“…The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part…”~Tom Petty~
~*~*~*~
We found our dream home, and made an offer.
~*~
The seller said yes,
The bank said yes.
We’ve been approved for our loan…
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Our current home has become so devalued in this economy that our funding was not enough to pay for the Appalachian Farmlet.
~*~*~*~
I have no words.
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Life on the Farmlet 
Oh, my gosh. I’m truly an idiot here, having never purchased a home – I’m not sure how all this works. Whatever the fine details, it’s clearly not good. I think you should send Polly, your Proxy, down to give someone the Evil Eye and get this worked out. Would that work? Probably not…
Is it all kaput, or can you back up and try a different path toward your goal?
Firstly, Polly has never given anyone the evil eye…
If you look into the lower left corner at her bill you will see that she is smiling! ;D However, I could send Georgie Tire Biter over to intimidate them. 😉 LOL!
Our plan was to mortgage this house, because we own it outright, and use the money to buy the other Farmlet. Then, based on the market we would either sell or rent it for awhile. We just didn’t know that it’s value had taken such a hit! Ah-well…
Oh no! Is there nothing you can do to improve the value of the current farmlet?
Annie, the short answer, “Nope.”
The long answer…
Over the five years we have lived here we have done the following:
1. Put up the 24X40 pole barn complete with electricity, lighting and a receptacle to allow us to plug in our generator from there to power the house in case of a power outage (like the week we went without power after the tornado storm)
2. Speaking of tornado storms… we put in a tornado shelter!
3. Replaced the bad and leaking plumbing under the house.
4. Replace the bad and leaking water main to the house.
5. Replaced the moldy, insufficient, and 25 year old HVAC system!
6. Patched, painted and otherwise repaired every wall in the house.
7. Replaced the leaking water heater.
8. Installed fencing around the perimeter of the property.
9. Installed a new submersible pump for the well.
10. Installed a new shower in the master bedroom.
11. Improved the landscaping, and planted an orchard with apples, peaches, plums, figs, blueberries, blackberries and grapes.
We knew there was no way we would recoup the investment in repairs and improvements to this place. We never imagined that with all our hard work the original purchase price would be so devalued!
😐
That is deeply disappointing. I know how you feel though as we’ve poured all our money into our place and we’d be very unlikely to see the true value should we decide to sell. The economy has done for us all short term but who knows how long the short term will be.
We never expected to get it all back. We will ride it out, then when the time is right, we will make new plans. 🙂
And fate will have something else waiting for you.
🙂
you will surely find a creative way to see this through. don’t let your emotions spiral you into the ground… fight it, amiga.. get the mind clicking… there has to be a solution… the main thing is to switch gears and don’t focus on the negative part – it will eat you — there have to be options…
z
Lisa, we have sunk a pile into this place (read my response to Annie of Animalcouriers). We have never had any trouble navigating the housing market till now. We feel that when God says “No” then there must be a reason. We will be OK. 🙂
i agree with you totally about ‘when God says No’ and am not surprised that you’ve managed to blow this disappointment off as well as you have. i am usually able to adapt to unexpected change/disappointments easily as well. there’s a better door or a different door that might take you to an more-special place!
Exactly, Lisa! 😀
Oh, and I almost forgot, I slept very well last night! 😉
how great! so did i! ahhhhhhh!
I’m speechless too.
Nothing I could say would help anyway, but I DO feel for you.
#$@&! (does this help?)
Victornia, you are too funny, and yes, it does help. 😉
I am so very sorry to hear that. 😦
Sigh… so are we! Thanks, Anke. 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear about the housing market and your situation. I keep hoping everything will turn around and my heart goes out to those affected by the poor economy.
Yes, the economy is still in a very bad way. The news likes to paint pretty pictures, but those of us living in the hardest hit states know better. Thank you for your kind thoughts today, TBM!
Aww I’m so sorry. I had been so excited for you. 😦
Yeah, I know, we all were! Thank you, Diana. 🙂
There are no words… I feel so sorry for yu, you must be desperate!
But you probably find a solution!
all the best Lynda
Chantal, it is very sad for us, but we always believe that when things don’t go our way, that they are going God’s way. We believe that he knows best, and that is a comfort. Who knows where this path might lead if we push against His will? Thank you for your kind words, my friend. 🙂
Such a disappointment. Big sigh. Big hugs.
Thank you, Kathee. We are disappointed, but our current home is paid in full! How many today can say that? We will have to wait and see what God has planned. 🙂
If it’s any help, the real estate market in SoCal is currently making a huge comeback. John commented at lunch today on how fast home prices are rising here now. He is super busy. Maybe this will start happening in Alabama too. Divine timing is everything. This was just a dress rehearsal!
We can only hope. 🙂
I am so sorry to hear that.
Thank you. 🙂
Oh bummer! 😦 Well…chin up, you know everything happens for a reason and there are even better things ahead! ~ April
Thank you, April, we really believe this. 🙂
Oh NO!!
BIG hugs Lynda!
I know, huh?
Thank you, Deb! 🙂
In reading the list of improvements you’ve made to your home, I was thinking blessing, blessing, blessing. And you OWN it. So much to be said for that. I believe when things don’t work out, God has something even better in mind.
Yes he does, Patti!
Oh, Lynda! I really feel for you. I’m a great believer in things happening for a reason – there must be another plan for you. I know this doesn’t help now, but something better will happen. Just know I’m feeling your disappointment 😦
Thank you Dianne. It’s weird, but I haven’t even let myself cry, although I have felt like I want to… it just doesn’t happen. There is something in the works and we just have to wait for it to be revealed in its time. 🙂
A distorted housing market is one of the malign gifts which the evil fairies of the banking world have given to the rest of us. My sympathies go out to you for being hit on the head by something you couldn’t do anything to avoid.
Thank you, Tom. We just learned from the bank today that the reason the value on our home went down by $35,000 was because of all the foreclosures and short sales in our area. I had no idea! As bad as I feel, I am certain that those whose homes were lost and sold undervalued had it far worse. Sad.
I really enjoyed seeing your responses to Playamart and the comments in general from your loving and affectionate bloggers.
I know parts of the country are having that issue – my daughter’s house near Atlanta is so underwater she’ll never get out of it. Ours has lost value, although not quite that badly but enough that I could never sell it and get a downpayment back from it for another house.
Until whatever comes next happens, you have a wonderful house already to enjoy. And that is wonderful blessing.
Nancy
Yes! We are in good shape compared to many in our area! (Read my response to Tootlepedal) Thank you, Nancy, it is a blessing!
WTF! I am crying.
Strangely, I am not. I’m not usually the stalwart sort, but for some reason I am unable to cry. I have never seen a place that I loved so much, or felt so sadly that I could not have it. Hm. Maybe it will catch up to me later, dunno.
I am sorry that I made you cry, Julie.
Lynda, in the past 7 yrs I have over-improved our farm as well.
Turned a 2 story barn into a house and guest qrtrs. Installed two baths, 1.5 kitchens in it. Fenced in the fields with 3 miles of expensive high tensile electric fencing, installed 14 custom gates. 8 hydrants. ran electric to both the lake and entry gate. And now have rebuilt the old log house into a B&B.
I guess I plan on living here til I die. Or maybe someone will buy it and keep me on as a caretaker! Hey, wanna buy a goose farm?? 😉
I so wished your plans had gone thru and hope for some miracle to happen. The world is just in a crazy place right now. Hang in there, or hang on, which ever applies
HA! If I can’t even afford a dinky little 2 acre farm in N. Alabama, I for sure can’t afford your goose farm, LOL! Although hanging with that many geese would make every day a circus of delight! 😉
We are hanging in there, and waiting for our moment to arrive! Thanks, Connie!
PS: Polly has just begun sitting this afternoon! 😀
Yup, been there too. I have lived in my home for over 30 years. Today’s value is less than it was when I bought it. I saw my dream of moving to a home with larger back yard take wings a couple of years ago. Houses are not the only thing to loose value. Areas do too.
That point has been driven home to us by the bank just today! Our whole area has lost value due to foreclosures and short sales!
That sure puts a new light on things for me. We may not have gotten the dream farm, but we are certainly better off because we were able to pay cash for this place, and blessed that Bob has a job! I am sorry that you are facing the same woes with regards to your own home situation. Reading so many of the others replies makes me realize that many of us are in the same boat… and thankfully, that boat is afloat! 😉
Aw, I’m sorry to hear about this. But I like your attitude in accepting that it must be part of a Larger Plan. Hope things eventually work out for you! Hugs.
Thank you, Evilsquirrel, something good will happen. I just need to be patient while God works out all the details.
Darned it! I was all pumped to pack and help organize! I’m so sorry this happened. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the same decline in housing and values of property in this part of the country too. Who knows what is down the road by waiting things out a bit? Often times, patience brings forth an even greater opportunity!!
You know, Lori, I am feeling the same way, but must confess that I am a bit frustrated with it all. I am conflicted, feeling this way, and that way, and then all the while hopeful for something to work out. I know it will, but patience was never one of my virtues! 😛
I have to say, that secretly I am glad that you will be having a restful visit and not having to work for your keep! 😉 I just freaked myself by looking at the calendar! It is less than two weeks and you will be here! YIKES!
So sorry, I know that is disappointing but it has to be for the best. Something better will come along, I just know it!
Yes, I know it will. Thank you, DouDou!
I am so sorry for your disappontment! The paths that He wants us to take are often different than we had planned.
thank you, Chris. You know, yesterday I had a full blown cry-out over this. (Why the delayed reaction? Dunno.) Anyway, we talked, God and I, and I have come to some realizations. 😉 The funny thing is, that today I found 2 new Farmlet possibilities! We get our funding sometime next week so if the perfect place comes along we will be ready.
Not long after I bought (that is, started paying the mortgage on) my first house, the market plunged. It took probably 15 years before values in that neighborhood rose and the house was worth more than I paid for it. For the last eight years we’ve been in a better house, which is what I expect will eventually come your way.
I am certain you are right, Steve. We just looked at one in Tennessee that has our interest and it has a bit more acreage too. Not holding my breath, but it does seem within our reach. 😉
We’ll see…
I am truly sorry to hear this, Lynda. But good luck – or should I say Break a Leg!- with this new Tennessee one…!
Anna, we are still searching. This is going to take some time I guess. But all good things are worth waiting for, aren’t they?
And so we’re back to Tom Petty! It really IS the hardest part. But you’ll get there! Blessings xx
Thank you, Anna!
It’s true. When God says no, there’s a reason. Might be that something even more wonderful has your name on it.
Mary, you are absolutely correct, and searching for the something more wonderful is certainly hard work. We are onto something interesting to look at tomorrow, and I will be posting shortly on this process! 😉
Oh bother! Oh well, on to something better! Besides, I really love the kitchen you have in your current farmlet. 🙂 And as Kathee said, housing prices are on their way up! (And you know the nation follows California!) We’ll be praying for y’all!
Thank you, Pam. 😀