Rent or sell? In today's current market...what are your thoughts.... Just a nice little ranch I have owned since 1992. Originally only featuring a carport, I closed this in and created the one car garage. Note the line of the brick...it took me a long time to decide how to do the exterior and I traveled all the way to Virginia to find a brick that matched that used in 1978. However, I was extremely pleased to have taken this approach.

I fenced this in as soon as I bought it. I had an English Springer Spaniel named "Cody" who was extremely happy with his new surroundings when I originally bought the house....it is complete with a garage that has a doggie door to the back yard....

I tore down the old deck a several years ago and built this. I had it stained to match the trim.... In the back ground is a huge fig tree that almost lost it's life to Hurricane Fran. The winds blew so hard the tree was almost flat to the ground. It took a couple years of patience, wenching, and cabling to get it to stand up-right again. However, it seems to have survived the ordeal and is full and vibrant. I also planted three little "Bradford Pears" that have become anything but little. Their blooms in the spring are quite amazing, and lends a sense of privacy from the houses to the rear...

The house was built in 1978, the year I graduated. Back then, fireplaces were meant to burn wood. This one has 4 forced air blowers. I love the smell of a real wood fire. This one I used to get stoked before bed. It would keep the entire house warm until wee hours in the morning when the electric would then kick in...

Back in 2006, I had a tenant who totally trashed the place. As a landlord, this was a worst nightmare. However, always looking for the silver lining, it gave me the opportunity to paint the entire interior. Everything was dark stained, cabinets, trim, doors, etc. Changing to bright white gave a face lift that was long overdue....

When I retired from flying in 2000 I was in Philadelphia. I moved back down here where all my personal belonging were being stored. I decided to redo the tile in this bathroom as well as the master. I got married and never once used either one...

Neatly tucked in the back, this stall and floor tile were also redone.

It was a slow and tedious process to change all the "dark" stained doors, trim etc. However, the results transformed this place quite nicely into a brighter, cleaner, and more inviting style..

I lived in this house between 1992 and 1996. In 1996 I began a period of travel keeping an apartment in Philadelphia while a friend enjoyed the comforts of "house-sitting". It wasn't until 2000 that I finally made my way back home.... I moved again the same year but for a better purpose.

....Marriage. My ex and I opted to inhabit her house. It was after all a little larger.... Since that time I have been 2 for 3 with great tenants....we won't go in to the one who cost me over $4000 in repair costs.....

Sandra Carrington Smith was so kind when she posted this under the "Blog for Hope". As many know, I am struggling with the economy, job loss, new business start-up, and a bank who cares more for profits than people. The Blog for Hope is a GOLO group committed to aiding those in need. I fought the bank and as a consequence, moved out of my primary house and rented it to some wonderful folks from here on GOLO. At the same time, my tenants in this house were fortunate to qualify for the governments new $8000 tax credit. I truly hated to see them leave because they were such a nice couple. I truly do not want to go through the same ordeal with the bank on this house... More details can be found here...on my Craig's list ad for the house.... I am in hopes that I am able to find someone to rent this before it too succumbs to the evils of the bank... http://raleigh.craigslist.org/apa/1250188644.html

I just returned from the house after a lengthy period of grass mowing, weed wacking and gutter cleaning. I am very happy with the condition the last tenants left the place which leaves little for me to do to the inside. Move in ready. Shoot me an email @ nicsauto@earthlink.net and lets get together. Thanks so much.

We all go through trials, pitfalls, and the ups and downs that make life both a blessing and a curse.... You can not appreciate one without experiencing the other.... I for one feel blessed having been "woken-up" to how I was living. Perhaps there are lessons for us all.....

The last time I lived in this house was following a month long period in the desert of southeast Utah.... That period of solitude seems to provide answers to questions that are begging to be asked again... Where to go from here?