Oh hey friends!  Sorry it's been a little quiet here, but I had a good reason....I bought my first place!  Yahoo!

It was quite the ride with the housing market going a bit nuts in Vancouver, which has been pushing outwards to where I live in Abbotsford.  I started looking seriously at condos in January/February, and was instantly disappointed when my first offer fell through.  Everything was selling within a week of being listed, and it was a confusing, stressful time.  Seriously...ask my family.  I was STRESSED OUT!

After my 3rd offer was rejected, I was feeling quite discouraged, and ready to take a mini break and hope that the market would cool off a bit.  That same week, the listing for what would eventually become my condo went up.  

I did not want to go see it.  

The photos were kind of weird and dark, the kitchen didn't have a window in it (which was one of my initial requirements....hello food blogger here!!!), and I was just not feeling "into it".  My dear mother encouraged me to go because "you never know!".  

We walked in, and it was like you could hear angels singing.  Despite it being a gloomy, overcast day, light poured in through tall, beautiful windows, reaching all the way back to the kitchen (ahem..).  My interest was piqued, but I wasn't convinced.  Then we walked through the rest of the condo.  Huge master bedroom and ensuite.  Double walk-in closet.  Very generous sized laundry room.  And, shockingly, a giant deck.  Oh, and it's on the top floor.  That counts for a lot too!  

I was sold.  

It may not have been exactly what I had in mind, but I soon fell in love with the vaulted ceiling, gorgeous windows, and the beautiful, green view of a ravine off my deck.  I put an offer in that night, and voila, it was mine!

So, here are a few before photos from the realtor, and I can't wait to share my progress and a few diy projects in the coming months!

And, as always, feel free to tag along on instagram for more sneak peeks of my home adventures!

-Kelsey, a new & happy homeowner