We closed on our home of 38 years yesterday.
We go to church with the family who bought our home, so it was a deal among friends. They did not know it was our home till the agent showed them around and they recognized us from our pictures on the wall. She's a single mom with 3 kids, her dad was on the FHA loan with her. Since her divorce 5 years ago, they'd been living in a 2 bedroom apt. The parents were present at the closing.
We signed a bunch of papers and that was that. It took about 45 minutes to sign away the house we had worked so hard to pay for all those years. ( we paid it off 8 years ago) The attorney noted it is rare to close on a home where a guy holds the title outright.
Finished, my wife and I headed back out to the car, and the new owner followed us. She had a gift basket for us in her car. It had a few small gifts, but mostly it had a card signed by each of her kids. The 9 yr old boy signed it, "Thanks for selling us your house." I believe all things happen for a reason. Our house had been on the market for 5 months with almost no activity. I was making plans going forward on just keeping the house, but selling it would open many options for us. I belive all things happen for a reason. You just have to look for it sometimes. It just happens a family needing a nice home, for a good price, that we go to church with, out of nowhere, buys? C'mon. But that is exactly what happened. You'll never convince me God didn't bless all of us at that closing, as He nodded his approval.
With a 6 figure check in hand (that'll make anyone feel better) we left the meeting and made the short drive to a Regions Bank Branch. Not people of means, it was the biggest check I had ever held in my hand at one time LOL. The teller advised me it would take 3 days before funds were available. "You telling me in this day of instant transfers, it's gonna take THREE days for the check to clear?" "yes sir." Basically Regions is gonna use my money for free for 3 days, but that's ok, its business.
Because I hang out on myfico, I had the teller copy the check, and the depoist receipt, and then had their in house notary stamp both, in prepartion to send to the LO who in turn will forward it the UW.
After that we stopped at a local hamburger place for lunch. Excellent burgers. It was a quiet lunch, as things were still soaking in.
From there we headed over to the community where our new house was under construction. I stopped to see the agent in the office, and handed him the copies I had made in the bank so he could scan them in to LO's direct email. "you had them notarized?" "Oh yeah, been at this long enough now to know how suspcious UWers can be, not gonna leave any doubt where the money came from." "You know that ain't a bad idea, they might start requiring it now"
"look here, I'm homeless after June 1, y'all gonna finish end of May like ya said?" The buyers, under no pressure to move, graciously allowed us the month of May. I offered to pay rent, but they steadfast declined. The kind of people they are. They genuiely feel lucky to buy our home. I serve with the lady's mother on the parish finance council, and she said they were scared I would counter their offer. "Well I was upset I had to turn over my Samsung fridge, but I got over it."
"Yes that's what were shooting for", but they currently have 21 builds going on in 5 communities, scattered over 100 miles of Alabama towns. I hope they can pull it off, but I have plan b ready.
We left the office and went by the house. Driveway is formed but rain has kept them from pouring it. Cabinets are up. and fireplace bricked, inside looks ready to paint. Its going to be a beautiful home if I say so myself. The community only has 25 lots, and only a few remain. All lots on my street are sold, I was lucky to get one with a PGA course as a backyard. Well I say "lucky" I paid had a handsome "lot premium" for it.
We left and went by Home Depot to shop for a new fridge. It is very close to the community. We bought a new Samsung french door unit. It even has those door in door things so a guy can get his Mountain Dews and Dr. Peppers without opening the main door. I dunno what good that does, but it makes ya look important when you got guys over to watch the games.
Back home I pulled in the driveway at Primrose Drive, no longer the owner but a tennant. Talk about feeling odd. My neighbor of 35 years saw us as we got out of the car. He has spoken little to me since I put the house up for sale. "Y'all closed today?" "We did." On that he turned and went inside 
We ate supper at the breakfast table that night, instead of the den and TV. It just felt like the thing to do.
@Anonymous wrote:
Finally we started on the shoe closet. It was intimidating to say the least when you're confronted with over 50 pair of shoes. I'd hold a pair up, "What about these?"
"keep em"
"What about these?"
"Keep em"
"what about these?"
"keep em"
"How come we're not phasing any out? I pointed to some black heels, "now I know you ain't wore these in 5 years"
"YEAH BUT I LIKE THEM"
LOL I know this all too well!!!!!!! Best of luck, BamaGuy! Thank you again for sharing your story - it is an amazing one!