Le Chateau, Part Deux

As I said, I applied for an HPD grant: the main qualifications for this are you have to be a first-time homebuyer (I think) and you have to make under a certain amount. The grant will cover either your closing costs or your down payment (or at least help you out with it)--I'd already put down the down payment, so this would be put toward the closing costs. You have to jump through quite a few hoops for this grant--I had to take an online course for homebuyers, much of which I already knew about, and which took FOREVER, most of the week, to sit through. And as with the loan process and with the application for the building, you have to provide reams of paperwork. Luckily a lot of this paperwork is redundant. And after 2008's subprime mortgage meltdown I certainly understand (and appreciate, frankly) the need for meticulous due diligence. But after awhile I started saying "the next time I talk to Chase or HPD and they ask me for more paperwork, I'm gonna drop trou and show them my dick and say 'Because you've seen EVERYTHING else already.'"

The grant process ended up being pretty frustrating at times though--several times I'd have to send them stuff more than once. Why, I don't know, but it's annoying after emailing them XYZ, to hear several weeks later "outstanding documents include XYZ." ARGH. We actually had to extend the commitment--the original expiration was May 13 and they weren't ready yet, even though I'd sent them everything by the end of March. ARGH. Eventually the original closing date was June 14, and even that had to be pushed back to June 21. But finally it all happened, and I got an email the morning of, from Jason (my old landlord who was serving as my attorney on this) saying everything was covered so just show up with my checkbook and a photo ID. I was still nervous as I had little idea what to expect other than signing a lot of documents. I honestly felt as though I was going to vomit.

The closing went off great and Jason was right--EVERYTHING was covered. I mean everything, except for one $25 FedEx charge, for which I wrote a check. But I also got money back (I'd put down a deposit for the Offering Memorandum so I got that back, plus interest). Due to the peculiar circumstances of the building and its requirements, I also didn't have to pay a title transfer tax. So basically I walked away with an extra $75--plus I don't have to start paying off the mortgage until August. Not sure how that works but I'll take it!

I scheduled the move for Tuesday and hired movers. Griffin and Anya helped out quite a bit and I was literally RUNNING up and down the stairs (for which my calves are now chastising me). Griffin was the first friend of mine to see the new place and he was amazed. After we were done, we ate at a nearby beer-and-burger joint, did a little grocery shopping (there's a great store right on the corner with aaaaaaallll the artisanal ice cream and beers I could ever ask for) and then I started the dirty work of unpacking. As I unpacked I realized--the place is actually *bigger* than I'd remembered. (First time THAT'S ever happened since I've moved to NYC.) It's designed so intelligently that I'll have room for everything in the closets, etc. and I can keep the public areas very spare and cool and zen. AND I will *definitely* be able to invite everyone to parties (I'd worried with a studio that I'd have to really curate who I'd ask over, but it's a BIG studio). My favorite new discovery is the view--the night view is simply gorgeous. The window is huge and it looks uptown--there are several tall buildings 6-10 blocks uptown that overlook ours, plus the Metro North runs above ground there, so you have this constant glowing train passing by (but hardly any sound, the glass is very noise-proof), and of course glowing hi-rises in the distance. So, so beautiful. However I do need to put up curtains AS SOON AS POSSIBLE because the morning light is pretty strong--I've been clipping a comforter to the windows at night so I can sleep but that looks tacky :) Oh, it is all so beautiful.

I can't WAIT to try out the gym and use the terrace out back! And the laundry room! And the party room...

I've met a few of the residents so far--everyone kind of grins at each other as if to say WTH DID WE STEP IN IT OR WHAT. It's a co-op so we are all shareholders, and I would like to get on the board once I get settled. That's a ways off, as the building is only about half full right now. But I'd love to nudge them to develop/open up the rooftop sometime in the future--how awesome would that be, rooftop parties!

Can't wait to plan a housewarming party. I will post pics as soon as the place is cleaned up.