Explaination 4 Kathey, Susie , & others
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| Mon, 05-19-2003 - 4:01pm |
A month or so ago we were looking for new renters for one of our rentals. I mentioned to DH that if we didn't rent it pretty soon we should consider selling our house and move into it. That has been a 'back burner' plan since we bought it, that it would be our retirement home. Someday. It is a lovely 3BR twin home on 3 acres a couple of miles further out in the country from us. One day he showed it to a young couple who had just graduated college and were transferring here from the southern part of the state. They mentioned they really wanted to buy a house but needed a couple of months to get established enough to qualify for a loan. DH showed them our home and it was exactly what they were looking for. They agreed to rent the twin home and we agreed to allow them to buy this home when they are ready with in the next year but probably sooner.
The advantages of this arrangement are many. Number 1 among them not having to list our house and show it to tons of other Realtors and prospective buyers at a moments notice. I really hate that. As the wife of a Realtor I can appreciate what families go through to sell their home. It was just an ordinary day in Contraryville and things weren't too messy. Roger showed them the house and I didn't even go crazy for a week cleaning and looking for all the nooks and crannies dirt and mess hide in to embarrass at the time of a showing. I guess being a Realtor family I feel that everything must be perfect. They just looked at it as it was and loved it.
I love the house here and the yard but it has gotten too big. So much yard work and now we have 5 BR, 3 BA and a family room just like the house we moved from 8 years ago that my DD just bought back. We really don't need all that space and besides if you have it you never know who might move in with you. Like your kids. The rental we will be moving to is a twin home that sets on a nice flat treeless 3 acres. We may even buy the other half soon. If that happens before the young couple get things together for their loan, we may move to that one instead and continue to rent the other side.
Both units have 3 BR and 2 BA but no basement. (No expansion room or storage.) The plan is to build a detached 3 car garrage for our extra vehichles and toys and to fling fling fling. Drew will be using the attached garage for his boat building adventure at first as it is insulated and heated. If his business takes off and he actually makes money we can look into buying or renting him better space at a later date. He will have one bedroom (Verses the 2 he inhabits now)and the other will be a guest/computer/office. We will need to share space and learn to like it. Drew is a little upset because we (including him) worked so hard to make our yard beautiful and he hates to leave it but we have been hiring our lawn mowed as we just can't count on him to do it. Roger's accident last summer has prevented him from doing many things including mowing. We can't always live our lives to make our kids happy, before long he will move on and leave us for his own life.
I look upon the yard as a clean canvas for me to paint my pretty little haven on, while having learned from the mistakes I made here. There are a lot of shrubs and perreniels that I wouldn't bother with again and some I know I will want to use. We will make a bigger and better pond and waterfall and I am planning on an English garden setting for it. I plan to keep it smaller and more manageable, but stunning. The fish will move with us and hopefully love their new surroundings. I may leave a few for the new owners to get them started.
I have discovered that the fun was in the doing, but the upkeep is difficult. I just tried to do too much here and it is already starting to get out of hand. Needs some younger blood to care for it.
Since the home is now a rental we can live in it for 2 years and then sell it without paying capital gains. If we find we want to do something different we can do it then. We have a lot of equity in our home and by selling now our payments would drop as well as taxes. Maybe we could even invest in that little Florida home I have been dreaming about all these years. Who knows?
We, Roger and I, just feel it is the right decission for us to whittle down and live more simply and to do it now before we have too. The Real Estate market here in Western Wisconsin has not been slowed as much as other parts of the country, but that could change and maybe getting out now while the getting is still good is a wise way to go. I think that smaller is the right direction for us. DH works too hard and even though he loves what he does I would like to see him take a little more time to relax while he is still healthy enough to enjoy it.
Anyway that is my long storry of "Where in the world will Contraryville be?" It will be just as fun and just as crazy I am sure. It will still be in the same elementary school as all 5 of my Grands that live here in Huson so I will still be doing daycare for them before and after school. Summers may be a problem with smaller quarters but I don't intend to do daycare forever. (Famous last words)
That is my story and I'm sticking too it. Have a great day bugs. MM

Poof!!! I'm gone!!
KaCee
Poof!!! I'm gone!!
KaCee
MM
http://pages.ivillage.com/quite_contrary/
When we moved here we lived just a block east of here. So when I knew we were getting this house I started boxing up everything that wasn't tied down. My best friend and I moved everything but the stove,frig, washer,dryer and freezer. We were pooped because we started about 7am and got done about 9 that night. We moved everything in boxes into the garage here and over the years sifted it into the house as needed...Oh, yes , I forgot to tell you I was about 31 and she was about 26. Today she is a nurse and wouldn't have time to do it and I would be lucky to carry one box in a day....lol......
On the other hand it is fun when you move, like being able to clean everything and start from 1 again...lol
Good Luck......Janet
Have a nice day !.
Oh that has to be heaven for you! No concrete, cars, people, buildings, shopping malls or doggies from hell.... That has to be worth all the tea in china! That would be my fantasy home. What ever you decide ya can't loose!
Aloha,
Hula Girl
I figure you'll be in daycare til all your grands turn 18..LOL!!....Hugs, Susie
Hugs,
..