Moving to Illinois....

[69MyWay]

Yep...I finally landed the job I have pursued with my company for more than 10 years. Not a big money job...just a job that is right up my alley.

However, I have to move from sunny Florida to central Illinois....

Don't worry about www.projectr517.com - I have an awesome guy taking my "hands & feet on the ground" position to carry it through. He is already leading the folks toward a great work day the end of this month and the car is scheduled for three showings in early March - with the engine in...and body all in primer.

Back to the move.....


I went to high school in Michigan just north of Detroit about 30 miles. However, it has been a long time since I drove...lived...played in the cold stuff and long gray days.

Looking for rural properties with land and pre-existing man-caves to roll my junk in. Having some luck...but slim pickings right now.

So...all you Illinois boys...give me a shout. Need to know who my new neighbors are going to be...also need to know what you do with a G machine hot rod in the frozen tundra land of high taxes and corrupt politicians!

Oh..my start date is March 23! My company has an EXCELLENT relocation program. Going to take a hit on my house...but hope to take advantage of that on my future house as well.

[65 347]

DON"T DO IT! Stay in florida, just kidding. Hope the move and new job go well. Were in Illinois are you moving to?
Mike

[RobG]

We've got a heat wave moving in today...it's supposed to hit 50 !!!!

:eek:

[Young Gun]

dont worry ts 45 out right now... no really it is... and its all wet with the snow melting... yay for global warming!!!

[slck6t9]

Where a bouts in central Illinois? I grew up in the small town of Gibson City just 20 miles north of Champaign. Hope to move back myself someday. Good luck on the move and the new job.

[69MyWay]

My office is in Bloomington/Normal.

I'm looking at moving out a bit to get land, lower taxes, and a man cave.

We found some houses meeting the criteria in Atlanta (funny huh? cuz its not GA)...and Clinton.

Saw one in El Paso (also funny, because that is north of Bloomington...and NOT in Texas)....that has a killer 40x70 work shop on acre on the edge of a farm field with a decent house.

Notice...I pointed out the shop first.

We should have a house hunting trip in about two weeks. My report date is March 23rd...so we have to get moving quickly!

[radrambler]

chris

man,wow how time goes by.18 years ago we worked our first job together. oh,20 years ago....my bad
its crazy to think we have been friends this long. kinda a brother from another mother deal.
to bad that cool job isnt in jacksonville ,fl....my car buds have all moved.
i know you have wanted this for many years and congrats on beating out the others who interviewed.remember you have earned it.so get that cool man cave and one day i can come up and hang out and drool over your new stable.it will only be a summertime visit lol.
goodluck on the house hunt/relocate.keep me posted.
thanks for all the advice.:bow:

tom

[Joel145]

My office is in Bloomington/Normal.

I'm looking at moving out a bit to get land, lower taxes, and a man cave.

We found some houses meeting the criteria in Atlanta (funny huh? cuz its not GA)...and Clinton.

Saw one in El Paso (also funny, because that is north of Bloomington...and NOT in Texas)....that has a killer 40x70 work shop on acre on the edge of a farm field with a decent house.

Notice...I pointed out the shop first.

We should have a house hunting trip in about two weeks. My report date is March 23rd...so we have to get moving quickly!

My wife is from Lincoln (very close to Atlanta and Clinton) I actually played golf at the atlanta course. My wifes grandpa is a realtor up and knows the area. If you need any help I can get you in contact with him.

Joel

[69MyWay]

Okay guys...help a brutha make a decision. I'm flying up there next week in hopes of landing a contract on a new house.

This one has about 2,400 sq foot with an attached two car garage - is brand new on 2 acres

http://p.rdcpix.com/v01/l0495d941-m0m.jpg


Check out the MAN CAVE!

http://p.rdcpix.com/v01/l0495d941-m2m.jpg

This one is a couple of years old...would be 4,200 sq foot with the basement finished...has a three car garage on 2 acres and a smaller man cave. However, with the three car attached I could keep my Camaro there...and have the shop open for projects.

http://p.rdcpix.com/v01/lc65ad341-m0m.jpg

Both are between 20 and 30 miles from the office on the south side off straight shots running in town. Both have lower taxes than right in town...and both are the same asking price.

[69MyWay]

My wife is from Lincoln (very close to Atlanta and Clinton) I actually played golf at the atlanta course. My wifes grandpa is a realtor up and knows the area. If you need any help I can get you in contact with him.

Joel

That's cool. One of the houses we have looked at on the net is right near the golf course. Atlanta seems nice...we are also looking in Clinton...and El Paso...as well as others.

Found a good realtor - friend of a friend thing.

[dropit69]

hey there ..im about 1 1/2 hours to the north of normal..both those houses look awesome ..id do the first one with the big pole building..as far as winter just have patience that it will melt and be warm before you know it..lol..was a brutal winter this year..lots of time to work on all the things you dream of if ya got the money..lol..you need to hit up the motorstate challenge going on in June its about a 5 hour drive for ya but will be a blast..http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52112

[69MyWay]

Up here house hunting now.

The first one in that picture with the big pole building was a disappointment. The shop was awesome. Although the house was built in 08, the owner did most of it himself with some pool quality finish work and awkward spaces. He uses exterior grade siding to do the walls in the basement. Anyway, the wife killed that one before we got very far. Yet...the shop was top shelf all the way.

We looked at many others. Many disappointments. This process is emotional grueling. If we were "normal" people looking for a typical home on a postage stamp lot we'd be set. But no....I have to be looking for a work shop, or enough land with a decent house to build one. So...that pushes the issue.

Okay...the second one in my pictures looks to be the ticket. Been there three times now, and although it isn't perfect, we can make that one work with room to grow. It was built in 06 and features things like geothermal heating/cooling. It looks new inside and out and was professionally finished. The basement is a big open unfinished hulk with 9' ceilings. The house garage is a full three car, finished and insulated, but not heated. The workshop is a 24x30 with a pair of insulated single doors and is totally unfinished inside. It needs insulation, additional power service (220 need to be out there for equip) ceiling, etc etc. I can work with it...just not what I'd like for what they are asking.

The kitchen is awesome, bedrooms ample size, with many upgrades. It is on 2 acres with plenty of room to put up a killer shop later.....

It is 25 minutes from my office straight up 51 - a simple drive...just more miles than I'd like at 26. Right now it takes 30 - 40 minutes for me to get home on a 14 mile ride though town. It is in move in condition with the exception of putting up some sort of fencing for our three dogs.


Going to put an offer in on this one today and see what happens. Honestly, if we can't make a deal I'll have to rent. There is NOTHING else available right now that fits our needs.

[almcbri]

I hear ya. It is tough finding the right home. We have been looking for 6 months. Good luck with the offer :thumbsup:

[Diognes56]

Congrats on the job. Good luck on the house hunt. I am amazed at how many listings don't even mention the garage, and half the time when they do, it is just to say that there is one there :rolleyes: .

Anyway, I am in Peoria, IL just a little drive away. Let me know if you need anything.

David

[radrambler]

hey bro

looks like you have been busy.....that man cave is pretty nice..
HOPE YOU AND NIKKI FIND WHAT YOU WANT..keep looking.
looks like im going to go SELL OFF MY NEW PARTS TO HELP PAY for a DIVORCE.
thats my latest news..

TOM

[69MyWay]

Dang Rad....I hate to hear that news. You know I'm here for you (no matter where here is....)


Okay...got a contract on the house and secured a closing date (March 18).

Now...the fun begins with the mountain of paper work to conclude the loan...inspections....etc. etc. etc.

The good side of this rotten economy - fixed 30 year at 4.8%

The bad side is, the Illinois market is not as weak as Florida. Getting killed on my old house...had to pay more than I wanted or expected for the new one. Looking at a loss (not counting improvements) from the sale price in 2005 to now of nearly $30K - and when you add the massive improvements - closer to $40+K. That hurts. That is real money - gone. Could be worse...but still it bites.

Had time today to go to the new town (Clinton) - it is a small town of about 7,500 folks. Visited my son's new school, checked out a church, and found all the places we need to go for driver license...tags, etc. etc.

We have been freezing our butts off! LOL At least we come back next month as spring begins. That will help us acclimate.

Oh...our new house is in the middle of a farm field. Pretty cool. Has a pond (not ours) on one side and a cool creek in the rear (not ours). I think the geothermal a/c and heat will help with the bills. The work shop is bare - I have my work cut out to get it functional. With 2 acres we have ample room to add on if desired later or build a bigger building out back. My boy is going to trip out on the space to race his go-kart around.

Oh...there are some sweet twisty roads coming through to the house - can't wait to pound them with the Camaro.

There are other houses all around on 2 acres or more - but nobody real close. Very little trees though.

Anyway - just rambling.

[69MyWay]

hey there ..im about 1 1/2 hours to the north of normal..both those houses look awesome ..id do the first one with the big pole building..as far as winter just have patience that it will melt and be warm before you know it..lol..was a brutal winter this year..lots of time to work on all the things you dream of if ya got the money..lol..you need to hit up the motorstate challenge going on in June its about a 5 hour drive for ya but will be a blast..http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52112

Sweet - Map quest says this is:

Total Estimated Time: 4 hours 18 minutes
Total Estimated Distance: 254.52 miles

From the new location.

Can't commit yet by any means...but I'd love to bring the Camaro for this event.

[radrambler]

chris
thanks bro. i will probably need a pick me up when i get it in process.i just picked the wrong one... :drama:
you have to post up pics of the ranch your getting .gotta check out the new man cave.glad yall found something.
talk with ya soon

tom

[69MyWay]

Well...I'm here and in the second week of my new job.

We are here!

So far...so good.

We even had our first snow (which may be the last snow for here) last Sunday. My 5 year old was out at 7 a.m. playing in it.

I jumped right into the workshop finishing. I have wired up new electric circuits and am getting ready for a delivery of drywall and insulation to finish off the walls. Waiting for word on plumbing in a sewer drain and feed for toilet and sink out there.

Hope to have it functional where I can build some cabinets and finish it all off..then?????? Don't know what project I'll do next.

The weather has been interesting. The wind around here is amazing!

I'm looking forward to doing some automotive events around the midwest.

[dropit69]

great to see you settling in..if you dont like the weather just wait 5 mins itll change..lol..there are some good car events but unfortunatly all north of you ..they have a super chevy at the rt66 dragway every year and also a good guys at the chicagoland track witch is right across the road..if i hear of anything south ill let you know ..try to make it to the MI event if ya can..

[nvr2fst]

Welcome to the midwest Chris. Your a hop skip and a jump away from the power tour start in WI. this year