I have been looking for a small house for retirement, which will be in at least 8 years, that I plan to rent out. The payments will be less than $600 per month and it's part of my plan to retire at 55 to have no, or a small, mortgage. Houses in the area rent for at least $1k. I saw this house the first day I started looking but when my agent called the listing agent we found that there was a pending offer already.

Last Wednesday I got an email notification that there was a new house that met my criteria and it's THE house! I called my agent and said to offer on it NOW!!! She submitted the offer but the owners were out of town for the holiday.

The day I started looking I posted on FB that I was sending up good thoughts that I find the perfect little cottage for me. When I saw this house I got goosebumps. It is just the cutest little house that I would love to retire in and there is a downstairs bedroom with hardwood floors that is perfect for a sewing room.

This is lovely. I hope they accept your offer and you can retire here.

Adorable! Where in CA is it? I grew up in Orange County.

Beautiful home - good luck - hope you get it !

Perfect little place to retire... Good luck, I hope they accept your offer!

It's in Stockton near Univesity of the Pacific. Houses in the area rent like hotcakes, or so I'm told. I'm not in it to make money, though I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. Just one of the legs of being able to afford to retire is to not have a big mortgage payment. I figure that giving up some cash now for a good down payment is worth the return of having a monthly payment that is less than what I could rent a small apartment for.

I just refinanced my house and the payments are closer to $2k. If I sell it in 8 years I still need to live somewhere and prices aren't going to stay low forever (I hope not), so locking in a low payment now seems like the best thing to do.

sending you good thoughts and prayers that you get your house...Good Luck..

Wonderful!!! Prayers from here! I LOVE the wood floors...VERY well taken care of! Keep us posted!

Lovely house. Good thoughts on the way for you.

Beautiful house. Good Luck

Well, I hope you get your wish and can retire there, but, personally I wouldn't be caught dead living in a huge city like Stockton. I much prefer a very small town, even then I wouldn't live in town, unless I absolutely had to, but to each their own. Good luck!!

Good thoughts coming your way!

I like the house and especially all the drawers in the kitchen.

I would LOVE a little place like that.

Good luck. If it is meant for you, then you will get it.

The area around the university is VERY nice. I hope you get the house and we can meet up sometime!! I wish the best of luck to you!

Looks like a perfect home for early retirement. Good luck.

Another Stockton person??? That would be nice! My daughter lives there and another one in Lodi.

I adore the area. It's not in the neighborhood RIGHT by UOP where the mansions are, it's closer to the Country Club but, it's a pretty little street with big trees, looks like Old Town USA.

Good luck. I hope it all works out for you.
Get your rest now while you are working. I have been busier since I retired than I was when I had a day job.
The best to you.

I was off work for 3 days (after thanksgiving) and I sewed and sewed and sewed, got 3 quilts done and one of them bound. I barely got in lunch each day and I was exhausted but happy. And that was just staying home!

If I had received the additional fabric for the quilt I am working on I would have done even more work.

looks like a great house to retire in - my fingers are crossed & I'll do some talking to the Boss up above.

I am crossing my fingers too! And my toes!

Pam, that looks so beautiful and cozy!!! I hope you get it.
I don't know where Stockton is but my nephew lives in Orange.
I'm not too familiar with California. I'd like to be LOL

Sending good thoughts to you that this beautiful little house becomes yours!

Good thoughts sent your way! I live about 30 minutes from Stockton!

I hope you get the home!! We hope to have our home paid for in less than 6 years. Yeah!!!!

So cute...Looks in great condition. Hope you get it...

Good luck its a cute house!

Still waiting... I saw the home inspection report and the major thing is that it needs a new electrical panel. That is probably around $2k. The house is very nice, great neighborhood, and anything else comparable is at least $10k more so, I told my agent that my offer stands. I know they had two other offers and two viewings the other day and if they get a better offer, so be it.

I am doing a conventional loan, not FHA or something, with 25% down. Already pre-approved so I can close quickly. The last offer that was $4k more than the asking price fell through but the other buyers were asking the sellers to pay all the closing costs too. It was probably an FHA loan, with little down and no money for closing. FHA would require that panel to be replaced.

Maybe my offer will look good to them.

It's perfect to retire in. Good luck!

If this is what you want, then I hope you will get it! It looks very nice. A retirement home sounds so good. Keep us posted and sending positive vibes your way.

Think of yourself living in that cute house, and the universe will see it as yours. As least, this has worked for me.

My agent just called and said that they are accepting my offer!

I'm happy and scared! Am I doing the right thing? I have to trust my judgement and the thought that I have given this for months about buying another house. All the pros and cons, all the scenarios.

I've even thought that if I lose my job in this economy (they have several rounds of layoffs), that I wouldn't even be able to rent an apartment for what the mortgage payment will be. If worse comes to worse and I have to let go of my current house which I am in the hole by $50k PLUS the $70k that I put down... I'll have a house that I can afford on a small income.

I have thought of myself living in this house A LOT! The bedroom downstairs for a sewing room, two rooms upstairs for bedroom and office. It's the perfect little house for me.

I've even thought about a rolling chair for the sewing room that wouldn't damage the hardwood floors!

Congratulations!!!! If you can see yourself happy in this house, then this is the one for you! I'm happy for you!

beautiful house. good luck and i hope they take your offer.

That is a very pretty house! Congrats that they accepted the offer! Sounds great! :)

I am sew excited for you!!

Yeah!

Post pictures when you get the house!! It looks like a great little house!

Wonderful. Have been to Stockton many times. will they help pay for electrial panel?