So, while working with my builder on the new investment house construction, we made an executive decision about the Master Bathroom.  In trying to keep a great bathroom, but reduce costs, we decided to flip the entire bathroom so that we could change the window that was over the shower.  I am adamant about having natural light in bathrooms, but the long window over the shower was going to be more expensive because I wanted to have a cultured marble window sill (knowing that tenants will store their shampoo bottles, etc., on the window sill and it needed to be indestructible!)

SO, rather than having that expense, we decided to just flip the room so that we could put a regular window and wooden window sill.  This window will open so that during the 2 weeks of the year that Memphis has nice weather, it can be opened to let the four breezes blow!

Personally, I think this helped the overall decorating possibilities of the Master Suite anyway.  It allowed for a HUGE LONG WALL for decorating.  (I’m assuming that the BED will be along the left wall and directly across from the bed will be a great place for a long dresser with a TV on it, etc.

So, while out and about… while waiting for my lots to be listed on the County Register’s site, I thought I’d drive by them the other day just to see what traffic is like at that time of the day… are neighbors home at 9 a.m. or are most gone off to a job of some sort? So, I’m driving through after dropping off my hubby’s dry cleaning and discovered his little thing hanging out on my lots.

I watched her for a while, then did the block and came back to see if the sound of my car would scare her off.  Not a chance, as it turns out.  She was still there munching on grass.

I find it fascinating as these lots are TINY and they are right in the middle of a subdivision with cars passing by often.  This, by the way, will be the view out the Master Bedroom of 2 of my houses… just some nice woods.  No one knows for how long, but the land behind these lots is totally undeveloped.  At least for now, the view will be wonderful!  Maybe I’ll add a small deck off the Master Bedroom (on the back of the 2nd floor) so that the future tenants can sit out there and watch this kind of wildlife.  I wouldn’t mind that at all!

I’m FINALLY in the game.  It’s been a LONG time coming, but I’m finally able to say that we are moving forward… FINALLY!!!!

Let’s just get one thing out there in the open… when you buy property from the government you can expect that they don’t move very quickly… it’s pretty much like waiting in line at the DMV!

I believe I mentioned in a post that I had bought 4 lots from the Shelby County Land Bank.  Well, there is a process that has to be followed… in triplicate it seems, like all government work.  I had to put a sizeable deposit down and pay for the newspaper ads that told the world (well, anyone who reads that paper) that I had made an offer to purchase the 4 lots to a tune of $200 per LOT! OUCH!  BUT I kept a cool head knowing that the purchase price was really a great deal.

After waiting 3 weeks I discovered that no one came forward to  bid against me for these lots, WHEW! My first hurdle down… 47 more to go!

Then, there was a City Council vote… who knew!  That would happen at the end of the month… yet another 3 weeks waiting for that to happen.  It was a mere formality, so just time served I suppose was my payment for that bit.

Then, the letter stating that I had 30 days to pay the balance on the lots, or if I failed to purchase them, I’d be barred from buying any more properties for a year.  So, I got my attorney on the horn and got him to get HIS stuff going… Lord only knows what all he did, but he did manage to get me Title Insurance and Surveys and things of this nature so that I wouldn’t lose anything else if I went through with this deal.

All that came back good to go, so I went and paid for my lots the last week before I lost them.

Now, there is another waiting period, the Land Bank said that it would take 7 – 8 weeks for me to receive my Deed in the mail.  Seven – Eight WEEKS!?!?!  My attorney wanted to go down and pick up the paperwork and walk it over to the court and have it registered immediately, but the Land Bank kept not wanting to do that for some odd reason, so now I’m in a holding pattern yet again, but this too shall pass.  My attorney also said that I didn’t have to wait to get the mailed Deed before construction, only had to wait until the Deed showed up as Registered through our county Register’s office.  So now, I check daily to see if it got registered.  Not only am I chomping at the bit to get going, so is my builder.  It turned off cold here this week and it has rained a bit over the last few weeks.  I really just want to get the foundation in the ground before all the winter rain and nastiness starts.  If that can happen, I can keep a few folks employed this winter, which works out well for all of us.

So, above you see the plan.  This is the final plan. I do not plan to change it again, but reserve that right as I am a woman after all.

Hopefully this will be a profitable venture and the other 3 lots remaining will have an easier go at this home building venture.

{{{{{{   Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!   }}}}}}}

I hate waiting, but better cool my jets down so that I don’t make mistakes… especially those with lots of “zeros” at the end!

Visit again soon to see how things are going.  I hope to post photographs as we go.  First step already accomplished, we have an address now…. Well, the builder got one, so just holding on until the gate opens!

It’s taken me a bit of time in planning – But I’d like everyone’s ideas on the two plans attached.  I have designed these to be built on one of the lots I have purchased.  The lot size is just barely larger than the footprint of this house, so expansion is not an option.

The ONLY difference in these two houses is the second floor.  I’d like opinions on which you like best.

Please note that this house was designed as a rental unit using minimal kitchen and bath cabinets.  So, be kind when you notice that there aren’t ample cabinets… there is a HUGE pantry (for those of you who rent and hate the fact that there are never enough cabinets).

My main question is, would you prefer the master bedroom on the front of the house, or on the rear.  What about the laundry location? Which do you prefer? Linen closet location?

Thanks in advance, Janne