Trying to get a loan

I went today to my local insurance agent, as this company also provides HELOC loans. So I think, what the heck, they can only tell me no....which they did. So, back to square one. My nephew is a banker that said he may be able to help if we get turned down. I asked the nice man at the insurance office if it HAS to be a HELOC, and he said it did not, but said it with reservation, as he realizes my credit score sucks big time. Well, it's not that bad, but it definitely needs improvement. Hopefully when the deevorce is final and I can get the house in my name and he sells the van (joint account that he's delinquent in), I can really start to improve. I didn't have the heart to tell my mom when she called tonight. She had been out with my sister and some friends, and had imbibed a bit, so she was feeling rather cheery, and I just didn't want to poopoo on her parade. There's plenty of time for that later as this adventure unfolds!

And so it begins.....

Let's start out with a little history of this project. My mom, who is 76 and single, is living in a nice senior community apartment complex. She is a special ed aide in her local school district, which obviously doesn't pay very well. Her rent has risen about $200 in the three years that she's lived there, the most recent adjustment this summer. So.....being the good daughter that I am (HA!), I offered to convert my garage into her "suite" so she can live out the remainder of her years rent- and expense-free in a nice home (see pic above). She has been unable to buy another home since she and my dad divorced in '78, only renting, and I just feel very strongly about the biblical command to "honor thy mother and father". And it will give her an opportunity to spend time with my kids, something she has not been able to do consistently since my nine-year-old was an infant and she lived closer to us. I have three sisters, only two of whom I have a relationship with, and we have agreed (minus the *absent* sister, of course...hereafter referred to as the Black Sheep, or BS for short) that this is the best for all involved. It was such divine intervention, as it was placed on our hearts about the same time, but in different ways, so we know that the timing is right. My mom's sister, whom we did ask to finance the project and were met with refusal, seems to be concerned that the only thing to come of this is "increasing the value on Sidney's home"...obviously that would be direct from the Black Sheep's mouth, although I am oblivious as to why she feels so strongly against me. I certainly haven't shared any of my life experiences with her for at least the past five years or so, nor she with me, but she fancies herself an expert on my life, despite no confirmed knowledge from me or anyone else mutual to us. Is a value increase a bad thing? I think not, but I guess they don't feel I should benefit in any way from anything, again, I know not why. Only makes me more determined. But I digress.....so, in the interest of seeing my mom enjoy the dusk of her life and maybe actually be able to do some of the things that she's always wanted to do, like travel, I offered this living arrangement to her, and she joyfully accepted. We will soon be a multi-generational household! I feel that, at this point, I should insert that those of us in agreement on this project have very little, if any, extra cash, stocks, bonds, producing oil wells...that sort of thing. We are your typical "paycheck-to-paycheck"-type of families. However, BS and Aunt are very comfortable financially (obviously, in their minds, they've done Something Right). I believe there is something in the Bible about not hoarding, but that's another post altogether. And I'll also add, though, that Aunt is generous with Mums and sends her money on a regular basis, and even gave her a wonderful luxury car, so now we don't have to worry about her transportation as well. Aunt is taken in by what BS assumes to know (you know what "assume"-ing does....), and has not taken the time to find out the TRUTH...instead relying on the inner workings of BS's mind. It's a pity that they didn't want to be a part of blessing someone else.


So, we've been thinking about and planning this for about a week now. One of my daycare daddies and his daddy will, most likely, be undertaking this renovation. They came by yesterday and looked the garage over, taking measurements and assessing those things that we hope to accomplish. Once they have drawn up a bid, I'll take it to my local banker and hopefully secure a loan so that we can begin this project. Our target date for completion is August 1, or at least by the start of school (August 25), so that things will have returned to some semblance of normal. Let the games begin!