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Posts tagged with: life of adventure

No Debt Update and Why 3 Months?

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I really appreciate the BAD community’s guidance when it comes to listing my house in the best light. But I will say, I never want to have to move out of a house or sell another house as long as I live. The next home…well, it better be the one I plan to die in.

Today I close up the house, leaving it ready for my realtor to sell, and hit the road. I’ve spent hours walking these empty rooms. And doing a fair bit of talking to God and crying. I still don’t know if this is the right decision.

Front of Hope's house circa Oct, 2023

Hope’s house circa Oct, 2023

As excited as I am about the possibility of getting to adventure and travel for a while, this house is home. I made it exactly what I wanted. Saying good bye to it, possibly forever is hard. But I am leaving this is God’s hands. If it sells, I go. If it doesn’t, I come back and I stay.

Debt Update

Needless to say, with the rebuilding of my income and the costs of getting the house ready to sell, I’ve not paid anything to debt the last two months. However, all of my bills are paid including minimum debt payments. I have maxed out my credit cards though. Ugh!

Credit card debt $15,800.

The good news is that if the house sells. That debt will be wiped out immediately. But for now, all open credit cards are maxed out. Minimum payments paid. But there is no room left. (Ok, I take that back, I have about $800 available, but it’s for the most dire of emergencies only.)

If it Doesn’t Sell

The BAD community has been very clear that selling the house is stupid. I don’t agree. I will almost immediately be out of debt (almost completely), be free of the responsibility of maintaining a home that is just way too much for me, and have a real chance to choose what is next for me. (I still have no idea what I want that to be.)

However, there is a very real possibility that the house doesn’t sell. And I am, or am trying to be mentally prepared for that possibility. I don’t think I won’t get offers. I’ve already had a few. But I do have a firm amount I’m willing to settle for.

If I can’t pay off the debt and have a “nest” egg for what ever is next. It does not make sense. And I will see that as a sign that I am supposed to stay here and figure something out. I have kept that in mind with what I’ve done to prepare to sell by not doing anything I would want to undo should I find myself living here again.

But my 3 month term with the realtor is because of this. This process has about killed me, in many ways. And I can’t stand the limbo of what’s next much longer. So I’m giving the house sell 3 months. If it doesn’t sell, I will take it off the market and resolve to build some sort of life here. Again.

This will be my last house post until something actually happens as far it sells or I decide to move back in. 

Nope, Not Sold

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I thought it was a done deal. Handshake offer. Continued messages for about a week. Plans to go to the bank to provide docs for his loan. More plans to come by and see the house. Lawyer engaged to draw up contract.

And then, a text message, “My son doesn’t want it.” He has a 16 year old son who evidently wanted to be close to “markets”.

Thankfully, I hadn’t let the handshake offer really change anything. Kept it listed. Kept doing the work I had planned to do. And followed some great BAD advice on getting betters pics, changes to the house, etc.

So with new pics and an agreement with a lovely realtor, the house listing will change from FSBO tomorrow to listed by an agent. And I will leave for Texas and not think another thing about the sale of the house…for at least a couple of weeks. (Unless she calls me with an offer, of course.)

I am so relieved.

Sticking to the Plan

This trip to Texas has been planned for several months; although, the dates have been in flux a few times. There are two primary drivers for this particular trip:

  • Jake is going to live with Gymnast. After a year and a half in Texas, Gymnast now has his own apartment and is ready for his dog. Both Princess and I are excited to pass off the responsibility to him. And I know Jake will love being with his dad again.

    Gymnast and Jake on Jake's first day home

    Gymnast and Jake – may be the day we adopted Jake. He has always been Gymnast’s dog.

  • I will be helping my dad with my mom’s care and giving him a much needed break. After two and a half years on hospice, the physical, mental, and emotional strain is definitely taking its toll on my family. We love my mom and wouldn’t make any different choice. But 24 hour care is hard. And for an extended and unknown amount of time, well, I’m sure you see the point.

For How Long

There is no timeline now. I made two separate 3 week trips last fall. My responsibilities here in Georgia especially the cost of boarding dogs limited those trips. That is no longer the case.

  • Cali’s boarding has been covered by a barter. And if it becomes too long, Princess will get her and care for her until I return. (When this trip was first planned, Princess was going to keep Cali for the entirety of the trip. This just takes some burden off her, while I take Jake off her hands. Cali is her favorite of our dogs.)
  • The house will be on the market with a realtor. There is no reason I must return except to do a final clean out once I know the house is sold. I am leaving my bed and a recliner in the house, so if I do return, I can live here for the time needed.

So until the time of either the house selling or Princess graduation in May, there is nothing that requires a specific timeframe for my return to Georgia. I honestly do not think I will stay longer than 3-4 weeks. But it is an option now. All my ducks are in a row.

All of my work is remote. So making money while travelling either car camping or staying at my parents is not a concern.

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