Melissa and her hubby are getting first home!!

[Marilyn]

Our daugher Melissa and her hubby of a year and a half are getting their first home. They are currently renting and older apartment that has turned out to have lots of problems that the landlord isn't fixing. You may remember they have a 50 lb English bulldog, so it's not easy for them to find something nice and reasonable to rent.

We are helping them to buy a used mobile home. They are paying for it, we are just helping them find a really good deal and helping fix it up for them. This is one of those times when having a father who is a custom home builder really pays off. We can take a well built but worn mobile home and make it look as good or better than new. The one we found was built for and used as an office and housing for the oilfield. This means it has a stronger than normal frame and more axles under it. It was built to be moved around a lot. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms a nice sized living. The kitchen isn't very big or well designed, but there is space to rearrange it and put in new cabinets and it can be really nice. The outside looks good. The siding was replaced 2 years ago. They don't like the colors, but paint will fix that. Inside, it needs new cabinets, flooring (it has ugly office tile and blue carpet) , needs interior painting. There are some cabinets in a bedroom that was used for an office that need to be removed. I'll have to take before and after pictures. They are saving so much money and though mobile homes depreciate like cars, when you buy one used and remodel like we are, they should be able to live in it for a few years and sell it for what they paid.

They are so excited. Their monthly expenses will be less than the apartment, and they will be buiding some equity.

However, we are doing this while planning a wedding for Karen. Don't know if we are coming or going. Crazy!!! but we just could not pass this deal up. Oh, and I know this is long but the trailer is being handled by an agent, but belongs to people we know who want Rex to build them a pool house. The owner is at a retreat right now, and as soon as he returns, Rex is going to see if they can do a little bartering. This could work out to be an even better deal.

So nice when things work out positive for a while.