So it's mid-2019. After 4+ years of trying to find an 'oven ready' place that suited us, we finally gave up and went the alternate route. Build our own. Found a bad house in a great location. Main downside was the small garden, but you unless you're absolutely loaded you can't have it all. And of course the real estate agreed with our timelines.

"Yes, if you buy in may 2019, the design will take you into december, and you can probably start early Spring, and maybe even be done before 2021."

Seemed reasonable at the time.

* just a small note, I'm not advertising this blog for now, I have no idea if I can muster the willpower to truly build it out, I have a lot on my plate. Let's see what happens.