As of yesterday, the foreclosed house next door is officially on the market!

If you’ve been following along, it’s been 17 months since the home was abandoned, and I’ve spent a considerable amount of time trying to work with various government agencies to keep the lawn mowed, trash picked up, broken windows fixed and abandoned cars removed.

The 110 year-old house needs some TLC, that’s for sure. It had some water damage and could use some updating, maybe even a new roof. But that’s why it’s currently the cheapest home on the market in the entire Chaska area. You’ve got a lot of room for fix-ups with such a low asking price.

Since buying our 1890s home next door just two years ago, we put on a new roof, refinished the hardwood floors, did some plumbing work and are in the process of overhauling the massive garden. These homes have such unique character, and the downtown Chaska community is vibrant and full of potential. Unquestionably, it’s worth the effort.

So why not buy the house next door and be my neighbor?

Top 10 Reasons You Should Be My Next Door Neighbor

1. Maintenance: I mow my lawn when it needs it, often before dark.
2. A Quiet Garage: I’m not much of a gear head, so you’re not going to hear me firing up the dragster, motocross bike or pimped out fourwheeler all weekend.
3. Curfew: I have young kids, which means many nights when they hit the sack at 8 p.m., so do I. Oh, and I don’t have a band that practices until midnight each weekend (that’s my other neighbor).
4. Trash: I have a large enough trash can that I can fit all of my own trash in my own barrel. I even remember to put it out some weeks.
5. Eats: We have a massive garden. I spent all last weekend tilling it up. Last year we had more tomatoes, strawberries and cucumbers than we could possibly eat. We share.
6. Playground: There is a huge playground across the street from us. That means you won’t have to spend hours putting together a rickety swingset of your own.
7. Aroma: I love to grill, so you’ll often be treated to delicious smells of cooking animal roasting on a massive grill. Free smells!
8. Tool Swap: I have a fair amount of tools and small machinery, and I’m willing to loan them out.
9. Handymanness: Okay, so I’m less than an amateur when it comes to home projects, but I try. Even better, I’m willing to share my mistakes.
10. Community: I’m a downtown Chaska advocate, and I’ll tell you right now, people in the burbs don’t know what they’re missing down here.

So there you go. Go buy this house.

In the words of Fred Rogers, “Won’t you please, won’t you please, Please won’t you be my neighbor?”