Got our mail from the mailbox. A letter from Madame Nelis, our proprietor. It was written in English instead of her normal french. She has informed us 'officially' that she is selling the house!
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???
Well, I called her son, Peter. He says that the house will go on the market. We can buy it if we like. For a mere 650,000 Euros! Um, let's see. That's nearly a million dollars. I don't think so.
Can they wait 2 years? Then we will move? "No."
The cushion to this windfall, is that, by law, we will have 4 months before we have to vacate once the house sells.
So even if it sold Oct 1st, we wouldn't have to vacate until Feb 1st. And that would be unlikely. Usually it takes longer than a few days for a house to sell. More than likely though, it would be that we will have to vacate the house this spring...March or April?
So the Christmas crew is safe. We can still have one more Christmas in Belgium. In this house. But it will be the last. I knew it would come, but there are so many stinkin' memories attached to this house! And I wanted the 'last' to be on MY terms, not a forced issue!
Tom is in Romania. He comes home tonight to this news. I have no idea what he will think. Do we move locally? Or is this the time to move back to the States? What about all of our plans for this spring/summer...we have Seth/Heidi, Jake/Mel, Bluths, Greens that have all said they were coming. And I'm pretty sure that Steve was planning one more summer at home. Well, they can still come, but we will be in a different house. THAT will be weird. Or is this the time to just throw in the towel and move to Hawaii (just kidding). My thoughts are running wild. Wild, I say!
There is a chance that the people who buy the house will buy it as an investment and we could continue to rent for the next 2 years. I wonder how likely that would be? But it is a possiblity. My gut feeling is that when people buy a house of this size it's for themselves, not to rent out.
Bottom line. Everything, and I mean everything is in the air. Except Christmas of course! After that, only the Lord knows. Good thing He is in charge or I would panic. And I'm pretty near panic mode. But that's because I got the news just about an hour ago.
So, Lara, Heidi, Mel, and maybe Natalie (who may not read this for a couple of weeks!) do you think you can lend any calming advice here? In the words of Lara, "I wish I could see around the corner better!"
I think I'll go to GB now and try to take my mind off of it all.
4 comments:
Yikes, that's huge!! I don't know what to say. Maybe you can now come live in DC while we're still here in Charlotte. Or you should buy it and rent it out when your done :). Or maybe it'll bring everybody out for Christmas for the "last". I really think it's pretty decent timing though...just after Steve leaves. But still my heart aches, and I think Jake might cry when he hears about it. I'm so relieved to know that we'll get to enjoy it one last time. I wish I had more comforting words. Times like these aren't easy even for the strongest of them. Only time will tell how right this is. I'm anxious to hear what Tom has to say about it all. Keep us updated!!!
Well, I talked to you on the phone so for a bit so you already have my sage words of wisdom. Dan was surprised but he think it will be a while before it sells so don't panic too much. :)
I think it is rather rude of them to kick you out after 20 years of being awesome renters. I hope we can fit one more visit in before you have to move. I have very mixed emotions. I am excited for the prospect of you moving to the states and being able to see you more often, but very very very very very sad at the thought of never going to my house, my home again.
I have no advice except that the Bluths and Greens should be the last worry on your mind! Seth and I are so glad we get to come out before you'll have to be gone. I can't imagine how it would be to get the boot out of your home of so many years!
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