Bugging Out

While walking the dogs lately, I’ve noticed there’s more than a few vacant houses. There are a few near me that appeared to have been rentals. The most notable is the Somalis that lived next door. It’s a small 3×2 house like mine, but there were always six cars or so there. I met the three sisters when I first moved in. They seemed nice enough. I counted three kids I think, and two dudes although who could tell. I used to see the one dude suffering like a champ mowing the lawn.

I saw the listing on realtor.com. Heh. That’ll be a disappointment for someone. The interior looks nice. I bet it doesn’t now. And the lawn is a shambles. It’s green and trimmed in the listing. Today, its dead, overgrown, full of weeds and dead spots. I’m not too sorry to see them go. As I type this, there’s someone out working on the lawn.

Down the street there was a youngish couple with small kids. That house is being fixed up at the moment. I don’t see it listed yet. I never met them, but I’ll miss them all the same. They had two small kids that would say hi and try to talk with me as I ran past when running twice a week. “Hi!” I’d say hi back. “I got a car!” as he held up his toy. I liked when they were out.

The people across the street moved out not long after I moved in. A crew showed up and refurbished the place and a Filipino family moved in for awhile. There gone now. And I think the owners have Air BnB-ed it. I see different people show up for a day or two, maybe a week, then dissappear.

There are maybe 5-6 I see when I walk. I wonder if they are flipping the places, or they were rentals. The ones in really bad shape are probably flippers. There appears to be a little over a dozen houses for sale in my immediate neighborhood, ranging from $220k to $299K. Most are like mine, small 3×2, maybe 1600 Sq. Ft. The one for $220K is right around the corner. I wonder if I should buy it. Wonder what the rates are for an old dude to get a mortgage? I can get a ‘manufactured’ house on three acres, off of the fun twisty road I like for $100k less.

There a around 10 for rent, all below $2K a month. One around the corner, north a bit is cheap – $1675. The Somali house is the same cost as mine and not as nice.

I need to start some planning here. My lease is up in November, around Thanksgiving, and they sent me a notice saying they won’t renew my lease. There’s an inspection team coming, and my guess is the owner (who’s Japanese, living in Tokyo) is going to sell. What’s irksome is the dude at the property management company said it was routine, happens every year (it doesn’t) and they are looking to see if anything needs refurbish. Two hours later, I get the email about non-renewal. Fuggin bastard.

Whatever, I need to get moving. Ideally, I’d like to stay in this town. I like it here. Although I may entertain moving Northwest so I have access to the good doctors at Baylor, and am closer to my kids. I have to think about that, since I’ve made more than a few friends here.

There’s really too much up in the air. I have no idea where the Girl is headed. I have no idea if I’ll have a job come December. Hell, I’m not sure about November, so I really got to get in gear. Dragging my feet could be catastrophic.

Gotta get a fire under me.