Deal, or No Deal?

The house in the post below...I couldn't get.

This is the candidate du jour. It needs a lot of work, but in my weird financial situation, I may need to get into something that I can pay cash for, and fix up as I go along.

I've heard the advice: "Buy the worst house in the best neighborhood." This house isn't the worst, but I still think it qualifies.

The question will be whether it's livable WHILE work is being done on it. It's nowhere NEAR "move-in" condition as you usually think of it.

But you know what? I don't have a lot of options. I'd rather put my sweat equity into something that's significant, over boring.

Of Course...

Of course, none of the furniture stays. My friends have made the point that most of my stuff is sort of neo-classical, which ki-i-nd of will work, but I'm going to have to consider getting some more antique-ish looking pieces.

But, I think that will be part of the fun--searching for and capturing the "right" things. It doesn't have to be done all at one time, nor can it. For the time being, I have enough to live with, certainly! We wouldn't be sitting on the floor.

Crunching the Numbers...

There's no way I can afford what these folks are asking for this house. But the couple of real estate-savvy people I've talked to says that they are going to HAVE to come down quite a bit; there's no way they're going to GET what they're asking, in this market, in this area. And I don't think they've had any bites.

My tactic is going to be to offer what the comparables SAY that house should be worth, which is rather lowballing them. BUT! If THEY would be willing to owner-finance me, then they would stand to make A LOT in interest, bringing their "price" much closer to what they're asking, over 3 years.

I have a call in to the realtor, now. Waiting on him to call me back. Cross your fingers, your toes, your eyes...

This is a kick-ass house.

Back Country, Baby!

Wow! That's one loooong horse!

No, he just has a friend. :) These are about the only "folks" I saw yesterday, while doing Census mapping.

Spring has sprung.

This is how it looks around here, now--all greened up!!



This is the house we've been in, that I might HAVE to buy... but I don't really want to.

THIS is the house I'd LIKE to buy. It's beautiful. Inside...

...and out!

Cross your fingers!