Well, we're homeless now....

[Meghan54]

We closed the sale of our Cape Cod property yesterday. We're now officially homeless and the clock is ticking to find a new abode....59 and counting. (We have 60 days to vacate the premises or face a $500/day charge thereafter...but the 60 days' stay is gratis.)

So, we've been going blind looking at houses on Realtor, Zillow, HomePath, Tulia, MLS, and other sites. We've looked at what some friends down in GA and SC have found for us, we've looked at what agents have referred to us....and nothing seems quite right.

We're so punch drunk from house looking that my wife sent these to me as a joke (I do like "unusual" or goofy looking houses sometimes):

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2377-Keowee-Rd-Honea-Path-SC-29654/2122097452_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12-Russell-Ln-Crawford-GA-30630/105354110_zpid/



But the worst thing is, they both look at least decent and worth consideration to me. The first is very private, needs updating throughout, but at the price listed, not an issue. The issue is it being 15 minutes at least from anything/anywhere.

The second is larger, located 10 min. or so from Athens, but is very close to a major highway, and is odder inside than the first.


C'est la vie........keep on looking. Gonna hate living out of a Murano with the wife, four dogs and three cats.

 

[Jumpem]

Fifteen minutes away from things is still close in my opinion. My last house was half an hour from a restaurant or a few stores. The only thing close was a gas station.

 

[KK]

We're not too far from the second one, on the other side of Athens. Mostly farms over that way.

 

[Zstream]

Are you retired? Can you WFH most days etc...

When I get close to retirement I plan on living in the middle of nowhere, around no cities or traffic.

 

[kranky]

Why not rent a place in the area where you want to buy, until you find the right home? Would take a lot of pressure off.

 

[Meghan54]

Are you retired? Can you WFH most days etc...

When I get close to retirement I plan on living in the middle of nowhere, around no cities or traffic.

Pretty much. We both ~60 and "retired" in late 2011 to move up to Cape Cod to care for my wife's ill father. Been here 18 months....

As for middle of nowhere, sure, right now. But in 15 years, hitting mid-to-late 70s, middle of nowhere becomes a chore at best. And I really do hate moving.

Why not rent a place in the area where you want to buy, until you find the right home? Would take a lot of pressure off.

Well, really hard to find rentals that'll allow 4 dogs, 3 cats. Wife's going down there on Tuesday, will look around w/a couple of agents for a week, then buy. 2 weeks go schedule/have done title search, home inspection, septic inspect., etc. Then, close the next week. That's the plan, anyway. Shouldn't be too hard to keep.....we're doing this as a cash purchase, so that'll speed things up.

 

[lxskllr]

You're not homeless, everywhere is home now ;^)

Get an RV, and live in state parks.

 

[rh71]

even with 60 days you would be hard pressed to close on a new place in time after you find one you like. It takes weeks after that, usually for dates to be agreed upon and paperwork and assessments, etc. And that's assuming the bidding back and forth process doesn't take over a week itself.

Also it doesn't sound like you have a few towns or districts narrowed down, which makes it even more of a crapshoot.

 

[herrjimbo]

why didn't you look for another place before your house was sold?

 

[Ketchup]

What area are you looking for? I have some friends in realty for in and around the Greenville area. Just PM me if you would like more info.

 

[Phoenix86]

IIRC he has cash in hand from the sale so he can easily do: short term apartment, weekly stay suite until they close.

Just don't make a major decision because time is a factor, at 60 days you will be hard pressed to close in time so don't rush.

 

[OlafSicky]

The worst situation to be is to "rush" looking for a house. If I were you I would rent something out and keep looking at a normal pace 60 days is not enough.
The houses you posted look interesting I like the first one but they are more like cottages than houses. They also appear like they need $$$ to fix up.

 

[Demo24]

We're not too far from the second one, on the other side of Athens. Mostly farms over that way.

This, there is jack all in Crawford. I know exactly where that house is, doubt it would be wonderful for pets. Not exactly much of anywhere to walk around either since the drive is so short, and you'd be a fool to walk on Lexington Hwy. Also to even get to a decent Grocery store you'd need to trek into Athens and into the East side center (Kroger, publix, various restaurants), which from that house is easily 20 minutes. There's really nothing in Lexington to bother going over that way for either (I drive this route from Athens to Lexington fairly regularly for work).


I'd recommend getting closer to Athens. The westside can be cheaper than the East, but the East can be a bit more convenient. Winterville is pretty convenient, and pretty safe. Going north can be advantageous as well, but you'd want to get more towards Madison county(lots of foreclosures in Madison county btw) there as the neighborhoods on that side of town tend to be less than desirable.

 

[Jumpem]

What area are you looking for? I have some friends in realty for in and around the Greenville area. Just PM me if you would like more info.

Greenville, SC is a very nice area. North of there in the hills towards Travelers Rest is great. My aunt and uncle live threre.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Best site on the web for house hunting (we are in the same shoes as you) is Redfin.com - pulled straight from MLS and unlike the other sites like Realtor, Zillow, etc - it's all real time. I got frustrated beyond all get out from sending houses we liked and finding out they're all under contract.

 

[Meghan54]

Well, we've got a few requirements that we need to satisfy, and I don't think going into a tight neighborhood is the answer for us at present.

We want at least a acre of land, if not more. With the dogs, cats, and what we're going to do, we need the space. And the space is needed for our boat, two covered utility trailers (a 7x14 and 5x8), and a garage that'll be added to the property.

We love auctions and would go to one at the drop of a hat....near every day if good ones are there. We buy then sell via various outlets, but doing this takes space. So, the need for the acreage. The house we pick will have a 6' privacy fence put up almost immediately.....so no walking the dog problem or having to have enighbors look at our trailer(s) leaving/arriving/unloading/loading.

And we want to avoid in the city limits, wherever we end up. Lower taxes by being just outside the city limits.

Greenville, SC wouldn't be bad. The area we're centering on is the Anderson, SC/Hartwell, GA area. Want to stay within an hour of Anderson.

And if we have to temp. live, so be it. But paying cash, empty and ready to take possession of house, closing in 30-40 days is completely do-able. We did our property in under 45 and it only took that long due to the buyer delaying closing for 2 weeks.

 

[Meghan54]

Best site on the web for house hunting (we are in the same shoes as you) is Redfin.com - pulled straight from MLS and unlike the other sites like Realtor, Zillow, etc - it's all real time. I got frustrated beyond all get out from sending houses we liked and finding out they're all under contract.

Too bad Redfin doesn't cover the area we're looking around....seems to be concentrated only in/around big cities.

 

[Baked]

If 15 min from everything is far from you, you've been very very spoiled. I live 3 miles from my job and it takes me 10 min to drive to work and I think that's very close. Do you live across the street from a shopping mall?

 

[dud]

OP, I'm currently stuck in Florida trying to move north to Tennessee or Kentucky. There's some beautiful land (and bargains) up there.

Give the area a chance ...

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I like the second barn

Its cool

 

[Ketchup]

Greenville, SC wouldn't be bad. The area we're centering on is the Anderson, SC/Hartwell, GA area. Want to stay within an hour of Anderson.

We actually live in Piedmont. It's about 20 minutes from Greenville, Anderson, and Easley. We have been pretty happy with it, but it is a longer drive to work than I would like. They are almost finished with a new Walmart about five minutes from the house. That will be convenient.

I would think finding a month-to-month rent on a house would be the way to go. No use rushing such a decision, and it seems it would be quite difficult from such a distance.

 

[brianmanahan]

you could go live in fuzzybabybunny's car

maybe he would rent out the front seats

 

[Fritzo]

good deal on this:

 

[shortylickens]

Fifteen minutes away from things is still close in my opinion. My last house was half an hour from a restaurant or a few stores. The only thing close was a gas station.

Thats actually how I prefer to live.

I'd love a nice place in the country, away from neighbors. I could finally set up my mini theater and not worry about sound reaching any one.

 

[Gintaras]

Move to Lewittown:

"We gonna make it in Lewittown..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YFY232SVS4&feature=share&list=PLA0C1237C7515A868