Today

Sorry about the occasional self-pitying melodramatic posts. If you meet me, I'm normally stable to the point of stoic, but I have a flair for melodrama in my personal thoughts. Anyway. I'm looking around for duplexes right now--I found one just off of Summit Ave. in Saint Paul for $240K, a bit more that I want to pay, but also $50K below market value, and in a really nice part of town. Also, the GF likes it, which is important because that means she'll move in, thus helping with a few hundred a month. Not that this is any indicator of anything (these days), but it sold for $343 last year. Needs a little cosmetic work on the inside, but nothing pressing. My real estate agent is also my landlord (for now) and I'm going to see if she can give me a deal on moving out early. We'll see.

It's EXCITING looking for places. Probably too exciting! I'll have to temper my enthusiasm. It occurs to me, also, that if I buy a place for below value, I've essentially devalued the entire neighborhood, because prices are set with respect to what's sold for what price in the neighborhood. The neighborhood that this house is in, however, is affluent and resistant to price fluctuations.

Anyway, it's just one of a billion places. I'm off in a few minutes to say hi to my agent, and see what's what.