Moving
2007-12-18 15:26:41.699085+00 by
Dan Lyke
17 comments
Just gave our thirty days notice, we're in escrow on a house in Petaluma. Yeah, real estate is in a bubble, but we think we've got a reasonable deal, it's a place we can plan on living in for decades to come, and if this housing thing further settles itself out via inflation (as I expect), having the bank hold that money with fixed interest seems like a good idea. And if prices deflate, well, we're not buying this as an investment, we want a nest, and the overall price is such that we won't be house poor.
Now comes the hard part...
[ related topics:
Dan's Life Real Estate
]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-18 17:12:52.177949+00 by:
ebradway
I wish I could lend you a hand in the move! Unfortunately, you could hire a team of folks at the Home Depot for the price of my airfare...
Having owned a home and having rented again for quite a few years (and will continue for a few more), I completely understand your point of view. The house you chose is a very manageable size (unlike my old house) and in exactly the neighborhood you want to be in. You also have greater freedoms for modifying the place as you like. That's one of the things I miss as a tenant. Of course, I still tend to make a lot of "improvements" knowing that they can mostly be undone with a little effort.
There's also a huge advantage to staying in the same spot for many years. You learn when the leaves fall from the trees. Where the moon rises at different times of the year. Who your neighbors really are... Ok... maybe they aren't all that great!
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-18 22:51:00.697808+00 by:
markd
I'll be in the silicon valley the first three weeks of january, and I like helping people move (a way to
legitimately get to go through someone else's stuff. Did I type that out loud?). It would nice to meet you
in person if you're moving then.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-18 23:02:57.615448+00 by:
Dan Lyke
Probably will be, and if I'm moved first then it'll be an excuse to just meet up.
Petaluma is about 40 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, drop me an email (danlyke@flutterby.com) and at the very least let's arrange to meet.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-19 12:14:36.812782+00 by:
DaveP
Congrats. Four years into owning mine, and I've almost got the house bashed into the shape I want it.
But you do realize that you're continuing to commit adulthood, don't you? :)
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-19 16:57:00.366938+00 by:
Dan Lyke
Dave, I'll endeavor to put in a treefort as soon as I possibly can.
(Of course that'll require planting a few trees)
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-19 20:41:23.22278+00 by:
Nancy
Dan, a fireman's pole will redeem your childhood status too. Of course it'd have to be a two-story house. Oh, and stripper poles don't count. Tho' I'm not sure I'd know the difference.
Or how about a secret passageway?
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 02:10:20.244844+00 by:
meuon
A secret passageway to the room with the stripper pole?
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 11:31:40.888746+00 by:
DaveP
Dan, a Bat Cave (or Fortress of Solitude) would also work, and doesn't require the trees...
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 13:43:36.967746+00 by:
polly
don't forget the "man room" !!
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 13:57:22.599361+00 by:
Dan Lyke
Yeah, Polly, I thought about the "man room", but Charlene would never go for that much cherry crown molding...
Giggle (on several counts).
Dave, I'm going to have to dig a better placement for a sump pump, maybe while I'm pulling dirt out of the crawl space a bucket at a time I can clear enough room to park the Bat Mobile.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 15:54:36.884599+00 by:
jeff
Pictures! We want pictures! <grin>
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 16:39:59.724682+00 by:
Dan Lyke
[edit history]
The realtor's site for the house is http://10missiondr.com
More when I get 'em. You people who live in housing markets that are actually sane, just pretend your currency is worth 10x ours.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 16:44:31.69302+00 by:
Dan Lyke
And here's the initial and then shortly redacted thread when we made the offer.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 19:47:20.838774+00 by:
DaveP from work
Wow. 10x isn't far off. I've got a full basement, and two stories that look about the same size as yours (of course I lose the space for the stairs), for just a smidge more than 1/3 the price.
Thanks for reminding me why I moved back to MN.
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 19:57:41.618782+00 by:
Dan Lyke
Yeah, I mentioned the stats to my sister, who speculates in Real Estate in the Toledo, Ohio area, and she said she could get me 8 similar houses for that, although maybe we can quibble over neighborhoods. And my parents just bought a sprawl in Ohio on a big lot with a barn and a pond, at auction, I mentioned square footage, and my dad said "oh, that's cute, if you need a place to put it you can put it in our bedroom closet".
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 21:23:33.808837+00 by:
polly
$459,000??? and why do you live in california? my barn is bigger than that on 6 acres w/3 bedroom house for $160,000.....wow. on the other hand, love the kitchen, cute shrimpy color and the backyard looks like a good spot for a pool! :}
#Comment Re: made: 2007-12-20 21:37:55.555061+00 by:
jeff
Location, location, location! Less than one hour from the Pacific Ocean, less than one hour from a world-class city (SF), and less than one hour from the heart of wine country!