I agree! I escaped, AGAIN! Oh, but so much has happened in that timeframe.
After the split with that Southern gentleman, I decided to continue on my quest, with my decision to move South. The job gets worse every day, the stress is beyond a reasonable level and not just by my standards; every single person I’ve spoken to, in every department, feels the same as myself. Everyone is stressed beyond stressed beyond stressed!
Last October/November, I started doing some homework on the Internet; I googled North vs South Carolina, Pros & Cons of each State. I looked at Flood Maps, where the rivers & lakes are, Sink Holes, Tornado Alley (yes, in the Carolinas), Tax Incentives, Property Taxes, Personal Taxes, Taxes on Social Security, then I googled Reputable Builders in SC. I called Realtors for their opinions on those builders and decided upon one.
During Thanksgiving, I went to visit a few of the builder’s communities where I thought I’d like to hang my hat and found in order to purchase one of the builder’s homes, I’d have to be pre-approved. However, in order to be pre-approved to purchase a home in the State of SC, you’ve got to have a job in the State of SC. I spoke with folks in the finance companies; they decided to run it as a Vacation Home, but their companies didn’t like my debt to income ratio. In the end, they told me to sell my current home & come back after I had. I found another way.
In the meantime, a friend who works for Coldwell Banker saw my posts on FB and noted she could do a Market Analysis on my home, when I was ready. She did and suggested I make my home appear ‘open & airy’. Basically? Get rid of your stuff! Ha! She should have seen it before she saw it! I asked where I should put it all? “Pack it up! Put it in your garage!” Well there’s a place I hadn’t thought of. When she finally took photos of the place, I sent them to my step-Mom; her comment was, “Holy Crap!!! It looks great!”
I went to Contract late March/early April on my brand new home in SC. Picked the model I wanted, all my colors (inside and out); flooring, cabinets, counters, add-on’s, etc. Just got back from the South this past weekend; the house is up, the roof was almost finished when I left, the inside rooms have been framed. It’s happening. I’m doing it. Told folks I feel as though I’m jumping off a cliff, hoping to sprout wings. They all say I’ll be just fine. I sold my home in CT after two weeks on the market.
It was time for a change; a New Direction!
I am SO happy for you!
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