The house next door...or how to NOT build a house

[jdurand]

Updates:

The part of the house above ground next to here is looking like overall it's not bad (other than that flat roof). My wife and I think the builder got in over his head with the deep basement, probably never did one before and the rocky ground here certainly didn't help.

Anyway, we've talked to him some lately, he's been interested in us selling this house. Originally he just wanted to buy the land here, flatten the house and build a quick house for sale.

Then he started thinking this is a really nice neighborhood, we even had a block party in the middle of the STAY AT HOME AND PANIC period.

He's also been looking at our yard and house from the roof of the one next door.

So in talking with us we showed him around a bit and he said this would be a nice place for HIM to live. THAT's a change. But, we had friends already buying the house.

Until yesterday. The friends told us due to the virus panic there's been a major job upset and there's no way they could afford it now. Riches to rags as it were...

I told the builder and he came over today, looked around inside. We mentioned having trouble donating stuff, the centers are often closed. He said no problem, he now supports a couple of non-profit groups. Any construction related materials he doesn't need go to a reuse-resell group that will try to use every spare bit to build low cost housing for people. Any household items he doesn't need will go to a non-profit that takes those items. He would definitely keep all the fruit trees (a lot), fish pond, and the chicken run.

Also, he knows we are uncertain when we can actually get into Russia due to the border closure. He said no problem, he doesn't need to be in here before January so we could stay as long as 31 December. We have to leave the USA before then anyway for tax reasons, we HAVE to sell the house and be gone between 3 July and 31 December, so even if we're renting a room from out sponsor's daughter in Sweden we'll be out of here.

Given all that, he made an offer and we agreed. He'll bring the family by shortly to see their new home.