Debby finally moved on, and her landfall and exit were so undramatic here they aren't worth mentioning. The real rain came when the storm was offshore in the Gulf, and the closer it came the more the weather improved. Go figure. Now, for the first time in nearly a week the sky is clear and blue, and now the HEAT is coming. Upper 90s by the weekend - I know we are not alone in this. Freakishly, it looks like Asheville will be HOTTER than here.
I've been missing Asheville extra much for the last week or so because my son and daughter-in-law were shopping for their first house. I wished I could have been there shopping with them, but I referred them to an agent I'd met at a weekend continuing ed class - we'd hit it off, and she's in my corporate family. After their first day with her my son reported that she reminded them of me. That's right kids, my motherly influence can be felt from hundreds of miles away, and they are probably grateful it was my more objective and less intensely maternal surrogate and not me.
They found a house they really liked, and after the usual pre-contract dithering and seller drama was overcome, they went under contract today. I swore to the AVL agent that I wouldn't backseat drive and I didn't, and I'm really pleased with their choice - good schools, level quarter acre lot, and public water and sewer and paved public road! That made this Realtor Mom's heart sing - I really don't like to see first-time buyers on a tight budget getting into the shared roads, shared wells, and other funky things that are common in the mountains. I know "Everybody does it, it's okay!" but this city girl was weirded out more than a few times by the casual way things like road maintenance and, oh, potable water supply and flushing the toilets, were addressed by some sellers. It's fine if it's your vacation home and you have cash to spend to fix things that don't work in the long run because the view is magical, but for first time buyers on a tight budget? No way. Anyway, they chose wisely, and let's all send positive vibes for a smooth contract-to-close. I know they are in experienced hands that take no shit, and that's almost as good as being there, and probably easier on my son and daughter-in-law. I'm sure my DiL's parents can dither enough for me, too.
And the house is adorable - brand new construction nestled in a sweet older neighborhood. Granite countertops and hardwood floors, baby! Those of us who bought our "starter home" in the era of "vinyl flooring and be grateful if it doesn't have avocado appliances," can only shake our heads at how spoiled kids are today! :-)
It's a tiny house and very far from a McMansion, but new and nicely appointed and with a nice level backyard. Supergirl has already presented her parents with her wish list - there should be a swing, a slide, and a sandbox for starters. Wait till she finds out she can make the walls any color she wants! Namaw will have to visit for that. Namaw can cut a paint line like a pro - I even had a pro tell me so. ;-)
Oh! And the funny on this, and proof that everything in Asheville is connected in 6 degrees or less? The listing agent on this house is the same gal who held the cattle fence up so I could drive under it. When I saw her name online as the listing agent I burst out laughing! It's just SO ASHEVILLE! It's small but not THAT SMALL, and the odds that I'd have met the listing agent were very, very slim, but that's how Asheville works.
I do miss that magic, but I do find it now and then here in the Big City. I hosted an open house a couple of weeks ago (and I'm holding it open again this Sunday, it's an adorable and perfect little house, I'm determined to find owners who will love it). I was getting the mail and ran into a neighbor who used to work in the office at my kids' elementary school back in the 80s. The kids don't remember her but I do. She was a kickass "school secretary" - which back in the day meant she ran the shop. She's a pistol - less than 5 ft. tall and full of attitude, and she has to be somewhere in her 70s but makes me tired with her endless energy and spunk. So, we were talking and she asked as people do about real estate, and I chatted about the market and said I'd held an open house in a totally adorable house by Bear Lake, and Holy Six Degrees, She Had Lived On That Street, Back in the Day! So she gave me a rundown on the history of the neighborhood, then asked if I played bridge (no) or drank wine (Hell YEAH!) so after she gets back from her impromptu New England trip we will get together for wine and gossip.
So that was pretty cool, and I have to quit telling myself that Asheville is the only place with magic. AVL may have concentrated magic - a county with 250,000 people, where going from Asheville to Black Mountain is significant, is by nature more concentrated synergy than a metro area with 2 million, when people don't think twice about driving from here to there for social things. We are as connected here, the connections are just mixed into a bigger mass of energy.
Doggie update: Dare I say this out loud? Both dogs are eating the same food from a can, and so far, so good...note I didn't say anyone was doing FINE, because that would jinx it. Dogs are eating the same food and both like it. That's all I'll say about that.
No comments:
Post a Comment