I had lunch with a good friend who said that when he got married, his father sat him down and said, "son, you are about to have a big wedding, that's not your deal. Just don't be late and stand where you are supposed to stand. She's also going to want a family...the number of kids and the timing...that's not your deal. Oh, and she's going to want a house...that's not your deal." I don't know what my friend's deal is, but he's been married for over 20 years and I think his father is a smart man.
In 1990, Debbie and I bought a lovely sub-Arcadia home that was built in 1953. We planned to live here for five or six years. We didn't have any kids and I was making $15,000 as a State Representative. Well, time flies, we have three kids a dog and a minivan and we've lived here for 16 years.
Fortunately, in the early years, Home Depot took direct deposit, so I could just have my check deposited there. Then we finally broke down and spent a small fortune to put a master bedroom and bath on the back. I love the house and would be happy to live out my days here.
So Debbie comes to me one day and says...you need to sell our house in espresso pundit. Naturally, I was hesitant. For one thing, I'm just getting unpacked. But she knew that wasn't the real reason. "Why don't you want to put the house on the website?" she asked. I said "Because the Governor's people will know where I live. After all, "you step out of line, the men come and take you away." She said "Dude, you have got to get some new music."
I was going to keep arguing about it. But...it's not my deal.
So here it goes: For Sale, Lovely Arcadia Home. 2073 sq feet, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, wood floors, 18 inch ceramic tile, lush landscaping. It's at 54st near Osborn which is about 15 minutes from the Capitol.
The price is negotiable for the next couple weeks, then we are going to list it. We are thinking $480,000. The house down the street sold for $490,000. It's about the same size and quality, but it has a new kitchen.
The dog's not included, but I'd be happy to throw in the minivan.
I hope you enjoy your new 3 hour commute from wherever you find you can afford to buy now...I don't mind the sprawl of the new home construction; I mind the sprawl of the people who used to live near me, but decided to move to Outer Mongolian Arizona.
Posted by: Travis | December 28, 2006 at 10:44 AM
Uh, Greg...what's happening to Espresso?
First you mentioned possibly starting job postings and now real estate listings. Are we morphing into eBay?
I've got some junk in my garage I'd like to get rid of.
Posted by: Teddio | December 28, 2006 at 11:59 AM
Capitalism isn't always pretty, Teddio. If Greg starts selling grilled cheese sandwiches with vague images of Dick Cheney on them, or, God-forbid, his toenail clippings, then let's worry.
Posted by: Travis | December 28, 2006 at 01:14 PM
Travis, I don't think Greg will have to move 3 hours away to afford a home, as I'm sure he'll be making a hefty profit off of his 1990 purchase price...
Posted by: john upshur | December 28, 2006 at 05:48 PM
I used to work at a brokerage firm not far from the Arcadia area, and thought it'd be great to live there, but I couldn't convince myself to pay the going prices and still not have a garage.
Same money got me a much larger, and nicer home than what I was looking at in Arcadia, and I'm still not in the boonies.
Nice area though, trendy without being too pretensious.
Posted by: Ray G | December 30, 2006 at 12:54 PM
How I wish I could afford the gayborhood! Perfect location for where we work. Good luck.
Posted by: JaneAZ | January 01, 2007 at 03:59 PM