I would appreciate any ideas on a mysterious old home/property I am trying to buy.

[Johnny_Ray_Wilson]

I found this old house I fell in love with. It is on a really curvy road and is completely hidden from public view. I was looking for a place to pee.o). Its grown up really bad around it, nothing a tractor and bush hog can't take care of. County records only have it listed at 1400 sq ft, but hidden beneath the house is a tremendous unfinished basement clearly twice the size of the original house. . The unfinished portion pushes out into the back clearing, with a huge great room, very nice fireplace, and 7 more framed rooms. Original house is all hardwood flooring, good roof, and this place has very good bones. And an adjacent combo well house/ shop no one can see until they go to back of house.

Also mostly hidden about 50 yards from the house is a double tennis court, nicely hi-rise chain-link fence. Amazingly in remarkable condition. Most of the property improvements appear to have been done in the late 80s/early 90s. It is as if someone simply stopped working on it and left it there to rot. Someone with a lot of money and clearly loved it. The unfinished workmanship started out with some very excellent, well thought out labor. But its been vandalized - all wiring stripped out of it, anything metal/copper has been stripped away from it. Most of the windows broken.

After a lot of research and many phone calls, I discovered it was originally built in '74, purchased in '89 by a wealthy old couple for one of their sons. It is still registered to an elderly widow who passed away 10 years ago. I finally contacted 2 of the 4 surviving children and both say they want to sell, but not advertise it. They live 100 miles away. I emailed them pics of the house, informing them of the vandalism. They know about the vandalism. There are no liens or foreclosure. One sibling says they definately want to rid themselves of it and not pay property taxes, the other was uncertain.

They agreed to meet me this morning to begin negotiations. Willing to take cash money. I took the day off for this. They did not show up there, have not answered any phone calls. Neighbors say a big family moved in about 15-20 years ago, constantly making improvements, then simply moved out without a word to anyone. They say it is mostly forgotten, never talked about, and a really spooky place to be around.

 

[KRCummings]

The only part of that I might believe is that there's an old house.

 

[islandman]

Is a bush hog a piece of equipment or a farm animal?

 

[Luk]

The only part of that I might believe is that there's an old house.

You mean the part about "them" putting lots of money into it and dumping it isn't believable? Or the part about the county having it listed at 1400sqft while the basement (which was obviously built before the home) not being listed at all? Or the part about the tennis court existing and the chain link fence being in remarkable shape after 20 years?

 

[sereneone4u]

I think it sounds great and I hope it works out for you, Johnny

 

[koalabear]

I found this old house I fell in love with. It is on a really curvy road and is completely hidden from public view. I was looking for a place to pee.o). Its grown up really bad around it, nothing a tractor and bush hog can't take care of. County records only have it listed at 1400 sq ft, but hidden beneath the house is a tremendous unfinished basement clearly twice the size of the original house. . The unfinished portion pushes out into the back clearing, with a huge great room, very nice fireplace, and 7 more framed rooms. Original house is all hardwood flooring, good roof, and this place has very good bones. And an adjacent combo well house/ shop no one can see until they go to back of house.

Also mostly hidden about 50 yards from the house is a double tennis court, nicely hi-rise chain-link fence. Amazingly in remarkable condition. Most of the property improvements appear to have been done in the late 80s/early 90s. It is as if someone simply stopped working on it and left it there to rot. Someone with a lot of money and clearly loved it. The unfinished workmanship started out with some very excellent, well thought out labor. But its been vandalized - all wiring stripped out of it, anything metal/copper has been stripped away from it. Most of the windows broken.

After a lot of research and many phone calls, I discovered it was originally built in '74, purchased in '89 by a wealthy old couple for one of their sons. It is still registered to an elderly widow who passed away 10 years ago. I finally contacted 2 of the 4 surviving children and both say they want to sell, but not advertise it. They live 100 miles away. I emailed them pics of the house, informing them of the vandalism. They know about the vandalism. There are no liens or foreclosure. One sibling says they definately want to rid themselves of it and not pay property taxes, the other was uncertain.

They agreed to meet me this morning to begin negotiations. Willing to take cash money. I took the day off for this. They did not show up there, have not answered any phone calls. Neighbors say a big family moved in about 15-20 years ago, constantly making improvements, then simply moved out without a word to anyone. They say it is mostly forgotten, never talked about, and a really spooky place to be around.

They are afraid to sell it, someone might discover the bodies buried in the basement.

 

[GuiltyAsCharged]

You just describes a house well over 1400 square feet.

 

[lonesomeloser]

Purchased For A Son?

I found this old house I fell in love with. It is on a really curvy road and is completely hidden from public view. I was looking for a place to pee.o). Its grown up really bad around it, nothing a tractor and bush hog can't take care of. County records only have it listed at 1400 sq ft, but hidden beneath the house is a tremendous unfinished basement clearly twice the size of the original house. . The unfinished portion pushes out into the back clearing, with a huge great room, very nice fireplace, and 7 more framed rooms. Original house is all hardwood flooring, good roof, and this place has very good bones. And an adjacent combo well house/ shop no one can see until they go to back of house.

Also mostly hidden about 50 yards from the house is a double tennis court, nicely hi-rise chain-link fence. Amazingly in remarkable condition. Most of the property improvements appear to have been done in the late 80s/early 90s. It is as if someone simply stopped working on it and left it there to rot. Someone with a lot of money and clearly loved it. The unfinished workmanship started out with some very excellent, well thought out labor. But its been vandalized - all wiring stripped out of it, anything metal/copper has been stripped away from it. Most of the windows broken.

After a lot of research and many phone calls, I discovered it was originally built in '74, purchased in '89 by a wealthy old couple for one of their sons. It is still registered to an elderly widow who passed away 10 years ago. I finally contacted 2 of the 4 surviving children and both say they want to sell, but not advertise it. They live 100 miles away. I emailed them pics of the house, informing them of the vandalism. They know about the vandalism. There are no liens or foreclosure. One sibling says they definately want to rid themselves of it and not pay property taxes, the other was uncertain.

They agreed to meet me this morning to begin negotiations. Willing to take cash money. I took the day off for this. They did not show up there, have not answered any phone calls. Neighbors say a big family moved in about 15-20 years ago, constantly making improvements, then simply moved out without a word to anyone. They say it is mostly forgotten, never talked about, and a really spooky place to be around.

It was bought for one of their sons in 1989? Was that son in the military? Well, the Gulf War began in January, 1991. Maybe he was called back to duty in 1990, lost his life over there, and the family was so distraught they just up and left it. Maybe the house is HAUNTED?? People just don't leave nice houses like that!

Do you know any of the history of the house from 1974 till the old woman bought it in 1989?

 

[bobinks2]

snip... It is still registered to an elderly widow who passed away 10 years ago. I finally contacted 2 of the 4 surviving children and both say they want to sell.... snip

Assuming the woman's estate split up the house equally between her 4 children, you'll need to get ALL four children to agree to your offer and sign your contract before you can buy it. 3 out of 4 won't do.

>re what's a bush hog - A bush hog is a heavy duty mower that's mounted behind a tractor. You can run over and cut down thick brush and groups of trees up 1 to 2 inches in diameter with it. I've taken down trees closer to 6 inches in diameter with one, but the front end tends to lift up off the ground until the weight of the tractor is enough to break the tree trunk, then it eats it up. You have to hit the larger trees one at a time.

 

[neci]

that sounds like a huge, fun project. good luck. i salivated over 15 acres the other day. if it's your dream, go for it. you aren't getting any younger.

 

[lonesomeloser]

Good Point.........BUT......

Assuming the woman's estate split up the house equally between her 4 children, you'll need to get ALL four children to agree to your offer and sign your contract before you can buy it. 3 out of 4 won't do.

>re what's a bush hog - A bush hog is a heavy duty mower that's mounted behind a tractor. You can run over and cut down thick brush and groups of trees up 1 to 2 inches in diameter with it. I've taken down trees closer to 6 inches in diameter with one, but the front end tends to lift up off the ground until the weight of the tractor is enough to break the tree trunk, then it eats it up. You have to hit the larger trees one at a time.

Very good point! All the children would have to agree on the sale of the house, else the house cannot be sold, have experienced this terrible situation myself. BUT, this does not answer the question as to why the son just up and left his house. And, why would the family not just sell it and split the sale of the house in equal parts? This way no one prospers, but by selling it, everyone benefits! This is definitely a mysterious and bizarre situation.

 

[off2bed]

Who'd want to sell right now? Real Estate prices suck, for sellers.

 

[islandman]

>re what's a bush hog - A bush hog is a heavy duty mower that's mounted behind a tractor. You can run over and cut down thick brush and groups of trees up 1 to 2 inches in diameter with it. I've taken down trees closer to 6 inches in diameter with one, but the front end tends to lift up off the ground until the weight of the tractor is enough to break the tree trunk, then it eats it up. You have to hit the larger trees one at a time.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Who'd want to sell right now? Real Estate prices suck, for sellers.

Nancy Pelosi made millions last year selling real estate to lobbyists.

 

[Weird Harold]

You just describes a house well over 1400 square feet.

There's probably only 1400 sqft of finished living space -- garages and unfinished basements aren't counted as "finished living space."

Sounds like a nice plot bunny, but you're going to need a real estate agent to handle the details like tracking down all of the owners and getting a clear title.

 

[richard_daily]

Sounds like you have your heart set on it, which means you're not likely to get a good deal...

You did do your homework on it, but ultimately, if one person wants to sell and the other doesn't, you're kind of ass-out.

In this case, it sounds like there's a reason that it's been sitting for so long.

However, you can always put in an offer so that they know that you're serious. It might not work out now, but they may call you up in 6 months or a year and you'll be in good shape to negotiate the price down from there.

 

[where]

You mean the part about "them" putting lots of money into it and dumping it isn't believable? Or the part about the county having it listed at 1400sqft while the basement (which was obviously built before the home) not being listed at all? Or the part about the tennis court existing and the chain link fence being in remarkable shape after 20 years?

basements can be built retrospectively. lots of people sink dosh into a house, run out before they finish it and galavanised steel in a warm dry climate?

Sounds like you have your heart set on it, which means you're not likely to get a good deal...

You did do your homework on it, but ultimately, if one person wants to sell and the other doesn't, you're kind of ass-out.

In this case, it sounds like there's a reason that it's been sitting for so long.

However, you can always put in an offer so that they know that you're serious. It might not work out now, but they may call you up in 6 months or a year and you'll be in good shape to negotiate the price down from there.

listen to this man, Johnny, he knows what he's talking about.

 

[philosophygirl]

I agree with Kybs, listen to Richard. Good luck Johnny.

 

[Johnny_Ray_Wilson]

The only part of that I might believe is that there's an old house.

You are upset because it has a tennis court and not a football field.

You just describes a house well over 1400 square feet.

Yes. It is listed at 1400 sq ft. The incomplete portions are 80-90% complete, yet deemed unfinished. Property value assessments done by local governments assess only what is finished, the amount of acreage, whatever else is deemed of value on the tax roll, and registered owner. That information is at every county clerks' office.

It was bought for one of their sons in 1989? Was that son in the military? Well, the Gulf War began in January, 1991. Maybe he was called back to duty in 1990, lost his life over there, and the family was so distraught they just up and left it. Maybe the house is HAUNTED?? People just don't leave nice houses like that!

Do you know any of the history of the house from 1974 till the old woman bought it in 1989?

According to one of the neighbors, someone bought a lot of wooded land in the 70s there and built the house and tennis courts. It was a vacation home for them. No one really lived there until '89. That same neighbor said he used to cut the grass and keep an eye on it when he was a kid and had keys to it for a few years.

In '89 the house was sold along with a lot of land across the road from it. It was a dirt road until paved in '96. A modern, 2 story barn is directly across the road from the house; however, it and all but the 4 acres the house sits on were sold off shortly after the old widow passed on. The barn was clearly intended for horses, but no longer being used.

that sounds like a huge, fun project. good luck. i salivated over 15 acres the other day. if it's your dream, go for it. you aren't getting any younger.

I could get use to it. I could live the rest of my life in this area. At times, it is like stepping back in time for me. The people are simpler here.

Sounds like you have your heart set on it, which means you're not likely to get a good deal...

You did do your homework on it, but ultimately, if one person wants to sell and the other doesn't, you're kind of ass-out.

In this case, it sounds like there's a reason that it's been sitting for so long.

However, you can always put in an offer so that they know that you're serious. It might not work out now, but they may call you up in 6 months or a year and you'll be in good shape to negotiate the price down from there.

Doing apartment restorations and house maintenance are my livelihood these days. I rarely allow my feelings or emotions to be a factor in any decision making process, but in this case logic is taking a backseat.

You are correct. I am not going to force the issue though. The inheritors of that estate will have to make a unified decision. I have done what I can for now.

 

[rosco rathbone]

The journey to real estate tycoon begins with a single step...

 

[kbate]

You are correct. I am not going to force the issue though. The inheritors of that estate will have to make a unified decision. I have done what I can for now.

There is one thing you can do:

Get an agent to draw up a sales contract - with a price (low price) and send it to the one person who definitely wants a sale.

Give them a number and let them think.


***
Another thing is:

Banks do not like to finance "projects" or abandoned houses. Insurance likes them even less - begin looking into these.

 

[Saint Peter]

This is trouble. ^^^

They did not show up there, have not answered any phone calls.

So is this.

 

[rosco rathbone]

http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/clipart/haunted1.jpg

 

[islandman]

The journey to real estate tycoon begins with a single step...

I bought my lottery ticket. You?

 

[rosco rathbone]

I bought my lottery ticket. You?

I invested in asteroid mining.