You would think that after 13 moves in 10 years, that I would be a pro by now, but each move I make mistakes and well move 14 this week is not any different. The movers came to pack my apartment up on Thursday, they packed things I didn't want them to and they didn't pack things they should. Friday they loaded the truck, now that in itself was a pretty smooth process except they forgot a box and it created a nightmare in packing the car up with the few things I did need to keep with me until they deliver tomorrow.
Now here comes the fun part of all this. Tomorrow after they drop off, I have to find the boxes with the items they packed that I need now. Then, I have to corral the rest of my things from my ex's house, my parent's house and put together to have all this packed and loaded to move again in May. I also opted to not pack my suits or shoes (a few to have for travel I have to do for work in a few weeks) and now I have to go through that stuff too. All I can say is move 15 in May better be the last one for a long while and hopefully for once all my stuff is finally going to be in one location.
On another note, I received the termite report for the house I want to put an offer in on and it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. The next step in this process is to determine if the listing agent is using the age old tactic that there are all of a sudden a couple interested individuals for the same property or if she is using this warning so to speak to make me put in a high offer quickly. I don't understand why realtors feel the need to do this other than to get a bigger commission? If it is true there are other offers potentially coming then it will be up to a higher power as if this house is meant to be or not. I just know that I really hope that I have a house to move into in May when I move.
Today was a nice lazy day spending Easter with the family. I wish my oldest son did not have to go back to school today as it would be nice to spend a little more than a few hours with him.
Happy Easter!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Fingers Crossed
There will probably be an update to this tonight, but, well, I decided to stop hesitating and asked my realtor to put in an offer on the historic house I want. I doubt the seller will agree to my terms, but I have my fingers crossed. In the meantime, I guess I better get to organizing and preparing for the movers to come pack my house up tomorrow and stop procrastinating. I am sure I can figure out a way to do it with my fingers crossed...
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
History in the Making (hopefully in the right direction)
I am accused of many things, one of which is that I am a liberal. (Oh heavens to Betsy a liberal) I am not a flaming liberal I am actually rather moderate in my stance on many political topics, however, I am do believe in standing up for what I believe in regardless of what others may think. I cannot believe how backwards our country still is and actually where it is headed and the current focus on what seemingly wants to send us back to an age of complete intolerance. Which brings me to today in current events. Today was day one of arguments in the Supreme Court to find California's atrocious Prop 8 and DOMA unconstitutional! Its disgusting that in this day and age that people are not allowed to marry if they so choose because of their gender. Which leads me to this wonderful post a friend of mine found and shared. It is too perfect and I had to share it here.
If you don't agree with my stance then you can just not read my post, this is my blog after all and I can post whatever I want :)
I didn't write this but I believe it is articulated very well:
Marriage is a legal contract, ergo it falls under the umbrella of equal protection.
First, there are certain "protected classes" laid out in the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act. Two of them are race and gender. In the Supreme Court case Loving v Virginia, SCOTUS ruled that,
Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival....
Now this case was based on race, BUT to support gay marriage, all you have to do is change race to GENDER, another protected class. PLUS, the 14th Amendment has a little something called the "Privileges and Immunities"clause. Which means, you can't deny the citizens, their privileges, or immunities, based on those classes. In this case, that'd be gender.
So, since marriage is a legal (that means law) contract, that comes with PRIVILEGES, you can't deny citizens, without a damn good, already been shown to exist, reason, from entering it based on gender, among other things. So, if the state can't prove a reason, to deny privileges to people based on gender, they can't make that particular law. Now, put it together. If two gay people want to enter a contract, and the state tells them they can't, because of the gender of one of the parties, THAT'S A BIG NO NO. And YES, this is about gender and not sexuality, that's why DOMA would allow a gay man and gay woman to marry, but not two straight men.
Also, the logic that gay people are free to marry, just as you are, i.e they're free to marry one of the opposite sex, is the EXACT same defense that Virginia used in their defense, again just turn gender to race.
The court ruled, AGAINST that logic.
Second, you have an implied right to privacy, mostly through the 9th and 4th Amendments. In the SCOTUS case Lawrence v Texas, the court said this...
The Texas statute furthers no legitimate state interest which can justify its intrusion into the personal and private life of the individual.
Third, AGAIN, marriage is a civil contract, that comes with over 1,000 benefits granted by the state. Most of these benefits deal with property, insurance, tax and probate law. Civil unions, do NOT grant equivalent benefits. In order to enter a legal contract, the parties have to have LEGAL CAPACITY FOR INFORMED CONSENT.
Furthermore, marriages are NOT religious, that's Holy Matrimony, which a church can NEVER be forced to perform against its dogma, due to protections in the 1st Amendment. This is why people can, and do, get married any day without ever stepping foot in a church.
Also, marriage has NOTHING to do with procreation. After all, we let people have kids OUTSIDE of marriage, and NOT have kids while married.
Finally, there are very few limited reasons for the government to discriminate in law, against one of these protected classes, and in order to do so, the government has to pass the test of strict scrutiny, which is that compelling state interest mentioned in Lawrence v Texas.
So....
The real question, those making the case for continuing the gender based discrimination of DOMA is, what is that compelling state interest? And before we start talking about marrying appliances, nephews, sheep, or dead people...The reasonings as to why incest, beastiality, et. al are illegal is tied in no way to either homosexuality or marriage. That's why when we ceased to uphold "sodomy" laws they didn't magically become legal.
But regardless, it's STILL not valid, because the slippery slope doesn't apply to expansion of rights, it applies to the contraction of rights. It's applicable to the government. Ergo, the legal and logical way to apply the slippery slope to THIS situation would be to say, "Allowing the GOVERNMENT the power to ban marriage based on gender, which is a PROTECTED CLASS, could lead to the GOVERNMENT claiming they have the power to ban marriage based on OTHER PROTECTED CLASSES, like RACE or RELIGION (which by the way is a CHOICE, just like I'm sure you're about to claim sexual orientation is)".
And then, ask yourself this...
Why doesn't STRAIGHT marriage lead to any of that?
And technically, the burden of proof is on those limiting rights, (the anti-marriage equality folks), so you all should really be making the case, not us.
Also, you have to look at the Full Faith and Credit clause in the Constitution. That says that the legal matters of one state must be upheld by other states. Right now, DOMA attempts to circumvent that and allows states to NOT acknowledge the marriage contracts of other states.
And NO, this isn't a states rights issue, that's why previous marriage cases, i.e Loving, made it to SCOTUS and was ruled on. Equal protection and the FFC are CONSTITUTIONAL issues.
And OF COURSE, marriage isn't in the Constitution, because the Constitution doesn't govern the actions of citizens. It limits and enumerates the power of the government. The only time a constitutional amendment applied to the behavior of citizens was prohibition, and tell me how THAT worked out, please.
If you don't agree with my stance then you can just not read my post, this is my blog after all and I can post whatever I want :)
I didn't write this but I believe it is articulated very well:
Marriage is a legal contract, ergo it falls under the umbrella of equal protection.
First, there are certain "protected classes" laid out in the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act. Two of them are race and gender. In the Supreme Court case Loving v Virginia, SCOTUS ruled that,
Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival....
Now this case was based on race, BUT to support gay marriage, all you have to do is change race to GENDER, another protected class. PLUS, the 14th Amendment has a little something called the "Privileges and Immunities"clause. Which means, you can't deny the citizens, their privileges, or immunities, based on those classes. In this case, that'd be gender.
So, since marriage is a legal (that means law) contract, that comes with PRIVILEGES, you can't deny citizens, without a damn good, already been shown to exist, reason, from entering it based on gender, among other things. So, if the state can't prove a reason, to deny privileges to people based on gender, they can't make that particular law. Now, put it together. If two gay people want to enter a contract, and the state tells them they can't, because of the gender of one of the parties, THAT'S A BIG NO NO. And YES, this is about gender and not sexuality, that's why DOMA would allow a gay man and gay woman to marry, but not two straight men.
Also, the logic that gay people are free to marry, just as you are, i.e they're free to marry one of the opposite sex, is the EXACT same defense that Virginia used in their defense, again just turn gender to race.
The court ruled, AGAINST that logic.
Second, you have an implied right to privacy, mostly through the 9th and 4th Amendments. In the SCOTUS case Lawrence v Texas, the court said this...
The Texas statute furthers no legitimate state interest which can justify its intrusion into the personal and private life of the individual.
Third, AGAIN, marriage is a civil contract, that comes with over 1,000 benefits granted by the state. Most of these benefits deal with property, insurance, tax and probate law. Civil unions, do NOT grant equivalent benefits. In order to enter a legal contract, the parties have to have LEGAL CAPACITY FOR INFORMED CONSENT.
Furthermore, marriages are NOT religious, that's Holy Matrimony, which a church can NEVER be forced to perform against its dogma, due to protections in the 1st Amendment. This is why people can, and do, get married any day without ever stepping foot in a church.
Also, marriage has NOTHING to do with procreation. After all, we let people have kids OUTSIDE of marriage, and NOT have kids while married.
Finally, there are very few limited reasons for the government to discriminate in law, against one of these protected classes, and in order to do so, the government has to pass the test of strict scrutiny, which is that compelling state interest mentioned in Lawrence v Texas.
So....
The real question, those making the case for continuing the gender based discrimination of DOMA is, what is that compelling state interest? And before we start talking about marrying appliances, nephews, sheep, or dead people...The reasonings as to why incest, beastiality, et. al are illegal is tied in no way to either homosexuality or marriage. That's why when we ceased to uphold "sodomy" laws they didn't magically become legal.
But regardless, it's STILL not valid, because the slippery slope doesn't apply to expansion of rights, it applies to the contraction of rights. It's applicable to the government. Ergo, the legal and logical way to apply the slippery slope to THIS situation would be to say, "Allowing the GOVERNMENT the power to ban marriage based on gender, which is a PROTECTED CLASS, could lead to the GOVERNMENT claiming they have the power to ban marriage based on OTHER PROTECTED CLASSES, like RACE or RELIGION (which by the way is a CHOICE, just like I'm sure you're about to claim sexual orientation is)".
And then, ask yourself this...
Why doesn't STRAIGHT marriage lead to any of that?
And technically, the burden of proof is on those limiting rights, (the anti-marriage equality folks), so you all should really be making the case, not us.
Also, you have to look at the Full Faith and Credit clause in the Constitution. That says that the legal matters of one state must be upheld by other states. Right now, DOMA attempts to circumvent that and allows states to NOT acknowledge the marriage contracts of other states.
And NO, this isn't a states rights issue, that's why previous marriage cases, i.e Loving, made it to SCOTUS and was ruled on. Equal protection and the FFC are CONSTITUTIONAL issues.
And OF COURSE, marriage isn't in the Constitution, because the Constitution doesn't govern the actions of citizens. It limits and enumerates the power of the government. The only time a constitutional amendment applied to the behavior of citizens was prohibition, and tell me how THAT worked out, please.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Call Me "Crazy"
I think my realtor thinks I am crazy or maybe just a stubborn idiot, I will stick with crazy. I love this old wonderful house in an area south of where I will be working, the listing agent is not being exactly forthcoming with reports that were completed on the home a few months ago and I am getting super frustrated. My realtor thinks I need to give up even thinking about the house as a possibility because she does not think the VA appraiser will give it two thumbs up. I say get me the reports and let me see what I can do to negotiate on the house. Once I see the reports then just maybe I will say yep you are right I would be crazier than I already am to even consider the darn place, but it does not hurt to try.
My issues are the house is over 150 years old. It has an amazing history and I am already renovating it in my mind. The market is such that its a sellers market, but the benefit I have with this house is no one can just fly in and steal it for cash and then do with it what they want as is often the case in this area of the country. They have to abide by the preservation board within the city. (Yay me!) I say that now, but if I do end up with the house -that will likely change as I do request to do things that need fixing. Anyways, there are some current issues that I am aware of and feel that the seller will fix if given the right offer on the house. Given that I am using a VA loan the seller has to do the repairs before the closing or the VA will say nope - do not pass go, do not collect $200.00.
I have broken rule number one to house hunting - falling in love with a house that nothing else will work. That is not a good thing. With that said I am still looking at other houses, but I am competing against cash offers, people who are afraid they will never find a house so they offer 20% over the asking price and do so without requesting an inspection. Sellers market or not, who does that? I maybe crazy, but that is just Looney Tune looney.
Who knows tomorrow is another day and I can hear my realtor now with the others in her office over the water cooler - she is cuckoo for coco puffs, crazy. But I am adorable crazy :) Now you know why I was thanking my realtors in yesterdays post for their patience with me. There is a method to my madness they just don't know that about me yet.
So why they call me Crazy, I will continue looking for "the one" even if I think I have found it already.
My issues are the house is over 150 years old. It has an amazing history and I am already renovating it in my mind. The market is such that its a sellers market, but the benefit I have with this house is no one can just fly in and steal it for cash and then do with it what they want as is often the case in this area of the country. They have to abide by the preservation board within the city. (Yay me!) I say that now, but if I do end up with the house -that will likely change as I do request to do things that need fixing. Anyways, there are some current issues that I am aware of and feel that the seller will fix if given the right offer on the house. Given that I am using a VA loan the seller has to do the repairs before the closing or the VA will say nope - do not pass go, do not collect $200.00.
I have broken rule number one to house hunting - falling in love with a house that nothing else will work. That is not a good thing. With that said I am still looking at other houses, but I am competing against cash offers, people who are afraid they will never find a house so they offer 20% over the asking price and do so without requesting an inspection. Sellers market or not, who does that? I maybe crazy, but that is just Looney Tune looney.
Who knows tomorrow is another day and I can hear my realtor now with the others in her office over the water cooler - she is cuckoo for coco puffs, crazy. But I am adorable crazy :) Now you know why I was thanking my realtors in yesterdays post for their patience with me. There is a method to my madness they just don't know that about me yet.
So why they call me Crazy, I will continue looking for "the one" even if I think I have found it already.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
First Post - Looking for "The One"
This is my first post and creation of a blog, ever! I hope any readers out there enjoy it. I travel more often than I care to think and over the past few years my friends often encourage me to start a travel blog. I will use this to not only offer up interesting tidbits of my travels, but also the next huge adventure in my ever crazy thing I call my life.
Currently, I am preparing to move not once, but twice in the next few months. One of the many benefits of being in the Army. This week I move back home to my parent's house (never an easy task in itself) and then on to California. The move to California will happen regardless of whether I find a place to live or not and at the moment trying to find a house to purchase in the Bay area is proving more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. Actually at the moment I think finding a needle would be easier.
What really encouraged me and motivated me in even starting this blog is the one I've been reading this evening. 227 North Street is a wonderful blog of the renovation of a beautiful home in Northern California. One of the homes I am looking at is just slightly older than the house they are restoring and I thought why not? I will document here the trials and tribulations of my home search and regardless of the house I settle on, I am sure it will involve some type of renovation. (I am picky in that, I have specific wants in flooring and the kitchen) If I should purchase the 1857 home that was once a tavern, then I am sure I will face not quite the experience of the wonderful gentlemen who bought 227 North Street, but it will be close.
Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions here as I go along. I don't know exactly what will follow on here as it will change like the seasons do.
So where to begin, first I should begin with the patience that my realtor, her partner, and my mortgage broker possess as I look for the first house I will buy on my own. The first house I ever bought was a complete renovation that I my ex-husband is still finishing. (Not to scare anyone away, the renovation is not the reason for the divorce and we are still amicable unlike some divorced couples) We bought the house from an estate and at closing there were if I remember correctly well over 7 individuals there that were required to sign the paperwork. The estate was kind enough to let us start the remodeling as soon as we had loan approval, which was a blessing, because there is no way I was moving into that house until the kitchen and the 1960s shag carpets and the 1970's quilted carpet was replaced. The lucky thing for us was the beautiful hardwood floors under those horrid carpets and we were able to get a really good deal on the cabinets since one of the hardware/lumber stores in town was going out of business.
I digress - I was thanking my realtors and mortgage broker for their patience. Now if we could just find sellers willing to accept a VA loan and not run away from the unknown oh and the crazy people in the Bay area that are bidding on homes like a crack addict needing their next fix. Never in my life have I seen people willing to pay 20% over asking and in some cases 30% over the appraised value of a home. Did they miss the news over the past few years and see how that has worked out for others? or am I the crazy one for not wanting to pay more than a house is worth, let alone blindly by not putting any contingency in the offer? If I am going to make one of if not the biggest purchase of my life, you better believe I am not going to buy the "Money Pit"! No way no how!
With the help of two of my children we have narrowed down the list of homes I am interested in even exploring to spend my hard earned money on for the next thirty years. The next few weeks while my realtor goes and views them for me and sends me emails with lots of pictures and summaries of the homes I hope to make a decision and hope someone will accept my offer. Yes, more than likely, against everything my mother has adamantly said to me, I may very well end up purchasing a home without actually seeing it before I make an offer on it. I shall let you all know how well that works for me.
In the meantime, my search continues as I examine the main possibilities and hope that I will find "the one".
Currently, I am preparing to move not once, but twice in the next few months. One of the many benefits of being in the Army. This week I move back home to my parent's house (never an easy task in itself) and then on to California. The move to California will happen regardless of whether I find a place to live or not and at the moment trying to find a house to purchase in the Bay area is proving more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. Actually at the moment I think finding a needle would be easier.
What really encouraged me and motivated me in even starting this blog is the one I've been reading this evening. 227 North Street is a wonderful blog of the renovation of a beautiful home in Northern California. One of the homes I am looking at is just slightly older than the house they are restoring and I thought why not? I will document here the trials and tribulations of my home search and regardless of the house I settle on, I am sure it will involve some type of renovation. (I am picky in that, I have specific wants in flooring and the kitchen) If I should purchase the 1857 home that was once a tavern, then I am sure I will face not quite the experience of the wonderful gentlemen who bought 227 North Street, but it will be close.
Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions here as I go along. I don't know exactly what will follow on here as it will change like the seasons do.
So where to begin, first I should begin with the patience that my realtor, her partner, and my mortgage broker possess as I look for the first house I will buy on my own. The first house I ever bought was a complete renovation that I my ex-husband is still finishing. (Not to scare anyone away, the renovation is not the reason for the divorce and we are still amicable unlike some divorced couples) We bought the house from an estate and at closing there were if I remember correctly well over 7 individuals there that were required to sign the paperwork. The estate was kind enough to let us start the remodeling as soon as we had loan approval, which was a blessing, because there is no way I was moving into that house until the kitchen and the 1960s shag carpets and the 1970's quilted carpet was replaced. The lucky thing for us was the beautiful hardwood floors under those horrid carpets and we were able to get a really good deal on the cabinets since one of the hardware/lumber stores in town was going out of business.
I digress - I was thanking my realtors and mortgage broker for their patience. Now if we could just find sellers willing to accept a VA loan and not run away from the unknown oh and the crazy people in the Bay area that are bidding on homes like a crack addict needing their next fix. Never in my life have I seen people willing to pay 20% over asking and in some cases 30% over the appraised value of a home. Did they miss the news over the past few years and see how that has worked out for others? or am I the crazy one for not wanting to pay more than a house is worth, let alone blindly by not putting any contingency in the offer? If I am going to make one of if not the biggest purchase of my life, you better believe I am not going to buy the "Money Pit"! No way no how!
With the help of two of my children we have narrowed down the list of homes I am interested in even exploring to spend my hard earned money on for the next thirty years. The next few weeks while my realtor goes and views them for me and sends me emails with lots of pictures and summaries of the homes I hope to make a decision and hope someone will accept my offer. Yes, more than likely, against everything my mother has adamantly said to me, I may very well end up purchasing a home without actually seeing it before I make an offer on it. I shall let you all know how well that works for me.
In the meantime, my search continues as I examine the main possibilities and hope that I will find "the one".
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