We decided!
So we did go with the “quiet crescent” option! 
We went back to the Sales Centre and model homes yesterday (this time dropping the kids off with my parents first!) and spent some more times in the homes. Although we really loved the layout of the Sutherland, the Westminster was a really nice place, too, and we could picture how to change things from the way they have it set up in the model home that would better suit our needs. For example, the model home has a large living room area in the blended living/dinning room area (along with a piano in the dinning room, um, no!), but we would make the dinning room part take up more of the space and have a smaller living room area.
After exploring each house again a 2nd time and going over the floor plans again (and again), we decided it was a perfectly OK compromise – the Westminster would be a great home, and it would be worth switching to since it means a) we’d get to build on the quiet crescent instead of the busy street and b) we’d have a closing date of April 2009 instead of Sept 2009 (and therefore would not disrupt the kids’ school year!).
So we went for it! We put a hold on the lot and this week we’ll finish getting all our ducks in row to take care of the financial aspect of things. We could go with the banks (or broker) that I’ve already been in touch with (and pre-approved with), but if we switch banks and use the builder’s “preferred” financial option, we get a $1650 credit towards upgrades. I’ll take the upgrades thanks!
Until we sign those papers though (and write all the cheques for the down-payment), someone could come along and try to “challenge” our hold by providing a firm offer of their own (pens and cheques in hand). We’d still have priority to keep the property but we’d have to come back within 2 hours with our own signed agreements and money in the bank. And if our funds were still tied up and in process of being released from our RRSPs, etc., we could lose the house. 
But yesterday when we were told about a lot that had a “hold” on it where we could build the Sutherland if we wanted to “challenge” the existing hold, I was like “That would be kinda mean.” And we didn’t do it. So I’m hoping that no one will come along and do that to us.
Assuming all goes well though, hopefully we’ll be signing the papers this week and will be home-owners next Spring (still not moving ’til the end of June or start of July though)!
Oh, and we have a good omen on our side! Avery keeps saying that our new house will be across “Crocodile Lake”, and right across the street from the lot is a bit construction muddle puddle lake! LOL 
So really that house was meant to be ours!!!
Here’s a pic of the model that would be built, followed by some pics of the site of our (hopefully!) future home!
The lot our house would be where that orange construction vehicle is
Land behind the house – there would eventually be more single family homes behind us, but not for a while
“Crocodile Lake”
Looking back towards the busier street area – we could’ve built where that green truck is
Around the crescent corner – those tree lots are keeping the trees and will be “Luxe” Series homes
Talking to Avery, telling him about “Crocodile Lake”
July 21 2008 08:32 am | family and future / dreams / goals and hill to haven and pics
July 21st, 2008 at 10:17 am
Congratulations, I know that it will all work out, no matter how stressful this part of the process is…
And by the way, that place looks HUGE!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Congratulations!!!!! I am rooting for you and I have my fingers crossed re: meanies not being meanies. I think there are enough home lots there for everyone! People are really picky!
However the best of luck is always with the kids involved
While writing those cheques, think of the goal, the house
Enjoy!
July 21st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Thanks!!!
And Kat, yes I admit it is pretty big! But I’m hoping this’ll be “it” for a good 20-30 years. I think it will feel really huge to us for a long while, especially as we first move in (with like, half a house’s worth of furniture!). But we’ll grow into it I’m sure.
And yes it would be so ideal if everyone else could just be “hands off our house!” until we get everything sorted out and signed for, then we can breathe a big sigh of relief and really feel like it’s going to be “ours”.
*fingers crossed*!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Congratulations Kris!! This is great news