Hello everyone!!! Hi Greg!!! I have always enjoyed taking pics...I would love to take a class sometime...but I just love looking at things from a different angle!!! I really miss the old cameras...35mm where I could manually work the camera..I do love the digital cameras..but I feel that I had more control from the old timers!!! "trying not to show my age!!!" LOL... Jim..I would love to see pics of those icicles...I find them quite fascinating...I especially love the ice covered tree too! There is a pic when I sign onto the photobucket page...there is an ice covered tree that look like yours..check it out!!! It;s a beauty...but yours was more massive than this one... ncpalm...I wish that it will be 2 months...more like 3 for us...The sabals are very hardy!!! But I'm not going to take a chance on the weight on the fronds...My hubby helps alot...when he needs help tying up the boat during hurricanes...I don't complain...because I know that he will help and paybacks are great!!! LOL... Take care everyone...Happy New Year!!! Laura in VB

Something with your math doesn't look correct. You wouldn't take the 75% off the amount you are loaning for a LTV. The value would be the lot and the house when it is finished. So say if houses in the neighborhood of similar size/lot is selling for 950K then that would be the value that you would take 75% off of. So 950K * 75% = 712,500 Then your loan is 862K so you would need to come up with 149,500. Of course it all depends on what the true value of the property would be when it is done.

It does indeed help with my long term planning as this has been a major concern - I have to move to be able to afford to purchase a home, but moving means new employment - same industry, but new employment nonetheless. But knowing that the FHA loan application will consider that I am remaining a teacher, will consider that my income will be reduced but so will the cost of living makes this plan seem ever so much more possible.

Hi everyone, Oh, so nice to see so many friends rooting me on and taking the time to comment on this thread. I so enjoy "getting to know" the GW posters. All so sweet and kind. :O) GAgal~ Oh, that is gorgeous. I wish I had asked about colors before I ran out and bought my mistake. LOL! That sunroom is beautiful. I'm writing your combo down for future reference. You never know when the urge will strike to really "repair" mine. :o) I appreciate so much you taking the time to share your photos. Those walls are just gorgeous! When can you come over and play? :o) Oceanna and newhomebuilder~ Thanks for your sweet words. :o) lauraa~ That "panel" for fabric in my laundry room is actually fabric I borrowed from a fabric store in Chattanooga. I had to check it out and return within a week. It's gorgeous fabric. I'd be happy to share the name and phone of the store if you'd like to see about getting a sample. I'm not sure where you live. If it's a look you like, I don't think you'd be disappointed in this fabric at all. It's silk, has gorgeous body to it, nice and thick and beautiful colors. I love it. Unfortunately now I'm not sure it will work with my "dirty" old walls. I may have to go with the toile. I'll toy with the fabrics again after we get closer to move in and things slow down a bit from the Holiday pace of life. :o) Let me know if you want that store name. :o) Caroleoh~ I know exactly what you mean about laundry backing up and it being difficult to get it all done. I too have laundry going all the time at my CA house. It's much smaller, and the laundry room is tiny! I have a maytag frontloader there, and each load seems to take forever and a day. LOL! I am really pinching myself that I am finally going to have 2 sets of machines. Honestly, if I had been thinking more clearly, I would have put in 3 sets and stacked them. ON days I want to do bedding, towels it would be so handy. Oh well. I am loving having 2 sets and certainly won't complain. 5 kids plus 2 adults makes for a LOT of dirty laundry. Good thing I enjoy doing laundry. LOL! Okay, I finally found a minute to share a few photos with you. It has been another whirlwind here at our build, which I'm not complaining about. The lights are not installed on the 2nd floor yet, or I'd show you dd#1's pink marble shower that was installed today. My gosh... it's absolutely gorgeous. Even the worker men are saying it's the sweetest girls' shower they've ever seen. Another day.... when there's light. Meanwhile, I went in tonight and took a few photos to share with you. The lights are a bit blinding in there. I'm changing the recessed lights to a dimmer switch.... it's really bright in there! Good for days of scrubbing stains, but otherwise hard on the eyes with those shiny machines. LOL. :o) Okay, here is a shot of the "machine" wall. There are windows that flank either end of the machines. The cabinetmaker is building pedestals 18 inches tall that these machines will sit on eventually. So excuse the staggered mess they are currently in. I'm just glad they are functioning since we are in our RV behind the house! Anyhoo, I can't reach the area behind the machines without standing on them...... eeeks. So... I did not glaze the wall area behind the machines. We will be pulling these to the center of the room when the cabinetry is installed, so I will have dh move them a few days before installation so I can finish that wall up then. I know the original color doesn't look bad in these photos, but trust me when I tell you it was a bit more yellow than a giant school bus..... it was not attractive in that room! The glaze gave it a bit of a "dirty" look, which is not what I had intended originally, but I'll work with it for now. It does look more "old world" now, and I like that look, so I'm fine with my "fix". I prefer the new look to the old, that's for sure. LOL! I've left the paper covering my travertine for now, as I really want to paint the ceiling a darker color in that room. The pale cream is just not working with my darker glazed walls. What kind of monster am I creating? LOL! Here's the room with the unglazed portion behind machines and the glazing on either end of the room. :o) Here is a close up of the wall, which is actually truer to the real color/look. I know the full shot of the room looks cheap and tacky, but it really does look better IRL. I promise. :O) So thanks to all who rooted me on. You are the best cheerleaders, and I can't tell you what your kind words did for me when I was feeling soooo disappointed in myself. :O) You were just the medicine I needed! I don't think this room will stay this color, but I have so many other areas to concentrate on that it will probably stay this way for some time. And now I can enjoy my room as I had originally hoped to, without cringing each time I walk that direction. :O) Thanks so much!