Thursday, September 29, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, August 23, 2010
Looking for a Lot
We are looking for our lot to build on. I keep thinking when we see it we will know, but the more I look the more confused I get. I know we want trees, and privacy, but I don't want to be so far back a dirt road that if we need to give directions to Say the fire co or ambulance it would take a few hours for them to find us. I also am so tired of traffic, noise, light, lack of nature, that I long to reconnect with it all, and am afraid if we look in a development even the 2 acre ones it will be "what will the neighbors think" can I plant a garden... can I hang a wind chime... can I see the night stars again.
We have 3 lots to go see this Saturday, One is 7 acres out to itself but then we will have a busy road to go into town. One is in a community development with all 2+ acres, but there are only 2 lots left and I wonder if we are just looking at the ones no one else wanted, they look like they are at small intersections, so much for nature and traffic. One is on a back road that looks like a park and a really good price. hmmmm wonder what is wrong with it. Now I am sounding like a city sceptic. We will see.
We have 3 lots to go see this Saturday, One is 7 acres out to itself but then we will have a busy road to go into town. One is in a community development with all 2+ acres, but there are only 2 lots left and I wonder if we are just looking at the ones no one else wanted, they look like they are at small intersections, so much for nature and traffic. One is on a back road that looks like a park and a really good price. hmmmm wonder what is wrong with it. Now I am sounding like a city sceptic. We will see.
Our New Town - Charlottesville VA
After traveling from the west coast to the east, we have selected our new retirement town. The winner is Charlottesville VA, and this decition was not made slightly. For the past 5 years every place we went we would look and evaluate--
This post is to bring up to date what I have looked at so far. When we first settled on Charlottesville about a year and 1/2 ago the real estate market was tanking. There were unblieavable properties in our price range of up to 500,000. Some had 10 to 15 acres and were beautiful, of course they have since then sold, but were on the market for about a year, and went through several price reductions before selling.
The existing market in the area has over 3,000 listings and I think that is probable high. There are still wonderful homes for sell and they are still being reduced depending on how long they have been on the market. We found a realestate agent on line that we have been working with that has taken us to see a few over the past year. Like all shopping each place had its good and bad sides, but was never just right. The fact of the matter is we could buy more than we can build right now because of the housing financial situation, but is that what we really want?
Here in the DC area there are McMansions every where, and for a brief moment we dreamed of one of these. After going through a few homes it became clear that they were much more than we needed, but the smaller homes didn't have what we wanted either and we don't want to settle. The answer to all of this is---
*B U I L D*
- realestate
- community
- does it have a college
- does it have an art league
- how is the hospital
- What is the weather
- how far to a good airport
- Are the people friendly
- is there a lot of traffic
This post is to bring up to date what I have looked at so far. When we first settled on Charlottesville about a year and 1/2 ago the real estate market was tanking. There were unblieavable properties in our price range of up to 500,000. Some had 10 to 15 acres and were beautiful, of course they have since then sold, but were on the market for about a year, and went through several price reductions before selling.
The existing market in the area has over 3,000 listings and I think that is probable high. There are still wonderful homes for sell and they are still being reduced depending on how long they have been on the market. We found a realestate agent on line that we have been working with that has taken us to see a few over the past year. Like all shopping each place had its good and bad sides, but was never just right. The fact of the matter is we could buy more than we can build right now because of the housing financial situation, but is that what we really want?
Here in the DC area there are McMansions every where, and for a brief moment we dreamed of one of these. After going through a few homes it became clear that they were much more than we needed, but the smaller homes didn't have what we wanted either and we don't want to settle. The answer to all of this is---
*B U I L D*
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Beginning
OK, so we have worked hard all our lives and it's time to move into the next phase of life.
Our retirement from the everyday workforce for others is winding to a close and it is time now for our dreams to move and take shape, what better way to begin this new phase than with a new custom home.
We have been diligently planning this change and in the last year have selected the town of our future, and have decided to build the home of our dreams. What an eye opening transition I have had so far with just the decision to either buy or build, this new home. It is due to the past years new knowledge that I have decided to document this process not only for myself but for all my baby boomer friends that will be facing the same decisions for this major move into the next phase.
My dream is like the song:
'Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be...
When the day is done
We will be as one...
Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree...
Face the setting sun...
When our time has come
God bless our love.
Our retirement from the everyday workforce for others is winding to a close and it is time now for our dreams to move and take shape, what better way to begin this new phase than with a new custom home.
We have been diligently planning this change and in the last year have selected the town of our future, and have decided to build the home of our dreams. What an eye opening transition I have had so far with just the decision to either buy or build, this new home. It is due to the past years new knowledge that I have decided to document this process not only for myself but for all my baby boomer friends that will be facing the same decisions for this major move into the next phase.
My dream is like the song:
'Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be...
When the day is done
We will be as one...
Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree...
Face the setting sun...
When our time has come
God bless our love.
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