We got GAS!!!
Literally, gas line was run yesterday and today! Dave got a new sauna stove and relocated the wood stove and both were fired up and running well last night-making for a tasty cedar smelling aroma throughout the basement....and the move?? Yeah..about that
We all have heard the expression "Too good to be true" and I was anxious and worried that would be the case, we went to relocate our mortagage from the Montreal Home to our Kimball home (so that legally a Land Contract could happen) And they would only give us 100% of our purchase price-$27,000. That's a problem-as we owe $58,000 on this house. So instead of moving the last two beautiful weekends, we simply assesed what would stay, what would go, or come back to our Montreal Home. I rebooted full cable for Halloween Haunted House shows and we're settling back in for the winter. It's tight needless to say, but we are making it work.
Now...about Fred....
So a few weeks back, when I was taking some family pictures at the town park a mile or so down the road, Dave was working at stacking rocks for his workshop entrance (aka Hobbit Hole). I brought the family there because they had a little girl and we had a little playhouse. Then Dave comes around from the backyard with a cement block in his wheelbarrow. Immediately, I thought "Gravestone?" and Dave said "No, Property marker" and the fellow agreed, saying thwey had huge markers like that 100 years ago. It was broken at the base and Dave propped it up at the edge of his rock wall.
Later that night he comes home giggling, showing me the photo on his Ipod..."Fred Hamlin Born 1883 Died 1905" Ah yes, a resident unsettled spirit. Great, authentic halloween decor at the new house! Nice!
The pictures are mostly hung, curtains also, bedroom developing personalities of their occupants and of course, I have made it as much mine as I can. We will be waiting until spring to fix plumbing, install furnace and finish family room drywall. Next March/April, we will move permanently out of Montreal, leaving this place empty for sale, or for rent, or maybe even a business location for myself, Mikhayla and ?? My photography business ran rampant this fall, and I feel I could utilize the basement as a Studio, and Mikki could even "rent" here and have her pugs, her art studio and set up some kind of online business. Whatever will be, will be!!
In hnidsight, I think it's for the best, in talking to the furnace man, he was under the understanding Dan (our buyer/wheeler/dealer) was paying for the furnace and labor-Dan told us Geno (Furnace guy) owed him money. Then we asked Dan several times for a signed Purchase agreement, even meeting with our lawyer last september 19. To date, nothing signed, no money down. We looked him up on circuit court access, and a telling tale of multiple creditors, judgements and a shady looking real estate deal about a decade ago have us breathing a bittersweet sigh of relief. It was not meant to be.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Update, September....moving right along!
Okay, so the amazing story continues-we listed our home on Craigslist in mid August, and then followed by about 4-5 showings, we began to think a relator might be better to get the word out...but in late August, while on a beach trip at work (I work the summer program for our local school district) the bus driver began asking me about my house. I outlined my floorplan in the sand, talked to him quite a while and he seemed, well, genuinely interested...He later showed up at my home to check it out...at first I thought he was a bit nuts and then a couple weeks later, he makes an amazing, weird, but just about perfect kind of offer....the same day I had a relator come through and make me feel about 2 inches tall with how "unready" my property is...
He offered to put in a new furnace at our new home, and repair the plumbing that we needed done through a local heating/plumbing company....he also had a tractor, lawn tractor with snow blower and rototiller attachment...plus $10 K to put down...2 years and a balloon land contract...we mulled it over, and realized, hey, if he goofs it up, we still have a furnace, plumbing fixed and a tractor, never mind $10K cash...
So on September 19, this past Monday, we drew up paperwork with our attorney. Our goal is to be moved in by about the midddle of october and close on this old house by October 31. Just in time for the winter, holidays and a new year...
In the meantime, it's getting more and more real that we did this, I have begun putting the new address on items, as well as today appliance and furniture shopping...I have gone antique shopping and spent many hours dreaming, conspiring and pouring over "makeover" magazines for ideas on what to do with all this wonderful space to make it ours...we have spent a few weekends over there "camping" on our sectional, floors and an air mattress...I have never slept so well as that very first night...the dogs are in heaven, and the neighbors are pretty dang cool, eccentric artists that are closet millionaires-and we have had a few bonfires and roasted marshmellows with Amy, Jeff and Casey as well as Mark. It has been a nice, easy going transition thus far, although Tabbi isn't too excited about moving, in fact, she's down right upset, and I know it will be quite an adjustment for all three girls, but overall, if Momma and Daddy are happy-everyones Happy!
Dave has jackhammered a hole through the two basement walls as we get ready for the furnace guys to starts on ductwork and the contract has been signed and paid for the gas company to come run the line to the house. We've gotten nice housewarming wishes, gifts and congrats from many. Our parents, all thrilled and eager to see the final result...I will try to do a better job at documenting what's about to happen, I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment...it's alot to move this time-I haven't in 13 years-and I have 2 more children then I did last time, plus all that stuff! Endless bags going to garage sales, thrift donation centers and the trash...what to keep, things forgotten or once lost, now found...and the blank canvas of each room, so much to think of...
....did I mention the resident cat Ginger?
He offered to put in a new furnace at our new home, and repair the plumbing that we needed done through a local heating/plumbing company....he also had a tractor, lawn tractor with snow blower and rototiller attachment...plus $10 K to put down...2 years and a balloon land contract...we mulled it over, and realized, hey, if he goofs it up, we still have a furnace, plumbing fixed and a tractor, never mind $10K cash...
So on September 19, this past Monday, we drew up paperwork with our attorney. Our goal is to be moved in by about the midddle of october and close on this old house by October 31. Just in time for the winter, holidays and a new year...
In the meantime, it's getting more and more real that we did this, I have begun putting the new address on items, as well as today appliance and furniture shopping...I have gone antique shopping and spent many hours dreaming, conspiring and pouring over "makeover" magazines for ideas on what to do with all this wonderful space to make it ours...we have spent a few weekends over there "camping" on our sectional, floors and an air mattress...I have never slept so well as that very first night...the dogs are in heaven, and the neighbors are pretty dang cool, eccentric artists that are closet millionaires-and we have had a few bonfires and roasted marshmellows with Amy, Jeff and Casey as well as Mark. It has been a nice, easy going transition thus far, although Tabbi isn't too excited about moving, in fact, she's down right upset, and I know it will be quite an adjustment for all three girls, but overall, if Momma and Daddy are happy-everyones Happy!
Dave has jackhammered a hole through the two basement walls as we get ready for the furnace guys to starts on ductwork and the contract has been signed and paid for the gas company to come run the line to the house. We've gotten nice housewarming wishes, gifts and congrats from many. Our parents, all thrilled and eager to see the final result...I will try to do a better job at documenting what's about to happen, I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment...it's alot to move this time-I haven't in 13 years-and I have 2 more children then I did last time, plus all that stuff! Endless bags going to garage sales, thrift donation centers and the trash...what to keep, things forgotten or once lost, now found...and the blank canvas of each room, so much to think of...
....did I mention the resident cat Ginger?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
What Just Happened? August 18, 2011
About 5 years ago, our house was for sale and I was working a good job with great pay. I thought we could afford a dream home in the country. We looked at one on a 40, big, beautiful and impossibly unaffordable...then we looked at several others out in the country. With no concept of 1) How bad the housing Market was about to fail, and 2) How badly my health and "good job" was going to fail and 3) a looming bankruptcy to follow...
Fast forward 5 years then, I am contently making my way along the highway and see a home, slightly set back into the hillside at the base of this enormous beautiful bluff. I had actually gone through that house 5 years prior, it had been for sale for $127,000. I don't know why I glanced over, why it crossed my mind, but as in the past, just like with odd thoughts that led me to finding my sister, or turning a different corner on just the right day, I have learned to roll with it when it happens. A week or so later, we are closing on our refinance for our current home of 12 years. We had paid off enough and decided it was time to get some new windows, siding, and some other things done to update our home. When we were done, $27,774 was deposited into our account. I usually have no issue spending money, but this sat for a week or two before I even began looking at things like a vacation, or maybe a new car, or a camper. I was on Craigslist looking at campers, and lo and behold, there is this house.
Under....campers?? Under....Apple Valley (Appleton) Real Estate...hmm, curiously, it had just been reduced from $91,000 to 67,100. It had gone into foreclosure, turned over to HUD and been empty for quite some time. I emailed to inquire. The next thing I knew, somehow, this realtor mailed me the keys...and I was walking into a home that has everything I was looking for and more...
There are many levels, and additions...there is a little bit of land, but no real neighbors, and mounds of uninhabited acres behind it, forest and hills, and a giant golf course-all one mile from the school I work at and my Girls attend. There is a peaceful church across the street. A mile from grocery stores, a couple from stores and McDonald's, yet so much in the country cell coverage is a bit iffy at best. There's grapes on trees and a old fashioned stone walls. There a newly constructed section and the charm of the very home I grew up in. There's bright white walls and golden-same color oak as my longaberger baskets-trim and cabinetry. There's a wing for my teen, a sunken living room, an upstairs for 2 sisters, a family room waiting to be fniished, a master suite with it's own private balcony. For $67,100....it's a heck of a deal...
The basement wins over Dave, there's a wood working Sauna lined with cedar and a workshop space. There's a 2 car garage and a burning barrel. The kitchen cabinets are solid dovetailed maple. The window are all new vinyl and the entire house is aluminum sided. There's deer in the back yard. It's completely and totally....us??!!
We make an offer on the low end per the salemans request-$30,000...CASH..they counter at $50,000...which is shocking...do we keep trying?? He seems to have more faith in us then we do...we run some numbers and suggest we pull out after several more bids....HUD asks where we went-so we rebid at $22,500. They counter at $30...we still can't...we try one more week-now our 4th of this game-at $25,000...now we are told there are other bidders with higher offers, but not with cash....they counter on July 14 at $27,000...the exact amount we had received for remodeling our home. I never mailed back the keys.
On August 12, 2011, amid some Buffalo Wild Wings and a nice lady from a title company, we bought the home for cash. 2 homes, one payment. Are we doing this? I looked at my Husband....yes, yes we are!
While most everyone has been estatic for us, and has loved hearing how we got our home for about that of a new mid sized car (not even an import), a couple have remained indifferent and judgemental-and they of course being my ever brainwashed brother and sister in law, who appearently think it best to live in a concrete jungle in a Mong neighborhood while vacationing beyond their means all over the country working themselves to death. Yes, I have no business since I filed bankruptcy having this kind of luck. For neither believe in God, so it can't be that divnie intervention either. *sigh*.
So we have begun moving items in and some slight decorating. We have enjoyed exploring and finding items to make the house a continual treasure chest find-door lock sets for $2.99 at Meanrds, curtain rods and battenburg lace at St Vinny's....I could and will go on...
But you wonder about the story of this home-I know about the people who were last there a smidge-but the rest, like the additions, the history, the warmness it exumes. Our current home is for sale and school about to start-my oldest has viral mono and I myself have come under the weather so much so, I missed this week of work...yet, I am trusting the process...I am compelled to...I mean who buys a home for $27,000 they just happened to take out a loan for on craigslist? I guess....me...
Fast forward 5 years then, I am contently making my way along the highway and see a home, slightly set back into the hillside at the base of this enormous beautiful bluff. I had actually gone through that house 5 years prior, it had been for sale for $127,000. I don't know why I glanced over, why it crossed my mind, but as in the past, just like with odd thoughts that led me to finding my sister, or turning a different corner on just the right day, I have learned to roll with it when it happens. A week or so later, we are closing on our refinance for our current home of 12 years. We had paid off enough and decided it was time to get some new windows, siding, and some other things done to update our home. When we were done, $27,774 was deposited into our account. I usually have no issue spending money, but this sat for a week or two before I even began looking at things like a vacation, or maybe a new car, or a camper. I was on Craigslist looking at campers, and lo and behold, there is this house.
Under....campers?? Under....Apple Valley (Appleton) Real Estate...hmm, curiously, it had just been reduced from $91,000 to 67,100. It had gone into foreclosure, turned over to HUD and been empty for quite some time. I emailed to inquire. The next thing I knew, somehow, this realtor mailed me the keys...and I was walking into a home that has everything I was looking for and more...
There are many levels, and additions...there is a little bit of land, but no real neighbors, and mounds of uninhabited acres behind it, forest and hills, and a giant golf course-all one mile from the school I work at and my Girls attend. There is a peaceful church across the street. A mile from grocery stores, a couple from stores and McDonald's, yet so much in the country cell coverage is a bit iffy at best. There's grapes on trees and a old fashioned stone walls. There a newly constructed section and the charm of the very home I grew up in. There's bright white walls and golden-same color oak as my longaberger baskets-trim and cabinetry. There's a wing for my teen, a sunken living room, an upstairs for 2 sisters, a family room waiting to be fniished, a master suite with it's own private balcony. For $67,100....it's a heck of a deal...
The basement wins over Dave, there's a wood working Sauna lined with cedar and a workshop space. There's a 2 car garage and a burning barrel. The kitchen cabinets are solid dovetailed maple. The window are all new vinyl and the entire house is aluminum sided. There's deer in the back yard. It's completely and totally....us??!!
We make an offer on the low end per the salemans request-$30,000...CASH..they counter at $50,000...which is shocking...do we keep trying?? He seems to have more faith in us then we do...we run some numbers and suggest we pull out after several more bids....HUD asks where we went-so we rebid at $22,500. They counter at $30...we still can't...we try one more week-now our 4th of this game-at $25,000...now we are told there are other bidders with higher offers, but not with cash....they counter on July 14 at $27,000...the exact amount we had received for remodeling our home. I never mailed back the keys.
On August 12, 2011, amid some Buffalo Wild Wings and a nice lady from a title company, we bought the home for cash. 2 homes, one payment. Are we doing this? I looked at my Husband....yes, yes we are!
While most everyone has been estatic for us, and has loved hearing how we got our home for about that of a new mid sized car (not even an import), a couple have remained indifferent and judgemental-and they of course being my ever brainwashed brother and sister in law, who appearently think it best to live in a concrete jungle in a Mong neighborhood while vacationing beyond their means all over the country working themselves to death. Yes, I have no business since I filed bankruptcy having this kind of luck. For neither believe in God, so it can't be that divnie intervention either. *sigh*.
So we have begun moving items in and some slight decorating. We have enjoyed exploring and finding items to make the house a continual treasure chest find-door lock sets for $2.99 at Meanrds, curtain rods and battenburg lace at St Vinny's....I could and will go on...
But you wonder about the story of this home-I know about the people who were last there a smidge-but the rest, like the additions, the history, the warmness it exumes. Our current home is for sale and school about to start-my oldest has viral mono and I myself have come under the weather so much so, I missed this week of work...yet, I am trusting the process...I am compelled to...I mean who buys a home for $27,000 they just happened to take out a loan for on craigslist? I guess....me...
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