The Story of Lori

[Lori Dee]

Assemble the boxes in a kanban manner.

I didn't know what that was, I had to look it up!
That is sort of what I am doing. Moving camping and mining gear so I have room for the box. Fill the box and then I can start stacking them in that space. Etc. etc.

[Lori Dee]

Wowza. What a morning.

I received a notice from my Property Manager that it is time for me to recertify my income to qualify to stay in my "affordable housing" apartment. The VA recently upgraded my disability, so I no longer qualify for discounted rent. If figured if I have to move, I might as well move to a more trans-friendly state, like Colorado.

The Manager said that even though I am moving out, she still needs my income verification for "tax purposes". Plus it will show that the reason I am not staying is because all of my disability pay makes me too filthy rich to stay in "affordable housing".

No problem, since I can go online and download my benefit verification letters from the VA, Social Security, and the NEBF (Electrician's Disability Fund). I logged into the VA, now you need to use a LOGIN.gov or ID.me account. I use ID.me since they have copies of my driver's license, VA photo ID, court orders, etc. I log in and download the VA letter.

Then I go to the Social Security website to login. I get a message that I must use either a LOGIN.gov or an ID.me account. Still no problem. Except now I get the message that they need to verify my identity. No, you don't. You have my records. They want me to upload a copy of my driver's license or photo ID and a selfie. No, not doing that.

I have my old username and password for the SSA website, so I'll use that. Another message that I MUST use LOGIN.gov or ID.me. The same thing happens again "due to changes in the Social Security verification process". Gee, I wonder who decided that was a good idea?

So I told the Manager that SSA won't let me log in to my account, so I can't get a letter from them. She smiled and said, "Oh well. I guess you can't stay in your apartment." OK, fine. I'll move out in July. No problem.

What a fiasco to accomplish nothing. I'll call the SSA office and have them mail me a letter so I have it for my future landlord. If they need it, I'll hold my driver's license next to my phone so they can hear it and verify it's me. 

[Mrs. Oliphant]

I might as well move to a more trans-friendly state, like Colorado.

Try to find something larger than a one-bedroom apartment in Colorful Colorado. I might need a place to crash for a bit if things in Montana get any more interesting.

[Lori Dee]

Try to find something larger than a one-bedroom apartment in Colorful Colorado. I might need a place to crash for a bit if things in Montana get any more interesting.

My plan right now is to rent a two-bedroom house. I have had enough of rude people living on the other side of my walls... ceiling, floor, and hallway.

[Northern Star Girl]

My plan right now is to rent a two-bedroom house. I have had enough of rude people living on the other side of my walls... ceiling, floor, and hallway.

Dear Lori:
Once you have a home to live in, it would be very difficult to go back to living
in an apartment or even a duplex.  As you mentioned  renting is what you are looking
for, but work hard and save up your money so that you may be able to purchase a home
in the future...
...the longer you wait, the higher the price.

Wishing you well,
HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

[Lori Dee]

Dear Lori:
Once you have a home to live in, it would be very difficult to go back to living
in an apartment or even a duplex.  As you mentioned  renting is what you are looking
for, but work hard and save up your money so that you may be able to purchase a home
in the future...
...the longer you wait, the higher the price.

Wishing you well,
HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

I have considered it. The hard part would be the down payment. I've had no-down loans through the VA and the USDA, but I burnt those bridges due to bankruptcy when I became disabled. I did buy one on a contract for deed. But the owner was a nightmare to deal with, so I refinanced.

I will be keeping my eyes open. If the housing market collapses again, I'll be ready.
Of course, by the time a 30-year mortgage is paid off, I'll be 98 years old. 

[Mrs. Oliphant]

I'll be 98 years old.

And I will be a bit older (I promise to move out before then). Thanks to you and Chrissy for explaining how to reduce the pixels in an image (thus, my new avatar). Hopefully, I've made Danielle's day a wee bit better by taking one more thing off her plate. You amaze me, Lori; I had no idea what to say to Adrian. But you did.

[ChrissyRyan]

Lori,

I hope you find good housing.

A house would be nice.

 

Chrissy

[Gina P]

Why worry about paying off the mortgage. Just look at it like rent, except you don't have to get permission to paint.

[ChrissyRyan]

Well conventional loan mortgage rates for 30 year loans have advanced to an average of 7.000% APR.

[Lori Dee]

Why worry about paying off the mortgage. Just look at it like rent, except you don't have to get permission to paint.

I will still try. I am not worried about it being paid off, but lenders do. They can't discriminate due to age, so they find another way. Trying to come up with 20% down payment, or even 10% down, will be the biggest challenge.

If I find a place I like, I usually tell the realtor that if they can push the financing through then we have a deal. They make a nice commission, so they put in a little more effort to get the sale. Plus they have financing contacts that I don't. So we will see what happens.

[D'Amalie]

Well conventional loan mortgage rates for 30 year loans have advanced to an average of 7.000% APR.

That puts a 370KUSD property mortgage payment at @2700USD, including tax, escrow, and MI.

[Lori Dee]

That puts a 370KUSD property mortgage payment at @2700USD, including tax, escrow, and MI.

That would be out of my range. But $150k - $200k might be, and there are some available in southern Colorado.

[Annaliese]

I might as well move to a more trans-friendly state, like Colorado.

Hi Lori, yeah tough decision. I am sort of going through some decisions like about deciding on whether to buy ar rent. Like I mentioned,  my plan is to relocate to Colorado in the fall or early winter time frame.  I do not want to rent as I remember those days from my junior enlisted days. Cramped and apartment manager. I've lived in my home for 37 years now, and don't think I could ever go back to an apartment.  Not saying its out of the realm of possibility,  but definitely not my choice of residence. I have to see how the market goes here in Virginia  and the timing is not just right yet for me and my personal situation. I am waiting to see how things shape out with me and my changes. Having a couple vehicles also makes it hard for an apartment. Keep in touch. Like I said we could be neighbors lil.

[Lori Dee]

I spent this morning at the laundromat. We have community washers and dryers here in the apartment building but they are small, like for a single-family home. The laundromat here is nice, with a welcoming staff that keeps everything clean. I used it when I was homeless camping because you can also rent a shower there.

They have huge washers and dryers which is what I needed to clean quilts and blankets that can now be used as "packing material" to protect glassware and valuables.

But now I am worn out. I hate doing laundry. I love the smell of clean sheets on the bed, but not enough to do laundry every day. 

[ChrissyRyan]

It is nice when everything is sparkling clean.

Chrissy

[Sephirah]

I kind of love reading about US life. It's so utterly different to the UK. For example, it doesn't compute to US folks that in the UK we have our washing machines and tumble dryers (if you can afford them these days) in the kitchen. Not in like a separate room, or the basement.

Laundromats in the UK are places people try to sell drugs to each other.

[Lori Dee]

What amazed me was when I was living in Germany. No closets!

The way property taxes work is anything that has a door is a room. So no closets. Clothes are put away in wardrobe cabinets, dressers, and armoirs because those are furniture and not taxed.

[Sephirah]

What amazed me was when I was living in Germany. No closets!

The way property taxes work is anything that has a door is a room. So no closets. Clothes are put away in wardrobe cabinets, dressers, and armoirs because those are furniture and not taxed.

Y'all would freak out over Pantries, I assume. It boggles my brain. US folks will tax anything.

[Lori Dee]

Y'all would freak out over Pantries, I assume. It boggles my brain. US folks will tax anything.

I had a house with a pantry. Well, it was a broom closet when I moved in. I renovated the entire kitchen down to the wiring and insulation. The broom closet ended up with pull-out shelves for canned goods, and baskets at the bottom for potatoes, onions, and such. The inside of the door was lined with small shelves that became a spice rack. That was a lot of fun to build.