The State of Estates

Tonight we looked at three houses. Bam. Bam. Bam. One has potential but its out of our price range and its so old I doubt we would get lending on it. It's an estate though and so that's why it's overpriced.

Let me bore you with the first two houses. The first one I have always loved since I met James. It has a garden right out front and has always looked appealing. Well, it's not. It has a tiny kitchen. It has a narrow living room. It has a narrow bedroom with an awesome view. It has a master bedroom with an awesome view. Let me re phrase that. It has one awesome view and another view of your neighbors uninteresting yard. The ceilings up there are all slanted and the probability of hitting your head is high. Downstairs has no view. Unless you count looking at the backs of people's sheds and houses a view. The story on that house (surprise, typical Whidbey Story) the guy split with the mother of his children. He had to buy her out. He had to pay her what her half was worth in the height of the housing market. Wah. Wah. He remarried. Had another child. She wants out of the house he shared with his ex. The house is not for us but worth the asking price.

The second house was just too small. It was very narrow. Had a super nice kitchen but a very small living room. The rooms all had decks on them. It was cute but too small. It was also on 5 acres and had an awesome write up of all the cool animals they have seen there.

Now the third one we liked. It has a view supposedly. I know, supposedly? Yes. We saw the house in the pitch dark. It was built in 1958 and has never been sold. It has a huge living room, huge awesome kitchen, decent rooms BUT it has never been updated. Our agent told us that the appliances and decor were so old that they were cool again. She was right. I am going back Thursday to see the view, James has to wait until Saturday.

My concern with this place is getting the loan. It needs work in the bathroom. A tile fix I think. James thinks he may have seen a slight flaw in the roof. It has a barn that has no value which our agent said we would have to tear down or burn. James also thinks it may have very bad things like lead paint or asbestos. Plus, on the way there we discussed re selling it. People will read 1958 and nix it right there, even if we modernized it.

The original owners have died. The house belongs to their heirs. They want $315,00. It's estimate online is $270,000. What a bunch of money hungry snobs. Have they seen the house? It hasn't been updated since their parents bought it. It survived 70's shag carpeting. It survived 80's tackiness. It survived 90's modernity. It survived New Century updates. It has the original stove people. The view must be something crazy. It is on a couple acres. We know you have a view of the beach we were married on so it has us there. So Saturday when we have our agent in the day light we can get a better feel. Excited here but I know to be ultra skeptical!