Turning the page ... IT IS DONE!

[mitch5252]

What a nice joint! You go, girl!

[cpatinjones]

Cheers to you! I think it is wonderful and exciting times await you.

[sharon]

Good for you, I'm proud of you Janice! I remember when you were painting and re-decorating your house trying to make it "yours". Sometimes you just can't paint over memories. Now you can make new memories in a new environment.

[Getupngo]

Barb, I chose St. George for two reasons ... I wanted a warm retreat, love the red-rock desert, AND this resort town had an extremely overheated real estate market that has tanked, big time. I bought the condo for $30K less than the county's assessment -- which is always low anyway -- and $84K less than the seller paid for it in '05. It's in a lovely development right next to high-falutin' gated communities on one of the state's best golf courses. Location, location, blah blah blah. AND my son & his family can use it as well.

From a practical standpoint, I have some insurance money from my husband's death invested in the market , and I took a beating in the Wall Street collapse. Soooo, I thought to myself, if I found a NICE fire-sale property in a much-desired complex, that might give me a better return over the next 4-5 years than the volatile stock market.

All I need to do is wait out the stream of foreclosures trickling onto the market. I figure that will take 18 months to 2 years more. There is a feeding frenzy right now for St. George "deals," which is why, when I saw a brand-new listing on Monday, I made an offer on Tuesday. If I had harrumphed around, it would have been gone.

[Getupngo]

(NOTE: I posted the above after carrying the nearly finished response around with me for a day!)

Well, the deal is done!

I went to see the property today in St. George, and it is 10 times better than it looks in the pictures. It has wood shutters, a new bamboo floor in the living room, new tile in the kitchen & downstairs bath, & it is clean and neat as a pin. AND ... the furniture that looks sooo crowded in the living room in the photos is actually cozy and comfy in person. Even the "moose bed" is charming -- and has a matching chest of drawers to boot. It is a beautiful unit with a really lovely kitchen that has a PANTRY.

Died and gone to heaven.

AND ... the area is very upscale. The surrounding condo complexes are newer and much more expensive, and my condo is in a part of the St. George area that is surrounded by bright red rock. It is STUNNING. I am still pinching myself. I think I got the buy of the year. My SIL who lives here went with me. So I had someone to do the "snoopy dance" with.

[BarbaraRose]

Sounds like you got a great deal in a nice area! I looked the town up on-line and saw some photos. Very pretty with the red colored rocks!

[SeeyaGal]

I love the St George area!! Sounds like a wonderful new adventure for you Janice....Awesome!!

[Nasoosie]

What wonderful news, Janice!!! I LOVE the looks of that place, and you are so excited about it, it's bound to be the deal of the century! I wish I lived closer so I could Snoopy dance with you, too!

Somtimes things REALLY work out, don't they?? CONGRATULATIONS!!

[Bethers]

Janice, better than the pictures? You done good gal. You could almost convince me I need a home again LOL -- Seriously - great area and you're right, things will eventually come around - although maybe not to the overpriced market it was. Do I understand that the furnishings come with it also?

Will you be able to park your mh on the property? (yep, I'm nosy!)

I'm so happy for you - doing the happy dance here.

[AlmostThere]

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!

[Getupngo]

Dear Ms. Nosey:

No, I won't be able to park the MH on the property.

But that's okay. I really do want to have a home base of some kind. If I get ill, or the MH is wrecked, or I just want to stay put ... I like walls. I want someplace paid for. But I don't want lawn care or upkeep.

So I'm talking to ANOTHER realtor right now about selling my house this summer. I've been waffling between selling right away or waiting until spring. She made an argument that made sense to me ... interest rates are low right now. Who knows what would happen in the next 9 months. So ... I'll have to give myself permission to just chill out about getting the house ready to sell. Life is too short.

I'm also going to change my deal up here at the state park. I'm going to tell them that for at least a month I want to be one of those hosts who simply work on the weekends. I'll need the weekdays to get the house ready to sell (read: GET RID OF STUFF!).

Life is good.

[rvgrammy1953]

Oh, Janice, I'm so happy for you and the Condo looks wonderful!!! A place that is truly your own....

[Getupngo]

Yes, Lori. No ghosts of husbands passed. I've been struggling to make "his" house (I moved into his house when we got married) "my" house ... and it has never worked. So I need a fresh start on a new life.

[JanetA]

very wise woman!

[Pooker]

Janice - Congratulations on turning that corner! Sometimes we think we'll never get there. And I know exactly what you mean about leaving the house. What a great celebration for all of us to enjoy with you! Your very own, all yours home. It sure sounds like it's all falling into place for you. That's terrific! Keep posting pictures and enjoy choosing which furnishings to keep. It's like shopping in a store with no bill to pay!

Pooker