So, Some Seasoned Advice?

[Deleted]

Life update first - both kids still working at a local fast food joint and helping to support themselves. One has one more year of college locally. I am writing and selling rock. Doing well on both fronts and finally have more income! yay! 

I know the cartel saga sounds like a movie, but I found out today that they now own more than 70% of the 1600 parcels of land in my subdivision. (Subdivision is all 2.5 acre parcels)

Talked to the HOA manager and the law, and apparently their plan is to vote their people on to our HOA board, get rid of the HOA, and install locked gates at all the entrances. They are also saying they will revoke the current "right of passage" for law enforcement here because our roads are private. This keeps the sheriff and inspectors out of their controlled area. Neato... Not...

They now own the majority in 3 such subdivisions here and are working on buying up two small towns. It is insane. I would never believe it if I didn't live here. Water trucks, dirt trucks, heavy equipment 24/7. Literally. 24/7. They own all the land around me now and all of my street and those that adjoin my property. There are about 4 of us here that they don't own yet. 

So, it appears I am going to be moving sooner rather than later. Fine, I want to move, and they will buy my land if I want to sell it to them. This is no longer a safe place to live for those of us who are not in their organization. The number I got today was $150K - cash.

What I need to know is how would I move if I don't have any cash before my house sells? Can I do a rent-back and still get the cash from my house to pay to move and to buy my next house? How does that work...

I have a 10K lien. So all said and done I will walk with about $130K. From that, I need to move, deal with the kid's living situation in the area, and buy my new house.

I am looking in a rural area with a pot ban on growing, so cheap house, great location for my hobby business, and I will have some cash left over for an ER fund.

We no longer smoke or grow, so it isn't an issue and living where the cartel can't invade is a good thing at this point for me. Argh.

So, how do I do this?

[Deleted]

How much stuff are you going to have to move? 

1) storage locker. 2) set up kid rental and bum off them for awhile.

[Shooby]

 I don't know all the backstory.  But, i think you just need to keep it simple.  Sell, get your money, then move.  You can put an offer on a new home on contigency that yours will sell, then when you close, that money can then go to your new purchase. 

[milee]

Great news that both boys are working and things are going well for your family. And although it's going to involve some tricky logistics, it's also good news that you'll get a chance to get out of your house and make some money on it.

Sale leasebacks are tough enough to pull off with reasonably sophisticated buyers and people who follow rules and the law... it is completely unrealistic to expect that selling your house to a drug cartel and renting it back for a while to allow you to move your stuff is going to work.  They are offering a cash deal because that's what they understand and will honor - they give you cash and you leave.  Period.

You can figure this out.  If you have to, one month prior to closing rent a storage unit and spend the month driving your stuff over to the storage unit one carload at a time.  Make sure it's all gone by closing day.  Then, even if you have to live in your car for a couple of days, the transaction is done and clean.

Good luck.

[giramomma]

Honestly, if you need cash, I wouldn't even bother with a storage locker. That's going to cost you money you don't have right now, anyway.

I'd sell as much of your stuff as you can and just start over fresh in a new place. Think in terms of keeping 1 or two suitcases worth of stuff.

I'd also work hard to find a short term sublet or rental situation. Word of mouth. Everyone you and your sons know. That's how I always got my sublets, etc when I was a renter and low on time and cash.

[Shooby]

If you are getting cash, it is even that much easier.  Find your new place, and then you close on the new place once cash is in hand.  And, don't rent a storage unit to keep stuff that really aren't things you use any longer.  Lighten up your stuff.  If you haven't literally put your hands on something in the past year, get rid of it.  It is very freeing to not be weighted down with so much.

[NoNamePerson]

Do you plan on selling to the drug lords? If so won't they give you 15 days after closing to get out of house? You have money in hand at that point so find a rental (apt). Of course I have no clue where you live now so don't know about the options. I would rent rather than buy since you could wind up in the same drug lord environment again unless you know the area really well.

Easy advice though from someone who has never had to deal with this type of thing. Also I would be talking to my son if something like this came up and he would have to understand why I am making the decisions I am making.  

Have you talked with them? Maybe they don't think Mom has to have a house at this point and can do with a smaller place for peace of mind and safety!!

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[happyhoix]

I agree with downsizing as much as possible before the move. Consider what you really need vs just stuff you own. Give stuff to your kids, or sell it on Craig's list, or donate.

If you don't have the money to rent a storage unit, do you have people who have a garage or basement where you could temporarily move some furniture? 

 

[resolution]

I am glad that things are going well for you and your family. Are your boys going to be renting a place in town or staying with you at the new home? If they are renting in town, it would probably be best to set that up before you close and then stay with them temporarily while you shop for a new home. 

If they are going to be living in your new home with you, perhaps you can make a contract for another home with a contingency that your sale goes though, and set the close date shortly after you close on your current home. Use Pods or a similar company that will move and store your stuff for a week in between houses and crash at a friend's house for a week. Stay at a rent by the week hotel or month to month rental if you can't find someone local to host you for a week, or possibly a local camp grounds if you have any with bathrooms/showers.

I agree it is probably better to sell or donate most of your stuff that you haven't used recently. When I moved cross country I got rid of about half of what I owned, and the remaining stuff was still a shocking amount.

[zibazinski]

Find a one bedroom and put a day bed in the living room. One with a trundle. So there's room for both boys if they need to spend the night with you. It's hard to tell whether it's better for you to rent or buy something outright. Are you able to buy anything outright for 150k or less? Do you even want to buy anywhere? Have you thought of a RV in a RV place? Those can be inexpensive and mobile.

[skubikky]

You really need to consider whether buying is going to be feasible.
Great suggestions up above regarding downsizing your possessions.
Be brutal about it.   The less you leave with, the easier life will be and the more options you'll have.

I love the idea of an RV.   You can get out of that cartel infested hell hole.

I would invest as much of the proceeds of the sale as is possible to build a nest egg.
Tying it up in a house/condo whatever might not be the best thing for you.
An RV won't need as much maintenance as a house in the long run and gives you freedom.
What an adventure you could have.

Glad that things are going well with your boys.

[zibazinski]

If you're worried about driving an RV, get a converted van or one of the back of a truck.

[lexxy703]

. I am writing and selling rock.

I'm sorry what? Around here selling rock means dealing rock cocaine.

[swamp]

Ask if they are interested in a post possession agreement.

You agree to stay X time, and pay for the utilities.  

[quince]

Selling geological samples?

[souldoubt]

May 20, 2016 11:30:20 GMT -5 lexxy703 said:

. I am writing and selling rock.

I'm sorry what? Around here selling rock means dealing rock cocaine.

First thing I thought when I read her post.  Figured she'd fit right in with the cartel...

As to the question other posters already gave good advice.  Given the situation I would want to be out of there as soon as possible once the sale is final.  Don't wait until the last few days to start getting your stuff together - go through what you have, figure what you need to keep, trash/sell the rest and be on your way.  

[Tiny]

Assuming this sale will be legal and go thru the routine way of buying/selling a house... when you are making the offer to sell your house to them - include a "post possession agreement" id RENT your house- as Swamp suggested. Maybe request 10 or 15 or 30 days. You close on the old house - the money is wired to your account AND you've got a place to live for 10 days (or how ever long is in the contract). Be firm on your selling price AND the post possession time AND what expenses you will pay... don't let them take money off the selling price. From what you describe - you staying in the house 10 or 15 or 30 days isn't going to inconvenience them in any way. I'd be VERY prepared to move by the closing - you want those post possession days to be more of a "safety net" than a "ok, I sold the house - what do I do now? where do I start?".


Since this should be handled like an ordinary everyday sale of a house - you shouldn't have to wait to start looking for a new home. Your purchase of the new home will be contingent on the sale of your current home. You'll probably close on your old house and then in the next 24 hours close on the new house. It's a bit nerve wracking to get it all coordinated BUT since the buyers of your house probably don't have any contingencies and probably aren't going to move anyone in immediately they might be more flexible.

[Deleted]

I have 3 cats, 3 dogs, and a giant iguana. So, renting an apartment isn't an option.

I have been brutally going through all of my stuff for the last couple years. I have very few things I actually care about, so moving stuff isn't so much an issue. But, households and garages contain a lot of stuff one needs no matter where they live. And, I can't just "have a garage sale" here. Not exactly in the middle of town...

I also use a wet saw to cut rocks and mineral specimens for sale every day, so I need to be able to accommodate that in my new housing, and living in a subdivision isn't on my radar at all.

I am looking at property in the 80K-100K range a couple hours south of here in the area I went to college in. I have friends in that area and know where to buy vs. where to avoid.

Before late-DH and I bought here, we were going to move to that area. I am now fairly certain it is where I want to move, and I can afford to do so, but not into a 3 bedroom, unless I buy another mobile, which I do not want to do.

I have considered renting an apt for the kids here locally for a year, and then after that, they can house themselves. They are 22 and 24, so not like I am kicking out teens on their own...

[swamp]

get down there and start looking, and put an offer in contingent on selling your place, with a 2 week post possession agreement.

[Chocolate Lover]

May 20, 2016 14:22:23 GMT -5 @workingshasta said:

I have 3 cats, 3 dogs, and a giant iguana. So, renting an apartment isn't an option.

I have been brutally going through all of my stuff for the last couple years. I have very few things I actually care about, so moving stuff isn't so much an issue. But, households and garages contain a lot of stuff one needs no matter where they live. And, I can't just "have a garage sale" here. Not exactly in the middle of town...

I also use a wet saw to cut rocks and mineral specimens for sale every day, so I need to be able to accommodate that in my new housing, and living in a subdivision isn't on my radar at all.

I am looking at property in the 80K-100K range a couple hours south of here in the area I went to college in. I have friends in that area and know where to buy vs. where to avoid.

Before late-DH and I bought here, we were going to move to that area. I am now fairly certain it is where I want to move, and I can afford to do so, but not into a 3 bedroom, unless I buy another mobile, which I do not want to do.

I have considered renting an apt for the kids here locally for a year, and then after that, they can house themselves. They are 22 and 24, so not like I am kicking out teens on their own...

Give them the security deposit, any other deposits they need, & a couple months worth of rent and let them get on with it.