I'm replacing the drywall in my cousin's home down in Charlotte Cnty, and helped my brother replace 7 square of roof (structural, and shingles) on his home down there. He had two, 80ft tall pines fall on it. They were about to be raped, if I hadn't stepped in.
I just turned 61 and can still hang sheetrock like a beast. Surprised even myself after being away from the trade for over 20 years by now. Ended up hanging two bathrooms, two bedrooms (plus closets) and the hallway this weekend and will return to hang the rest (20 left, of the 44, 12ft board total) this weekend coming up. May even start taping this weekend. Would have gotten further but they hadn't counted on me getting nearly as far as I did and he didn't have the plumbing for the AC splits he is installing so I had to stop.
Thankfully for me, I didn't buy a home for investment purposes. It's a humble home to start with and I knew I would live here for the rest of my days because it is one of the increasingly rare pieces of property within the city of Tampa with an actual yard that has enough space between houses, and not enough room to build between. Unfortunately, it's a prime target for the myriad of house flippers that exist now, who endlessly solicit me for it. Anymore I return the favor and ask them if their wives or mom's are for sale too, being they don't have a "For Sale" sign on them either but hey, you never know unless you ask, right? I assure them that I will give a fair offer, that I get to decide the amount of.
I can't wait until it's paid off. I will forego the insurance and just bank replacement costs. If it burns to the ground, or gets broken, I'll replace it myself with a damn shed if I need to. As it is, I have not been able to make a claim otherwise for the ridiculous deductible amounts. I have had tree damage, window, plumbing, you name it. All fixed by me personally and out of pocket.
On the upside, hopefully this issue can slow the flow of ppl moving down here somewhat. Even though the state is otherwise fkd by now anyway.
I pointed out to my son how valuable this property is according to actually living on it and he has decided he will carry on here after I am gone. Fenced in back yard, established edible landscape, and an abundance of wildlife that finds refuge here makes it so much more valuable than what marketers and govt tend to dictate.
Besides, where else am I going to live that has an RC rock crawler park in the back yard.