Wednesday, August 24, 2016

No More Driveway

Canyon Ferry, MT  High 66  Low 46

We signed the papers and the house is sold. Jim worked so hard on that place but it was sort of worth it because the house sold in less than a week. Of course, it takes longer than that for the paperwork. What was really great was the fact that we didn’t have to go back to Billings for the closing. They emailed us the paperwork and our agent’s assistant set up an appointment for us with a Wells Fargo notary in Helena. Signed, sealed and delivered.

Well, almost. When they did the buyer’s inspection, they found that there were no wind tie down cables on the house. It seems that when we got the original FHA loan they weren’t required. It was a real pain to find someone to do them for us. Had trouble getting return phone calls until finally our realtor got involved. The repairman is now committed to getting the work done by the 1st of September. Once we pay him, we’re done.

It’s rather a strange feeling. I was thinking about next summer and it was hard to realize that we wouldn’t have to do any work on a house or a yard. What will we do with our time? We also don’t have a driveway to park in and the RV parks in Billings are soooo expensive. The KOA and Yellowstone River Parks both want $84 a night. Why in the world would anyone pay that kind of money in Billings, MT. The third RV park is $50 a night which is still way out of line.

Because the kids still live in Billings we do want to visit them so we joined the Moose. The Moose in Billings has five 30 amp sites for $25 a night. Hopefully one will be available for us when we show up.

I also talked to Aunt Happy on her birthday yesterday. She’s 103. Just amazing. She has a hard time hearing on the phone but she figured out it was me and wanted to know when we’d be back because she has some earrings she wants Jim to fix. She is such a trip.

31 comments:

  1. glad to hear the house is sold and there is a moose lodge w/ hookups close for when you visit.

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  2. Another big life change. No driveway. Who knew it would mean so much.

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  3. Congratulations! So nice when the final papers are signed and the sale is recorded. You can't park in the kids' driveway, or in front of their house? I can at my daughter's house, but not at my son's. The CC&Rs don't allow RVs on the street. Such a bummer. And San Diego is the same - super expensive RV parks. The Moose Lodge sounds like a good alternative. :)

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  4. Congratulations! We were so happy when our house sold and we could get out from under taking care of the YARD! Happy trails and travels.

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  5. That is wonderful to have your driveway sold. Now you can wander where ever the spirit moves you with no ties.
    Campgrounds are getting very expensive we all need some kind of discount to make it more affordable and still be able to move around.

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  6. I just can't imagine selling a house in one week. We have sold five over the years and each took months and months. Lucky you.

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  7. What did you have to do to join the Moose Lodge? We used to be members of the Billings Elks Lodge and they do have a huge parking lot but no hookups.

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  8. Congrats on the sale of your house! Ridiculous that KOA would charge that much! My sister was going to stay at one in South Lake Tahoe but it was $104.00 a night! I don't know what they're thinking! The Moose sounds like a much better deal!

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  9. Congratulations so happy it was short and sweet.

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  10. Congrats on selling the house. So nice of Aunt Happy to start a "to do" list to keep Jim busy now that you don't have the house!!

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  11. I'm sure that definitely is a load off your mind and pocketbook. Paying $85 a night isn't something I like to do. If we get stuck with that price, we better be on a nice beachfront site and not just in an RV park. Walmart works for one night.

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  12. OH my on the cost of the RV Parks. Happy for you to have the house sold and be done with that now. So travel on and be safe.

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  13. Happy birthday to Aunt Happy. I am 75 and can't hear well on a cellphone!

    I can't believe that an RV park costs so much in Billings! They must get a lot of traffic in the summer that will pay the price, although I can't imagine paying $84 a night anywhere in the country! KOA's always seem to charge more, but they are nice and easy to find when you've driven about the last mile you can manage for the day. Then you buy a pizza on the premises and you don't have to cook! (that's been my experience with KOA's).

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  14. Congratulations on the sell of your home Sandie. I can't believe Aunt Happy is 103...and wants her earrings fixed. So cute!

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  15. Congratulations! What a great feeling.

    103!!! Now that gal has some stories to tell.

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  16. Good for you finally getting the house sold. You're free now. We're going the other way, building a house, can't wait to see how I'm going to juggle keeping it up with our travels. :cO

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  17. Freedom!!! The house sold!!! Yay!!!

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  18. I love reading your blog and keeping up with you.

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  19. Congratulations, yeah Billings is ridiculous.

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  20. Congratulations, yeah Billings is ridiculous.

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  21. Hopefully it won't be too hot and the electric won't be a problem. The good news is that they do have a dump and water behind the building.

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  22. Hopefully it won't be too hot and the electric won't be a problem. The good news is that they do have a dump and water behind the building.

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  23. I have never heard about "wind-tie-down cables". What is that? You ties the house to the foundation? I thought houses were BOLTED to the foundation. At least that's how I would do it.

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  24. We have heard that the City of Billings does not allow Walmart parking. So I guess, that's what has led to the high prices in CGs.

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  25. Well done, now it's time to find some new adventures.

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  26. Like Peter + Beatrix, I've never heard of "wind tie-down cables" on a house. Sounds like a good idea on an awning on an RV, or perhaps a boat that's out of the water. Jim & Sandie, if you could find time to explain this business, it would be one less source of confusion among many in my life. :-)

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  27. Congratulations on the sale of the house...Very liberating, isn't it?

    When will you be back in AZ? We'll be there for a few days the first part of Oct.

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Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to reading your comments. Have a beautiful day.