Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Still not sure what I will do. I am going to the mower shop today to talk with them about what exactly is wrong with it. Maybe I will have a better idea then. saxman - I have heard a lot of people don't like this series of Lawn Boy, but it has given 15 years of trouble free use. It had one minor problem 2 years ago and until this was amazing in its durability. So, I guess even Lawn Boy's lesser models are still great! If it was any other mower, it would be given away to some mower dude somewhere. But, it is a Lawn Boy 2 cycle with a decent deck with the offset wheel. So, I hesitate to give up on it easily. Plus, I guess I am somewhat sentimental about it!!! I have spent 10 years pushing that thing!!!!

I agree. I don't mind spending more to buy at local businesses. I just ordered tile for our bath update and spend more than I could have gotten it online, but the store is a locally-owned business. OTH, I priced a faucet and toilet at a local plumbing supply and their price was $500 more for the exact same items than I could get it online. That's too much difference for me to go local. I admit I didn't ask the plumbing store to match the online price but mainly because it was so much. Dee

Most RE attorneys will not facilitate a "Subject To" closing, because they feel like they are helping to facilitate a civil crime. The current mortgage has a Due On Sale Clause which means that if the deed is transferred, the current mortgage must be paid in full. This clause was added in the 80's when interest rates skyrocketed and people found it beneficial to take a note subject to, at the current interest rate, as opposed to getting a new loan at the current, high interest rate. I know an investor that does Subject To deals all the time, and the lenders have never called the note due. But there is always that chance. He only is in posession of the home for a very short time, as he immediately rehabs and sells them. Unlike you would be. Another thing to think about... what is going to happen when you go to buy your next home and the lender finds that you have another mortgage? You will probably not qualify. And if you do, it might be considered a second home, which raises other issues. I personally would not do it... too much risk. If you do go through with it, set up a banking account in your name where the drsfts for the mortgage payments will be coming from, so the bank does not see the change. You will also have to figure out how to fool the banks as far as the insurance policy changing names, but the house was never sold. This is a major way that the bank will know that the home has changed hands. As you can see, even if no one has ever been prosecuted for doing this kind of thing, it is shady at best.

Car with standard transmission uses about 5 - possibly 10% less fuel. Skilfully done, car drivers can save even more. When you see a traffic signal turn yellow ahead - there's no law that says that you have to keep your foot continuing to push on the throttle! Then hit the brake, about a hundred feet from the intersection. Foot off of the throttle: coast toward the light. If you know it fairly well, you may be able to arrange to arrive close to the last car in the line just as it starts to move forward, and it takes less fuel to increase the speed while rolling that to start rolling from a standing stop. I often push in the clutch and turn off the ignition when I see a light go yellow ahead ... and can often manage to keep the car rolling as I approach a red light when it turns to green. Some say that coasting with the engine off is illegal in their jurisdiction, so best check with the legal people before you try that: the police here say that I am to be in charge of my vehicle at all times. No jack-rabbit starts when the light turns green, either. Try to arrange to travel with a friend driving a car that tells immediate fuel economy levels, get him to make a jack-rabbit start from a light that just turned green - and see your jaw drop as you see what mileage per gallon is being obtained at that point. Try to drive as closely as possible to the same speed, and a few miles/kms. per hour under the speed limit ... but not so far under as to be a hazard to the free flow of traffic. That's made easier by leaving a cushion of space between you and the car ahead ... and try not to get too incensed when other drivers pull into that hole in your lane, stealing your cushion. ole joyful