A quick update from yours portly today, as I’ve been hustling to get my house ready to list. Last week, my pastor (who just started a carpet cleaning business) did a deep clean of the house, which, of course, meant I had to deep clean before he arrived so he could get to the really bad stuff. My mind boggles at how much junk I have accumulated in just seven years.
This morning my realtor came by with a photographer to get pictures of the house, so that required more organization, especially involving the artful concealment of things no one wants to see in pictures of a home—trashcans, the stuff you keep on the back of the toilet, etc. I was really pleased when my realtor told me that I’d done a great job getting things together.
Now I’m just waiting for the disclosure paperwork, and soon my little home will be on the market officially. Selling that will be a huge boon for Dr. Wife and me. We currently own three homes between us, which sounds like some kind of decadent dream, but it’s really a huge time- and money-sink. My house, fortunately, is paid off, thanks in part to the best bank of all, The First Bank of Mom and Dad. The value has more than doubled (of course, the value of the dollar has probably halved) since I bought it, so I should walk away with a good profit, which will help to pay for the hefty mortgage on the new house.
Shew! But I digress. Please be praying that my house sells quickly—and Dr. Wife’s! She’s had hers on the market since right before the wedding back in November, and while she’s had some showings, she hasn’t had any offers yet. We need that albatross dropped onto some hapless chump happy new homeowner ASAP!
More to come. Happy Wednesday!
—TPP
The Portly Politico 
As much as you’re looking forward to life in the New place with Dr Wife, I imagine you’ll both miss your old places. The familiarity, crikey, you might even have got on with your neighbours! 😂
We’ve never owned our own home – serial renters – but being private people, we’re never too fussed when we move apart from the upheaval.
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I’m beginning to feel some of that sentimentality about my house, but I know the new place will feel like home soon—especially once Dr. Wife and I are living there together. As for her, she is beyond ready to be out of her house. We have her big move this weekend with the professional moving company, which has been more work and headache (and expense) than I would have guessed.
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My daughter, divorced, pays the best part of a grand rent for a two up two down near Manchester. She’s about your age. I’ve got 30 years on you both and can’t imagine the insecurity. It was a struggle early on but we could see an end to it. What I never considered was now, retired, I couldn’t afford to buy my own house even if I had the 25 years left. A rum do.
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It’s rough. I suspect y’all’s housing market is worse over there than here, simply because we have so much space for housing developments. But paying the mortgage on the new house is painful. I was able to just qualify thanks to years and years of saving and investing (and because I have a paid-off house).
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My brother and his other half, who live in Stalyvegas, bring in a decent income but can’t get a mortgage due to credit ratings. 20 years ago, they’d have had no problem but now…
The housing market in England is a nightmare but, of course, you know that. 😉
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It’s a shame. It’s not great here, either, but I’m the rumor is that the Fed will lower interest rates, which should encourage home purchasing. We shall see! Dr. Wife has had nibbles at her property, with one or two buyers expressing interest, but no offers as yet. Of course, she listed just before the holidays and it’s been unseasonably cold, so that’s slowed down showings. I’m hoping that I’ll get mine sold relatively quickly (and hers, too).
I imagine home prices are absolutely nuts in England. They’re pretty outrageous here. It helped us that we bought a house in a very small rural community (but bigger than Lamar); we were able to get a good house in great condition very affordably.
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I doubt the US would have an issue with overpopulation. England on the other hand…
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We moved into this one 35 years ago. Had to sell the car to pay for the woodworm treatment etc. Now it would be a lottery win to make us move and would need a sentimentality bypass to sell it. A shrine to early impoverished endeavour becoming sleepy complacency. Of our Forth Bridge in Scotland it was said ‘by the time it takes to finish painting it, it’s time to start again at the beginning.’ Likewise here and it’s only a small place.
Apropos two countries divided by the same language, your post would be received differently here depending on where published. 3 homes? You’re so middle class darling! Safe on FSB. Tom just published my ‘Preconceptions’ and will be doing ‘£2.8 trillion’ tomorrow. Trump gets a mention. Will send on if you think they’ll survive the journey.
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Haha, we do not want the three homes. Two of them will be sold off soon (God Willing), and pre-date our marriage. We are ready to unload them! We might have three houses, but affording them is a different matter (and—again, God Willing!—only temporary).
Please feel free to send them over! I shot you an e-mail earlier; I hope to run the first chapter of TMFHA next Wednesday.
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Hip hip hooray for The First Bank of Mom and Dad! If only all young people had access.
Saying prayers both homes sell ASAP!
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It reminds me of that link I sent you the other day. My parents really have been huge supporters. Getting an interest-free loan from them to buy this house was YUGE.
When I bought the house, I was going to get a mortgage. At the time, I had enough to do 20% down if I cracked into some retirement accounts. My dad pulled me aside and told me he and my mom were really proud of my hard work, and were going to lend me the money (they also straight-up gifted a good portion of it, too).
Praise the Lord for their generosity! It has been a major blessing. It’s probably also made it possible to live and be a homeowner on a private school teacher’s salary.
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Not this month, but during the hot months your home probably gives off that Key West vibe. Well done!
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Maybe stage the front porch with your little school band playing Jimmy Buffet songs? Just an idea. Ha!
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We do stage recitals and concerts from the first porch! I think some Jimmy Buffett songs would be great!
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It definitely has those vibes when the banana trees are blooming! Right now they’re brown and withered—ha!
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