I hadn't expected to receive anything when the old man passed. Uncle Grant. I always liked the guy. Sure he was a bit eccentric. A heavy cigar smoker in a dark black suit and a silly looking fedora. Never without a glass of rotgut, he complained constantly about punk kids and the damage they're doing to society.
To each his own. I thought the guy was a riot.
"He must have liked me too" I thought as I eyed the dark yellow envelope. $127, 000. One day you're down, the next you're up. Then you're down again but I didn't want to think about that.
I worked in a cubicle. If you asked me what I did for a living I think cubicle guy would be the right answer. I do what they ask me. I get paid peanuts.
Source: Pixabay.com
The housing market has really been taking off. If you own a house, that's a good thing. If you're looking to buy one.... not so much. I wanted something to call my own. When it comes to real estate, $127,000 isn't as much as it sounds like. I spent all of my spare time looking at this place or that place, speaking to real estate agents, and comparing houses to manufactured houses to condominiums, etc....
I wanted a house.
If you ask almost anyone about real estate they are going to tell you the most important thing is location. Location, location, location. After perusing several listings, and visiting several properties in person I can tell you that location is definitely important, however I came to the conclusion that a house in a poorer neighborhood isn't necessarily so bad as long as your neighbors are watchful and caring. You don't want to move into a drug den after all.
My plan was all set. Buy a cheap house in a poor neighborhood that isn't too far away from work, build a nice wooden fence, buy a couple of guard dogs..... maybe even rent a room to someone I know for some extra security. Gun? Not my style.
Plans have a tendency to change.
She was selling for $100,000 even. No neighborhood and no neighbors. A medium sized white village style house located behind a variety of abandoned factories. A new fence had already been put up to attract potential buyers, and there was even a run down pool in the backyard that just needed a little fixing up.
At almost 2,000 square feet I couldn't understand the price. Sure, this wasn't a good neighborhood by the map, but it wasn't a bad area either.... it was just empty. Nobody came down here because there was no reason to.
The only downside was that she was about 80 minutes drive from work. It wasn't really a bad thing though. So I'd have a long commute, I'd subscribe to Spotify or some other music streaming service. I'd have to buy all of my groceries while I was in a more populated area too, but that was no problem either.
The real estate agent was picture perfect. Blonde cropped hair, little white blazer with matching skirt.... she was straight from the front page of Realtor Magazine. She had homemade cookies and a cooler of Miller High Life all set up neatly in the dining room.
An odd combination, you might say.....but it was right up my alley. We chatted for nearly an hour, and she told me more than she probably should have. This place would get bought and sold, and then bought and sold again. Interest waned in time, and the value fell despite the rising market.
"It definitely doesn't seem like the kind of area that's going to appreciate in value." I told her sternly. She nodded knowingly, expecting me to pass on the deal.
She was wrong. I probably should have done some negotiating, maybe gotten my own real estate agent, but I figured what the hell. I was in love with the place.
I signed the deal, walked into the front yard, and stood staring at the blue and white front siding with my arms crossed in a rather thoughtful manner. I was beaming.
I had told Jason that I was going to do it, and I actually did. I bought my own house. She needed a little TLC but I still had a bit of money left. This was gonna be freaking awesome.
I cancelled my lease, rented a truck, and had all my stuff moved in by the end of the month.
Cracking a cold one, I leaned back on the new black sofa I'd bought brand new for only $250.
"Here's to new beginnings."
Part 2 coming soon.
