Did I ever mention that I once created a character called: I'm Playing Naked, in an on-line game? True story. So you can pretty much figure what I was or wasn't wearing this morning.

And in further news: There was a 51-50 male (acting crazy or drugged) pacing around the sidewalk in front of the house an hour ago. He was yelling at passing cars, accosting people walking by, making 'gestures' at cars, talked to one poor lady who was in her car parked waiting for someone to come out of a house. He tied her up for 10 minutes gesturing towards the empty house.

Then as my neighbor drove off, he yelled at her car, "It's MY house". so weird. Definitely on something. Was well dressed, clean, seemed normal except for his behavior. Talked to himself loudly. Wasn't aggressive physically at all even when the guy hit him with the 2x4. Interesting. My neighbor called it in over 30 minutes ago and don't ya know the guy walked off 5 minutes ago? THEN hey, it's a good thing today, the call went out, the police car went the WRONG direction BUT found the guy!!!! And now he's with him 'checking on his injuries'. Wow. Finally something is going well for some stupid reason.

More updates later. I'm sure MORE will happen today.

Hi Sorta!
I love your saga! I am in so much pain from an extracted tooth (yesterday) and my lumbar back pain (sciatica) that I really needed this to keep my mind off my pain. Thank you! I had a steroid shot in my back almost 3 weeks ago that only made it worse. The first one I had was in April 2015 and it worked like magic. This last one did nothing. So I get the stitches in my mouth out in a couple of weeks. At least I am getting Oxycodone for that, and it helps my back. Otherwise I couldn't sleep.
Can't wait for what happens next!
Andrea

Wait a minute... there was a 2 x 4 involved?!

I hope you feel better Andrea.

Please keep the updates coming Sorta.

OH Andrea! I know your pain. Really, I've got the same thing now for 4 years, but in my case a series of 4 shots of a year did wonders. I still get a numb leg when standing too long and can't be on my feet for a long time, and other things, but at least I'm up and going. Hope you get better. And yes, the oxy will help, I'm on Vicodin since this all started. Not perfect, but does take the 'edge' off. Good luck with all your pain. I'll be thinking about you.

As for the house, yep it's entertaining to say the least. There WAS a 2x4 involved. I guess the neighbor guy, whose house this crazy decided to 'invade' (I think he went inside a huge steel gate) came out swinging, hit the guy, the guy went to the ground, I could hear the hit and punches and groans from here. Terrible. I almost called the police, but they seemed to have come to some place of calm AND the police would probably have arrested my neighbor guy for assault. Yup, he had the 'weapon' and used it. You can never tell which way it will go when you call the police. They don't really listen well.

Still no strangeness this afternoon. Nobody around the house, no nuts walking the streets (well except for the usual ones) and everything seems OK for now. I'm sure that won't last.

IT'S FOR SALE! $329,000!

Congrats

Sorta, I have read every single post of your saga with this house and although I am happy for you to see it nearing it's end, I will miss all of your exciting stories. Like a good TV series it is always sad to see it end. Perhaps whoever buys the house will provide other stories for you to write about. Thanks for the entertainment.

Oh manxman, don't worry, my neighbors and I have already discussed who the new owners might be and what fun we might have if they are 'interesting'. Could be an investor/contractor who will tear down the existing house and build a duplex thus making twice the profit. Might be some awful noisy 'workers' who park all over our streets and make noise in the wee hours of the morning and late at night. tons of possibilities. I'm just tickled it's actually got a huge for sale sign right at the corner and nobody can miss it. Already several cars are pulling over to look at the sign and glance at the house. Probably calling the realtor right now.

When I called the realtor, they hadn't even put the listing 'up' on the website yet. Nobody else had it so I guess they are awaiting the MLS listing number.

AND as if this wasn't fun enough, after the guy who put the sign there was gone, a couple came OUT of the house. I ran the recording back at least an hour and NEVER saw them going in. They could have been in there all night. Geez! Imagine how fun the new owners will have if some of the squatters decide to nose around? Could be tons of nice tools and other stuff all there for the taking. After all, there is still that hole in the bedroom floor that gives access from under the house. Easy in and out.

Then just today I found out that the bedroom flooring wasn't just straight oak boards, it was an intricate inlay pattern that made a circle pattern from the edges to the middle. Oh what idiots would RUIN such a wonderful floor?

In any case, I and the other neighbors who are watching and have been involved with the police, are watching the house closely now. It's like waiting for Christmas morning! Who, when, what will they do? I can hardly stand the wait.

Do you think it will sell quickly?

Hi Sorta!
I sure wish I could afford it! My dad used to flip houses in So Calif. Made a lot of money doing it too.
I am glad it's not the end yet!
Back still painful, tooth pulled and healing.
Andrea

Yup Draclvr, we have a pool going as to how quickly this is sold. I'm betting 2 weeks or less, my tenant/friend says one month, my other friend up the street thinks over a month. I think I'll win.

And luv2travel, I'd love to flip houses! Real estate is one thing that is usually a sure bet to make a profit on. Even little 'fixes' make it so easy to resell or rent. I call them 'cheap frills'. As long as the structure is safe and in good shape with all the proper stuff, just a little 'eye candy' sometimes seals the deal. My Mom's huge beautiful Motor Home didn't sell for so long it was strange. Of course it was totally empty. So I got some little tables, some pictures for the walls, added some hanging plants and staged the dining room with china etc. Changed a few old lighting fixtures and Sold immediately. Most buyers want to see how they 'could' use the space, not just the open space. Oh well.

Nothing strange yesterday afternoon or evening EXCEPT the 'bicycle boys' were scoping it out again as usual. One circled around and then zipped in through the fence. Never saw him come out, but then I'm not watching it like I used to. He's probably trying to steal anything he can before someone buys this 'gem'. Ugh. It's terrible. I'm hoping my friend will call the realtor and set up a 'showing'. I can go with him. He's not willing to pay the full price, but who knows what might happen? I could find myself with a house to rehab and rent myself. Not a bad thing, but time and effort and then the 'finding' of the right people to rent it. Always scary. AND I could rent it for MUCH more than I am now, will recoup any money spent on upgrading it from the deposit and security and first and last month's rent I will collect. Something to think about 'just in case'.

I'm guessing that today, there will be tons of people (good and bad) going by there, and in and out of the place now that it's legally for sale. Probably lots of stealing to come. I still wonder if the Realty company will do ANY cleanup or repairs. I'm guessing not.

One thing about you getting it to rehab and rent is that you can WATCH it closely to be sure any renters are "good guys!"

I spent most of today watching the circus across the street. Starting at 1 pm, there was a steady stream of people driving up and walking around the yard and house with clipboards, taking notes. Some were taking pictures, others were obviously just happy couples looking for a house to buy to live in. I feel so sorry for those who don't know what this place is all about.

The advertisements are now on ALL the real estate sites with only a few pictures and NO pictures of the inside at all. Everyone thinks this is just a fixer house. Boy are they going to be surprised when they finally get to see inside.

There is now a 'lock box' on the door but nobody has gone inside. I think from reading the 'agent's website that they actually VET the callers to be sure they are really buyers and not lookie lous. Makes sense. They won't show this unless they have a buyer with CASH. Unfortunately only ONE of the websites stated 'cash' as a condition of sale. Yep, they are going to get people there looking without them realizing that this is a totally trashed house.

The listing realtor does business differently from others. They have separate people who do specialized jobs. None of them actually get the call, set up an appointment, show the house, do the paperwork, etc. Each job is done by a certain person. He actually won some sort of award for his 'innovative' selling practices. He also has a weekly, one hour radio show on one of our local stations. Geez. Don't know why I never heard of this person before. Then again, I don't listen to the radio much.

So very soon, we will have a sold house. I will know it's a 'real' buyer (probably a contractor or investor) when I see the realtor come with them and take them inside. This guy guarantees a SET price and date for sale with the owner. They sign a contract as to the total amount the owner will get and the timeline. IF the place doesn't sell by then, the realtor will buy it himself or have one of his 'investors' buy it. Sounds like a done deal to me. I'm still guessing 2 weeks till it's sold. Wow.

OH and in the middle of all this, I went shopping for just 15 minutes. When I came back, I reviewed the recording of the action and found that just as I left, THREE people walked down the block, passed the house and turned up the side street. Then they climbed over the back fence and disappeared for 15 minutes. Just as I drove back in, they were leaving from the driveway gate. These were the USUAL lowlife kids that came with all their 'possessions' including backpacks, bedrolls, etc. Well loaded down and one had a small bike. The 2 guys had to LIFT the girl over the fence. Geez. What fun.

I guess they looked around, figured out that the house was locked up tight and people kept stopping by to look at it and they left going back up the same way they had come. They were probably going to stay the weekend. Their 'vacation' was ruined.

Well, shucks! A weekend vacation ruined by... you know... legal activitity!

Yep. Ha. Imagine you are a low life transient druggie. Then you go to a place that you have been told is a great place to crash or that you have been to before. THEN just as you settle in, swarms of people with clipboards and papers keep coming in and disturbing your happy little nest. I'm laughing. I can just see these kids (they all looked less than legal age) being very surprised and wondering should they run or stay or? I wonder if they tried to explain to the legal lookers why they were there. Still a great moment in the life of Sorta's Neighborhood.

Today, already, a couple with a realtor. I'm positive it's not the listing agent. This couple looked very well dressed and like they were actually looking for a HOME, not a rat infested drug house. Poor people. I hope the word gets around fast to all the different realty offices that THIS house is not for 'beginners'.

Still many more hours to go in the day. I expect good things to happen while I watch the SuperBowl.