Waski_the_Squirrel
Resident of the least visited state in the nation.
I haven't mentioned this before, but I've been told that I need to be out of my rental place by spring. The landlord is tearing the place down. The trouble is that my small town is really short on housing. Right now, oil activity is really taking off in the area. Other towns have no housing at all, and that is working down our way. In Williston, ND, rents are jumping to ridiculous levels that are driving people away. Teachers and other non-oil workers can't afford to live in places like that.
So, I've been pretty scared about it, and probably not thinking clearly. My plans for house buying included one more year of saving money and it just won't happen. But, maybe it's for the bet. I'm being forced into buying and the housing situation will be far worse next year.
So, last night i looked at a house. It's a 1-bedroom house, but on a nice lot. Outside, it doesn't look like anything, but inside, it's a really nice house. Really surprisingly nice, actually! The owner isn't done with the renovations, but I think that will work in my favor when I negotiate a price. I cleaned out an investment that I'd forgotten I had in the midst of the panic, so I should have a down-payment a bit better than a year in advance. The location is perfect for me: close to school and actually on the same street as some friends. There is also a decent basement that I could fix up to make an unofficial guest bedroom for Ma and Pa Squirrel and other guests. I think I would actually use a greater percentage of this home than I do my current, larger one.
It bothers me to have unused rooms. If I buy this house, I won't have those! It will be more squirrel-sized, and I'll be safe no matter what happens with oil. Of course, I'll also be locked into this town, but maybe that's just as well.
So, I've been pretty scared about it, and probably not thinking clearly. My plans for house buying included one more year of saving money and it just won't happen. But, maybe it's for the bet. I'm being forced into buying and the housing situation will be far worse next year.
So, last night i looked at a house. It's a 1-bedroom house, but on a nice lot. Outside, it doesn't look like anything, but inside, it's a really nice house. Really surprisingly nice, actually! The owner isn't done with the renovations, but I think that will work in my favor when I negotiate a price. I cleaned out an investment that I'd forgotten I had in the midst of the panic, so I should have a down-payment a bit better than a year in advance. The location is perfect for me: close to school and actually on the same street as some friends. There is also a decent basement that I could fix up to make an unofficial guest bedroom for Ma and Pa Squirrel and other guests. I think I would actually use a greater percentage of this home than I do my current, larger one.
It bothers me to have unused rooms. If I buy this house, I won't have those! It will be more squirrel-sized, and I'll be safe no matter what happens with oil. Of course, I'll also be locked into this town, but maybe that's just as well.
