Chasing the Finish Line: Finally Closing On The Home In Jamaica

Ginger — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:54:58 +0000

Some of you know that I am originally from Jamaica, for those that didn’t, well I am! How I ended up here in a America is a long story but the short of it is that my father died shortly after I came here to the States some years ago. He left my brother and I the house we lived in and we have been trying to sell it for the longest time.

How long? 3 years. Why so long? I’m not sure, but between my living here in the States, being in school, getting married, personal life stuff, Jamaican bureaucracy and a tenant that has possibly worked my last nerve, closing is tentatively set for the end of April. What. A. Relief !!

A few thoughts as I near the end of this process….

I am more attached to the house than previously thought and even though I’ve been brought to tears while discussing the closing specifics its too far to go back now.

I learned the importance of setting up a proper will/estate/trust as this was the hardest process I’ve ever gone through in life. The short of it, if you have children, set up a trust in the even that you pass away with SPECIFICS. Let them know, let all parties involved what’s set forth in the documents so they are no issues upon your passing around clarification of final wishes.

Keep all important documents around final wishes and paperwork handy. Going through the court system to get copies of the death certificate, will and deed to the house have been one drama after the other. I wasn’t old enough to figure all of this out then but moving forward I’ve learned the importance of doing so.

I am not cut out to be a landlord. I am too much of a sap! I hear all the sob stories not knowing or sensing my tenant is pulling another fast one meanwhile she owes me 14 months of back rent! I wish I had it in me to kick her out but I didn’t. Still, working things out with her has given me an advantage I am seeing now in hindsight.

The money comes at an excellent time. No wedding or house to save for but debt to pay off, emergency fund and retirement accounts to fund. While it’s a tidy sum I am determined to be a good steward, the temptation is so strong to get hardwood floors and a deck but I know better!

I still miss my dad, terribly, and historically this has been a hard subject for me to discuss with anyone who asks about him. My dad was well respected in his community and whenever I visit I get the “you look so much like him” comments which are almost certainly a tear jerker. Selling his house opens up a new chapter in my life as it means I am that much more removed from the memories now.

First it was moving to the States, then finding myself in American culture, most recently it was getting married and now it will be finding myself once again. I am not sure why selling the house brings up all these old feelings but I am willing to process them to see what comes of it. I have been looking forward to the day that I’d be able to get this house off my back and now that it’s finally on the horizon, I can stand to wait a bit longer.

photo credit: â˜»mrhappyâ˜»

It’s sort of like wanting time to stop as the sun goes down while you enjoy the beauty of the sunset. Just a few more minutes while I remember old times in the park nearby the house, evenings when he came looking for me after the street lights were off, weekends at Devon House getting ice cream and spending all day at the beach. I’ll never forget his gentle temperament and unfailing patience with me even during the last days. There are times when I think he was taken away from me too soon, but again in hindsight, it was for the best.

Thankfully my husband has been really understanding during this time because the range of emotions I’ve experienced during this process have been draining. He has been nothing short of supportive and really stepped things up to help me get through it all.

This was supposed to be a long detailed post about the personal finance related lessons I learned but they really came from learning how to close the door on the past while opening another to the future. The loss of a parent is never easy but it does get better with time. I just hope I get to a point when it won’t hurt as much and I can reflect on the happier times and know that he is in a better place.

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Chasing the Finish Line: Finally Closing On The Home In Jamaica

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