I turned it over, and it's a money-beg from the very same politician named, from Wisconsin of all places! My name sure gets onto some interesting mailing lists!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Radical, Lesbian, Socialist, anti-Constitutionalist
When I went to the mailbox this afternoon, here is an envelope I found:
I turned it over, and it's a money-beg from the very same politician named, from Wisconsin of all places! My name sure gets onto some interesting mailing lists!
I turned it over, and it's a money-beg from the very same politician named, from Wisconsin of all places! My name sure gets onto some interesting mailing lists!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Offer Accepted
Well, my offer for the new house was accepted, no counter-offer or anything. That makes me wonder just how low I could have gone. And it is also leaving me seriously wondering if I am doing the right thing.
For instance, I love the house I'm in now. The new one is almost 1/2 the size and it is next to the highway. Plus, I will have actual neighbors. Here is my current home:
And then there is the pool that I would be walking away from. This picture is from the pool party I had last summer, and I plan on having another this summer, just with more people, plus booze. If you are reading this, you are probably invited....
So here is the issues that I need to work through. I like the idea of living in Raleigh. And this house is considerably less expensive, leaving me with about 10k of mortgage plus whatever fixin' up I do. But I really love this house in the country. Even with the pool needing some repair, as it sprung a leak last spring.
But I've borrowed some waders so I can go in while it is low and patch the hole.
I really don't know what I want to do. At present I am continuing down the path I originally started, which is purchasing the house. I had also expected to spend the next 2-3 months fixing it up to get ready to move into. That will take me into the summer, and that's when I can hold my pool party.
I have about 1 week to make a final decision on whether I want to go through with the deal, or back out and get a refund on my earnest deposit. It will be inspected next week, and the offer indicates that if repairs are more than $2000, the offer can be rescinded. There is at least that much in repairs if done by a professional.
The idea I am toying with right now is to go ahead and make the purchase. There are several things that need doing that I can do myself. It can be my learning place for home remodeling. Those could be my weekend projects. It also gives me lots of blogging material as I do the projects...something this blog could really use.
That also puts me into the city during the weekend so that I can socialize and meet more folk. Plus, when there are events and parties that occur during the week in Raleigh, and there are quite a few, I can go to them and then crash overnight at the house. And there is a certain cachet in being able to say "want to go to my place in the city or to my country home."
It'll be a bit of a stretch financially, but there is the renter. He's been there for 6 years now, and I am sure quite comfortable. The rent covers almost covers half my mortgage payment.
In the end, it'll cost less than an apartment would, gives me a place to live in the city, and allows me to keep some of my current lifestyle like the pool and peace and quiet when I need that.
I still need to think through a lot of this. What I've written seems to just scratch the surface of the whole deal. I'm excited about doing it, plus stressing big time. I've changed my mind about 27 times today about it. But I will come to some decision, eventually.
For instance, I love the house I'm in now. The new one is almost 1/2 the size and it is next to the highway. Plus, I will have actual neighbors. Here is my current home:
And then there is the pool that I would be walking away from. This picture is from the pool party I had last summer, and I plan on having another this summer, just with more people, plus booze. If you are reading this, you are probably invited....
So here is the issues that I need to work through. I like the idea of living in Raleigh. And this house is considerably less expensive, leaving me with about 10k of mortgage plus whatever fixin' up I do. But I really love this house in the country. Even with the pool needing some repair, as it sprung a leak last spring.
But I've borrowed some waders so I can go in while it is low and patch the hole.
I really don't know what I want to do. At present I am continuing down the path I originally started, which is purchasing the house. I had also expected to spend the next 2-3 months fixing it up to get ready to move into. That will take me into the summer, and that's when I can hold my pool party.
I have about 1 week to make a final decision on whether I want to go through with the deal, or back out and get a refund on my earnest deposit. It will be inspected next week, and the offer indicates that if repairs are more than $2000, the offer can be rescinded. There is at least that much in repairs if done by a professional.
The idea I am toying with right now is to go ahead and make the purchase. There are several things that need doing that I can do myself. It can be my learning place for home remodeling. Those could be my weekend projects. It also gives me lots of blogging material as I do the projects...something this blog could really use.
That also puts me into the city during the weekend so that I can socialize and meet more folk. Plus, when there are events and parties that occur during the week in Raleigh, and there are quite a few, I can go to them and then crash overnight at the house. And there is a certain cachet in being able to say "want to go to my place in the city or to my country home."
It'll be a bit of a stretch financially, but there is the renter. He's been there for 6 years now, and I am sure quite comfortable. The rent covers almost covers half my mortgage payment.
In the end, it'll cost less than an apartment would, gives me a place to live in the city, and allows me to keep some of my current lifestyle like the pool and peace and quiet when I need that.
I still need to think through a lot of this. What I've written seems to just scratch the surface of the whole deal. I'm excited about doing it, plus stressing big time. I've changed my mind about 27 times today about it. But I will come to some decision, eventually.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
New House
Okay, so it's not really a new house, but it will soon be mine if the offer is accepted. This is the front of the house, a 1950's style home, with 1/2 acre for Guinan to play. As always, you can click on a picture for a larger version.
The one requirement that I had was that the home is within the I-440 loop inside Raleigh. It happens to be within walking distance of NCSU, plus lots of other city things!
The major downside is that the street borders the loop, and down at the street, down the hill is the actual highway itself. When I look again today I'm going to make doubly-sure that I am okay with that.
Here is the back yard, nice and sunny and it faces east (the house faces west). This is what the kitchen and dining room see, and not the building on the left:
I really like the kitchen/dining room area, also bright and sunny. The countertops are going to get replaced, not sure yet about keeping the original cabinetry. I will also be tearing out a wall between two bedrooms, 'cause my king size bed will not fit otherwise. Debating on the living room wall.
The windows off the kitchen and dining room (on the left in pic) look out onto this deck, and into the back yard. Notice the other building and door, that is a mini-apartment with a kitchen and another room (bedroom/living room I guess). It has a renter/tenant who has been there for 6 years. He is cute so I will probably keep him! This close to the school campus practically guarantee I will always have a renter, except maybe summer.
The street dead ends, with a bike or hike trail at its end. The other end of the trail is at an underpass, which makes the fairgrounds and RBC bike ride distance, or maybe even walking distance.
I'll be making the offer this afternoon, and if we negotiate a good deal I expect to spend 1 or 2 months doing the renovations.
I'll finally be living in a city again. I figure if I can handle living in the 2nd, 3rd (LA, Chicago) and 4th (Houston) largest U.S. cities, I can manage Raleigh!
The one requirement that I had was that the home is within the I-440 loop inside Raleigh. It happens to be within walking distance of NCSU, plus lots of other city things!
The major downside is that the street borders the loop, and down at the street, down the hill is the actual highway itself. When I look again today I'm going to make doubly-sure that I am okay with that.
Here is the back yard, nice and sunny and it faces east (the house faces west). This is what the kitchen and dining room see, and not the building on the left:
I really like the kitchen/dining room area, also bright and sunny. The countertops are going to get replaced, not sure yet about keeping the original cabinetry. I will also be tearing out a wall between two bedrooms, 'cause my king size bed will not fit otherwise. Debating on the living room wall.
The windows off the kitchen and dining room (on the left in pic) look out onto this deck, and into the back yard. Notice the other building and door, that is a mini-apartment with a kitchen and another room (bedroom/living room I guess). It has a renter/tenant who has been there for 6 years. He is cute so I will probably keep him! This close to the school campus practically guarantee I will always have a renter, except maybe summer.
The street dead ends, with a bike or hike trail at its end. The other end of the trail is at an underpass, which makes the fairgrounds and RBC bike ride distance, or maybe even walking distance.
I'll be making the offer this afternoon, and if we negotiate a good deal I expect to spend 1 or 2 months doing the renovations.
I'll finally be living in a city again. I figure if I can handle living in the 2nd, 3rd (LA, Chicago) and 4th (Houston) largest U.S. cities, I can manage Raleigh!
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