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This was the ad I placed in the free shopper's paper:

WANTED TO BUY: Inexpensive fixer-upper house on 5 to 40 acres of land. Ph. xxx-xxxx

I didn't know if I should expect any responses, but the ad ran in today's shopper, and I got a call right away this morning from a fellow in nearby Oliver, so I went out to see his place.

He and his wife, a young couple, want to relocate to Maple because they prefer the schools there, and have family in that area. The house is an older farm house, fairly livable, but has some serious issues, like the well and pump. But I asked for a fixer-upper, and the price is right - the low 30's. The house in Oliver sits on 20 acres, all pasture and grass, no trees to speak of. I will want to have a supply of firewood, and not rely upon the propane furnace. Hmmm.

I tell them I'm interested, but need a couple days to think about it. That's cool with this guy. He seems like an honest young man, and this may be the deal I'm looking for. Their phone number is one digit different than Lenore's. If I were the superstitious type, I might take this as a 'sign'. But I tend to be pretty deliberate. Don't jump just yet.