Friday, January 08, 2010

In The Homestretch

The long wait is about to end. One week from today I will be boarding a plane that will transport me to Italy where I will finally sign the paperwork on the apartment we are buying.

In typical fashion, what seemed to be a routine and easy transaction turned complicated, even beyond the owner's imagination. She had been under the impression that all the necessary title work had previously been filed. It had not. She inherited the apartment, and in order for her to sell it to us, she had to hire someone to trace the documentation and ensure that no potential claims could be made upon it. It required him to research and file official deeds and taxation records - back to her great-grandfather!

Not that we're complaining; we'd rather wait and have a clear and proper title than end up in a heap of trouble with someone trying to claim the property is rightfully theirs somewhere down the line. It's the other dozen or so details of the actual transaction, funds transfers, and appointment scheduling that are taxing my nerves and sending my stomach into a butterfly frenzy.

I've spent the week making a multitude of international phone calls and sending emails into the deep recesses of cyberspace where they disappear, never to be seen again. It will all work out; I'm confident of that. But the process has been made more complicated and nerve-wracking than it needs to be. We're just chalking it up as another form of the "marca da bollo" required to make this dream come true.

In between calls I had persnickety problems from Blogger as I tried to set up guest posts for my absence (sorry about your feed readers during that malfunction!), and have burned the midnight oil to complete a translation project before I go.

My suitcase is out of the closet. My carry-on bag is packed. My ticket and passport are sitting on my desk smiling at me. I'm in the homestretch...or as a friend said, "homestress," which is true, too...and will soon be starting the next part of our dream and adventure. It turns out I chose a very appropriate song as my year's soundtrack. Go With The Flow. A daily reminder right now.

13 comments:

Shirley said...

How exciting..I'm sure everything will come together and certainly agree about'going with the flow'..not much else you can do in Italy, not worth stressing as everything usually gets done 'eventually':)

LindyLouMac said...

Will be thinking of you, hoping it all goes well. It is almost a year since we last moved, where did the time go.

Valerie said...

Shirley - It is exciting. You're so right. It's just that "eventually" that makes it all more stressful!

LindyLou - Thanks. I agree, the year has flown by!

Beatriz Macias said...

good luck with the rest of your move. Hope to read all about it soon.

Valerie said...

Hi Beatriz - Not moving (yet!) Just buying the house to have a home base for our eventual move back to Italy.

karen said...

Auguri!!! We also made the move to Italy (Venice) from the US.. can't believe it's been 2 years already. I'm excited about your purchase, wish some day we might do the same. In the mean time we are adoring a rented apartment here.

Ciao, Karen

janie said...

I am so happy for you guys! How wonderful and some day I hope yo knock on your door! Good luck with your trip.

Miss Footloose said...

Congratulations! We're still searching for a perch. We've been to Campania several times -- Agropoli, Santa Maria di Castellabata and so on. Also to Le Marche. Haven't made any decisions yet.

Hope you will be very happy in your very own home in Italia!

Valerie said...

Karen - Thanks! We're excited. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find a place someday. It's all about who you know (and who they know who knows there is a good property for sale!) It makes sense in Italian!

Janie - Grazie! I hope you and J. will make it down our way someday. I know you'll love the food!

Miss Footloose - We like both places that you've been looking. Obviously we love Marche ;) Southern Campania is really nice, we like the villages that are up above the sea along the Cilento coast. Great area! Good luck (and keep me posted!)

J.Doe said...

Congratulations and auguri for your new purchase.

Gil said...

Congratulations! I'm sure that you will really enjoy the place. Oh to be young enough to buy rather than rent a place to vacation in.

Valerie said...

J. - Grazie!

Gil - I don't know about the young part ;) And buying made sense since we hope it will be for more than vacations!

Karen said...

My fingers are crossed. I know everything will work out, it always seems to in the end. It's just the getting there! - Karen (from the x-South of Rome!)