Entry for May 28, 2007
hello! we have spent 6 intense days of home searching and we are down to 2 possibilities, one is more possible than the other. Below this message (it starts with the word HOUSE in bold) is a full explanation of the house and surrounding area. we may put down a bid in a couple days. the other one is only land and altho lovely on top of a hill surrounded by trees and farms with a gorgeous view, it has very little flat land to build on, which is why its being sold in the first place. but we will be talking to the owner tomorrow and camping out on it tomorrow night. the university here has a child development center that i may work at if there is an opening and we have met so many ppl everyone is so friendly and every day is like a sunday drive. we are right next to the wayne national forest and several state parks, so there are a lot of trails and lakes. its really beautiful and very liberal and veg friendly. our hosts have been so good to us. right now we are out about a half hour from athens staying with a couple and their 3 year old boy in their straw bale house. we will be camping for the next few days, we are tired and a little worn out...we have seen so many houses and land (around 50) and its hot and sometimes frustrating, so we are taking a breather. we found a neat UU in athens to go to and there is a farmers market saturdays and wednesdays. everyone who lives here loves it and has been so helpful in answering our every question. anyway, take a look at the attached explanation of our possible house, it has so much potential. josie is loving the outside time and we are hoping that once we settle, we can get her a friend. i hope ya'll are ready to help us move in a month or so, we would love for everyone to see where we will soon call home.
House: 13070 Dutch creek rd, athens ohio (look up on yahoo maps, mapquest is wrong) 2 story brick, enter on ½ floor. 28x34 ft footprint. Walk upstairs to entryway with bay windows, into large living room/dining room area. Living room has stone fireplace with wood burning stove inside, skylight windows, wood floor. Bathroom, bedroom, office, kitchen off living area. Kitchen is older with gas stove and separate oven, breakfast area overlooking entrance into bay windows. Walk through kitchen to get on back deck around pool (we may remove and complete the deck). Downstairs (3/4 size of upstairs) you enter area with woodburning heater, room to left (needs update). Laundry area and utility area. Walk out downstairs door into fenced side yard. Arched breezeway without roof between house and garage. Oriented to road, which faces south to south west (good for solar heating) Utilities-Spring water from spring on property, septic, propane stove and heat Land features -10 acres of pasture, maybe a little into the woods, 1/2 acre of yard, ½ acre by creek across the road (good for garden) -all property on south facing hill, gentle slope with some flatter spots -healthy looking pond with birds and frogs and cattail and trees around perimeter (30 ft diameter) -dry stream along property line -About 10 medium sized trees around house, 3 in field -14 minutes from Athens downtown, 7.4 miles -on desirable street with a few like minded people, low traffic -10 minutes to nice state park with 20 miles of hiking trails -woods behind property deep (1.5 miles) and wide (many miles) -abundant wildlife and birds Other buildings-2.5 car garage (20x20 ft), attached to two story apartment (20x15 ft footprint, downstairs currently woodshop, upstairs one room, no plumbing, opens onto second story deck behind apt), shed 1 (tiny, old), shed 2 (10x20, old, leaning), shed 3 (8x15 ft), barn (newer, 20x30) future possibilities -land to maybe build another house, then renting the current house -improving the apartment with plumbing to make it rentable -place for Reike hut -planting trees, gardens, orchard, grapevines, etc -allow brush to grow on property lines for privacy and wildlife -fence in yard for dog(s!) -room for dogs to roam
issues -eye doctor owns woods behind house and hunts there -no mature trees on property -land and buildings have been neglected for several years, but residents just now moving out -water pressure low (no pump for spring water) -rumor of issues with septic -possibility of barking dogs next door price -unknown, hopefully $80,000 up to $120,000 -need to negotiate with bank because it is a foreclosure. We have spoken with a resident who lived there for 20 years and a neighbor and others who know the street.
