Other Thoughts | BulgingButtons

February 21, 2014
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

Want to Buy My House?

This could be your next home.

We are live at last. The listing for my house, that is. All the little jobs have been done, all the clutter has been conquered, and all the cleaning has been finished. The paperwork has been completed, the photos taken, and the listing posted.

Late last night my ever patient realtor sent me the draft of the listing for my final approval, and this morning it is official. My home is available for sale.

I have mixed feelings about this. I want to move on and buy a house with my sweetheart that will truly be a home for us and my son (and the dog, of course). I want to have a little more space. I want to be a little closer to work (I think). All of these are good reasons to sell now, especially since the market conditions have improved since I bought. But there is a flip side.

I will miss this house. This house represented a victory for me. It proved that I would be all right even post divorce. It showed me that I could manage on my own, and have a safe and comfortable place for myself and my son (and the dog, of course). It was mine, all mine, to do with as I pleased. I made some quality improvements, and I made it a warm, comfortable home. I am proud of that fact.

Still, there is a time and place for everything, and now is the time to move to the next place. If you know someone looking for a great 4 bedroom, 2 bath home with a pool and easy freeway access, please send them my way.

February 17, 2014
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

Too Many Choices

Close to work and in a pretty neighborhood, but it needs updating. Still, the price is right.

The day after tomorrow my listing goes live. The listing for my house, that is. It will officially be “for sale” and the search for a new home will continue as we cross our fingers that this one goes quickly and for a fair price.

Now I have to decide where I want to live. Of course I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but I really need to give it some thought in order to narrow down my search. Everyone knows that the first rule of real estate is, “location, location, location,” but the question is, which location?

I’m at a point where I can automatically rule out any homes that back to busy streets or have horrible views. I can cross off the list any neighborhoods that seem run down or unsafe. I also want to limit my commute to a particular distance. All that being said, I still have some decisions to make.

A longer drive but about the same square footage. Of course it’s all up to date and doesn’t need a thing. But the price… ouch.

Do I go for the homes in the neighborhood near me now which is a little higher priced, but all the homes are new and the neighborhood is pristine, or do I go for the lower priced homes closer to work that will need some cosmetic fixes that can be done over time? The savings in cost and time commuting are important to me, but so is the comfort of a home that doesn’t need any work. Of course the homes in great condition require a higher mortgage payment each month, so I would be home more.

Either way, I’m looking for a spacious home in a safe, pretty neighborhood, that won’t break the bank. Is that too much to ask? I didn’t think so.

February 16, 2014
by BulgingButtons 5 Comments

Olympic Dedication

I’ve really been enjoying the Sochi Winter Games. As I’ve been doing all sorts of home improvement projects, I’ve caught several different events. Some of these I didn’t even know existed, and others I had heard of, but knew nothing about. It’s been entertaining and educational.

Watching these Olympics has also made me wonder how it is that Olympians get started. How does someone wake up one day and decide that they’re going to train to be an Olympic skeleton racer, or an Olympic ice dancer? People don’t have ski jumps in their backyards, do they? They don’t have luge courses or mogul hills down the street, right? So somewhere along the way these athletes were introduced to these sports and they began training. I understand figure skating and hockey, snowboarding and downhill skiing, but some of those other sports really puzzle me. How exactly do you begin your short track racing career, or your training in the sport of curling? You just pack a bag and head off to bobsled camp? Enroll in slope style academy? I just don’t know.

In all of the sports, it is clear that the athletes are dedicated and most of them, in my opinion, are fearless. They take incredible risks in order to perform at their peak. Many of them risk life and limb, literally, in order to beat the clock and the competition. They have a fire and dedication that I can’t help but admire, even if I don’t understand it.

I love that every two years we check in on the athletes of the world, and every four years we revisit our favorite events and learn about new ones. I also love that the athletes show us that hard work and dedication do pay off. That’s a message that we can’t hear often enough.