|
Post by doctork on Apr 19, 2009 21:04:02 GMT -5
No pictures yet, but here's a thumbnail sketch of the situation.
Sparta is a lovely little mountain town, population 1,800, that is popular with vacationers, second home owners (some of who are now financially stressed) and retirees. It's close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the New River, and offers hiking, bike riding, canoeing, white water rafting, hunting and fishing, and just hanging out in the peace and quiet. Winter skiing is also not far away.
I looked at a total of 16 houses (only eliminated 5 as unsatisfactory), ranging from 3 fully furnished small but nice "vacation rental cottages" that were below my lower price limit (!! whoever heard of that), to one very large, deluxe mountaintop view home that was above my limit, but the realtor thought the owner would accept an offer within my price range as he is a "motivated seller."
I was really looking for a lease-purchase deal, so we could rent for a while to get the lay of the land since it is a new area for us. Very few owners interested in lease-purchase, but quite a few were OK with flexible owner-financing, which could also work for us.
Between the low end cottages and the deluxe mountaintop home, were several spectacular view properties, a fully restored 1930's farm house with 2.4 acres and a creek and spring water for the well, a couple of log "cabins" that were actually sizeable upscale houses, and one gated community home (I'm not fond of the gated community concept, but this one was nice) with lots of "amenities."
I liked the restored farmhouse best for its character, but it did not have a view of the mountains, although the yard and the brook made up for the lack of view. I think.
The modestly priced vacation cottages would be a "drop back and punt" alternative, as we would probably want to move to a little larger place once we knew for sure where we want to live. Then we would turn the cottage back into an investment rental property. No idea how I will decide - must talk to hubby and savvy daughter.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 19, 2009 23:05:01 GMT -5
I know you're dying for our opinions, K, but are too polite to ask. Sooo....
I vote for the farmhouse.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Apr 19, 2009 23:58:59 GMT -5
I know you're dying for our opinions, K, but are too polite to ask. Sooo.... I vote for the farmhouse. Of course I want everyone's opinions - that's why I put it on the Chatterbox Advisory Board!
|
|
|
Post by joew on Apr 20, 2009 19:56:19 GMT -5
I'll only say that I'm no fan of gated communities.
|
|
|
Post by jspnrvr on Apr 20, 2009 21:57:09 GMT -5
No pictures yet, but here's a thumbnail sketch of the situation. Sparta is a lovely little mountain town, population 1,800, that is popular with vacationers, second home owners (some of who are now financially stressed) and retirees. It's close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the New River, and offers hiking, bike riding, canoeing, white water rafting, hunting and fishing, and just hanging out in the peace and quiet. Winter skiing is also not far away. I looked at a total of 16 houses (only eliminated 5 as unsatisfactory), ranging from 3 fully furnished small but nice "vacation rental cottages" that were below my lower price limit (!! whoever heard of that), to one very large, deluxe mountaintop view home that was above my limit, but the realtor thought the owner would accept an offer within my price range as he is a "motivated seller." I was really looking for a lease-purchase deal, so we could rent for a while to get the lay of the land since it is a new area for us. Very few owners interested in lease-purchase, but quite a few were OK with flexible owner-financing, which could also work for us. Between the low end cottages and the deluxe mountaintop home, were several spectacular view properties, a fully restored 1930's farm house with 2.4 acres and a creek and spring water for the well, a couple of log "cabins" that were actually sizeable upscale houses, and one gated community home (I'm not fond of the gated community concept, but this one was nice) with lots of "amenities." I liked the restored farmhouse best for its character, but it did not have a view of the mountains, although the yard and the brook made up for the lack of view. I think. The modestly priced vacation cottages would be a "drop back and punt" alternative, as we would probably want to move to a little larger place once we knew for sure where we want to live. Then we would turn the cottage back into an investment rental property. No idea how I will decide - must talk to hubby and savvy daughter. Well, I'd rather be on top of the mountain than looking at a mountain; what's the grade on your road like, how is the access when it snows or freezes? Any dirt up there or did they just scalp the top of the mountain to build? I'd be looking for where I could put my garden. The farmhouse has character but if it has been restored what does that mean? From the studs out or just freshened up? The older places can have character and they can also have leftovers from every character who ever lived in them, which you'll find when you get into the plumbing, wiring, etc. I'm sure the creek is lovely; how lovely is it after a week of toad strangling rains? Did you see the high-water mark? I'm not against gated communities as such, they can provide a bit of security, but I'm dead set against any kind of association; I've seen enough condo nazis at work down here in Florida. The homeowners association can provide some rules that keep out riffraff but I'd rather have a next door neighbor who has his own plumbing business and parks his work truck in his driveway than a bunch of busybodies and power drunk geriatrics who don't like the height of my flagpole. Get a few acres and you don't have to worry about who's in your face. The idea of a temporary residence is one I can understand. We did the same when we moved down here, not for the sake of exploration; the gummint paid for our move and we had a good advance realtor. We just camped out in a rental for awhile till we were able to close. It's a pain, moving twice, but I can agree with getting the lay of the land. Where is your support system going to be? Where will you be doing your daily business, other than your workplace? Where will you be getting your groceries? Where's the auto repair, the church, the pizza? You don't want to be on the off side of town. Just a few thoughts, since you asked. My advice is like oats that have been through the horse, there's plenty of it laying around and it comes real cheap!
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Apr 21, 2009 14:53:44 GMT -5
All your points are well-taken, good reminders for me, though I think we're all thinking alike. Glad to see it's not just me who doesn't care for gated communities. Most of the places I looked at are not gated but have "restrictions" of some sort so that no one puts up a trailer park or driving range with spotlights til midnight right next door. Where there were not restrictions, I inquired about who could build what within eye and ear-shot, but I'd order a survey (check flood history too) and home inspection to verify. The "restored" farmhouse was completely restored, ie, stripped to the studs, more insulation added, then the new chestnut beadboard (replica of the originals) was installed. Plumbing and electric are new, as are the AC and furnace. Jay, your location questions are right on target - my husband will be working 2 - 3 days per week in another town and 2 - 3 days per week in our town. Some of the nicest locations very near the Blue Ridge Parkway make the easiest commute for him, but are not as close to town/groceries/car repair, etc. We're not gardeners, but I looked at several "level locations" to contrast with mountaintop sites. The farmhouse is level (minimal view), and one of the cottages is a level acre at the top of a mountain (surrounded by rolling farmland) with spectacular 270 degree views. That cottage is so nice, and priced low at $91,000, that we might buy it, expand it, and stay there. It's all safe rural areas, so security is not an issue, and unlike West Virginia, northwestern North Carolina hasn't leveled the mountaintops to build mines, malls or airports. They seem to do quite well preserving the area for all those other activities I mentioned, or maybe they just don't have coal to mine. But then, until modern roads and airplanes appeared after WWII, western NC was pretty much shut off from modern life, as the mountains were a barrier. Jay - remember Ray Hicks' son you saw at the Storytelling Festival? His late father lived in the mountaintop cabin he was born in, which was on property his family first homesteaded in the 1700's. Rosa still lives there, and I'll bet the son does too - or at least nearby. For the rest of you - Ray Hicks was an incredible storyteller known for his "Jack Tales" who was at every festival until he passed away at an advanced age in 2003. The area where he grew up was so isolated that the dialect they spoke was rather like Elizabethan English, preserved intact into the 21st century just because they were isolated. Remarkable, and a part of why I love the area. The Hickses aren't far from where we'll be living. If you're interested in learning more about Ray or the art of storytelling, here's the website. Note the photos in the 4th paragraph - shows how the storytelling tents work at the festival. www.rayhicks.com/another-time.htm
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 21, 2009 18:15:11 GMT -5
Ok, I'm for the mountaintop cottage. Bear in mind, the older you get, the less house you're going to want to keep up. But you'll LOVE sitting in a rocker looking at that view.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Apr 21, 2009 21:34:00 GMT -5
Ok, I'm for the mountaintop cottage. Bear in mind, the older you get, the less house you're going to want to keep up. But you'll LOVE sitting in a rocker looking at that view. You read my mind! That house I admired at the top of our price limit - 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths on three stories, spiral staircase, all of it hand crafted and fully furnished by some talented designer - it was just too big, at 2,700 square feet, and that didn't include the fully finished basement (and furnished with pool table, Foosball, two bedrooms and a spa bathroom). Amber said, "Mom you'll have to hire a cleaning lady." Nah, I don't think so. Too big to buy it even if it is a great bargain because the seller is desperate to unload it. And Jay, we didn't look at any houses that were any distance from state-maintained roads. I crossed one house off the list because there was a half mile of private road with some potholes. And it had 11 acres - what do we need with 11 acres?
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Apr 23, 2009 8:51:01 GMT -5
Corky says: What do you need with 11 acres???
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Apr 23, 2009 10:10:14 GMT -5
Corky says: What do you need with 11 acres??? The thought has crossed my mind: Any house with a sizeable yard, we just get a fence, a couple of sheep and give Corky a job. Let the sheep mow the lawn, and Corky's job is to herd the sheep. But I'm not choosing the house on the basis of Corky's preference!
|
|
|
Post by jspnrvr on Apr 23, 2009 10:37:35 GMT -5
Actually, with 11 acres it wouldn't be a yard and you wouldn't want sheep. Probably some woods, brush, etc. Goats.....get goats. They'll eat anything they can reach, including sawbriars. They're a lot less maintenance than sheep. So you'll have the larger trees, but all cleared out underneath, which makes an automatic park! Being on top of a mountain with no undergrowth will give you a clear field of fire to hold off a zombie invasion, and the goats can run interference while you reload. Geese in the creek make real good watchdogs. If people would only listen to me....
|
|
|
Post by doctork on May 11, 2009 20:09:13 GMT -5
I'm back in Bellingham, having handed over the car to my husband and flown home. I had no TSA problems, so I will say it is much easier to fly 3,000 miles than drive them. On a bad TSA/airline day, it could be a close contest.
I think my husband was planning on putting down earnest money on the restored farmhouse after he looked at it last night. Since I've been in transit, I don't know what transpired yet. Following all the inspections, paperwork and legal stuff, we should be homeowners in North Carolina shortly!
|
|
|
Post by joew on May 11, 2009 20:17:17 GMT -5
Congratulations on making a selection.
|
|
|
Post by jspnrvr on May 11, 2009 20:26:43 GMT -5
Oh good deal, I'm glad you made it back to the great PNW. I hope you remembered to wash your hands in the airport and on the plane. Get rested up, get your fluids, you don't need to be sick now. Things are moving along.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on May 12, 2009 9:21:26 GMT -5
So exciting, K! Now you can really begin picturing yourselves there. I hope you don't have to be there to sign papers, though, you need a rest. I suppose for the closing you might have to, but maybe you can time that with your last trip. Drive into town, sign papers, take a nap in your new house.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on May 12, 2009 11:38:51 GMT -5
So exciting, K! Now you can really begin picturing yourselves there. I hope you don't have to be there to sign papers, though, you need a rest. I suppose for the closing you might have to, but maybe you can time that with your last trip. Drive into town, sign papers, take a nap in your new house. I don't have to be there to close, just make sure money is in the bank! The NC attorney emailed me a Real Estate Power of Attorney which I received when I logged on in Missouri, printed it out at the hotel, and amazingly enough, on a Saturday morning I found a notary to notarize my signature. I gave the POA to Howard on Sunday, and now he can sign all the paperwork for the house without me being there. Prosaic challenges - Howard's cellphone apparently does not work in Sparta, so I had to talk to Amber in DC to learn that he is now settled in the house, bought groceries to stock the shelves, and reported to work yesterday. She reports that he really likes the house - I was concerned because he had not actually seen the place, and I don't want to wind up The Worst Wife in the World for picking out The Wrong House. We are now renting the house (with rent applied to down payment) until we close in a couple weeks. The current owner accepted my first offer on the house, and initially I thought "Well I offered too high." But then I saw how every other contract issue was resolved verbatim as I requested (like rent until we close, terms of owner financing and deed of trust), and my offer was consistent with prices (and reductions) I observed on the other homes I was shown, and decided that any small further price reduction I might have negotiated was not worth the hassle. I am tired and don't want to mess with any more details, so it is fine with me if it takes Howard a few days to get the phone arranged - and any other stuff about utilities, cable, internet, etc. I'm gonna turn in the rental car I used to drive from SeaTac home, pick up the dog at "camp" and then do some serious napping.
|
|