An Unexpected Outcome

 
Before I ate a burger, fries and beer lunch at Meritage and then read Elmore Leonard's Picket Line with a glass of Pinot Gris at Callaway Winery, I spent three hours driving through neighborhoods that on paper looked like possible future residences. All but one met my expectations.

Condos I'm interested in are priced between $250,000 to $320,000. Many of them have already been renovated. I also noticed they've lingered on the market for while. Are the owners upside down on the mortgage? Unwilling to reduce their asking prices further? It makes me wonder what's up.

One Del Webb senior community freaked me out in a good way. It reminded me of 2020 when people were hunkered down in their homes. The neighborhood is so quiet you could probably hear your next door neighbor rip one after dinner. Two bedroom homes are $300,000 to $350,000 but many of them need renovations to enter the twenty first century. 

I didn't sleep well before I ate the hotel's free breakfast. I knew upon my return home I'd wage wars on two fronts. The first one would be my sister. When are we selling Le Crash Pad? What's my cut? How soon do I need to move?

The second war is the only mortgage company that contacted me regarding financing. Would they try to screw me based on they had no competition? Would they string me along only to tell me no dice in the end? 

It turned out I can be a peacemaker after all.

Not long after I placed the 2024 Special Selection Pinot Gris and the 2021 Winemaker's Reserve Syrah in my wine fridge, I had clarity. 

My sister and I came to an agreement I can live with. At some point in the near future Le Crash Pad will go up for sale. I'll buy and if necessary renovate a reasonably priced senior community condo or small home. Once I get the proceeds from the sale, it's possible they'll cover the costs for the new place.

In plain English, I'll moving from ADU Hell but not yet.