My wife and I have been shopping around for a new house. Decided to buy rather than keep renting, so I got my stuff in order and applied for a V.A. loan.

Found two houses that made it to the top of our lists, my #1 pick was her #2 and vise versa. My first choice got smacked down when we saw the utility bills. It was a 110 year old victorian with little to no insulation and the gas bill was pushing $3,000 a year. So we went with her first pick (my second choice), a 1968 split level.

It a foreclosure, appraised at $135,000 and the bank initially wanted $108,000for it. Two weeks went by and they came down to $98,900. I offered them $79,900 and they get to fix the shingles for me. We'll see if they bite.

Our current neighborhood has gone to **** and we have two kids, six years and one year. Gotta get them to a better scholl and neighborhood.

Good wishes and prayers would be appreciated.