I just sent an email to casting for HGTV’s Hawaii Life. This feels like an actual forward step. I tried to apply for Destination America’s Buying Hawaii, but I can’t figure out how to do it. Oh well.
Mr. PFL and I have talked, and talked, and talked. Like until the wee hours of the morning. I think we have agreed on the following:
1) We should move to Hawaii.
2) We don’t know how to make it happen, exactly.
We have gone back and forth and up and down trying to decide what to do about our current house. We both realize that, if we sell right now, there is no way we would ever be able to buy back the same or similar place in the future. Once it is gone, it is gone. One of our local weathermen used to live two houses down; he had a big retirement party on the air before he moved to Florida with his partner. He was back less than two years later, working at a different local station, and owns a house less than a mile away (OMG! I just watched the video about his return!). This is my fear! But, at the same time, our house is attached to a substantial monthly payment. Thus, we go round and round in circles.
We are discussing every possible option that might be available, including: renting it out on a lease; getting roommates; selling; upgrading (adding a bathroom) and then deciding; listing it as a vacation/short-term/executive rental; and using it as a movie set (I literally just thought of that one).
I just spent a little time searching for roommates online. Okay, a lot of time. I think we could rent our two spare bedrooms for between $500 and $1,000 each. I also tried to find a full-service property management company on HomeAway.com (parent company to VRBO, etc.), but they don’t have a trusted company in our area. So, I’d need to find a person or company to trust that would deal with the short-term renters; I now understand why most of the listings in our area were for guest houses and carriage houses, but not full homes - somebody’s got to be here.
I wish there was a right, easy, no-risk decision. And that we hit the lottery. 😉