All New Laudry Room Plumbing in 12/4/09

Before I can tear out the kitchen, I have to build a temporary kitchen downstairs in the basement.

The laundry room in the basement is 12' x 15' but unfinished. So, I am putting in walls, cabinets, counters, and a sink as the "temporary kitchen" in the basement.

Before I can do that, I had to have a plumber come and tear out the old cast iron drain pipe, add 2 new drains, and ADD new hot and cold running water for the sink as there was none before. $1,200 for the plumber! I think I am going to be a plumber in my next life. Now you know why I do this stuff myself!

*A little "perspective" on Newport Colonial Era homes, first. Most home are 200+ years old, with hand dug basements and only 5-6 feet of head room. Filled with mold and water as the foundations were built with beach sand masonry and rocks. It's rare to have a "laundry room" in the basement of a Newport home! My house is only 60 years old, so I have a real basement (unfinished).

So, the new laundry room will be dry walled with a drywall ceiling, white cabinets, white counter tops, white appliances. I plan to paint the floors with gray epoxy paint. It will be really clean and bright. Most basement laundry rooms are so dark and dingy. I already have a new washer and dryer I bought when I lived in Dayton.

This weekend, I installed and wired (6) recessed CAN lights, rewired the 220v Dryer outlet, and added and wired 3 GFCI outlets. ***You didn't know I was an electrician, did you? I purchased the counter top, sink and faucet today, along with (24) 2 x 4's and 20 sheets of drywall.

So, here are the PHOTOS of before the drywall goes in.
Next are cabinets and tops.
*There was one ceiling light before.

40 Dexter St, Newport, RI 02840 9/18/09

I have been looking at a winter rentals for the last 3 weeks (September to May) for a 1 or 2 bedroom and I just cannot rent. I think the worst is over in the housing market...and Interest Rates are still around 5%...

Everyday, I check realtor.com, yahoo real estate, zillow.com and several other real estate websites including Craigslist for a house to BUY. I have also been working with a Realtor for about a month and a half. I just cannot afford any of the homes in Newport.

3 weeks ago, there was a Craigslist posting on for only 3-4 days. ...if you did not know, on Craigslist, you can be "anonymous" and the owners names is concealed and no phone number.

From Iphone

I drove by the property listed address and looked in the windows...could not find anything out about the house. No signs, no furniture inside. The owner never replied to my email on Craigslist to take a look at it. So, I assumed they took it off the market.



Monday, I rode past again on my scooter at lunch and old car was out in front and a retired guy was cutting the grass. I stopped and asked if he knew how I could get in touch with the owner. He said he was the owner and gave me a tour. I went back again today with my camera and walked through the house again.

Anyway, For Sale By Owner; 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, 1 car attached garage CAPE style house on a quiet street with a nice back yard. The house is right on the city line for Newport and Middletown (you can see it on the map link below.) Like Oakwood to Kettering comparison.


View Larger Map

It is impossible to get a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with a full basement and attached garage in Newport for under $500k. This home was built in 1950, it is approx 1,300 sq. ft. and all new 30 year shingles, brand new windows and siding on the entire house. However, the inside has not been updated since 1950! The owner's mom passed away in January and he inherited it. There is no mortgage on the home. He was not sure if he wanted to sell it. But he owns 2 other homes and does not want to cut the grass anymore.

You can see from the pictures, I need to put in a new kitchen, 2 baths, and refinish the floors, put a deck on the back... But, he ACCEPTED MY OFFER today of $205k! It was appraised in January for the estate settlement at $244k. Believe me, after looking for almost 3 years....this is a great DEAL!

Nothing else like it for this price and anything like this home listed by a Realtor in this price range is ONLY on the market a day or 2.

* So, no Real Estate Commission (SAVE $12,000) and I also get the $8,000 First Time Home buyer credit ( I have not owned a home for 3+ years)

There is a HUGE (maybe 5 acre lawn) to the left of the house owned by the school district. (it will never be developed) Across the street is an elementary school...but again a huge open space.
Very quiet area (Except for school kids when I am at work)...only about 2 miles from downtown Newport shops and restaurants. I had a Real Estate Attorney draw up the Purchase and Sales Agreement today. The SELLER can sign tomorrow or Friday.

This will be all interior remodeling which I love to do...and I get a HUGE BASEMENT to work on my Invention Stuff! But I CAN MOVE right in...and live there....most of the other FORECLOSURES I Looked at were trashed! This is clean, just needs updating.

Hopefully close by October 15th - Nov. 1st...
Will need to fly home one way, have a huge warehouse sale in the parking lot of my stuff on Friday and drive back with all my belongings...
Time to make it permanent.

Can you believe this MONTH has been 3 years since I first drove out for a week to make sure I wanted to move here? And I sold my house in February of 2006! Where does the time go?

KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR ME!