Just that.Can't afford it any more, so we must sell it to get the Equity, before the Bank does!!

Since we bought this house, we have worked very very hard to make it our home. We had a light at the end of our tunnel, because Mum promised to help us. The deal was, as long as we kept everything up to date as long as She lived, then the outstanding mortgage would be settled by my inheritance.Well, my Father has made sure that won't happen.He thinks that all the money in Mum's Estate was his, because he paid her to be his wife, and to keep the home as it should be.Against her wishes, about three years ago, he changed both their Wills.He used a system called 'Mirror Wills', which means that it made no difference who died first, the remaining parent would have control of the other's Estate.

We knew that the paying for the house would stretch us, but we worked and worked to keep our side of the deal.We were relying on being able to pay the house off in one go.Well, Dad has put my inheritance into a trust fund for Ellie and my 2 sons, for when I die.I am meant to get the interest from the Fund. He has been stalling sending it to us since January.It isn't a lot, but I allowed for it in our budget..and Zwerver's sickness depleted our funds....Not that I regret that for one millisecond.I would do it all again.So too would Ellie.It is just that my two brothers just received their $150.000 inheritances each at Christmas...

And so, we hope that by selling the house now, we will have enough equity to be able to start again, by buying a small rundown Finca, and I will rebuild it.I can do it, I know. But we did love this place. Admittedly, the new houses all around us took away a lot of the charm, but that is progress.

The saddest part of it all is, that I am now worth a lot more dead, than alive!! Well, I am not going to roll over!! I am going to prove to my Father that I can manage without his blood money..and manage well.

And so, finally, you now know what my other post that I decided not to continue with, was all about. This is it in a nutshell.
Just one more point I would like to make. 12 years ago, I bought a holiday apartment for my Parents, so they could visit and spend the winters here. I bought it with his money.It cost him $10.000 to buy, because it had not been lived in for 12 years, and was in a state of ruin.I spent a whole winter ripping it all apart.All that was left was the concrete floors and ceiling.I re-plumbed, rewired, and totally replastered everything. New tile floors, new doors frames, windows, repainted it all, built a new kitchen and bathroom, fitted units in the bedrooms etc etc.All in all, it cost him $18.000 to have a new home to live in during their visits Mum was over the moon!! When they came to Spain, we picked them up at the Airport, and did everything in our power to make it home from home.We spent many hours in the hospital emergency, when they became ill.And we were so happy to make them happy.Ellie would devote her time 100% to her second 'Mum', whom she adored as if it were her own Mum. And Mum adored Ellie, calling her the most wonderful daughter she never had..

Well, when they couldn't come any more, Dad said to sell the apartment.I said that it would make far more sense to keep it, and I could rent it out to a Holiday Company for the summers, for their Executive Managers. Meanwhile, it would become very valuable, because it was on the seafront, had an exclusive view of the sea, and would become very sought-after.He decided to ignore my advice, and so I sold it for them. After 6 years of owning an apartment that cost him $18.000, and six wonderful 6-month winter holidays, I managed to sell it for him for $70.000.Sounds good, doesn't it? But, if he had kept it, and I had rented it out for the last 7 years, he would have received $70.000 in rent, free from any taxes. And still have had the apartment. Now, the apartment was sold by the person who bought it from my Father just last December, for ....wait for it....$146.000.Total profit he WOULD have made, had he followed my advice?Over $200.000. And I am irresponsible!! And not very bright!!

OK...rant over!! Now you might understand why I have been a bit 'erratic' over the last 2 years!! But I am back in control now, and we start work again in 5 weeks..meanwhile, the 'For Sale' sign has gone up again!!
Thanks for listening!!
Nick

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fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!!

Responsibility: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
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[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 03-30-2006).]

Hind sight's 20-20. Some of the legalise doesn't translate well to americans but, some of us can remember family reminising about 'the old sod' understand. I can readily understand your frustration, without knowing any thing more than you have told us. I feel like we both went to diferent schools together, if that makes any sensce. Since I'm single with no family, I'm the designated caregiver for my mother who has Parkinsons Disease. I feel I'm presently living below my ability, and sometimes that can feel real depressing.
I hate changes that are not of my doing, but after hearing of your hassles with construction crews perhaps moving further out may be a relief?
Acording to Martha Stuart, 'If life serves you lemons, grab that lemon zester, a....., a......, a......, and a ....., and make a nice ........ It's a good thing.'

Sorry you are selling your home But I know the new one you will buy you have the ability to make it better then every
Remember, weather you think you can, or cant, your right.
Best of luck to you my friend

[This message has been edited by 84fierotrevor (edited 03-30-2006).]

Very sad to hear Nick. Especially with all the love you put into it. A man's home is his castle.
Keep you chin up. When one door closes you have nothing but doors in front of you. Behind many of them are new zeal.

And this is exactly why I told my parents not to put me in their will!
I will not structure my life around the whims of others, based on something being held over my head.

It's a downright shame that you have to give up something you have built & loved for so long.
A damn shame.
All becouse of someone elses selfishness, both financually and emotionaly.
In my opinion, as long as you stay locked into that kind of relationship, you will continue to be tread apon.

I wish the best for you, and hope you can find some peace & stability in your future.
Good luck, my friend!

Good luck buddy, we're all pullin' for ya.

-FR

Nick you can’t refinance or take the equity out in a small loan that might keep your payments made for a few months until the better weather and you can make more?
Or how about refinancing the loan at a different rate for a different period? You must have some equity built up in it.
I know exactly where you are at. I’ve been robbing Peter to pay Paul for the last 16 months since my stroke.
Not trying to get to personal but just how long do you have left on the loan? Can’t you refinance for a longer period to bring your payments down?

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Against her wishes, about three years ago, he changed both their Wills.

She must've signed it. Why did she?

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Dad has put my inheritance into a trust fund for Ellie and my 2 sons, for when I die. I am meant to get the interest from the Fund. He has been stalling sending it to us since January.... It is just that my two brothers just received their $150.000 inheritances each at Christmas...

I'm sure there's a lot more to this story, but why have your brothers already received their inheritances while you are left to blow in the breeze?

Father or no father, I think a good lawyer needs to be consulted.

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: The deal was, as long as we kept everything up to date as long as She lived, then the outstanding mortgage would be settled by my inheritance.Well, my Father has made sure that won't happen....It is just that my two brothers just received their $150.000 inheritances each at Christmas...

Sounds like he has something against you personally since he gave your brothers their inheritance. He can't be too bad of a guy if he set up a trust fund for your Wife and Sons.

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Zwerver's sickness depleted our funds

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: I am going to prove to my Father that I can manage without his blood money..and manage well.

Depleted funds, needing to prove yourself to your Father....although I don't know the whole story, these sound like possible valid reasons to withhold / delay an inheritance. It would be interesting to hear your Fathers / Brothers sides of the story.

Tim

Sorry to hear you have to sell your home......I don't post that much becuase I don't type very good, but I do read alot and I know you have been through alot. I know you have heard the saying "If it doesn't kill you ..It will made you stronger" So you should be about a strong as Superman by now.
I'm sure you will put this behind you and I hope this will be the start of the good luck you so deserve.

[This message has been edited by DL10 (edited 03-30-2006).]

So he takes care of your Wife and children by putting them out on the street. Maybe you should die
150000 wont go far enough for that

Good luck buddy. Nothing better than living in a home you paid for yourself. It will be hard but I know you will be ok. You are too tenacious to not be ok.

Hi Tim.
Depleted Funds. Economic depression in our area. Purely touristic. Summer season. Used to be mid-March to early November. Now it is mid-May to late September..if we are lucky.Try earning 12 months' income in 4-5 months .Perhaps you have never been to Spain?A majority of the population still lives by growing olives, oranges, nuts etc.It is a very poor area.There is a lot of competition for jobs now.An influx of Eastern Bloc workers has made the business owners a lot richer, and the people who had good jobs lost them to these immigrants.A truck-driver 6 years ago could earn $3000 a month. The Rumanians will do it for $1500.And are. There are no lifelong jobs here. They are by yearly contract. Somebody else offers to do your job for half, they get the job.The guy who had been doing ok, bought a house, car and a few luxuries because he had confidence in his future, suddenly has the Bank and credit Houses knocking on his door.There is no sympathy when it comes down to money, and you can't pay...you lose it.In the last 3 years, the price of houses here has shot up by 300% in some cases. Employment opportunities are shrinking...and people can't fulfil their mortgage repayments. Ther are more than 15.000( WAY above the normal average) properties on the market in the last three years..because they are no longer affordable.The affluent Caalunyans (and there are many), then buy the properties up at knock-down prices because the Banks auction them off, and put them on the rental market at exhorbitant prices.

And so, the only way out of this is to sell up and downgrade..big time.That means moving farther away from job sources and opportunities.Costs more to get to work..anybody here the word 'spiral'? Spain is not a good place to be at the moment..and it won't get any better for as far ahead as you can see.

Immigration from poorer countries? It only benefits the Business owners, because they get cheap labour. Look out Middle-class.You are going to feel the pinch.Poor people? You won't have anything left worth pinching!!!

Did you miss the word 'Megalomaniac? My eldest brother is wealthy.My middle brother left his wife, when his kids were grown...and has a'Sugar daughter'. Sold his soul for money.But because his girlfriend is well-off, Dad gave him his inheritance, because they don't need it either. Me? I need a bit of help, to get ahead of the tide, instead of swimming against it for ever.I am poor. I could do with the help I was always promised...but I might spend it!! Therefore I don't get it.

So.. I am not going to moan about it, sitting on my a$$..I am going to do whatever I can, with Ellie's help..and we WILL survive!!
Nick

quote Originally posted by FrugalFiero: Depleted funds, needing to prove yourself to your Father....although I don't know the whole story, these sound like possible valid reasons to withhold / delay an inheritance. It would be interesting to hear your Fathers / Brothers sides of the story. Tim

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Just that.Can't afford it any more, so we must sell it to get the Equity, before the Bank does!!

Nick,

Let me know if you need me to fix you up with a good Realtor who will get top dollar for your house. Email me or PM me and I can get you hooked-up in no time.

Todd

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Hi Tim. Depleted Funds. Economic depression in our area. Purely touristic. Summer season. Used to be mid-March to early November. Now it is mid-May to late September..if we are lucky.Try earning 12 months' income in 4-5 months .Perhaps you have never been to Spain?A majority of the population still lives by growing olives, oranges, nuts etc.It is a very poor area.There is a lot of competition for jobs now.An influx of Eastern Bloc workers has made the business owners a lot richer, and the people who had good jobs lost them to these immigrants.A truck-driver 6 years ago could earn $3000 a month. The Rumanians will do it for $1500.And are. There are no lifelong jobs here. They are by yearly contract. Somebody else offers to do your job for half, they get the job.The guy who had been doing ok, bought a house, car and a few luxuries because he had confidence in his future, suddenly has the Bank and credit Houses knocking on his door.There is no sympathy when it comes down to money, and you can't pay...you lose it.In the last 3 years, the price of houses here has shot up by 300% in some cases. Employment opportunities are shrinking...and people can't fulfil their mortgage repayments. Ther are more than 15.000( WAY above the normal average) properties on the market in the last three years..because they are no longer affordable.The affluent Caalunyans (and there are many), then buy the properties up at knock-down prices because the Banks auction them off, and put them on the rental market at exhorbitant prices. And so, the only way out of this is to sell up and downgrade..big time.That means moving farther away from job sources and opportunities.Costs more to get to work..anybody here the word 'spiral'? Spain is not a good place to be at the moment..and it won't get any better for as far ahead as you can see. Immigration from poorer countries? It only benefits the Business owners, because they get cheap labour. Look out Middle-class.You are going to feel the pinch.Poor people? You won't have anything left worth pinching!!!

If you change a few of the names, you could be describing Florida. People who work in Key West
live on the outskirts of Miami and ride a bus 4 hours each way to get to $8.75 per hour jobs.
If I sold MY house, I would have to move out of the area, maybe out of the state to be able to afford a comparable home.
Ah well, once you get your finca and fix it up, you'll be in good shape again.
Best wishes, Nick.

Nick,

I have never visited Spain, and by your description the economic conditions do sound gloomy. Your explaination of your Brothers, and their situations compared to yours makes me wonder even more as to why your Father refuses to give you much of anything. It just seems there is more to the situation between you and your Father than is revealed here.

I also stand to share an inheritance from my Parents someday. I have never included it in ANY of my financial plans or purchases. I personally never assume or expect to get anything from my Parents. In fact, I wish my Parents WOULD spend more of their money on themselves.

No doubt you are in a bind, and I wish you much luck.

Tim

Nick, I have just one bit of advice for you. BEFORE you sell your house...make sure you can find a finca that you can afford. Just as the prices of houses have gone up, I'm betting the price of farmland has, too. It would be terrible if you were to sell your house, only to find that you couldn't afford a new place to live.

Of course, you could always sell your house, and use the money to move to the US. I'm sure a guy with your abilities wouldn't have too hard of a time finding a job here.

Good luck to you and Ellie, no matter what you decide to do...

Ok Nick you win, it's clear that your father is a much larger a--hole than mine ever was. It's clear that he's holding you to a standard that he couldn't meet himself, that was something that mine use to do, but yours has elavated this to a new level.

As I said to Maryjane last night in a post on his thread about leaving his job and moving. When one door closes another opens. I have faith that things will work out for Ellie and yourself!!! Good night and good luck. Joe

Hi Nick,
I want to say something useful but, I think it is obvious. When I was getting behind, I starting selling stuff and getting any additional work that I could find. I cleared my credit cards as quick as I could so that I could see what my means actually were. Then, went lean, no buying.
I will and do any kind of legal (as in not illegal) work that there is, no pride here and when things suck really bad, I apologize to my friends that I will be working all my waking hours. I would not sell your home unless that is what you really want to do.
I must be doing something right, if I was to cash out everything I would has around 1,000,000. No new cars, no new electronics, and rarely eat out, until I got married.
I still keep the no credit card "debt" allowed.
Suck it man, I have worked next to illegal Mexicans that drive our wages down also. Do anything that pays and do lots of it before selling. I am 39 years old in case you might have thought I am a old fogie.
Keep your chin up, all things in time,'
Gregory

Nick, istead of selling your house, maybe you could rent it out. It might generate enough income for you to afford a small apartment and pay your bills. Once you sell your house you loose out in any future gains in it's value. Good luck with whatever you choose to do. I know you will bounce back from this, like you have been able to do with all the other problem you have had.

Thanks for all the replies!! As you might have noticed, I haven't replied in the last couple of days. Here is why:

My neighbour had his front wall and gate demolished by a truck, and wanted me to make him new ones.This is it, along with a smaller hinged front gate.The big gate is 12 feet long, 6 feet high, and weighs around 350 lbs.I made them all in 16 hours..The large gate is a sliding one, built on a rail. I designed it and made it myself.To buy the fittings and rail in the steel Stockists would have been around 250 euros($300) my design only cost me 45!! They have saved our bacon (down, Fierorumor !!), because I have earned $1250 clear from this job!! And I now have 3 more gates to build, starting tomorrow!! Aaaaargh! Why does Life have a habit of kicking you till you are down, and then giving you the hand of friendship, to get back on your feet again? At least we will be clear through to Ellie starting work again in 4 weeks (they still owe her $1250 from LAST year ) OH, and ELvis will be back on the road again in a couple of weeks too..been offered 4 nights a week, with two more in the pipeline.All this happened over the last 24 hours!

We are still going to leave the house on the market. If we can sell it for 225.000 euros, we can buy this Finca we have found for 85.000 euros,

(It has this house(?) and around 15 acres of ground, mostly nut trees)
We can then pay off thecurrent mortgage, buy it for cash, and still have 80.0000 euros capital.That will mean I can rebuild the 'house' on the land, and a workshop, and not have the worry of paying the mortgage for the next 20 years!!

And better still, I can put all the bad feelings about my Family to rest, and treat my Father as a Dad again.I want him to be happy for the last few years he has left.I haven't said much to him about the Inheritance fiasco, and so there is no damage to be repaired between us, I saved the ranting for PFF!! Thanks for being here for me.
Nick

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fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!!

Responsibility: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
Yahoo messenger:nickcannspain
MSN Messenger-nicholascann@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 04-01-2006).]

Glad to hear you got some work to get you threw Nick.

Funny ain’t it how we have to sometimes hit bottom to see the way out?

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

can't spell

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 04-01-2006).]

Hi Steve!!
Yes, I usd the 'new' mig..the difference between it and the other one is like night and day.Welding almost twice as fast!! Clean and very controlable.
And the nuts? Mixture of hazelnuts and almonds.Oranges around the outside edge.The land is a very sandy type soil,and very clean.A bit of Nut husbandry sounds like hard work, but interesting!!
Nick

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fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!!

Responsibility: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
Yahoo messenger:nickcannspain
MSN Messenger-nicholascann@hotmail.com

You know, Nick, if you buy the handy man special,
I want to see detailed before/after pics.
Nothing gets my spirits going more than watching basket case
cars and houses get resurrected to something of value and use.
"Fianca, The Build" isn't necessary , but I'd love to see some
before and after.
From an old rebuilder

All you've had lately is just one of the many wake up calls we often get
when we get too settled. I've had one or two!
Have a nice day in Spain.
tg

Way to go Nick,maybe life will be a little easier for you now! Not physically,but mentally!

Isn’t it great working with good equipment? Speed will make your projects go so much faster now. I have an old Lincoln ark welder, AC/DC that I wouldn’t give up for any amount of money. Simply because of it’s versatility. Sometimes older is better.

Sorry Nick, Melanie doesn’t know anything about nuts. Except that she married one. So she won’t be of much help with the Nut Husbandry.

But at least your farming doesn’t require fencing. Although I enjoy the solitude of it. Being off by myself digging holes and setting posts and stretching fencing. It’s just to hard now for me so I have to find more mechanical ways of doing it.

Good Luck Nick I hope it all works out for you.

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

How far is this away from where you "need" to be? Less than 2 hours, I would have to ask what made you pause to think at all?
Wow I want that deal. Are the schools out there rated? Are the schools ok?, A trip to the local nursery and get food plants, learn to can/jar and you are all set. If you do not get below freezing for more than a couple of hours I recomend guava. Come by the http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/ alot of people grow what can be marginal in their area. There is alot to be said for big land. Think cow, goat, or chickens. Bad times can work out really good if the timing is right.

How much do you owe on the house for sale? If you had the money to pay it off, would you still live there?

About $60.000...and yes, we would stay. We love this house, because so much of us has been put into it.It was literally a shell when we bought it..never had been lived in.We aren't too happy about having 22 'illegal' houses built around us, but that can be lived with.Just disappointing They were built by using a loophole in the Law....cash bribery. But that is over and done with. Just got to get on with it!! I will just get a photo of how our house looks now, amongst these new homes towering over us.

Ours is the little white one in front.When we bought it, the surrounding area was protected from building, but money passed hands, and this is what happened!! There are going to be three more houses next to us on the left, and five more on the right.18 months so far of living in the middle of a building site!! !! Never mind. It is increasing the value of our house all the time, although prices everywhere else go up commensurably, therefore we are no better off. That is why we want to buy a small Finca.
Nick

------------------
fierofetish.PFF'S self-confessed Snowbird!!

Responsibility: the solution for our World's Dilemmas..
Yahoo messenger:nickcannspain
MSN Messenger-nicholascann@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 04-04-2006).]

have you got lots of pics of your house for sale?

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Allen
Australia
86 gold SE
85 red SE
01161412119530

Nick I know this is going to be a bad pun but.

Buy the farm.

You will not have to worry about neighbors driving you nuts. You can grow your own food, raise a few milk goats to clear the brush and still have a supply of fresh milk.

I have never been happier than since moving to a farm and would never go back to city life. It’s just not the same as having your own little peace of land and being able to do what you want when you want.

I must admit I am biased, I love being able to just walk out back and fish or hunt or just meditate without the noise of the city.

No matter what you do Nick it will be a success I’m sure.

Good luck.

Steve & Melanie

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technology is great when it works
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: No matter what you do Nick it will be a success I’m sure.

No arguement here!

Nick ~

Sorry to hear you are having another struggle. Hopefully things will work out so you know that this is all happening for a reason. The potential house looks cute and land is always an asset! We'll be thinking of you!

~ Jen