ MsFitMom.com says

    Congrats Kath!!!! It’s so exciting and scary all at once. But I’m sure it helps quite a bit that you got the house for lower than you expected so you can make some quick tweaks before you move in. Happy Homeowning!

  115. Johanna B says

    Congrats! When my husband and I bought our first house we went for a new build. It was fun and exciting and a bit scary. If I had to do it now I’d go for an older home and fix it up. I like houses with character already built in.

  116. maria says

    Congrats! That’s so exciting 🙂 I can’t wait to see what it actually looks like (if you post it)

  120. Chase - the CHASE project says

    Congratulations!! I feel special that I knew the news on Saturday 😉

  121. Sarah @ Sarah's Modern Bites says

    Wow!!! Congratulations Kath! Moving closer will make your lives SO much easier! Like everyone else I cannot wait to see pictures! I’m sure it is just beautiful as we all know what fabulous taste you have 😉

  122. Kathy W. says

    omg, the House Hunters edition of KathEats!!

    can’t wait to see pics of the new house!! Congratulations!!!

  125. Michele says

    First off… congrats!! Second… I don’t know what this says about me, but my first thought was “gosh, I can’t wait till I have my own legit place to I can put all Kath’s awesome organizing tips to use for real.” I hope that’s a compliment and not ubercreepy 🙂

  126. Maria says

    Congrats! I’m looking forward to reading about your move and transition. Very excited and happy for both you & Matt! 🙂

  128. Kristin says

    SO FUN…….Congrats!!! I can’t wait to see all the creative projects you come up with in your new home! 🙂

  129. Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says

    That’s so exciting! Congrats on your new house! I love the show House Hunters, so this is like real life house hunting! I hope everything goes well with the closing!

  132. Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says

    hahaha, I totally knew it was buying house! Congratulations to you both! I’m can’t wait to see pictures.

  134. Hillary says

    I knew it! I knew it!

    Congrats to you guys! What a huge, exciting move (literally and metaphorically). May you have many happy, healthy years in that house!

  135. Karen Ball says

    Woohoo! Countdown is on. I’ve loved working with y’all and can’t wait to see how you make this house your home.

  138. Cait @ Beyond Bananas says

    Wooo! Congrats on the house, Kath and Matt!! i am super excited to follow you through all the things you will be going through. A rollercoaster – most likely. But TOTALLY worth it in the end!

  140. RunEatRepeat says

    Ahhhh!!! I would have never guessed that was the surprise 😉

    Congrats this is the coolest thing! Since you have extra room, can I come visit? I want bread and granola something fierce.

  141. Leanne @ LeanneLately says

    Congratulations! We just closed on our first home and a whole new world of house blogs was opened up to me. Fixing up our new place has been an amazing experience And I get ideas for new projects all the time. You and Matt will have more to do that ever.

  142. Katherina @ Zephyr Runs says

    Congratulations! I don’t know how bloggers keep such huge secrets like this!! Can’t wait to see the Home Neat Home installments.

  144. Stephanie @cookinfanatic says

    Congratulations on the new house!!! I remember closing on my first house just over 2 years ago and it was so exciting (and kinda scary, but mostly exciting haha)!!! Can’t wait to see more once you guys move in 🙂

  146. Molly @ RDexposed says

    Congrats!! What an exciting and memorable time in your life!

    Long live the RDs.

  148. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    I knew about this since you’ve hinted it a few times in different posts 😉

    Congrats to you and Matt! Cheers is in order 😀

  149. Ashley@MyFoodNFitnessDiaries says

    How exciting!! The homes in Charlottesville look so cute. Congratulations! It’s so fun owning your own home and doing home projects. Enjoy!

    • KathEats says

      Meaning the kitchen + bedrooms are on the top floor and family room and more bedrooms on the bottom. Main living on the top – like a beach house

  153. Suzanne says

    CONGRATS, Kath! You’re moving on my birthday. 🙂

    By the way, I just received an advanced copy of the Good Bite cookbook. (I’m not sure if you remember – but I designed the jacket). It came out really nice!

    I made sure I put Kath Eats on the front and near the title and also in green, because green always connotes healthy and veggies to me. And that’s what you’re about. 😉

    • Mary Frances says

      Well, have a very happy birthday… aren’t birthdays fun. That is also the 75th anniversary of the day Buddy Holly was born, and the actual day he will be receiving his much long deserved STAR on Hollywood Blvd.

      Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959) known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll. Although his success lasted only a year and a half before his death in an airplane crash, Holly is described by critic Bruce Eder as “the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll.” His works and innovations inspired and influenced contemporary and later musicians, notably The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton, and exerted a profound influence on popular music. Holly was among the first group of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Holly #13 among “The Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time”.

      Congratulations Matt and Kath… and a great day in history for settlement, too!

  154. Lauren says

    I KNEW IT!!!! Congratulations Kath! That is so fun and exciting. I hope the movers are packing for you because that was a lifesaver this summer and last summer! I can’t wait to see what you do to it! At least you don’t have to renovate it like we did! You and Matt are both wonderful and deserve this very much! 😀 If you need any furniture, we are getting rid of a ton and I bet my parents would be happy to give it you cheaply. 😉 That is, if you’re in Northern VA any time soon!

  157. Lauren says

    Yay! Congrats Kath. I wish you and Matt the very best during this exciting yet overwhelming time. It will all be worth it!

  160. Lauren at Keep It Sweet says

    Congratulations!!! We just recently started looking to buy a place and it is not easy! Glad you found a place that filled most of your needs.

  162. Tracey says

    Oh my gosh, you have been crazy obsessed with House Hunters lately – I should have known! 🙂 Will your next news have anything to do with dancing? 😉

  163. Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says

    Congrats!!! I knew the news already, obviously :). I just happy I don’t have to bite my tongue anymore! Love the blurred house photos.

  165. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    Congratulations!!! That’s so great! Good thinking buying for the future, too. You definitely want to find a house you can have for a long time.

  166. Elisabeth says

    Oh so exciting! Congratulations to you & Matt! I can’t wait to see more on the blog 🙂

  167. Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled says

    Congratulations! That’s awesome news!

    It’s hard finally deciding on which home to buy. Especially now when there’s so much on the market. Yeah!

  168. Lara @ TresLaLa says

    Congratulations on the new place! So exciting!

    And, I have to say that I do not miss running up “O Hill”!

  171. Kathleen says

    Exciting stuff!!

    I’m curious as to where you got your smoothie mug from!! Speights, pride of the south hey? Good ol kiwis 🙂 I like the chunks of bread in your salad. It’s getting close to lunchtime over here…. yum.

  172. Clare @ Fitting It All In says

    Weee for finally sharing your big news! I love House-Hunter style posts. Can’t wait to see how you organize and “Real Simple” ify the house!

  175. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says

    Congrats to the both of you!!! It sounds like a great choice. And I can’t wait to see what you do with the place!

  176. delia says

    Congratulations! I am way impressed that you have enough savings to buy a house even after just opening GH. As a new homeowner myself, I’m excited to hear about your moving process.

  178. Amanda says

    Oh my gosh Kath!!! Congratulations to you and Matt!!! I can’t WAIT for you to post pictures and decorate/organize! It will be very helpful for all of us now and in the future 🙂

  179. Jen says

    Very exciting Kath! Congrats to you and Matt….may you have a happy home for many years to come!

  180. Lee says

    Yay congrats! I can’t wait to hear your home improvement ideas and things that you do to the house.

  183. Dani Delicatessen says

    Yay! That’s so exciting, can’t wait to see pictures once you get moved in : )

  184. Emily says

    Yippeeee!!! I’m SO looking forward to seeing and reading your moving posts! I can’t wait to see more pictures of the house! Congrats!!

  187. Angel7 says

    YAY!!! Congratulations!!! I am sure you both are relieved to have found something in your price range, not to mention the fact that you are closer to the bakery and such.

    When we were first got married, I really wanted a house, because I did not like the fact of paying rent. I am not against renting, but I wanted a mortgage, since I knew that we would inevitably buy a house. We ended up finding a brand new house at a great deal! And years later, I am relieved that we did end of buying as opposed to renting.

    http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/

  188. Sam says

    That is so freaking exciting. I really wished that we could have waited til now to buy a house so that we could have gotten more value for our dollar. I love the place we live in & also the area but it would be nice to be closer to downtown sometimes.

  189. Sara says

    How exciting, and inspiring! We’ll be looking for our first house soon. Congratulations! And thanks for the smoothie recipe. Going to try that one…

  191. Kat @ Cupcake Kat says

    Congrats on finding a new beautiful house! This is really cool to me because we have sold are house and are looking for a new place to live but can’t find anything (hopefully we will!) and get this, the day we have to move out is the day your moving in to yours. I’m so happy for you and can’t wait to see some of your house

  192. sara says

    Are you going to acknowledge that you are self-employed and your husband is a new bushiness owner? I’m guessing that you must have some outside income paying your down payment?

    As someone who is your age and works 40+ hours/wk at a desk job along with her boyfriend it is like a slap in the face when you pretend that you can afford this. Please be honest with your readers.

    • Susan says

      Who are you to say she can’t afford it? I don’t know where you live, but homes are generally less expensive in the south and I don’t think her blogging/freelance income is tied to the area’s cost of living like most jobs are.

      I’ll admit that I’m a tad bit jealous because I’m sure Kath’s house is bigger and more updated than mine (and most likely less expensive), but I really admire how they both make things happen and seem to have a great time doing it!

    • Chris says

      They owned their house in Charlotte prior to renting in C-ville so it is very likely that there was some equity available from that house that is being used for a down payment on this house. What I would LOVE to know is how they afforded to BUY a Great Harvest franchise when Kath was still a nutrition student and Matt was an employee at GH. Most food franchises require you to have at least 500k in liquid assets before they will consider you. I highly doubt that K & M managed that on their own.

      • KathEats says

        Our franchise was not nearly that expensive. And I’ve mentioned before that we have business loans and investors.

        • Chris says

          Well, ok then, according to the GH website, the initial investment for a GH bakery, including franchise fee and start-up costs is 160k to 460k, with the average being $280k.

    • Samantha says

      I don’t usually comment here, but I just couldn’t resist in this case.
      First off, I don’t know Kath personally, probably never will. I’ve had my “issues” with bloggers and how they represent themselves in the past, but I realized that I keep coming back to read their blogs, so they are successful for a reason. At the end of the day, Kath knows how to generate interesting online content.
      Secondly, when did she NOT acknowledge that she is self-employed and that her husband is a new business owner? If you mean when will she acknowledge it “personally”, as in some way implying that her head is in the clouds, what if she has and she can still afford this house? Again, Kath is good at what she does and her readership shows that. Why would you doubt that she makes a living off of this?
      Which brings me to three, you know that she makes money off of this blog. Some bloggers can make serious money with their blogs, it’s a fact. And you are here reading and supporting that, so kudos to you. Are you asking her to be honest and state her financial situation here on the blog? Why? Is that relevant? Do you ask everyone you meet how they can afford what they own? I won’t speculate as to how much she earns, but I have noticed that Kath is VERY responsible with her purchases. She shops around, she doesn’t seem to shop for clothes as frequently as some other bloggers do (and hey, that’s their prerogative, I’m not gonna judge), she constantly makes lists for everything and doesn’t drive very much. Can you say the same for yourself?
      And speaking of you, fourthly, why is this “like a slap in the face” to you? Why take this personally? You think that working 40 hour weeks at a desk somehow entitles you to a nice house? Get real. You are in the same boat as a lot of people. You chose the “safe” path, that Kath has already been in (if you were reading at that point), but the fact is she took a risk and decided to blog for a career. Could she have known that it would grow into this? Probably not, but she ended up being very successful. Could she have achieved the same goals while still working her desk job? Given her self-restraint, I would guess that she could have.
      Bottom line, if she couldn’t afford this, she probably wouldn’t have done it. You are wasting a lot of energy comparing yourself to other people and feeling jealous. If you want to change the direction of your life, then do it. But don’t sit behind your screen attacking the personal character of others. If you don’t like the blog, don’t read it. I’m sure she won’t miss you.

    • aspen says

      I’m not criticizing or being negative but I have been wondering this for a very long time. Two people in their 20’s with alternative career paths (baker, student) and not a significant amount of time in traditional jobs with the built-in perks like health insurance, 401k, and other costly benefits, have done an amazing job with their finances. They owned a very nice home in Charlotte, lived for almost 1 year on only one income (Kath’s) while investing in the Great Harvest franchise. I’ve definitely noticed they live fairly frugally but still take nice vacations. I’ll admit that I am half jealous/half fascinated at how they have been able to accomplish so much financially while choosing alternative careers. I hope the bakery is a success for them. In my area, Metro Atlanta, 2 Great Harvest bakeries have closed in the last year as they just couldn’t make ends meet. Regardless of my curiousity on this matter, I truly enjoy this blog. Kudos to KERF for keeping us well enertained.

    • paula says

      I’m not usually one to jump to a blogger’s defense, but I had to reply to this. Why is someone else’s success a “slap in the face” to YOU (or anyone else)? I don’t get it. If you’re envious, fine. That’s a natural, human response, but it doesn’t make it somehow Kath’s fault, right?

      As for the rest, is it any of our business how they are affording it? Who cares?! I read the blog for the pretty pictures, southern charm of the city, helpful hints, food and recipes. It’s not a blog that’s supposed to reveal personal finances and tell the public how they spend it. Enjoy the blog for what it is!

      • Lisa says

        Congrats on your new house! Its impressive that you are able to get a house this soon after your buisiness venture, but I think you definately live frugally (you even have people giving you groceries daily at your bakery..kudos to that) and people can/should learn alot from that. That said, I’d wager a bet that there have been some handouts given from family at some point for downpayments or buisiness ventures, but again, that is nothing people should be jealous about, each person has their chance to make their way in this world, and people have different situations to live by. I do wonder though, why is it that big bloggers like Kath keep their income so secret… its seems kind of protectionist, rather than encouraging others. I certainly don’t expect exact dollars and cents, but there seems to be such a tight lip around what some of them make. Maybe food buzz wants it that way?

        • KathEats says

          I just think it’s tacky to blog about income – no matter what your industry. Income is personal to me, so I don’t care to share. If you dug around a little, you could figure out a ballpark amount based on pageviews and average CPM rates..

    • KathEats says

      Well since it’s still in the MLS you should know then that that’s not the actual house we bought! Guess I should have just not used any photos.

  194. Susan says

    Congrats to you and Matt! So happy for the two of you!

    And good call on getting someone else to paint. My BF and I painted ourselves and I swear that’s the only time we’ve ever had a fight. At the time we felt like we couldn’t spare the extra money since 99% of our savings went into the down and closing, but if we had to do it again, we’d definitely find a way to hire a painter!

  195. Laura @ Backstage Balance says

    Congratulations! It looks like the property has some very cute landscaping, too 🙂

  196. Leila @ Spinach and Skittles says

    How exciting! I love that you are considering putting in a blogging sun porch 🙂 Congrats!

  197. lani says

    Hi Kath,

    Big congratulations!!! We are now looking and I agree, location and walkability are key–but not so easy to come by in LA. 😉

    Lani

  198. Khushboo says

    WOW, congrats! Sounds like you guys have a great place on your hands! Really happy for you both :)!

  199. Sylvia @ My Attempt at Balanced Living says

    Congratulations Kath! This is fantastic news and I’m so glad you both were able to find something for you both and WAY in your price range too. I wish you all the best for your move 😀

  200. Aine @ Something to Chew Over says

    How cool! Congrats! 🙂

    I love the pictures by the way, how did you do that?

  202. Holly @ thefrozenpineapple says

    Yay! I had no idea you were looking for a house…I remember reading that you were unsure when you’d buy a house because of opening the bakery… Congratulations! We’ve been house hunting for months now (living in a hotel!) and are SO READY to find something. When my husband saw me reading this post he said, “Kath and Matt are just like us!” We’re looking for pretty much the exact same things in a house, and we just can’t find ‘the one.’ So glad you did!

  203. Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) says

    Wow congrats! I had no idea what the surprise was but this is so exciting! Moving into a new space and making it your own is so so fun. Very cool…Can’t wait to see pictures of the inside.

  204. mel says

    so excited for you all!! I can’t wait for my hubby and I to buy our first home someday. xo

  205. Lauren says

    Yay! Congrats- that is such wonderful news!! You will have so much fun making your new house a home. 🙂

  209. Lacey says

    Congratulations! My hubby and I bought our first house last spring. I had pretty similar requirements to yours and got the historic charm and location. However, I had to give up the perfect kitchen, but there is plenty of room for improvement once we decide to make the investment. For the time being, I am chopping away on my cutting board on top of the stove top – not ideal, but it works. New homes are so fun! 🙂

  210. becca @ bellebottoms says

    yea! congrats on buying a home! Just think of all the new memories you will make there! And the decorating! Ohhhhh the decorating!

  211. wendy sue says

    congratulations! housewarming party! every day I look around my place and can’t believe I own it-well me and wells fargo.

    ps. if you decide you want the dress, I can bring it by the bakery and consider it yours for $20.

  212. Rachel says

    Congratulations! I’m so jealous! Your new home sounds fabulous and you are going to have to much fun making it your own.
    My husband and I just made an offer on a short sale house : ( It will take while to hear back about it, if we ever hear back.

  213. Jessica says

    Congratulations!!! We just bought our house in May and I’m loving it. I can’t wait to see pictures.

  214. Emily@SavoryandSavage says

    Congratulations on the new house!

    It is always exciting to move.

    And the new house sounds like it will fit much better into your lifestyle but you will have to leave El Tigre behind.

  215. Allison @ Happy Tales says

    whaaaaaaat story!! CONGRATULATIONS! BTW, what does a “reverse floor plan” mean, exactly?

Get my exclusive promos –>