That house again...

Ok, so it's been a while since I've blogged on here. I have a couple blogs from myspace I need to put on here too.

But what's been on my mind lately...that house! The second "house" is not for sale anymore...the one on Angel Dr. that wasn't completed downstairs. The house I'm talking about is the one that I posted a blog August 29th, 2008. I can't seem to get beyond this house. That house was taken off the market at the end of the summer or around fall time. The family that owns it lives in Colorado, and they took it off the market for the winter. So what does that mean...well a couple things. Since they have a home in Arizona and their other home in Colorado, they're still wanting to sell this one, but will probably list it again in the spring. And that leads me to my next point...there is no real estate agent involved right now. What does that mean? It means there is potential to offer them a lower price, since they won't be paying an agent. (If the house had sold at $400k as they were asking, that would have been $24,000 going to an agent or agents.) So that brings it down to $376k.

Another thing that gets me thinking more about this house is that interest rates are really low right now! 15 year is 4.967% and 30-year is 5.5%. Granted the interest that would accummulate over those times is amazingly a vast difference, but I'm positive we would refinance if rates were low in a couple years for a 15 year loan if we started with a 30 year loan.

If we were to sell our house for let's say $310k (we owe about $110k on it), we'd have roughly $200k...ok so let's say they're willing to come down to $375...-$200k is $175k. So $175k is what our loan would be for. I did loan estimates for $200k...and the best payment would obviously be from the 30-year loan, but the interest paid over 30 years amounts to just over the original loan amount...it would be $209k just in interest, assuming no extra payments were made. The 15-year loan turned out to only have $84k in total interest paid over the life of the loan. The only thing with the 15 year loan is that the amount plus insurance and taxes are too high for our current single income.

I am looking at job opportunities. But one plan I thought would work nicely is to have a little cabin at the end of the property for a rental income. I have been entertaining the thought of doing some part time work. One job was as a janitor, which isn't glamourous...but I do it at home (minus the maintenance type work because my husband is blessed by having many mechanical and technical abilities).

Oh! Something else came up in conversation at my inlaw's Bible study on Sunday. There is a man there that lives out there and does a van pool (share a ride) deal because he works in Anchorage. So I asked where he worked in Anchorage...he just so happens to work right down the road from Mike's work. So it would work out great for commuting.

I know that I would be able to keep that house clean and orderly. Everything would have a place to go. I'd have a craft room, the kids would have a play room, Mike would have a SUPER shop! (1920 sf!), plus the 2 car garage. We would have ample space for all of our clothes and the laundry room is on the same floor as 2 of the bedrooms. The library/small office would be a great place to have our books all organized, including Mike's mechanical and technical manuals that are in boxes in the garage. Mike would also be able to have an airplane if we did the 30 year loan. We'd be able to fish from our back yard, how awesome is that! I want to have a productive garden and store food for us to have through the winter.

This family have known my father in law for oh...probably 20-25 years. They're Christians and attend his church when they're visiting. They seem to be great people, and fair. When I asked before if they would sell it themselves rather than through the agent they were using, they said they wouldn't do that because they had done so much marketing for them etc. But now, there is no agent representing them, at that time, there was. Part of me wonders if that family is thinking about us as buyers, wondering if we're still interested. I think they will be here in February.

I know some people say that Christians shouldn't live extravagantly or in luxury but instead, use what they have to help others. But does that mean we can't enjoy what God has given us. No.

Another point of interest...last week Mike sent our mortgage company an email requesting a refinance quote. We haven't heard back from them yet. I got the automatic response from submitting an email to them, but that's it. Perhaps we aren't supposed to refinance...but sell and buy?

Lord, you know my heart, you know my desires for my family. You know that I do not want this house to say that I have a big house, but to live comfortably, provide a lot of our own produce for us and others and share our home with others when we can, while enjoying the blessings you have given us and to fill desires for our family, like Mike getting a plane, and being able to drive it from a publicly maintained airstrip, and allowing me the room to be organized to enjoy more activities, crafts and learning opportunities for the kids. I know that it is in your hands. Lord I want what is best for our family, not only to be financially taken care of, but to be in a great community to grow up in and at a safe distance from major traffic. I pray for hearts and doors to be opened. We have come so far this year Lord, and the glory is all for you. Thank you God for what you have done in my husband and in me this past year. Thank you for always providing for us and blessing us with abundance. In Jesus' name, Amen.