Grrr...

During our random wanderings over the weekend just passed, my wife and I stumbled upon a new-construction subdivision about 45 miles north of Dallas, in a long-dormant town called Val Alstyne. It's amazing how many little communities north of Dallas are being turned into bedroom communities. Anyway, on a whim we stopped to look at a rather nice-looking four-bedroom one-story home with dry-stacked stone facade....really, a very nice-looking place. It was 2400+ square feet with a beautiful open-style living area (kitchen with the obligatory granite counter-tops, huge island kitchen, stainless appliances, giant walk-in closets, etc.). The price: $214K, a huge discount from what we expected. Anthing like it in Dallas would go for a minimum of $295K. My wife and I immediately liked the place and thought (at least I did) we should borrow the design and start construction on a similar place on our land in Falba. I'm guessing I could get the same place built for $160K or less down there...and we could have a pool and jacuzzi and massive garden, along with a big barn and tractor and...

I'm really wishing it, but not thinking it is really reasonable to pursue.

Let's see, in the real world: next Saturday, I go to The Woodlands, TX for a meeting, followed exactly a week later by a trip to San Francisco for another client event. I'll spent the first 2-3 days in SF with my sister, who lives in Berkeley. And then a week in meetings. Grrrr...