Author: admin

In the past 24 hours, the Ws have pulled out because the building codes in town are about the strictest on the coast, they were told and when you figure the setback from the water at 100’ and from the road 20’ you have several inches left to play with!

Even though it’s not a road, but a right of way!

So, I’ve contacted the Ss to see if they want to reconsider and the realty company will get it listed.  

Zig, Zag, Up, Down, what a whirl!

And the roller coaster rolls on.

I agreed by email to give Mr. W right of first refusal until he got his permits done and I gave him 90 days to do it.  As some of you know, we are learning more and more about what we don‘t know.

I talked with my solicitous Oregon realtor (thanks Alan) who convinced me that the way they want to buy my cottage is very disadvantageous to me and she convinced me to call a realtor to get it done right.  

I had agreed to give him a “right of first refusal” for 90 days upon agreement of the price so he can get his permits. I don’t blame him, he wants to be sure he can build what he wants.  

After researching doing it that way, it’s clear that it’s risky for both of us, but more for me because it also keeps my house off the market for up to 90 days which he could just drop on day 89.  

I signed up with a realty company so they will give me free advice with the understanding that they get to list it if it falls through with the Ws. They said the only time they have seen the process done the way he wants, is when it’s a private sale and the buyer wants to delay the sale for financial reasons.

They also gave me an appraisal; the range is $350,000 to $400,000 with the lower end most likely.

I just wrote to the Ws to say I was backing out of my agreement to give them a right of first refusal but I wanted a regular contract to purchase the house in the usual process.
They do want to make nice with the abutters, one of whom happens to be a dear friend of mine and I know they really, really want it, so I’m not too concerned.  

I’m finishing up getting the paperwork for the mortgage pre approval, the numbers are all in place, they just need some documentation to substantiate things. This means that realistically I’ll be able to make an offer pretty soon.  The market is low on “inventory” but nice places don’t stay on the market long. Very little that meets my requirements, but mostly that’s because there is very little out there at all or will be for the next few weeks.

It’s me and Zillow in the morning these days.

Here’s the latest on the Coxcroft effort.  The Ws are spending the next two weeks having the place evaluated, looking at the stability of the slope, septic issues, ground water.  They know what they want to build and will decide if it’s worth going forward. They want the place for a larger year-round home.   So that’s a make or break point.  And will give us information on the general state of the place.

Also, I have someone interested in my house near Augusta, a young couple who are related to my neighbors to the south.  They came by to walk the property 3 days ago. I have 5 acres in pastures around my house and an additional 42 acres of wood lot, but 40 acres doesn’t have near the value of the tiny house lots out there. Still a wood lot is respected out here. The family who owns the piece next to me are loggers, they use beautiful horses in the woods, then they take off for the summer and travel around to the fairs and compete in pulling events with them. They have been a great source of aged manure!

I had a realtor come out today to look at my house, and he will get back to me by the beginning of next week as to how much he thinks I can get for it.  He said nice things about it but he didn’t understand why I was paying so much more on taxes than my neighbor, apparently having little appreciation for the woodlot.  

So that’s it from my part of the woods, the snow (5”) is melting but we won’t see temps above freezing for the next 5-6 days.  Every day I look at the weather, I check Oregon’s.  And drool.  I’m having a great time working on this adventure, though, and am looking forward to actually getting out there.  I’ll let you know when there’s more to know.

https://bizarro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SecretSymbolBunny-242×360.jpg

My Bunny of Exuberance from Bizarro by cartoonist Dan Piraro

Bizarro is my favorite cartoon, reminiscent of Al Herschfeld’s, with his hidden secret symbols you have to search for. I first approach them by appreciating the humor of the cartoon itself, but then the hunt begins as I seek out the secret symbols. My greatest pleasure is when I check the number next to his signature and realize I’ve missed one.

Today was a day for joyfulness. Being unlucky in love, even hopeless, is hard to feel grateful for, but recovering, getting my feet under me again, accepting, are all reasons for deepest gratitude. And hopelessness was the key I needed to finally move forward. But now, with that door firmly shut, I find myself standing at an opening gate, onto a magical new landscape, with myriads of new experiences from white mountain tops to wild flowers so small they are barely able to hold on to their color. And with all of that, family and friends, some still unmet, all opening doors in my new abode, sharing their lives and experiences with me. What’s not to look forward to? To be exuberant about?