To the Mountains....

Dear Friends and Family,
Its 8 pm and I'm writing early tonight as I really plan on going to sleep early. This has been a pretty interesting day.
I rolled out this morning and seeing the sad faces of Lady and Starr I relented and took them to the park. After a brisk walk in the chilly air we returned to have breakfast of oatmeal and dog food respectively.
I set up orders and sorted papers that cluttered my desk, finished researching for the day and then set out for Mountain View. The trip was totally pleasant as my Dan Brown book on tape regales me with the adventures of its characters. His books never bore a person and this one is certainly exciting. It is set in Washington DC, involves Masons, the CIA, wealthy patrons of the arts and has its scenes in the capital, then the capital basement, then the Library of Congress and moves on the National Cathedral. I'm on about CD 9 of the 14 now and really hate to leave the car, its that good.
When I listen to well written books they always prompt my thinking about life, my life, the ways I tend to limit my life and possibilities that are out there.
When I arrived in Mountain View I found a townhome, that is a two story structure which is attached to units on both sides but has a site, they own the ground vs a condo in which ownership is airspace, you own a certain percentage of all the ground but not the site you are on. This one was a townhome and was in decent condition. However a part of my appraisal is to consider a contractors written estimate on what the buyers want to do to the place and that amount is also roped into the loan. They are called 203(k) loans are not done as much anymore. I saw little wrong with the place but the buyers envision a much nicer more upgraded interior. The purchase price is $407K and the costs of updating is about 25K. My appraisal will consider a value as if the work was already completed. Comparables suggest high $400s to low $500s for this 1200 sf home. After a quick lunch at Taco Bell I headed next to another mountain, Mountain House near Tracy. Mountain House is a community that has been on the planners desks for years, many years. Eventually it will be a huge community with thousands of homes and residents. Right now it has a lot of homes, more than I realized. Pulte has built a lot there. The house I saw was over 3,800 sf and sits on nearly 1/2 an acre. From the street it looked nice but then I drew closer, yikes. The notice on the door said eviction Nov. 4. Once I located the key and went in I was shocked. Personal things from clothes to computers, printers, furniture, pots and pans, trash was spread through out the house. Even outside stuff was strewn everywhere. Here is the wonderful huge house and it is just filled with trash and many good items too. It looks like they left with an hours warning or something. However aside from needing paint and carpet cleaning I don't think the house is damaged much at all. Since I was working for a bank who now owns the house I have to report what they should price it at and how much it will cost to make it whole. Amazingly it will not sell for as much as the townhome in Mountain View even when fixed up perfect. Yet it sold originally for over $700K. These are tough times for a majority of people I think and nothing is getting better fast.
Washington is doing all the wrong things to promote jobs and to built the country up, you don't tax, you give people a break. You don't add new programs, you try to be frugal. I think the citizens of the country get it, just the politicians don't get it but they will soon. Even today over 20,000 people visited congress to urge them to slow the spending.
This has been a good day, I've had heavy coughing spells but I have just kept moving. Can you imagine measuring a 3800 sf house? Lets just say it takes a bit.
This evening I met with Milan, who is a personal trainer at Club One. We went over the details about me even measuring various parts of my body, that was interesting! My body density was 38.5, not good at all. Next Monday night she will help me learn the machines and get me started.
Tomorrow night I have little visitors, Keanna and perhaps Kallie too. That will be an adventure, it always is. Fun non stop!
Good night to all,

love

tim