I got ahead of myself. Thom was never comfortable with the real estate agent that he first contacted (neither was I - she was definitely representing the builder rather than Thom). After speaking with a real estate lawyer in Gig Harbor, he has decided to not purchase this house. I must say that I don't know what a Gig Harbor lawyer knows about Ellensburg real estate, but he convinced Thom that it was not a good purchase.
Thom bought a house! He made an offer on a new home yesterday while we were in Ellensburg, but his realtor (who is really working for the builder I believe) told us it would not be accepted. Thom got a call today telling him he was a homeowner.
Oh yeah, I got another offer on my house, so if the first falls thru I have another buyer in line for the house.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunshine on the horizon?
Hey there! I have not forgotten about this blog, just haven't had any good news to report and you know what they say - "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
On Monday I got an offer on my house and my son got hired permanently. The purchasers agreed to my counter offer and my son got a raise. I am awaiting the results of the inspection and appraisal and my son is looking in to buying a house in Ellensburg.
It is hard for me to get too excited until everything is approved, but my realtor doesn't think there will be any problems. Of course he is just a salesman and commission salespeople just tell you what you want to hear.
The buyers want to be in the house by the 20th of November, so I'll have to act fast after the last t is crossed and i dotted.
When my son finds a house, he will use my furniture. Until then it will have to go in storage.
Dave and Paige tell me (with a slight slur from happy hour) that it is sunny and warm in Phoenix. Can't wait.
On Monday I got an offer on my house and my son got hired permanently. The purchasers agreed to my counter offer and my son got a raise. I am awaiting the results of the inspection and appraisal and my son is looking in to buying a house in Ellensburg.
It is hard for me to get too excited until everything is approved, but my realtor doesn't think there will be any problems. Of course he is just a salesman and commission salespeople just tell you what you want to hear.
The buyers want to be in the house by the 20th of November, so I'll have to act fast after the last t is crossed and i dotted.
When my son finds a house, he will use my furniture. Until then it will have to go in storage.
Dave and Paige tell me (with a slight slur from happy hour) that it is sunny and warm in Phoenix. Can't wait.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Nineteen days
It rains in Western Washington. There is a rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula. I know all of this. Still, the weather is a bummer. Normally there are 32 days of 100% clear days during the period from June to October. This year there were just 19 such days. The gloomy days of fall are upon me. Some people like this weather and there will be some nice days, but this is why I want to leave the area. I've lived through a lot of these dreary periods, but that doesn't mean I like them. I am bulking up on carbohydrates and sleeping more. Hibernation has begun.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
They're off
Dave and Paige are off and running on their way to Phoenix. Dave has meticulously planned out their 3,500 mile circuitous route and Paige has located all of the yarn shops along the way. She has also determined the locations of all of the wool and pulls (or whatever they're called) en route.
I had hoped to go to Oregon with them (or to Arizona with them if the house was sold) but problems with the motorcycle carrier (and my back) kept me here. The combined weight of the bike and carrier were just too much for the suspension of the Minnie Winnie. I was able to sell it for what I paid (except for the cost of building a new hitch) and have started rebuilding a 1961 Continental boat trailer in to a motorcycle trailer. My brother gave me the trailer and I found some rails on craigslist, new lights and fresh paint, maybe some tires...
It just won't matter if the house doesn't sell.
I had hoped to go to Oregon with them (or to Arizona with them if the house was sold) but problems with the motorcycle carrier (and my back) kept me here. The combined weight of the bike and carrier were just too much for the suspension of the Minnie Winnie. I was able to sell it for what I paid (except for the cost of building a new hitch) and have started rebuilding a 1961 Continental boat trailer in to a motorcycle trailer. My brother gave me the trailer and I found some rails on craigslist, new lights and fresh paint, maybe some tires...
It just won't matter if the house doesn't sell.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
No luck or bad timing
My goodness but the housing market has crashed. There was only one visitor for the open house last Saturday. I don't think my realtor wanted to tell me this, but I drug it out of him. The house next door sold just a few months ago. They had four offers in the first six hours! The house was sold before the sign was up in the yard. I may have to consider becoming a landlord and use the house as a rental - this scares me. I've seen what the wrong tenant can do to a house and I don't want any ties to Kitsap County when I leave.
My niece Ronnie reports that Mom continues to improve. I saw her on Saturday and she really did seem better. I'll ride the Tourer up to see her tomorrow - another ferry ride.
If you should ever visit Washington state and happen to be traveling on a ferry, I hope you are on two wheels. Bicycles and motorcycles load first and at a lower fee than automobiles. Of course they can squeeze four bikes in the same space as a full size pickup so they aren't losing money. A car and driver is about $15 on most runs and a motorcycle and driver is about $6. The views can worth the price at times. My son is getting tired of riding the ferry to and from work in Seattle. I drop him off at the dock at 6 a.m. and pick him up at 6:30 p.m.
My niece Ronnie reports that Mom continues to improve. I saw her on Saturday and she really did seem better. I'll ride the Tourer up to see her tomorrow - another ferry ride.
If you should ever visit Washington state and happen to be traveling on a ferry, I hope you are on two wheels. Bicycles and motorcycles load first and at a lower fee than automobiles. Of course they can squeeze four bikes in the same space as a full size pickup so they aren't losing money. A car and driver is about $15 on most runs and a motorcycle and driver is about $6. The views can worth the price at times. My son is getting tired of riding the ferry to and from work in Seattle. I drop him off at the dock at 6 a.m. and pick him up at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Anxious
"My bags are packed, I'm ready to go"
Not really, but in my mind they are. It normally takes 30 days to close on a house, so I have that month for the final preparations when the time comes. I am ready to run away from home.
Mom is moved in to a very nice assisted living home for the next month. She is in great shape and receiving excellent care and more attention than that to which she is accustomed from my sisters. Many thanks to them for their efforts - even if Mom doesn't show the correct amount of appreciation.
Have a safe Labor Day weekend.
Not really, but in my mind they are. It normally takes 30 days to close on a house, so I have that month for the final preparations when the time comes. I am ready to run away from home.
Mom is moved in to a very nice assisted living home for the next month. She is in great shape and receiving excellent care and more attention than that to which she is accustomed from my sisters. Many thanks to them for their efforts - even if Mom doesn't show the correct amount of appreciation.
Have a safe Labor Day weekend.
Monday, August 27, 2007
A nice weekend
The weekend started by visiting Mom at the transitional care facility. She is doing so much better. The therapist takes her for walks in the hallway without the walker. She gets out of bed or her chair and heads for the wc without waiting for the nurse. She still needs help, but not the type provided by this facility. She's headed for an assisted living facility this week. They will provide meals and snacks, help her dress and bathe, but she will do more for herself and a nurse will not be available around the clock. This will be a private pay (no medicare or insurance) stay, so she hopes to limit the stay to one month. This will put her at the lower end of the expected healing time for her sternum (they said 8 to 12 weeks for complete healing). Her recovery, while seemingly slow at the start, is amazing. She is stronger and healthier in appearance every time I see her.
As for the house - no news is bad news.
I took my girlfriend (she likes this term much better - I don't get it) Carolyn to Sunrise Lodge on Mt. Rainier for her birthday. She's a cheap date. It's the only thing she said she wanted. We rode the Tourer up Highway 410 to the park and then hiked a few of the trails that start at the lodge. We found out we aren't kids anymore. It was a beautiful day - sunny and 84 degrees. One of those days that convince visitors to move to Washington. If they had been here the day before it was the normal gray, drizzly and 62 degrees.
Sunday was supposed to be spent moving my son's belongings in to storage. Who knew that Ellensburg rolled up the sidewalks at 5 p.m. on Friday? No storage offices open on the weekend! Amazing. Maybe they have their priorities in order for their own lives, but this is not convenient for the public. Since Ellensburg is a college town, it would seem that being open on the weekend would be part of a good business plan. He'll just have to arrange for the unit during the week (maybe with the help of his uncle Ross) and ruin his three day weekend moving his stuff.
As for the house - no news is bad news.
I took my girlfriend (she likes this term much better - I don't get it) Carolyn to Sunrise Lodge on Mt. Rainier for her birthday. She's a cheap date. It's the only thing she said she wanted. We rode the Tourer up Highway 410 to the park and then hiked a few of the trails that start at the lodge. We found out we aren't kids anymore. It was a beautiful day - sunny and 84 degrees. One of those days that convince visitors to move to Washington. If they had been here the day before it was the normal gray, drizzly and 62 degrees.
Sunday was supposed to be spent moving my son's belongings in to storage. Who knew that Ellensburg rolled up the sidewalks at 5 p.m. on Friday? No storage offices open on the weekend! Amazing. Maybe they have their priorities in order for their own lives, but this is not convenient for the public. Since Ellensburg is a college town, it would seem that being open on the weekend would be part of a good business plan. He'll just have to arrange for the unit during the week (maybe with the help of his uncle Ross) and ruin his three day weekend moving his stuff.
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