deterring

Yep. Yesterday's house hunting adventure was over well before it started.

I thought I had found a hell of a bargain - a twenty year old, split-level entry in the McDonald area for around 90 G's. It turned out that I wasn't the only potential buyer who thought so! In a matter of a single day, the house went from available to contingent. That means, somebody slapped a fat offer on it and now the home has to merely pass an inspection before its off the market. To captain fat-wallet, I say "good form". You've beaten me to what looked like a heck of a deal. I only wish I had seen that property sooner, then maybe the tables would be turned! Enjoy your new house, ya louse.

But all isn't lost right? After all, I mentioned that there were two houses to see this week right? Guess again! The only other house within a twenty mile radius that interested me also got scooped up that very same yesterday. What kind of crap luck is this? Not that I'd had my heart set on either of these homes, but sheesh! Those two homes must have been awfully nice to get yanked right out from under my embryonic interest.

This leads us back to our original interest, the Cape Cod style home in Blainsburg. I'm becoming more and more accepting of its few flaws as the hours pass, but I've also come up with a few questions. Is there any township ordinance that would prevent me from having a bonfire there? If I were to need surgery on my knee at some point, would I be able to climb the stairs each time nature called? Which part of the house would I focus on when I decided to renovate/add-on? I guess I'd be a lot more comfortable with this place if it just had a bathroom on the main level. (Did I just answer my last question?)

Now that we've just about exhausted our options for the immediate area, does anybody have any recommendations when it comes to a good living area? We only have one more home on our radar, and could use some suggestions. We're looking for an area where the property taxes are low, public water is available and where children can grow up in a safe neighborhood. (I'd prefer something with a relatively private yard) While we're at it, does anybody have any dirt on Blainsburg? I've known several close friends who've grown up there, and they seem to be alright, so I can't immediately discount it as our new home.

Any suggestions, about anything at all are warmly welcomed.