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They accepted my offer!
Just got news that the sellers of a farm (16 acres, with two barns, an 1880 farm house with lots of character, on a beautiful river) have accepted my offer. So soon it'll be out of a nice large modern home with all the comforts, to a house that had no bathroom when built, and needs a complete overhaul. If this all goes well, once its all done, I'll have a half million dollar property with a quarter million dollar investment. There is still that sinking feeling that I've bitten off more than I can chew.
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Nice. As far as I can tell you only live once, so go for it.
I grew up in an old farmhouse and live in one now (on 140 acres with a 60 mile view). Previous owners gutted it out and re-did it in the 1980s, and we've done upgrades since buying it in 1999. It is a lot of work to keep up and as I get older-just turned 60-I wonder about our ability to keep up with maintenance, etc. I figure we can keep going for at least another ten years.
http://www.hgtv.com/shows/fixer-upper
Awesome. I'll be asking alot of questions then if this goes through. It's a dream home for me. Being on this river has been a dream of mine for a long time. Property where I live now is selling within hours of going on the market, so its on fire and I want to get out while it is. Property 30 away (where this place is) is nicer land and hasn't caught on fire,, yet. Our hope is that our investment will help fund a nice retirement 15 years from now. I'm 47. The owner wasn't going to sell the house originally. I got to meet her and when she learned that I had studied her family history in the area she loved the idea that I would bring her family home back to its former glory and that I'm cutting an acre out for my daughter to build on as well. She agreed to sell me the entire farm for a great price. Still, its going to be a blood sweat and tears project and it'll consume me for awhile. Hopefully in the end it's a wise choice.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Liberty,+TN+37095/@36.0071768,-85.9606428,454m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8866b773bda56073:0x76af326663892398!8m2!3d36.0067276!4d-85.9677659
Yes all the time. Wish they were here!
Mike
Jim
Enjoy your new home in good health for many years to come.
At 47 you still have some years in ya to get it done
I used to buy small little cottages on lakes and turn them into homes and flip them after a while----Any carpenter will tell you---new construction is a breeze to total renos---I concur
My advice would be----don't forget to come up for air once in a while----it can consume you---I had a full time job in the day---then I'd work on the house at night--weekends---holidays---it can take its toll
Good luck---any river pics to share?
I have some riverfront acreage too. Its a lot of work.
Mine was undeveloped so I had to do all the irrigation work myself. So you're ahead of the game right now.
Enjoy. I'm very happy for you.
Not my property but this is what the river and the valley looks like. Smallmouth for days.
I was a bit concerned last week. . .
That's a pretty spot---serene
Crooow:This music would work better with women in bikinis shaking all over the place. I guess that's true of any music really.
The view behind the house where the river runs.
Now, not to rain on your your parade, but please let me give you some hard-earned advice: every project will have several unforeseen complications or will uncover hidden problems that will double or more the time and cost.
Our house began as a one up/one down log and **** cabin in the late 1700s, was expanded, again with solid log interior and exterior walls, in 1847-48 into what must have been the grandest farm house in our tiny hamlet. The previous owner bumped it out in the 1960s and we added a garage, laundry room and library/TV room about ten years ago. It's the old parts that always surprise and need constant maintenance.
More advice - don't throw away old wood or fittings as you remodel, you never know know when you'll find some rotting trim or floor boards that need to be replaced. And do not drive nails through walls or floors unless you're sure there is no old wiring there. There were no building Codes in the Goode Olde Days. (Again, I speak from experience.)
Have fun. It's worth the effort, especially with the river frontage.
And you do need hounds..
Mike
Do you know what the house is framed out of? Here in the Southeast, we've got a lot of old houses framed out of yellow pine. When that stuff gets to be near a century old, it is H-A-R-D. Can't drive a nail into it unless you drill a hole first. Makes hanging drywall in a reno job fun.
We JUST gave a beagle to the Beagle rescue. Who knew hounds were so single minded and destructive? Chewed two fly rods, the electronics in my boat, then the trailer bunks when she could no longer get into the boat. Then there was the Cane backed patio furniture, the 2' deep holes all over the yard, countless earbuds, Shoes, hats, the a coffee table which turned out to be the last straw. Never again on the hounds. I love my Lab.
Foundation guy is coming out this wknd to inspect. It's going to need all new, electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, metal roof, a new bath, kitchen remodel, cleaning and paint inside out. We are planning to live there in an RV while its under construction. I'm pretty handy and can fix just about anything. Time and money are going to be the items in short supply. I'm hoping I can get it done (with a general contractor) for $100,000.
Not sure but it looks like hardwood. The barn has 1X12X12 Walnut planks on the inside. Whatever it is it most likely came from very close by.
We are hoping to expose and paint the ship lap and not go with sheetrock in most places.
Maybe reclaim the rough cut walnut from the barn to use for the floors at some point.
Is the fireplace functional?