My Riverside Drive apartment was the subject of a thread on a real estate blog. It’s strange to read about something I owned even if nice things were said. It’s even stranget not to participate in the discussion because…I don’t know, it just wouldn’t be right
I haven’t closed yet so I have no idea why I wrote this as if it were a done deal. The contracts have been signed. I gave “earnest” money, and next Wednesday is the closing.
“Patio” houses are ubiquitous here. They’re adorable. What the rest of the country calls a deck, North Myrtle calls a patio. I bought a house with a patio off one bedroom and a Carolina room (indoor/outdoor room with heat, AC, ceiling fan and lights) off the master bedroom.

It’s in perfect condition and if I didn’t hate carpeting–it’s even in the bathrooms–and love color so much I could move in next Wednesday after the closing.

Why the uh? This is a horrible time to be spending money and the guilt gene in me is running OT. I shouldn’t be buying furniture. I shouldn’t be buying flat screen TV’s–I’m waiting for all that for the after holiday sales.

The house is on one of the best streets in town and very very walkable. Last Friday I happened upon a music award radio show at a bar in beach hotel while I was walking on the beach and couldn’t stay as the dark night sky was approaching rapidly and the temps fall from almost beach like to almost winter like.

If I had lived in this house then I could have gone home for a sweater and come back quickly.

It’s in a not quite alley and only one fifth can be seen from the street. The house is about four direct blocks from the beach, about five from Route 17 and literally around the corner from Main Street, a street I have come to love. It’s directly across Route 17 from the North Myrtle Fitness and Aquatics Center and I’m very psyched about that.

My best friend’s supposed to come this weekend and I was going to wait for her but I have been following real estate here for eight months very intensely and know that the best houses are taken within a week of being listed. Other houses languish. I coveted another for different reasons but it’s too far from the town center, and doesn’t have patios.

This was originally a FSBO (for sale by owner) for 100K+ more. I coveted it greatly but didn’t want to spend the money. It had this funny sign “no dogs or cigarettes allowed.” No cigarettes I can kinda understand and like but no dogs? There’s no homeowner association, and there’s nothing in the contract but….I plan on getting the strangest yet coolest pets and will post pictures of them here

At the price I paid it’s a good buy. I know that yet the little voice in my head is telling me that I could have rented a luxe townhouse for $1200 a month or less. But I like owning, and am at the enthralled with having to set up a water bill account stage.

I don’t know if real estate will ever be “the best investment anybody made” ever again or in any of our lifetimes. It cost a bit more than what I paid for my city apartment eleven years ago.

I do know that this will make a good home and I plan on enjoying it.