Out of a Job...moving back to Florida

[73Chally]

My neighbors did that with their house last year.  They met with several advisers and the bank, and just basically walked away from the house, and are in much better shape for doing so.  Of course the downside is they can not get a loan for 10 years, I believe, but the alternative would have been much worse.  Have you tried a short sale?  From what I've heard, the banks are for the most part willing to work with the sellers to at least get the money they are owed.

[ChallengerGary]

Thanks for the replies guys.

We live in Keller, a suburb of Fort Worth

As far as a short sale goes, there really is no benefit to us if we go that route.  Matter of fact, since we are already in Bankruptcy, a short sale will stay on our credit whereas, if we convert from a Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 we can roll the house into the bankruptcy and it will get wiped off of our credit report.  Frankly, I really don''t care about my FICO score anymore. It is nothing but an I Love Debt score.  Matter of fact, I used to have awesome credit before I took this job and its broken promises.  My score was 820 just before we moved to TX.  It is one of the reasons we got into this mess.  My wife and I kept thinking the "bonuses and commissions" would start to come so we lived on borrowed money and time.

I tell you what, I know I can make a heckuva lot more money on my own.  I've done it before and I will do it again.  God gave me an ability to sell and to work on cars.  I plan on going back to doing both just like I did before.  I've learned a lot while out here and know that I will NEVER work for someone else again (unless, of course, they throw some SICK money my way LOL)

Thanks again guys.  This is one of the things I love about this site - the caring and support that is not too common these days.

BTW - in case you are wondering, here's a picture of me and my little red R/T

[dodj]

What's the Challenger doing in the Duster's spot? 

[ChallengerGary]

The Duster is still sitting outside - Challenger has not moved in over 2 years except within the shop - haven't even pushed it outside once in that time span.  That will change in the next couple of weeks - it's FINALLY going to see the light of day soon!

[TreeFrog]

Man that really sucks!  I wish you were closer,I would have to chat you up over some body work!  It will all work out ... keep the positive look on it!

[fishn4cuda]

Gary.....I understand what ya goin through.....man.....its a tough roll right now......I have felt it myself.....we are a long ways from the glory of building the Cudaguy Project car.........took me alotta time of deperession to realize......life is short.....and to fail is to succeed......I have never givin up.....so I hope never will either.....Buddy I'm here for what its worth.....good ppl find good ppl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^5s

[ChallengerHK]

Tony, good to see you again. I was wondering where you'd gotten off to.

[Alaskan_TA]

Tony,
For whatever it is worth......

It was sad to see you were forced to sell one of your cars after doing so much for someone else. Sadly, no good deed goes unpunished or so the saying goes......

The world needs more good hearted, hard working people.

Hopefully at least a little generosity comes back to find you & those like you. We can all hope. 

Barry

[Aussie Challenger]

Remember a couple of old sayings, "what goes around comes around" & "every cloud has a silver lining, we sometimes cannot see it at first".     
Use your God given talent and you will be blessed, you are from the "old school" and consider others and not just yourself.   

[fishn4cuda]

So very true guys.......I have found...peoples lives cross paths for a reason...some see it ...most dont. I will say this....I have never met somone I have never liked. Just like some more than others....lol. What we sacrifice serves a better purpose to the big picture. Staying together and helping each other out is what its all about. Building Dons car proved that no boundaries were drawan amogst many here.....a proud moment for all.

[ChallengerHK]

.I have never met somone I have never liked.

Just as an experiment, I'd like to introduce you to my ex.

[TreeFrog]

LMFAO!

 

[whitesatinmopar]

I have had the privilidge to have had contact with both Tony and Gary. Gary has helped me with three small stripe jobs and his work is excellent and it is obvious from the pics in the resto threads he does the same kind of work with the cars that go through his shop. I really consider it and honnor and privilidge to personally know Tony through the Cuda Guy project ( there is no question to quality work here) with visiting his shop with Pam two different times. Also being able to meet Tony, his wife and son at the Nats. a couple times since was like meeting friends we'd had known for years. And currently we are waiting for a little project for Tony to do for us.  It just seems so unfair how ecconomics and outside sources can and has negatively affected these individuals and their families. But in life fairness is trampled beneath the feet of greed, whether it be giant corporations or small business owners who fail to realize they are where they are because of people like Tony and Gary, or they do realize that and just don't care.

It is so frustrating seeing these men and their families going through these set backs,....................and sadly it is repeated throughout society everyday. But as corny as it sounds it is so true,   "The cream always comes to the top."  Hang tough guys you are so much admired and appreciated.     

[ChallengerGary]

Tony & Jim,

Thanks for your words of support.  Although, this is a "setback" I consider it a blessing.  My wife is actually very happy about me doing the right thing and it has really helped our relationship.  The tough times have taught us both to be better with our money and not just buy stuff because we want it but rather because we need it.  Also, the bankruptcy, while it is depressing, humiliating, and downright shameful, it has taught us to live without incurring any debt - right now it is illegal for us to incur any debt. It's actually a Federal crime! 

I am enjoying working on cars plus the fact that I am finally doing my R/T is kind of cool - even if I am going to have to sell it. Selling the car will give us the funds we need to move, get a rental house, and put some extra living expenses in the bank.  I also know that there is a demand for this type of work all over the country right now despite the tough economic times.  I placed a small ad in craiglist offering resto services and the response has been overwhelming.  If I had a bigger shop, it could easily be packed full with twice as many cars.  However, I am telling everyone that wants me to work on their cars that they need to wait in line.  I have told them that I will only work on 1-2 customer cars at a time.  This way, they know their car will not get stuck in "Body Shop Purgatory/H3LL"  The only problem that is bringing thus far is making sure I get paid promptly as I go.  Kind of hard to feed the family when people don't pay you.  I consider what I am doing now as "proof of concept" for when we move back.  I already have a buddy down home that says he can bring in 2-3 cars almost immediately.  Plus, the whole family is excited to move back to Florida.

[ChallengerGary]

Quick update. No luck selling the house. Decided to roll it into our BK which is being converted to chap 7. Sold my Challenger to a Cuda-Challenger.com member from out of the area. He is going to pay me to finish it - I made him a sweat deal on the labor. I am going to be bringing the Challenger down to Florida in about 4-6 weeks and opening a sign/graphics shop with a space for car resto work as well.

I am taking almost all of my spare parts to a swap meet this weekend and hope to sell a bunch of it.  Whatever is left goes on here, craigslist and ebay.  I plan on moving the Challenger to Florida on a trailer with my tools and all of the parts for the car and that's about it.


Wife came back from her trip to FL after a couple of weeks because she was frustrated. Could not find a house "in our budget" basically because we did not have the money for any sort of deposits etc. The Challenger deal solved that problem. Family is going to stay in TX until I find us some housing and then I will come back to TX to load up and drive the Uhaul.  We've sold a bunch of our household stuff to make the move as easy as possible plus to help keep us afloat - craiglist is a great thing!!