Belize Real Estate Links 
| Belize Real Estate Links | |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
The Sadness of Old Buildings
From the book No Smooshing! For years, I've carried on a not-so-friendly debate with some of my artist friends from the West Coast about their ideas of what constitutes a good subject. We seem to be able to agree on certain things, like apples and oranges-and even certain landscapes. But when it comes to their paintings of dilapidated old farm buildings, we part company. Some folks see rundown farmhouses and caved-in barns as romantic. Artists paint pictures of buildings with weathered boards, leaning at impossible angles-and people take those paintings home and hang them on their walls. But for me, I see those same abandoned farmsteads as unspeakably sad. After all, each one of those boarded up farmhouses represents the death of someone's hopes and dreams for the future of their children and themselves. I get the same sad feeling whenever I pass through a small town that was once a thriving place, full of life and activity, but now sits empty and lifeless, slowly crumbling back into the black earth from which it sprang. Last week, I was lost on some back road (not an unusual situation for me) when I came across just such a ghost town. There was no name that I could see, but there were three buildings, huddled next to each other against the prairie wind, and I could still make out some faded letters above their doors. The first one had been a general store, the second a garage, but it was the third building that captured my imagination. On its side was printed the word "Hotel." Hotel? The word seemed so incongruous. After all, what could have been the attraction in this little town that would have warranted a hotel? There didn't seem to be anything of interest in the area, and if any place in the world could have been said to be in the middle of nowhere, this little town was it! And how did people get to this village in order to stay in this mysterious hotel? I saw no railroad tracks, and there's only one road running through town. The garage implied the town was still alive when cars came into general use, but cars have been around a long time, and that still didn't explain the need for a hotel in a town with only two other buildings. Perhaps that's why my artist friends find old buildings and farmsteads so intriguing. There's definitely a sense of mystery about them-stories that will never be known. On that much, we can agree. But no one can convince me those lonely scenes are picturesque. I can hardly look at old towns like that without being overcome with a sadness that's difficult to explain. What are the stories of those forlorn storefronts? Why did people come to that little town and stay in their little hotel? What about the rusty skeleton of a combine on the edge of town, its bones bleaching in the sun? I don't know, and I never will-and ghosts don't talk. Just don't try to tell me that such a scene is something I'd want to hang on my wall and look at every day. © 2004. Gary E. Anderson. All rights reserved. About The Author Gary Anderson is a freelance writer, editor, ghostwriter, and manuscript analyst, living on a small Iowa farm. He's published more than 500 articles and four books. He's also ghosted a dozen books, edited more than 30 full-length manuscripts, produced seven newsletters, and has done more than 800 manuscript reviews for various publishers around the nation. If you need writing or editing help, visit Gary's website at www.abciowa.com. abciowa@alpinecom.net
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Realty Agents: Don't Ask Don't Tell? Real estate stories radiate from the water cooler and cocktail parties like a brush fire out of control. Like early stages of fires, real estate transactions start out manageable, but occasionally real estate consumers fan the flames because of inexperience, and some real estate agents misplace the water buckets. Equity Equity is the value of your home minus what you owe on your mortgage. For example, If Joe's home is worth $200,000 and Joe still owes $170,000, then Joe's Equity is $30,000. 10 Tips to Sell Your House Faster! Here are some Handy wee Tips to help you Sell Your House Faster. These are all 'tried and true' tips we've gathered over years of Buying and Selling Houses, so I know for sure that they work!1. Ten Myths Of Real Estate Investing Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the "right" people? Let's answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate.1. Real Estate, Real Property and Leased Land; Definitions, Discussion and Explanations Delaware, and the rest of the original British Colonies, has some land that is leased rather than owned by the residents of that land. Much of it is not evident to the casual observer. Ten Steps for Becoming a Successful Real Estate Investor The secret to success in real estate investment is finding bargain properties that you can "flip" quickly for a profit. Here are a few ideas for becoming a successful investor:1) Obtain sound advice from investors who are already successful. Coming to Las Vegas - the Las Vegas Real Estate Boom Nobody seems to be 'Leaving Las Vegas' anymore - in fact just the opposite is true. Just as in the time of the rush Las Vegas real estate has been drawing the attention of investors and new citizens alike. Home Selection Checklist - A Good Aid When Choosing a Home This home selection checklist is a tool to help you select a home that is right for you and your family. Before you select a home and get a mortgage, you need to know if you will be happy with the home you select for the coming years. The Best Way To Get Real Estate Listings The Real Estate Industry is HUGE and is a golden opportunity for real estate agents. National average home sales exceed $200,000. Real Estate Bubble: Sophisticated Musical Chairs? The real estate bubble is a hot topic today; annual appreciation and housing prices have never been higher in most U.S. Oh No! Something has Happened in Florida The Florida housing market has attracted many foreigners to invest their hard earned money in the sunshine state. The British have for a long time favoured Florida for buying a second home. Spanish Estate Agents and Inspection Visits The only way to buy a home in Spain is during an inspection visit. If you are serious about buying a property, and are in a position to purchase, this is the most effective way to ensure your find the ideal home, in the ideal area at the right price for you. How to Research and Purchase a Good Investment Property How much do you really know about investment property? Accurate research and professional expertise applied to the purchase of an investment property builds a solid foundation for financial success. You may want to work with a REALTOR who can help to identify the great opportunities in investment properties in the area of your choice. Property for Sale in Piemonte Italy is Attracting British Interest The Region has four distinct seasons but in general possesses a Mediterranean feel strongly influenced by the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea. Winters are short and cold (the snow and mountains providing spectacular scenery for the region's ski resorts). Where Does Your Real Estate Commission Fee Go - Why is The Commission so HIGH? Many who have bought and sold properties through Realtors numerous times; even many real estate agents themselves, don't know where the commission money goes. After all, when a property sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars and the commission is tens of thousands of dollars, it seems like there is a terrific amount of money charged as commission -- and there is. Probate & Obituary Marketing I start my marketing with obituaries followed with probate filings and find it just another effective way to acquire property.Short of courthouse research you can go to your local library and go to the reference department and research using what is called a Polk City directory that will list if the deceased party owns real estate. Saving for a Home So you want to buy a home? This is a big step for anyone, and there are many factors to consider, not the least of these is how to get the money for a home. Sure there are loans available for home purchase, but you must have cash on hand to cover expenses such as fees and closing costs that might not be able to be covered by a loan. Moldy Homes are a Great Investment Have you seen this in your classifieds? -"Will pay $$$ for moldy homes. Call 555-555-5555"All you have to do is watch the news and you know about mold problems. Avoiding A Bad Investment Is Easier Than You Might Think Human nature being what it is, none of us can get serious about the idea of buying a house without experiencing at least a few small twinges of worry. What we fear, of course, is making a mistake. Staging® Your Home for Sale: a Superior Real Estate Home Marketing Technique: Part 1 Every Realtor KNOWS that a home should be shown in its best light to help sell it faster and for more money! We also know that, properly done, it Is a lot more than putting fragrant pies, breads or cookies in the oven, opening the drapes and turning on all the lights; although even that helps greatly.Setting the stage to obtain the highest value, fastest, for a home has recently evolved into a real estate specialty that can pay of grandly for the seller and help the buyer overcome the immense emotional strain of making a decision on which, of many similar properties, to purchase.
|
| home | site map | Colorado Log Homes | Homes for Sale in Denver Metro |
| © 2006 |
