For 3 years while we were living in Canada we dreamed of having our own place, again, for the nth time. :D Renting is not an option. We want our house to be located in the North of Austin. We specifically want a green belt on the back. No neighbors.
At that time, we didn't even know if we'd be able to go back to the US. We made plans anyway. And here we are 3 years later. We found our house.
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZwazYeOoi-XNToSe35lShdWqv0QiiN13jn16jtxQELYpfSJpSmub2uLJk_fqYfk1gpj36yP1Vs7hA1S4GUqJ8aDGo_uBuQ-XH1_4IQbkBkcXpm-6BpmfyEAC3DHlQ2MIZzcy7XKkQNQwbeRkcSWlvg-WKP0KbTV6vcawOrcfzzJNwpYEHZv9-qph1w/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9837.jpg)
It is smaller and more expensive compared to our Scott Felder house back in Manor. Of course, prices of homes went up during the pandemic. But we love the location and the view from the back patio is amazing.
The above photo is reminiscent of the time we bought our house East of Austin at the end of 2017. See here. If you're wondering, yes, we still own that house. Someone is renting there at the moment.
Meritage Homes is the builder of our second home so we'll call it the Merigate house. The building is projected to be completed at the end of January 2023. Our job is to pool as much money as we can before the closing date. I pray we won't have major hiccups. While we wait, we are staying at an Airbnb near the husband's office.
Allow me to give you a photo tour around. Don't expect a dolled-up space though.
The Hallway
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Kitchen and Dining
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXO4OlIDZpR7KKbueuUW_RoLIyblSgXRcJtRaLhlrIghv0LSYJ1ZokZvDuFlzdyI3l-mS_9QIo-eFLC51syPmEaykN4D4x5qrEYI2G2XlJchTu1SjsOroQ9hHwJtOVhAsiFvHky9RAVOtpvQ6Y1_kCFOa_ePjyIvYWdMTNlNPh51ZeYtaL6d10BVhag/s16000/meritage%20homes%20jan012023-0007.jpg)
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![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4q-GHuVWMYHb6kur95obPQntmZ2ajXTb6MUQi9I_HcXLCo-SdU2gl9l54l6B8gXP6yL9ynbp1aYZCIGS4E6k9RzrQ63xGchV6ZVnc9PM1vZYTXW8tDcW5293PmGGvSgvRFFA6a4SHJTIcHD2ZA4RgL85Z6s9zI9mJiDFG6i7UbbSnB6dQftPUU8QwFg/s16000/meritage%20homes%20jan012023-9992.jpg)
The Covered Patio
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_c1lWUrifP3SAm71NXRzj1CGWpQ7RPAWv8Hi5Lqj1mGdMOdt0gxIrtH6ojgNCdj7jPBRjeYOeb-57rMnvdrNWn66eSKFeFMl3WToG_gCK-zLKSoewIYUmQ3k6K7DgUvTdcq8o6b1eMtsqU-Zyog48unRn4hBmC0wwEnSvLv5Ri7FerLjGllXiHnnDg/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9842.jpg)
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNPWywgcLd6cbIlz1vvkzNSZiQZ1lHgDXd4f3WapmFThPQrd7goLKhsfwqre2YPcfgqOCaSN88xJAsTDahl3AStQOhQttV22bpWwU5NVjZP6n3sCBUqVDLTJEnlzBv6qiHaIxutnLB2i3Nw-x6M2A7tkvaHWHc8rYfSydKuwRSYR-0MY249j5GPuTVw/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9843.jpg)
This is what sold us on this house. Imagine waking up to that every day? Love that it's above ground level too. When we want to do something in the yard, we had to climb down to access it.
The brother-in-law commented, "It's giving off that French countryside vibe."
The Second Floor
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLW6Ne13SHMcLw0k8GqCevKvo9n7Dp_hvDL5_6jrwOz6ydeXqhi47sVGZrhfwZpl0EJ963CspAerHBxiE0OA9HiBLFkuSTQ3-bFAkwmKUCglb8T2R7NZXDcrm-Fr2ejBZNpFPvP3oqRIZDgyVbXk9dDhQNZ57gQpR40qlsAB5qHFQrkf-XKieHmDOUvA/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9849.jpg)
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pbOHnmlNlH7z9JgtAfll1bThRntdhYndhv0xIzcqxRl9apJlcSyggWg2hcDPOyNWPTugQLmS_5qT48k2RIkgsH-fhrVqqcu2kjOD7xMCA_V10mYt2iEXbu0CmAlfSqjDd-cmMxe4Sb9yAJ6IEFZlF9iYaGZeDqYLDDTHHf2C2baud1Vokz1VPKwwdA/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9853.jpg)
The kid checking out his soon-to-be washroom. Below is a photo of our Master bedroom view.
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFh55uWYZZNzpWDmTPQZuPYl5QhljzHlHdJuz7LvEEv-E0mWfNJxKKQkhGsZaG31medOP05XpbbRlhx2l0w8RbAJsOHvhpzBC_WqfX4JCo9DLQu5296zJpnlo9EliQjZb7CBY22YlqEAJXDGqmiN6wNNIJQkwyO-V_k4a1HWK_5iuJxU_abM2jLenMA/s16000/meritage%20homes%20jan012023-9987.jpg)
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Here's the loft. See that small hallway on the left? That is where you enter the rooms. There are 4 of them upstairs. I'll convert one into an office space.
See who's curious about what's in the attic.
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_-LLovnO3qNGZ5XBDMWMgTncLER4lQSU0UiEtf0lC1N5g9n9TuvCUaX595zVOR_Jhs2IsnPzFLQ0uJ0P869idV6psO0cJVNIf445A413_B5oqf2qKz9ToXExjkH7vhUOk-KwY4VAnCLrAoAKFz6sdfBJAZcuAtBDQSNpzmd1FuoipRYKv0atCW6fYw/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9852.jpg)
![Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes Lifestyle Blog | Life Update | Diary | Buying a House North of Austin, Texas | Meritage Homes](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoGKP8Jnhbc2bilXqlLSImGSXAqvoYsf05wZOs09An7Htq_9_alZZkCTUAFVMofZLhZ0S0bvjYPb5XfjjOt_x0QBy-4B0uZXqnR8IOhp0AJhI4CQFInPb7FkQZl_xZQ_ADS8cdqOPiDQVvGrHW7f9AxgnZZmf7J8fOSJG7mRvbZdTpJjPEDvZPB4U6w/s16000/buying%20a%20new%20home%20in%20austin,%20texas-9857.jpg)
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