[Heineken]

I've been going through a "divorce" after a nearly 11-year relationship. We broke up, made up for a couple weeks, and now we're broken up again and it really looks like it's finally, truly over. He's looking for another place. Anyway, this thread isn't about the collapse of my long-term relationship or the emotional agonies and loss I've been working through.

It's about what to do with this property in general and that apartment in particular, going forward.

My father's in a nursing home, almost certainly indefinitely. The only people left here are me and my elderly mom.

I have a brother and nephews up in Boston, and sometimes my brother talks about moving here if he loses his teaching job. But I can't predicate my plans solely on that possibility. Anyway, there would be room in this house for him and maybe even my nephews too.

I've moved out of the apartment and into the 3-BR main house with my mother, about 200 feet away from the apartment.

We're located about 45 minutes from Charlottesville, Virginia; 1 hour from Richmond; and minutes from two small towns with basic services.

My 81-y.o. mother, quite naturally, resists going into assisted living. She wants to stay here as long as she can, with me taking care of her. She is still fairly independent at this point, but she can be difficult to live with, in all the usual "motherly" ways. I'm trying to be more patient with her, and the house is big enough we that have enough of our own space to remain sane. I think.

The question that arises now is, What to do with the apartment (which sits over a large garage)? The apartment is a 1-BR, about 700 square feet. Woodstove-heated. It's not luxurious but I've lived there fairly comfortably with my "ex" since 2001. No vehicles are parked in the garage, which thus is like semi-living space, so we're really talking about 1400 square feet total. We have 25 acres here another 50 acres south of here.

We've discussed selling this place, but the market is so terrible I've given up on the idea, even though this property is now too large for us. Nothing is selling around here. Besides, my mother is probably too old to move.

I've sometimes been attracted to the intentional-community idea. Now I'm thinking, maybe I could rent that apartment/garage out to one or two other like-minded people. Cheap, maybe $250/mo, something like that. Electricity bills run about $50/month.

It would be nice to have one or two great people sharing this place, theoretically at least.

But, do I want to take on the risk of more interpersonal hassles and risks?

I have no specific plans or ideas. Just thinking. Thanks.

[Byron100]

Sorry to hear about your break-up, Heineken...that's gotta be a rough thing to go through.

But it's situations such as these when it's vitally important that we move ahead with our lives, and I think you're doing the right thing to consider what to do with the vacant apartment that's available on your property. Personally, I think it's a great idea to rent it out, and it's an even better idea of you could rent it out to a like-minded individual. Unfortunately, the hard part is finding the right person that you'd like to rent this to. "Finding the right person" is the holy grail of every landlord, and sad to say, a single face-to-face interview isn't going to tell you what you need to know about that person.

So this leads to the question of how to find a good tenant for that apartment, preferably someone who shares your views on Peak Oil, etc, etc. A couple ideas I can think of, though. One is through a local Peak Oil Meet-up group - perhaps there is one in Richmond or Charlottesville. This still might be a bit of a long shot, however, since the number of people that attend these meetings tends to be small. Another idea is to look for possible renters in the Charlottesville area, as college town living tends to be expensive, and there's surely people that would be willing to live out in the country for cheap and commute in, especially now, while gas is cheap...hehe. Of course, it goes without saying that getting someone that you know or is referred by someone you know is the best way to go about this, which isn't always the easiest thing to do, considering where you're located, etc.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide on doing.

[Ludi]

My main bit of advice if you get a tenant is to put rules in writing which both you and the tenant sign and each have a copy of, so there's no confusion about what behavior is acceptable and what is not. This is from my own experience of having a family member living with us which ended horribly.

[dunewalker]

I'm sorry too, Heineken--family stresses certainly can be hard on relationships, not to mention all the other doomer news. What Ludi says is good, but don't expect to be able to kick out a renter easily who does not perform to expectations. For the nominal amount of financial gain here, you're opening yourself up to even more unneeded stress. If you don't desperately need the money, just sit on it for awhile and see how things flow. Things will work out for the best I'm sure...

[Heineken]

All good advice, no less than I expected from the good likes of you guys.

It's true I don't need the rent money. Or the (potential) stress.

Guess I cling to this notion of an IC, and of sharing the property with a PO type or two (you know the good type I mean) for mutual survival.

I've been associated with this land since 1983; it's hard to give it up as I will have to do---by auction, if necessary---when my mom dies. This big house is a white elephant---the fault of my dad, who kept adding on to it.

I've actually considered having it bulldozed and living in the apartment/garage. Crazy.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')I've actually considered having it bulldozed and living in the apartment/garage. Crazy.

[Heineken]

It is far, far from a wreck, eastbay.

Remodeling on the scale you describe could be expensive. However, it might be possible for a reasonable price to demolish my mother's "wing"---a huge bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet and then wall it in. So sad to do, though. There's a basement under that part of the house, a potential costly complication.

Remember the apartment is 700 square feet, plus another 700 square feet of usable garage space under it.

To me it would make more sense, if such a thing could possibly make sense, to bulldoze the house and live in the apartment. This would drastically reduce property tax, utility, and maintenance costs for the total property.

[dinopello]

What would be the reason for bulldozing the house? Save the taxes ? Maybe rent the house to a family of some type and live in the apartment ?

After my divorce I've rented a room out in my house 4 times. All but one has been a pleasant experience. The bad one was the only one I got by actively seeking a renter (craigslist), the others were either recommended by neighbors or my current one I met in town at a park. The 2 really good ones, including my current, I'd almost let them live here free (I never tell them that though!) and the bad one I didn't want living here at any price.

Don't rush into anything. If you have lots of contacts it would be easier to get recommendations. If not, I'd be very cautious and careful about who you rent to.

[Revi]

Sorry to hear about your breakup, Heineken.

Another thing to consider is having organic farming interns live there. You could have them for the season and not have to continue if you don't want to. I know you have a tree farm, but do you have any farming going on at your place?

We have the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners organization that places people on farms.

http://www.mofga.org/Programs/FarmAppre ... fault.aspx

You might have something like that in Virginia.

I worked for part of a summer at a farm in Falls Church, Va.

Just an idea...

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', '
') Another thing to consider is having organic farming interns live there. You could have them for the season and not have to continue if you don't want to.

[eastbay]

A local organic farm on 10 acres provides a nice living for the couple who run the place. They use a few 'interns' as well as one hired hand to keep the mini-farm working. They sell 'shares' to families, and supply a few restaurants with vegetables. They're not getting rich, but it seems like a nice living

When they bought the place 8 years ago the land was in a neglected state. Getting the first 5 acres under cultivation and in a planting condition took one year of hard work. Each year it gets better. It's a nice looking place now, and our family shows up on 'volunteer' days when we try to learn as much as we can.

Yeah, Revi might be on to something. Maybe you could do something like that?

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')I have a brother and nephews up in Boston, and sometimes my brother talks about moving here if he loses his teaching job. But I can't predicate my plans solely on that possibility. Anyway, there would be room in this house for him and maybe even my nephews too.

[kankin]

Sell everything now.
Whatever you can get for it.
Get a tiny apartment with your mother and downsize hugely, move west to like Oregon, there are small apartments.

Another option is to buy a trailer and live in that it can be moved.

Make sure you are in a small townnot near a city.

goal: Have as few headaches and things to own as possible, everything you own will be a noose around your neck from now on.
And the weight will get heavier and heavier as the economy crashes.

Teh stock market is going to break its face (No, it hasn't done that yet)

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I')t is far, far from a wreck, eastbay.

Remodeling on the scale you describe could be expensive. However, it might be possible for a reasonable price to demolish my mother's "wing"---a huge bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet and then wall it in. So sad to do, though. There's a basement under that part of the house, a potential costly complication.

Remember the apartment is 700 square feet, plus another 700 square feet of usable garage space under it.

To me it would make more sense, if such a thing could possibly make sense, to bulldoze the house and live in the apartment. This would drastically reduce property tax, utility, and maintenance costs for the total property.

[kankin]

You have to sell now, or you will loose it withint a few months.

We'll see who is right.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', 'S')orry to hear about your breakup, Heineken.

Another thing to consider is having organic farming interns live there. You could have them for the season and not have to continue if you don't want to. I know you have a tree farm, but do you have any farming going on at your place?

We have the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners organization that places people on farms.

http://www.mofga.org/Programs/FarmAppre ... fault.aspx

You might have something like that in Virginia.

I worked for part of a summer at a farm in Falls Church, Va.

Just an idea...

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'I')t is far, far from a wreck, eastbay.

Remodeling on the scale you describe could be expensive. However, it might be possible for a reasonable price to demolish my mother's "wing"---a huge bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet and then wall it in. So sad to do, though. There's a basement under that part of the house, a potential costly complication.

Remember the apartment is 700 square feet, plus another 700 square feet of usable garage space under it.

To me it would make more sense, if such a thing could possibly make sense, to bulldoze the house and live in the apartment. This would drastically reduce property tax, utility, and maintenance costs for the total property.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')
I think I'd be bothered living in the apartment while a strange couple lived in relative luxury in the house, Byron. Just doesn't seem right after the 25 years of off-and-on work and money I've put into this place.

You're right, bulldozing the house is a silly, angry idea. Perhaps I could bulldoze the garage/apt. though. I don't really need it, and costs would come down somewhat.

Then I'd just hang on in the house until I broke MY hip, preferably within reach of my pistol.

I have strongly considered the auction possibility. The complication there is my mother and what to do with her. She's got her heels dug in now and I don't blame her for that.

If she lives another 10 years I'll be 63 and maybe too old to make a big, physically demanding change myself . . .

Realistically, I guess I'll rent it out once my ex has moved out and things have settled down. Obviously the key is finding the right person or couple.

A VA State Police woman who stopped by here once (when I wasn't living here) asked if she could rent it, but my parents said no. Not the answer I'd have given!

[Revi]

I worked at an orchard in Falls Church and there was an organic farm next door, but that was in 1979. I'm sure it's solid suburbia now. It was encroaching then.

There's a great movie, The Real Dirt on Farmer John you should rent. Maybe some kind of a collaborative could happen.

I would say that there is an answer that doesn't involve renting to difficult tenants and that allows somebody to make use of some of your land.

Maybe there are some young people who would love to try farming that could live there.

I know you have a pond, and some arable land.

It's a thought.