Monday, February 11, 2008

Welcome to Monticello

Many of you know we used to live in Virginia. One of our favorite places to go was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, our beloved Father of the Constitution, and third President of the United States of America. Since it was kind of a political time of year, I figured I would recall some trips we have taken in the birthplace of our country. This picture is one we took while visiting nearby Charlottesville, VA. We hold much respect for this man as did many others. JFK once welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House. He said, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House — with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." So to those of you history lovers, enjoy this current picture of the home that sits behind his face on the nickel.

Next I would like to show you a home in Carlsbad, CA that we checked out at an open house yesterday. Many of you know, we are thinking of buying a home, so we check things out from time to time. Here is a picture.

Here is a nice house. No one would be ashamed to live in this home. It is a bit of a fixer upper, note the front window is boarded up, and the flooring has been torn up by the previous owner that was foreclosed on. Anyway, so far it is the most reasonably priced starter home in a nice neighborhood with a great backyard that we have seen since moving to Carlsbad. Don't worry we won't rush into anything.

So here is where this post takes a turn. That first picture, probably none of you doubted me when I said it was a picture of Monticello, a lavish mansion brainchild of Jefferson. Well, it isn't. It is actually a home for sale in Mt. Olive, NC. A good bud, Martin Johnson is living in the area and he is thinking of buying this home apparently. The catch, the asking price for the nearly 5000 square foot Classical Revival home on 3/4 of an acre with a swimming pool in the backyard is $510,000. Our cute fixer upper 1800 square foot home lists for the price on $525,000. Uhm, Martin, mind if I move in?

So make up your own minds, but I have to say, I live in Southern California and I love it. But when I see things like this, I feel like I might be crazy. My first instinct is to either puke, move or surf so I can justify how in the crud I live here. So I am off from work early, I am leaving and I hope sharks don't smell puke, cuz it is 70 degrees outside and all of a sudden I am feeling kind of queezy. See ya,

Ben

Here is a Post post script. this is a link to the north carolina home http://www.oldhouses.com/cf/displaylisting.cfm?q_listingid=2880&searchlist=3134,2555,682,2905,3119,2654,2733,3117,2768,2157,3021,3056,3082,2776,2777,2953,2957,2973,2943,2326,2880,2518,2217,2893,3107,3124,3131,2999,3061,2975,2978,2990,2951,1825,2421,3118&searchname=Listings%20In%20North%20Carolina&searchdest=%2Fcf%2Flistinglist%2Ecfm%3Fq%5Flistingstate%3DNC%26searchname%3DListings%2BIn%2BNorth%2520Carolina%26startrow%3D1%26maxrows%3D25

Post pps. surfing was nice. i still stink, but i have a great time.

here is the new sign for my office that Swanny made. nice work buddy. I love it.




13 comments:

Salt H2O said...

Brent and I have been talking about moving to South Carolina. This little picture kind of seals the deal.

Holly freakin' cow!

Martin said...

That house is on the national register of historic places, and isin great shape. The gardens are amazing.

You should post a link to the oldhouses.com listing that has more pictures.

BTW we are not thinking of buying it, (though it is only 45 minutes from a great beach town, with warmer water than San Diego) It's about an hour from where we live now, so I would need to find job a bit closer.

But I am serious that there are mansions like this for sale everywhere, and you can get a fixer upper for next to nothing. The winter here is more mild than Richmond too.

Anonymous said...

I say let's all move to South Carolina. It's closer to Missouri isn't it.

April McEvoy said...

I think the house you checked out looks great! But who am i to give my opinion? i live in a two bedroom apartment that smells like old cheese half the time! :) Good luck with the house hunting!

~home bodies~ said...

my advise- don't even compare CA to anywhere else. I like to think of CA as its own country. Anyway, there is no comparison- my kids wore shorts to school yesterday in February. You get what you pay for, so I say go for it. If it makes you feel any better, that house would cost 200K more up here!

Jason said...

Ben, I KNOW you're jealous of my bleak brown scenery here in Vegas. I know you'll be on the phone crying about how much you miss the 117 degree weather.

Just kidding. I'm trying to join the Cali-ranks. Shoot over to my art blog, I got a present for ya.

Della Hill said...

Hey,
You posted on my blog and asked about Rusty Thomas. I think I do know her. I've only met her once, but she's in my ward and works with girls camp.
I've gotta say I love blogging, how else would we have connected?
Thanks for checking my blog.
-Della

Shelby said...

Hey Ben! I saw a post on Wendy's site and thought I'd shout hello. We're in Sonoma County, but we moved here last year from VA--love that state, but it's nice to be in CA. But you live in the wrong part of the state, my friend.

Are you guys going to Africa? My sis and bro-in-law went last year (with Mothers w/o borders) and are currently adopting from the orphanage.

Good luck!
shelby

Greg, Joy, Riley, Carter and Landon said...

I guess looking at that house and the one in Carlsbad makes you think. I would love to come home, but the prices of the houses just stink. Hopefully, by the time we are in a position to make a more permanent move we will win the lottery and not have to live in an apartment. Cross your fingers.

Wendy said...

Holy cow that Monticello house is nice! And so is the other one, don't get me wrong, and it would be nothing to be ashamed of. How you can afford a 500K house is beyond me. As much as I LOVE Cali those prices drove me away.

Ben and Kimberly McEvoy said...

yeah, the whole "afford" thing is pretty subjective around here. there is no such thing really. i look around in wonder and amazement at how people do it. Many people prove to not being able to afford it actually, which is why i am waiting for the rest of the group of foreclosures to kick in. Then it will be time to decide what kind of home I can "afford". We will see. But for now, we love it.

Anonymous said...

I like the picture of Carlsbad Beach -

I recognize the spot is next to Tamarack Beach Parking lot - where I eat lunch several times a week.

Welcome to California Baby!

Ben and Kimberly McEvoy said...

good call on Tamarack. we love it. i just got back from surfing. wish i could say i caught some great waves. kind of flat, but love the spot.