Signing the Papers!

3:15 March 1st, 2005

When two neglected houses came up for sale on our block, we knew from previous experience that it wouldn't do our neighborhood any good to have them fall into the hands of an absentee landlord. So we pooled our resources, called in a lot of favors, and joined forces with four other niehgbors (two married couples) to purchase these two 125 year old houses.

The six of us, plus a dude that held a contract for deed on the properties, plus the seller's real estate agent, plus the real estate agent's assistant, plus the title company's closer, plus a representative from our financial institution, plus several bottles of champagne, gathered in a tiny office to sign stacks of paper that legally make the houses OURS!

The Mission: To bring these sad little guys back to life, and to sell them to an owner that will care for them and be proud of them.

The Motto: Between the head and the hands there must be a heart.

Alternate Motto #1: If you're going to do something, do it right.

Alternate Motto #2: If it ain't broke, one still might consider painting it a color other than beige, or putting in a skylight, or arching a doorway, or re-routing plumbing, or knocking out a wall or two.

Alternate Motto #3: Anything can be done. Does it fit into our budget?