Hello, I must be going

Second night was much more comfortable thanks to the comforter. The mattress is really great, but I worry it will be too firm for Peggy's taste.

I have arranged that the Jones' will visit, for the first time, tonight around 6, and I will leave my car here and spend the night at their house so that I can go to the airport early tomorrow morning. Tanya is going to let Ozzy Girl, of Secret Service Housekeeping in on Monday, Nov 3 at 10 a.m.

Moving in

My first night sleeping in the new bed goes well. The mattress is very comfortable; the sheets will probably feel better once they've been washed. I don't want to turn up the heat for fear of waking up way too hot, but the result is that I'm cold all night.

I still have a full carload of things at the Jones', including the black Office Depot desk, my desktop computer, the drafting table, and a closet full of clothes. I bring it all over in the afternoon, just as the security cameras are delivered. At 7 p.m. or so, I give up waiting for the Jones' and make a quick run to Ikea, primarily to buy a cheap comforter so I won't freeze.

I end up buying an $80 rolling nightstand that matches the bed (Malm) and $100 worth of miscellaneous stuff--a fork, spoon, and knife, a desk lamp, a dish scrubber, two glasses.

First night

With the bed almost built and new lamps set up, I bring over a load of stuff from the Jones' and buy some things at Fred Meyer, including a mattress protector.

I finish the bed and put on the cheap Ikea sheets so that I can spend the first night here.

Closing and recording

Before 8 a.m., Andreia de Sousa of Old Republic Exchange clears the paperwork she couldn't be bothered to do on Friday and authorizes the wire transfer of our $274,000.

9:46 a.m. Gwen says the wire was received.

Knowing that I have a mattress being delivered in the afternoon, I race down to Ikea to buy a bed. It's 30 minutes one way and I make the roundtrip in about 90 minutes.

2:30 p.m., I'm waiting at the house when the Sleep Country truck pulls up and delivers the mattress. I have the Ikea bed in the car.

2:50 p.m.: Geoff arrives and gives me the key from the lockbox. We go in and he helps me move the mattress inside, but he says I can't be in the house until it officially records.

3:32 p.m., Gwen Chamberlain of First American Title notifies everyone that the sale of the property has been recorded.

Buying Trees House

Thursday, Oct 2: Re-inspection of Waterfall house showed many hidden problems. I need a day or so to deliberate.

Saturday, Oct 4: I officially rescind my offer to buy Waterfall house.

Tuesday, Oct 7: Geoff floats $450 to Kris Swierz. I'm told that would be too low, but they would consider $480.

Thursday, Oct 9: We offer $480, planning to reduce the price based on inspections.

Tuesday, Oct 14: John Lasswell and Keith Cross meet me and Geoff at the house to inspect, but a young man is found sleeping in BR2. We back off while Geoff calls Kris and anyone else he can think of. After 15 minutes, we're clear to go back in. Mr. Cross warns me how difficult it will be to approach the slope into Carkeek with a new foundation--just permit hell. Lasswell finds rot under the MBa tub and front porch, but no evidence of mold or insects. Failed gutters all around.

Wednesday, Oct 15: My inspection response is: drop the price to $467,000 and we have a deal. Geoff is willing to go all the way to $450, but the inspection is not that dire to me.

Friday, Oct 17: The sellers agree to $467.

Friday, Oct 24: Everyone scrambles, but Old Republic Exchange couldn't care less. Closing has to be postponed until Monday, Oct 27.

Finding Trees House

February 5, 2014 - Dr. Frank Edward Butts Leddusire, approx. 80, passes. He bought this house circa 1986 and lived here 28 years. A graduate of Seattle Pacific University, class of '56, he taught there from 1962 until his retirement in 1997. He left two sons and two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Thursday, June 26 - The house is listed at $549,000. The listing agent, Kris Swierz, lives next door at 801 NW 118th Street.

Wednesday, July 23 - After a month, the price is dropped to $524,900.

Sunday, Aug 10 - I arrive in Seattle with the Prius and other things.

Tuesday, Aug 12 - The price is dropped to $499,900, although I am not aware of the house yet.

I placed an offer on the new home at 3200 NE 117th St which backed up to Thornton Creek. We were too far apart on price.

Friday, Aug 22 - I asked Geoff Hill to show me the 817 NW 118th St house because it backed up to Carkeek Park, as well as a house near North Beach with a view of the sound.

Saturday, Aug 23 around noon - Geoff showed me Trees House. We laughed at the two front doors and the fake garage, but I really liked the view into the park and I shot a short video of it.

Monday, Aug 25 I wrote to Peggy:

I'm getting excited about a house near Nana that abuts Carkeek Park, a forest on the Sound. It's a 50s  rambler in which they encl the breezeway and converted the garage to a shop and bedroom. The house virtually ignores the forest and I could add about 900 SF and put a master bed up in the trees and open the living space up to the backyard and trees. Asking $500, put $120 in now and build it out (finish the 2 new beds and bath) in phase two. The neighbors on either side are in the $700s. 817 nw 118th st. I'd love your opinion.

She replied:

I like it.! =D......nice neighborhood, good location near the Park which looks like it has access to the sound, walking distance to your Mom's on a nice day. The price allows for some work to be done. It looks like it has good MCM bones which are being ignored. 
Areas of concern....
The property to the left  looks much higher, remembering Johnson Ave drainage issues.
The Zillow forecast is good at +9.4%......but many of the properties are still in the 400K -500K range in the neighborhood....something to analyze as to the difference between them and the 700k -800K ones.
looks good,

Tuesday, Aug 26, I told Geoff by email that I was interested in this house, among others. He replied that he thought it could be had for $475,000. Noting that they dropped the price to $500,000 two weeks before, he said don't offer full price. Geoff wrote:

...Certain things help improve value. Others don’t. Kitchen and bathroom remodels are generally a good investment. In this case, removing the popcorn ceiling and possibly doing a tasteful addition to increase square footage would also not be money wasted. As long as your tastes aren’t wildly divergent from what most people like and the improvements are done logically, by skilled professionals with high quality materials, I think you could add significant value to this home by making some changes to it...

I mentioned that it was oil heat and I thought gas was not available (because it didn't say so on the listing). Geoff suggested that I call PSE and mentioned that it's about $40/foot to bring gas in from the main line.

Later that day, Puget Sound Energy sent an email confirming that gas is available in NW 118th St. Call PSE customer construction services at (888) 321-7779, or constructioninquiry@pse.com. They have energy advisors at (800) 562-1482.

Wednesday, Aug 27: I mentioned the Waterfall house in an email to Dee--I planned to drive by soon.

Thursday, Aug 28: Geoff showed Tanya and I the house and I took some measurements I included the house in my top five, estimating $480 + $120 in improvements, $720 out? Distance from Space Needle: 7.8 miles, 19 minutes. Jon and Kelley ranked Trees House 3rd.

Saturday, Aug 30: I ranked the house second on my list to Geoff (the Lake Forest Park house was #1) and his thoughts on Trees House were:

...I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage that from an investment standpoint, you should always buy the cheapest house in the neighborhood. This one would fit that description. The location’s fantastic and with enough work, I think $720,000 is a realistic goal. Especially if the market continues to appreciate the way it has been. I would use your inspection contingency to determine if the house is in good enough condition for your needs. And although it’s somewhat strange, I wouldn’t be concerned about who pays the taxes on the house next door...

Sunday, Aug 31: I make an offer on the Waterfall house. I also stop by the open house at Trees House, with Tanya and Kevin, and meet the listing agent, Kris Swierz.

Wednesday, Sep 3: Although I'm in process with the Waterfall house, I get bids for removing the oil tank. Seattle Tank Services says it starts at $800 + $106 (Seattle permit).

Monday, Sep 22: Waiting for Waterfall house, I list both it and Trees House on the 1031 notification form. This makes Trees House my official backup.

Thursday, Sep 25: Price dropped to $489,900.

Wednesday, Oct 1: Kris Swierz's listing contract (3 months?) expired and was renewed.

Work on the Waterfall house will be done soon, and my sketches for Trees House may become irrelevant.