I am leaving Vegas.

[billryan]

After two trips to Bisbee, I decided to buy a place there. This week I went there determined to buy one of three properties. All three were quite different. One was a dilapidated house with nice bones, on an oversized lot in the less desirable part of town but an incredible bargain at $25,000.
The next was a small two bedroom vintage Montgomery Ward house that had several interesting outbuildings that evidently were rented out as guesthouses although the ad listed them as workshops.
The third was a long vacant commercial building with a small owners apartment on the second floor.

[billryan]

So I get into town and drive by the first property only to see two drug addicts fighting over a shirt hanging from the clothes line in the front yard. Little kids across the street are watching, as if this happens all the time. Screw that.
Second house is charming, really well cared for and lots of potential, except it is located right next to a building that a sculptor works out of, and appeared to be a place that might interfere with enjoying the property peacefully.
We are headed to the third property when my realtor casually mentions a building we are passing is for sale. I'd passed it a few times and seemed ideal for my purposes but it was just put on the market. I was in love with it five minutes after I went inside. It needs some work. At one point it was an office and has three bathrooms but only one has a shower. I'm going to combine the two half baths( M-W) and install a garden tub in it. It has a commercial kitchen in one room as it once was a day care. Its currently zoned commercial but I'm told it is possible to get it rezoned as residential.
Its got two outdoor patios, both with great potential. One is very shady and the other practically demands a Tiki bar.
Im currently in escrow awaiting inspection results.

[billryan]

The building is roughly 2700 SQ feet on a 9,000 sq foot lot. The rear of the building is 31x12, with the two bathrooms off to the side in a 12x12 extension of the building. For now, that will be a large studio apartment while I get a better feel for the place.
Its an older building but the current owners put a lot of work into it. Wiring is good, and the two swamp coolers and roof are only a few years old. I saw some old interior pictures on line and the current owners really did an outstanding job renovating the place.
It currently has a bakery with a lease thru the end of the year, and two month to month tenants that I don't think have any interest in staying, so I pretty much have a clean slate to design it. I'm hoping the bakery stays, but we shall see.

[case]

Will you miss the Vegas casinos? I know you mentioned back a few months about moving to Bisbee. Good luck with everything and I hope all your plans come together.

[OTABILL]

Congrats BR and best wishes. Hopefully, one of these days, if the wife is well enough, we will get down there. It has been on our bucket list for quite some time.

[Carcounter]

been to Arizona many times, but never to Bisbee. Heard it was a neat place.

[billryan]

Old Bisbee is very interesting. The almost total lack of national chains is both alarming and charming. One supermarket and one Burger King. Everything else is pretty much local business. The Warren section, where I will be, doesn't attract many tourists, but it's reputation for bargain hunting is growing . I will be the fifth vintage type shop in about six blocks.
A few more and we will have a district. Then it will become a movement. The big difference is Warren is roughly 85% cheaper.
Bisbee or bust!.

[advantage playe]

at least you can your hamburger your way !! I always liked burger king more than mc dees because I like my burgers very plain just with salt ! I think its about 500 miles to vegas so a short flight if u r going !!

[billryan]

It's a two hour drive to the closest commercial airport. Depending on what I end up doing, I'm thinking I will get back there fairly often. I don't know if any of the local airports have charters. Haven't looked into local casinos at all.

[OTABILL]

As I've mentioned, Bisbee isn't near any local AZ casinos. Assume you are talking about Tucson as nearest commercial airport. Same distance to closest casinos. Here is a map to put things in perspective. https://gaming.az.gov/casino-locations-arizona