The septic issue has been resolved. Instead of paying the $20k we offered, we'll be paying $23k, If the septic costs us the full $10k, we'll need to scrounge up some more money.
In addition, I'm officially off the job hunt. I quit my horrible job a few weeks ago, without much notice, and have been desperately hunting. I am not a person that is unemployed for long. I apply for jobs like it's a full time job when I'm not working. I devote a full 40 hours each week to either interviewing or applying. Needless to say, I usually am out of work for no more than a month. Well, John and I discussed it, and it makes more sense that I don't work and fix up the house. We need to have someone available during business hours for paperwork, septic work, electric stuff, etc. Plus, I'm more of a handyman than he is.
If I get the work done in two weeks, instead of three months, we'll have saved far more money than I would have earned. Plus, realistically, if I can come up with enough money to pay off my credit card (I need about $200 per month to get it paid off in a reasonable amount of time), I'd rather focus on school than working. I currently make about $40 per month for writing articles, I can make another $60 per month helping out at my sister's house. I'm hoping that my craft stuff and house sitting will make up the remainder. That means I need to get my butt in gear when it comes to getting my shop up and running.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
A Big Snag
We found out that the septic tank can't be certified. Either we need to install a new septic immediately after we buy (otherwise we can't legally reside in it), or they need to put in a septic for us.
Basically, in our county a residence must have a certifiable septic to be bought or sold. Due to the fact that the trailer isn't affixed to the property, the property can be sold as vacant land instead of a residence. Vacant land doesn't need to a have a certifiable septic tank, but it commands a much lower price due to that fact.
So, initially we all agreed on $28k...when we thought there were two working septic tanks (one for each hook up), not one tank, which doesn't work, for the two hook ups.
We offered them either $20k as is, or the initial offer of $28k if the septic tank is brought up to code.
I called around and getting a new septic could cost between $3,000-$10,000 depending on how much work needs to be done and how much of the digging we can do ourselves. I contacted our realtor and told her what we wanted and we should hear back from the seller on Monday!
Basically, in our county a residence must have a certifiable septic to be bought or sold. Due to the fact that the trailer isn't affixed to the property, the property can be sold as vacant land instead of a residence. Vacant land doesn't need to a have a certifiable septic tank, but it commands a much lower price due to that fact.
So, initially we all agreed on $28k...when we thought there were two working septic tanks (one for each hook up), not one tank, which doesn't work, for the two hook ups.
We offered them either $20k as is, or the initial offer of $28k if the septic tank is brought up to code.
I called around and getting a new septic could cost between $3,000-$10,000 depending on how much work needs to be done and how much of the digging we can do ourselves. I contacted our realtor and told her what we wanted and we should hear back from the seller on Monday!
Friday, November 21, 2014
Closing Time!
I can't be the only one who loves Semisonic, right? Well, this isn't about Semisonic's hit; we're closing on the house!
It's official: December 1st we will be closing on the house!
We have a lot of work to do though. Part of the living room floor needs to be rebuilt.
The kitchen has no oven... and most of the floor needs to be rebuilt.
And the second bedroom's carpet has hideous orange mystery stains.
All said and done, we're estimating about $7,000 worth of work including all the electric issues. I'll post more pictures once we close on the house.
For the first weekend I'll likely camp out in front of the wood burning stove without electricity. We currently live in a house without heat (or insulation, or windows and doors that seal), so I think spending a night in a sleeping bad by a hot stove will be pleasant by comparison.
The first box has been packed and the storage unit is have empty. It's really happening!
It's official: December 1st we will be closing on the house!
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| Living Room |
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| Love the wallpaper! |
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| Paneling! |
All said and done, we're estimating about $7,000 worth of work including all the electric issues. I'll post more pictures once we close on the house.
For the first weekend I'll likely camp out in front of the wood burning stove without electricity. We currently live in a house without heat (or insulation, or windows and doors that seal), so I think spending a night in a sleeping bad by a hot stove will be pleasant by comparison.
The first box has been packed and the storage unit is have empty. It's really happening!
Monday, November 10, 2014
A Happy Opportunity
We may have found our new house!
I know that I'm very lucky. My grandfather has offered to let me borrow against my inheritance for a particular property. Why bother with the bank at all? Well, my inheritance doesn't go very far with the recovering housing market.
This house though, is very economical and within the inheritance amount. The bank won't even lend to us with how cheap the property is.
Here's the good: It's on two acres (my preferred size), it has two complete hook-ups, which means we can live on one hook-up while we build our other house, it has a huge single wide trailer currently on it can be made livable fairly easily, the kitchen is huge, and the lot is relatively clear of cactus.
Here's the bad: The floor needs to be rebuilt in half of the kitchen, along one wall in the living room and in the spare bathroom. Additionally, there's a whole in the ceiling (but the roof looks fine), it needs a new cooler, the kitchen has no counter space (but is big enough to build an island), the carpet in the second bedroom needs to go, the property needs to be fenced and...oh yeah, there's no electricity.
Okay, well, there's electricity to the box, but the electricity from the box to the house has been cut because it wasn't up to code.
So we have an electric inspection in a few days. We're going to get an estimate on the repairs involved and then hopefully next week we'll be ready to make an offer!
I'm so excited. I've been looking at houses for so long (3 years!), I just keep anticipating getting a call from my realtor that someone has bought it our from under us. That shouldn't happen though, because she has the only copy of the keys. Still, in the back of my mind, I'm worried about someone buying it sight unseen.
Pictures will be posted if we decide to put in an offer!
I know that I'm very lucky. My grandfather has offered to let me borrow against my inheritance for a particular property. Why bother with the bank at all? Well, my inheritance doesn't go very far with the recovering housing market.
This house though, is very economical and within the inheritance amount. The bank won't even lend to us with how cheap the property is.
Here's the good: It's on two acres (my preferred size), it has two complete hook-ups, which means we can live on one hook-up while we build our other house, it has a huge single wide trailer currently on it can be made livable fairly easily, the kitchen is huge, and the lot is relatively clear of cactus.
Here's the bad: The floor needs to be rebuilt in half of the kitchen, along one wall in the living room and in the spare bathroom. Additionally, there's a whole in the ceiling (but the roof looks fine), it needs a new cooler, the kitchen has no counter space (but is big enough to build an island), the carpet in the second bedroom needs to go, the property needs to be fenced and...oh yeah, there's no electricity.
Okay, well, there's electricity to the box, but the electricity from the box to the house has been cut because it wasn't up to code.
So we have an electric inspection in a few days. We're going to get an estimate on the repairs involved and then hopefully next week we'll be ready to make an offer!
I'm so excited. I've been looking at houses for so long (3 years!), I just keep anticipating getting a call from my realtor that someone has bought it our from under us. That shouldn't happen though, because she has the only copy of the keys. Still, in the back of my mind, I'm worried about someone buying it sight unseen.
Pictures will be posted if we decide to put in an offer!
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