While I had hoped and expected to be further along in the downsizing process by now, I am confident that it will happen this year. Mr. PFL’s work goal is to make it until the end of February and then retire; this deadline is rapidly approaching. It would be comforting to have a new place lined up before he is done with work. To that end, I do search for a place to live every single day. I also sent out a letter to another property owner of a duplex that we are interested in. The duplex is a block from where we live now and has been in the process of renovation (and thus vacant) for about four (4) years. I actually toured the property when it was first on the market about five (5) years ago, but at that time it was extremely overpriced and needed a complete renovation. It sold to the current investor for about 2/3 of the original asking price. Duplexes in our neighborhood (the few that have sold) are going for about $315,000 (just over $150,000/unit), so they would make money if we paid market rate. I hope to hear from him.
I’m still following up on BD’s sister buildings. It has been more than two months since I first contacted the owner. I’d give up, but I’m intrigued by the potential of adding another $50,000-$100,000 in gross rental income each year. The value of the land should continue to rise as well, which may open up some selling options in the semi-near future.
My number one goal this year is to travel more. We are off to a great start. Since Christmas, we have visited my aunt in Denver, skied in Utah, and are heading to the Florida Keys tomorrow. We have another family trip planned for Florida next month when we’ll be staying south of Tampa. We’ve talked about heading back to Hawaii (I’m hoping for a coffee farm starting in 2017) and we’ve seen some very inexpensive flights to Europe. We have also discussed a road trip through some new states on our way to hopefully watch Ohio State at Oklahoma. To help accomplish all of these dreams, I recently signed up for an IHG Rewards credit card. Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) is the parent company to Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, and my personal favorite, Holiday Inn Express. With this rewards credit card, I earn one free night per year automatically, plus I get bonus points each time I use it when we stay. With the sign-up bonus, I already have enough points for at least 3 free hotel nights. I continue to use my Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card for every day purchases; I get multiple free flights every year. Mr. PFL and I also signed up for TSA Precheck after waiting in those lines at New Year’s. It was a very easy process and we were approved in about a week. We will be testing it out for the first time tomorrow.
Now if only we had won the Powerball…