Justin and I are qualified for a home loan!!! We sat down with a mortgage officer at northwestern bank on Wednesday. She crunched a few numbers for us, and showed us how HIGH our credit scores really are....and qualified us for a home loan!! This is all very exciting for us! I was in shock that my credit score was in the high 700's! I guess having a credit card (and paying it off each month) really helps. Being 25 years old with NO debt of any sort also helped us too...the woman was utterly shocked :) This means Justin and I can actually look at houses now, for REAL! We rushed home and went online to find two we really like already. We plan to do some heavy "house stalking" this weekend.
It feels good to know we can truly start feeling as if we're a real engaged couple. This is a huge step for us....and the most important investment we will ever make. We're movin' on up....and out soon! Another big thing for us is that we qualify for the $8,000 tax incentive for "first time homebuyers". If we close before 2009 is over, we will get that money! Total bonus. Yay for being grown ups!
This year, the 4th conveniently fell on a Saturday. Mom, Justin and I packed up and headed far far away from the Cherry Festival crowds....to Empire beach :) We spent the day basking in the warm sun and splashing in lake michigan.
The National Cherry Festival began this year on the 4th. We made the trip in for dinner (mine included a large loaded baked potato) and fireworks!
People began securing their spots for the fireworks well before dark! The festival is always a good "people watching" event. We enjoyed the show while snacking on a huge bag of kettle corn :)
The fireworks were good this year, but don't hold a candle to Elk Rapids Harbor Days fireworks. We look forward to them every year. But I am the type of person who HAS to see fireworks on the 4th of July....or it's just not the same.
Justin and I spent our first 4th together in a long time(it had been a few years at least)....it was great! We sat on the breakwall (ignoring the "do not sit on rocks" sign) and watched the fiery spectacle! Happy Birthday USA.