Late night for me means after 9pm, and after surfing through Direct TV for
the third time and finding nothing on I wanted to watch, we settled on House
Hunters, I heard them mention Hollywood, so I got curious. It seems this couple
from Wisconsin wanted a summer home in Hollywood, near the beach in Malibu.
Lorie and Cory...what as story. I guess on the map it is only a few inches
away, not the hour drive in heavy traffic that is reality. But they had
$600,000 to spend-you can buy farms for less back home, and were looking. The
first two places were dumps, I mean people really dumped their trash there when
moving on. Homeless people live better. The third was in the hills by Malibu,
not close enough to the beaches of Hollywood, and looked like a hippie shack
from the sixties. They finally settled on a place listed for $500,000, 800
square foot of 1920’s bad memories. But it had a great view. That they finally
bought for $636,000-I thought you negotiated down! Above their original budget,
and the bleeding of money began. Remember Green Acres, this place was worse,
and soon the Haney’s were lining up to get all the Wisconsin dollars they
could. And more from loans in California. Mr. Haney could have retired....by
the way didn’t he after the Douglases?
The house was sold by a broker/architect, and it should have been torn
down, but instead was renovated. And doing this from 2500 miles away is never a
good thing. So of course they continued on their bad decision tour by enlisting
a contractor, who did what they asked, but not what could have been done. And
many things had to be redone, or done over, or added, just to function. Don’t
people get their new homes inspected before they buy? Don’t the inspectors
inspect and report? And when they do , do you listen? Cory and Lori are
learning fast, at the speed of their bank balance. And finally when deciding to
add a second bathroom to this 800 square foot house, think of the size of two
two car garages, or four parking places-it is small, so they hired an interior
decorator. “Gee Mr. Douglas, you sure have nice place here...” as the funds
dispersal goes into overdrive. And her opening line was “you should have called
me sooner,” as she and the contractor debate-contractors always choose the easy
way, just not what you wanted or thought you were getting. And the “let me help
you spend your money” syndrome was full on.
Now according to the show, Lori and Cory traveled to Hollywood at least six
times by plane-not cheap. By today’s estimates at lest $656 per person, plus
rental of the convertible, it is LA, and dining out. What’s in your wallet was
emptying fast. One time bringing her father to see, and the same lies he was
told about Hollywood he believed. His first question from their balcony, “which
way is the ocean? I don’t see it.” Only 20 miles away, on the other side of
the hills. Who was a wood worker, and built them a custom mantel, which Cory
damaged when they tried to install it themselves, trying to save few bucks.
Must make a father proud. And the $90k renovation ended up costing over $110k,
welcome to LA! And finally one last trip to Hollywood from Madison, driving
this time pulling a trailer, bringing furniture and other goods, had to cost at
least as much as a flight. Figure in time away from work, and this wreck of a
listing for $500,000 ended up costing over $800,000! And still no beach in
Hollywood! Or place to park their cars! But the architect, interior designer,
and contractor all lived happily ever after. While the story of Cory and Lori
looked sorry, with no glory. That’s history! Do I see a remake of Green
Acres? Let’s call it “Invasion of the Wallet Snatchers,” or “Lost Horizons”
based on the song Hotel California, you can check out any time you want, but you
can never leave! Now where is the ocean in Hollywood? One good earthquake
away?
Now you can either be the view or have the view. When we lived at
Vallecito Lake in Colorado we had both. Here is Cali it is different. And you
pay for what you get, maybe not what you want. Since the recession n 2008, I
have applied to the county for a reevaluation of my property for taxes. And as
my house lost 50% of its value, the taxes went down, just not 50%. And the last
year, they stayed the same. The reason was “my house showed well from the
street.” So I am paying more for my neighbors to have a better house to look
at? Maybe they should help in the cost.....maybe I was just getting a
compliment and the tax was a way of saying thanks. I have yet to hear “you’re
welcome.”
Lori and Cory built a home, without a full considering of the cost. What
they wanted and what they got, and what they paid were two different things.
First a house by the beach in Hollywood, didn’t the realtor advise them? Or
were they so set on Hollywood? They set a budget, but exceed it by almost 60%,
is that wise? For a part time summer home? LA gets hot in the summer, why not
in the winter? Even the Mamas and the Papas told us “I’d be safe in warm if I
was in LA..” were they just California Dreamin’? I am reminded of a scripture
or two, given to me early in my Christian walk. Proverbs 16:3, “commit your
works to the Lord, and your plans will be well established.” Works in other
areas too. Luke 14:8 asks us who would build a hose without first considering
the cost? To see if they have enough to finish it? And finally another of many
scriptures about planning, “don’t say you will go somewhere and do something,
for today has enough problems of its own.” Yet we fail to plan, and and when we
do never plan of failing. Do we trust God enough to say “thy will be done,” or
do we rush off because we have a credit line, cash on hand, and a desire, often
a lust for a car, house, motorcycle, or whatever? Do we count the cost? Or do
we just call on God to sweep up after we fail? Guilty on all....can I hear an
amen?
When Jesus went to the cross, He knew the cost. In the garden, He even
begged His Father if there is any other way...but He knew there wasn’t. He knew
He was the way, and so He went to the cross voluntarily. He knew His Father’s
plans for Him, and what they meant for us. Do we? Have we ever considered the
price Jesus paid? Or do we think He had an endless credit limit from heaven?
Some of us live like we think we do, but when the bill comes we are short. Sin
has eroded our riches, they have turned to dust. And the grocery store isn’t
interested in your FICO score, only can you pay the bill now! When we came to
Christ did we consider the cost, what it would cost us? Or are we standing in
line, hoping for a rich uncle to bail us out? When really we have a loving
Father who is there, to see we don’t get into a situation to be bailed out of,
and is there when we need Him. If only Lori and Cory had asked God first, but
$800,000 later they have their $500,000 home in Hollywood, not by the
beach.
To them it was the destination, but the ride should have been a warning.
We can have both in Christ, but we need to follow, not lead from behind. Trust
the Lord, ask Him his plans for you, and go about them. If they are His plans,
yours should be well established. You won’t need an architect, decorator, or
contractor, or a banker, or a therapist either. You will have a wonderful
counselor who knows the future, and gives you the desires of your heart. For
unlike real estate where you didn’t pay too much, you just bought too soon, with
Jesus the price is paid, at the right time. Your place in heaven guaranteed.
Consider the cost today before you act. Ask God for guidance, then take it.
Just over that hill may lie the ocean of your dreams....just not visible from
where you are. But through God’s eyes we can see everything. Take the
decorator’s advice when starting a project, call God first. Know the cost. But
of course you knew all this anyway....must make your Father proud.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com