by Hope
I really appreciate the BAD community’s guidance when it comes to listing my house in the best light. But I will say, I never want to have to move out of a house or sell another house as long as I live. The next home…well, it better be the one I plan to die in.
Today I close up the house, leaving it ready for my realtor to sell, and hit the road. I’ve spent hours walking these empty rooms. And doing a fair bit of talking to God and crying. I still don’t know if this is the right decision.
Hope’s house circa Oct, 2023
As excited as I am about the possibility of getting to adventure and travel for a while, this house is home. I made it exactly what I wanted. Saying good bye to it, possibly forever is hard. But I am leaving this is God’s hands. If it sells, I go. If it doesn’t, I come back and I stay.
Debt Update
Needless to say, with the rebuilding of my income and the costs of getting the house ready to sell, I’ve not paid anything to debt the last two months. However, all of my bills are paid including minimum debt payments. I have maxed out my credit cards though. Ugh!
Credit card debt $15,800.
The good news is that if the house sells. That debt will be wiped out immediately. But for now, all open credit cards are maxed out. Minimum payments paid. But there is no room left. (Ok, I take that back, I have about $800 available, but it’s for the most dire of emergencies only.)
If it Doesn’t Sell
The BAD community has been very clear that selling the house is stupid. I don’t agree. I will almost immediately be out of debt (almost completely), be free of the responsibility of maintaining a home that is just way too much for me, and have a real chance to choose what is next for me. (I still have no idea what I want that to be.)
However, there is a very real possibility that the house doesn’t sell. And I am, or am trying to be mentally prepared for that possibility. I don’t think I won’t get offers. I’ve already had a few. But I do have a firm amount I’m willing to settle for.
If I can’t pay off the debt and have a “nest” egg for what ever is next. It does not make sense. And I will see that as a sign that I am supposed to stay here and figure something out. I have kept that in mind with what I’ve done to prepare to sell by not doing anything I would want to undo should I find myself living here again.
But my 3 month term with the realtor is because of this. This process has about killed me, in many ways. And I can’t stand the limbo of what’s next much longer. So I’m giving the house sell 3 months. If it doesn’t sell, I will take it off the market and resolve to build some sort of life here. Again.
This will be my last house post until something actually happens as far it sells or I decide to move back in.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.