So we moved to Washington, MO in April 2006 and found ourselves toasting the acquisition of our home site less than two months later. I had planned on a leisurely scan of available properties over the ensuing few years. Ellen sought an immediate buy. We compromised by spending a few weekends touring lots in rural Missouri, but we either found very expensive bare ground or very expensive dense woods. It wasn't just the cost of the land. We'd also have had to cut a road, pay for an electricity run, dig a well and install septic. The closest we came to actually buying something was a 3 acre, largely wooded lot outside a small bump in the road called Campbellton. It had an old barn on it whose most notable feature was dry rot. I recall the realtor touting what a great feature it was to have on the site and asked me if I was going to keep it or knock it down. A good kick could have accomplished the latter, so I looked at him and with appropriate gravity said I would likely tear it down. We decided not to buy because Ellen found a new listing that offered city water, electricity and a road. What's more there was a circular drive, a feature that had always appealed to both of us.
We looked at the 5 acre parcel on Friday, loved it (me for the city water, the road, electricity and its proximity to wireless broadband) and arranged to meet the realtor the next day. We had an accepted offer on Sunday, the day this photo was shot. In less than two months we had our home site. My expectation had been more like two years.
When the legal docs were presented, we learned it was actually a 6 acre lot. The seller had under represented the property, so that worked out well for us. Most of it is wooded, but there is a clearing where a house once stood. That house had burned to the ground, so we don't have to contend with demolition. Ellen suggested we have a big bonfire and invite friends to celebrate, but I pointed out that might be tasteless to celebrate our arrival by lighting a big fire, since it was a big fire that caused the previous owner to leave. We settled on a quiet toast and a prayer of thanks.
We looked at the 5 acre parcel on Friday, loved it (me for the city water, the road, electricity and its proximity to wireless broadband) and arranged to meet the realtor the next day. We had an accepted offer on Sunday, the day this photo was shot. In less than two months we had our home site. My expectation had been more like two years.
When the legal docs were presented, we learned it was actually a 6 acre lot. The seller had under represented the property, so that worked out well for us. Most of it is wooded, but there is a clearing where a house once stood. That house had burned to the ground, so we don't have to contend with demolition. Ellen suggested we have a big bonfire and invite friends to celebrate, but I pointed out that might be tasteless to celebrate our arrival by lighting a big fire, since it was a big fire that caused the previous owner to leave. We settled on a quiet toast and a prayer of thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment