My house sale

[iris lilies]

This afternoon we set a price with our real estate agent at $410,000 and he conveyed it to our buyer.
Buyers said sure, we will pay that!

So we may have a deal

[iris lilies]

So I’ve been listing things like crazy on Facebook marketplace. You know what’s getting tons of interest? The authentic fire hydrant we have sitting in our patio. Everyone wants it.

[JaneV2.0]

Wonderful! I'm living vicariously--real estate-wise--through you!
Apparently, the universe is on your side...

[iris lilies]

Wonderful! I'm living vicariously--real estate-wise--through you!
Apparently, the universe is on your side...
Well, you know it’s not exactly hard to sell a piece of real estate these days. What makes our property unique at this time is that we are in a highly desirable neighborhood in the city of St. Louis. And we have two extra lots attached to our house, each deeded separately. All the existing empty lots around here have been built up. If anyone wants to buy a lot on which to build a house, they are hard to find, very hard.

My buyers want to build a new structure on my flower garden. That is fine with me! But they’re going to live in our house for a while while they decide what to do exactly in their new structure.

The deal can always go bad, but honestly I think they are the perfect buyers. Our house is as we envision it somewhat dated and it has some oddities, but it’s ready to move in and everything works. They are a little bit older and I they keep repeating they’re not phased by things that need fixing. That is not the typical buyer as a real estate agent points out.

DH Could spend a few months and maybe $10,000 to get an extra hundred thousand dollars added to our house but it ain’t worth it.

[Teacher Terry]

That’s great news! Considering the crime I am surprised that someone older wants to buy.

[iris lilies]

This is the coolest part of this deal with the buyers: our buyer is actually serving on our neighborhood‘s development committee right this moment. He understands the building restrictions in a historic neighborhood. They ride around the neighborhood in their golf cart and enjoy the atmosphere and I think they will be wonderful additions to our neighborhood.

[Teacher Terry]

I love old houses as much as you so it’s wonderful that they want it and understand the neighborhood.

[ToomuchStuff]

So I’ve been listing things like crazy on Facebook marketplace. You know what’s getting tons of interest? The authentic fire hydrant we have sitting in our patio. Everyone and their dog, wants it.

Fixed it for you.

Wish I was at that point.

[iris lilies]

Fixed it for you.

Wish I was at that point.

DH is mad at me Because I sold it for $20 and that’s not even scrap value. But if some young guy wants to wrestle it into his truck and resell it and make some money good for him.

[Yppej]

Congratulations.

[rosarugosa]

That's great! So will you actually be moving to Hermann next, or into your condo?

[iris lilies]

That's great! So will you actually be moving to Hermann next, or into your condo?
Hermann will be home base. Condo will be for city stays of brief duration.

[catherine]

Wow!!! That's wonderful. I'm wondering if you're finding it bittersweet--all those memories! Or are you past it?

In any case, on to your wonderful life in Hermann--and to your wonderfully simple and redone pied a Terre in the city!

[Tybee]

Fantastic! This sounds painless, and you already have your future nicely mapped out. Stress free!

[iris lilies]

Wow!!! That's wonderful. I'm wondering if you're finding it bittersweet--all those memories! Or are you past it?

In any case, on to your wonderful life in Hermann--and to your wonderfully simple and redone pied a Terre in the city!

oh it will be hard to leave. The day we turn over the key will be very sad. DH is already lamenting the fact that he’s lived almost half of his life in this house. I will miss my beautiful patio which is a wonderful summer place, and I’ll miss our beautiful living room which is a great winter place. But there’s much of this house that I won’t miss. And I’m finally tired of the flower garden here and keeping it up.

[catherine]

oh it will be hard to leave. The day we turn over the key will be very sad. DH is already lamenting the fact that he’s lived almost half of his life in this house. I will miss my beautiful patio which is a wonderful summer place, and I’ll miss our beautiful living room which is a great winter place. But there’s much of this house that I won’t miss. And I’m finally tired of the flower garden here and keeping it up.

Do you know, as much as I'm happy here, sometimes I still get waves of nostalgia for that old 70s "Brady Bunch" house I lived in for 35 years, but I'm sure it was just about the memories and not the house. "You can't go home again" as Tom Wolfe said (I think it was him?). Life moves on, but that doesn't keep me from looking over my shoulder with a tinge of sadness for what once was.

[iris lilies]

Do you know, as much as I'm happy here, sometimes I still get waves of nostalgia for that old 70s "Brady Bunch" house I lived in for 35 years, but I'm sure it was just about the memories and not the house. "You can't go home again" as Tom Wolfe said (I think it was him?). Life moves on, but that doesn't keep me from looking over my shoulder with a tinge of sadness for what once was.

and now I have a weird Yen to move back to Iowa. I won’t of course. But the yen has been around for a while, and yesterday I got into a long conversation with someone who was from Iowa. We were lamenting the fact that in Iowa you could drop seeds in the ground and anything grows. Here in Missouri, with our clay soil, you have to work at it.

[catherine]

and now I have a weird Jan to move back to Iowa. I won’t of course. But the year has been around for a while, and yesterday I got into a long conversation with someone who was from Iowa. We were lamenting the fact that in Iowa you could drop seeds in the ground and anything grows. Here in Missouri, with our clay soil, you have to work at it.

Yeah, that "sense of place" does call. I left Connecticut in my early 20s and never went back, but all my relatives are still there, and if I were hard pressed, I would definitely consider going back. Wendell Berry writes about the importance of a sense of place, and Robin Wall Kimmerer does also, in Braiding Sweetgrass. You can't deny that you have a sense of belonging in one place and not another. I'm very glad my job didn't force me to other regions of the country to which I have no connection.

[sweetana3]

My "sense of place" is Alaska. Grew up there and one of my brothers is still there. BUT, limited health care for seniors (and many others) is a major obstacle and there is zero chance my husband would move with me.

[happystuff]

Congratulations, IL!! Hope it continues to be an easy and successful sale!

[ToomuchStuff]

Do you know, as much as I'm happy here, sometimes I still get waves of nostalgia for that old 70s "Brady Bunch" house I lived in for 35 years, but I'm sure it was just about the memories and not the house. "You can't go home again" as Tom Wolfe said (I think it was him?). Life moves on, but that doesn't keep me from looking over my shoulder with a tinge of sadness for what once was.

Very much feeling that at my old place. Family has been in that house since 57, and extended family in the neighborhood, since sometime at least in the 30's.
I went there to move some stuff, Sunday, and being the old guy in the neighborhood, I see how it has deteriorated and changed.

I miss the old days.

[pinkytoe]

It sounds like your whole housing transition has worked out well. It took me about three years to get over leaving our sweet, little Texas house. DH is so miserable here and pines for "home". I still don't know where that is for me after all these decades but the weather has been brutal and unforgiving during our time here. Huge wet snow took down even more trees and limbs. No place for a gardener like me. Our goal is T'Giving with family in a different house.

[JaneV2.0]

Do you know, as much as I'm happy here, sometimes I still get waves of nostalgia for that old 70s "Brady Bunch" house I lived in for 35 years, but I'm sure it was just about the memories and not the house. "You can't go home again" as Tom Wolfe said (I think it was him?). Life moves on, but that doesn't keep me from looking over my shoulder with a tinge of sadness for what once was.

Although I love the Seattle Eastside unreservedly, I've come to regret ever selling my Beaverton condo. It was so much better designed than Chez Decay, so much more convenient, so manageable.

[iris lilies]

I am minimal at associating places with memories. I am major in associating places with architecture. When I talk about missing my brick patio, I’m not talking about missing the memories of people on it and parties we had, I’m talking about missing the actual brick. The pretty shade plants around it and etc.

[catherine]

I am minimal at associating places with memories. I am major in associating places with architecture. When I talk about missing my brick patio, I’m not talking about missing the memories of people on it and parties we had, I’m talking about missing the actual brick. The pretty shade plants around it and etc.

Yeah, I do have part of that--mainly to do with missing the size of the place. Again, I'm happy I downsized but every now and then I look back on having 4 bedrooms (well, one was an office with a twin in it). I do miss not being able to have people over to stay and spread out, but then again, that amount of luxury and still be on the lake would be pretty expensive.

The NJ house itself was nothing to brag about, except for its location adjacent to the park, where, ironically there was more nature there in some ways. No large bodies of water, but a creek where you could greet a duck family and the bullfrogs, and wooded areas to walk the dog without running into people. I miss that here.

Here, they mow down every bit of vegetation with a vengeance, "suggest" I cut down my trees, chase away the geese with fireworks (yet won't consider a vegetative buffer to deter them) and I'm sure eyes are on me when I walk around the barren common land.

Maybe it sounds like I've become bitter on the place, and not so. But no place is perfect.

[iris lilies]

Catherine I can see that there’s plenty of wildlife and “country “in parts of suburban New Jersey. There are nice places like that all over the country in suburbia.

[frugal-one]

IL... Wonderful that your plans are coming to fruition! Sure am jealous! Am working on getting this house cleaned out, cleaned up and ready to sell. The problem still is where to go? I really loved the smallish trailer we rented this winter in Texas. The size was ample and very manageable. Hate the thought of shopping for a new place and figuring out the best place to live.

[iris lilies]

IL... Wonderful that your plans are coming to fruition! Sure am jealous! Am working on getting this house cleaned out, cleaned up and ready to sell. The problem still is where to go? I really loved the smallish trailer we rented this winter in Texas. The size was ample and very manageable. Hate the thought of shopping for a new place and figuring out the best place to live.
That’s great that you were able to downsize to a smallish trailer and found it entirely doable.

[JaneV2.0]

"Manageable" is key for me going forward.

[Teacher Terry]

My favorite house was the old one in Kenosha which was built in 1920 and had 3 floors plus a basement. We remodeled it ourselves slowly. It was a great 14 years as I was raising my kids and living next door to my parents. We had so much fun. I was going to college which I loved. I love my condo as it’s just the right size for me.

[Tradd]

Iris, good luck! Any clue on how much time you’ll have before closing?

[iris lilies]

Iris, good luck! Any clue on how much time you’ll have before closing?
They want a closing date of
july 7. They say their rent shoots up tons if they have to go month-to-month after July. So we are scurrying around here moving stuff.

[sweetana3]

Sounds like they will be accepting of a lot of leftover stuff to get you out.

[Tybee]

You have over a month, so you should be fine. Once you make your decision as to the closing date, you really go into disposal/moving/storage if necessary mode. You have two places to take the stuff, and know what you need in both of them.

[iris lilies]

Sounds like they will be accepting of a lot of leftover stuff to get you out.
They have, from the beginning, emphasized how unconcerned they are about the state of the house when we leave. They have,jokingly, offered to hire movers to get us out. They were pretty unconcerned with price and just yesterday offered up another $4,000 to cover our capital gains tax that will result from the way they want to structure the sale.

DH completed fixing the bedroom ceiling that had holes from years of rain leak. That was horrific and needed to be fixed. The only other thing I’m concerned about is the back porch that is sinking and needs to be rebuilt, but if it passes inspection so that we can deliver an occupancy permit, I’m not going to worry about it.

these buyers are getting a screaming deal. Within the past week since we set the price three houses immediately surrounding us including the one right next-door went on the market for a whole hell of a lot more than our house, and they are all smaller structures, some by quite a bit, some have no garage or attached lot.