I would have gone and talked to the owner behind you before it showed up as listed -- both to reduce the competition and to possibly make it easier to negotiate, but I still wouldn't rule out making an offer now. Let them know the listed rent is more than your parents can swing and that you can add something to it to make this work for everyone, but not what they are asking. Tell them you were hoping that the $1600 they mentioned might make it possible to work something out. Make an offer that is either the max or close to the max you can do with you chipping in. If it is the max, let them know that. You know they have some flexibility because they talked about listing it for less. If they don't need max dollars out of the home, they may have the flexibility to take the $1600 or even less (asking $1600, they might have been looking to get at least $1450 or $1500 -- or they might have been firm at $1600). Some folks are only about dollars and some situations require anyone to focus on dollars, but sometimes other factors weigh in too. Doesn't hurt to let them know your DH passed and your situation is a bit more limited than it might be otherwise. Let them know you will be there to make sure everything is well cared, that your parents need help and you need them to be closer, but you having trouble finding the right solution. Tell them what a blessing it would be to have your parents hem so close at this time in their lives. It's okay to yank their chain a little. It may or may not work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Whether you talk to these folks or not, you are going to have to be proactive and stay on top of things. I looked at rental listings that are online and even a couple of senior apartment options last night. There ae not a ton of options that appear to be very close to you that are near your price range (only a couple of homes that showed active and in Kingwood - looks like there are more in Atascocita and Humble, and I don't know if those are close enough to meet your goals). But the ones that look best are aleady pending. Are you working with an agent to help you locate possiilities and to jump on new listings? You need to be getting some networking on your side to find things as they open up and to get a sense of where there may be flexibility. If you are working with an agent and they are just showing you what you see online and ask about, they aren't working for you. If that is the case, I'd find another agent. This time of year is likely to have fewer new options, so you want to jump on anything that looks good. There may also be fewer people looking to move this time of year, but it only takes one to snap up that perfect place before you do, so don't be too lax. Also, be assertive. You have every right to ask for anything. If it is reasonable or well presented, it will likely be considered. You may not get it, but you are guaranteeed to get nothing if you don't ask. Put yourself in the shoes of the landlord or seller and tell yourself all the reasons why you and your parents would be good tenants or buyers for them. Convince yourself so you can convince them. Get that agent to work with you -- they are used to seeing the needs and wants on both sides and should be able to help you make your best case. Are you the only family member? Are there others, even if out of town that can lend support and help you with all this? It's a lot harder to act and make decisions when you have the emotional involvement with your parents, they have issues that ake it more difficult and you are feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. If you don't have family or friends to lean on, at least you have this forum. Use it -- and get a good agent working for you. And I talk too much. Sorry it's so long.

Theresa....love that pillowcase as will your GGD! I'm with everyone else...the cost of the pattern you paid, when all is said and done, is outrageous IMHO. Personally, I like to figure out a pattern, it's the challenge, but I'm ok to pay if it's not an obvious redo of a block in the public domain. I've paid for a few, but never have I paid more than 10.00 bucks or so for a download. What gets me is many designers take a basic block, use some new fabric,, make a quilt and then re-name the block. Then they want to sell it....really! Speaking of getting ripped, but mine has a happy ending. I purchased a dress on line for a wedding. It arrived, looked horrible, returned to the vendor the same day. When the vendor received it, they said I damaged it. I complained bitterly, and they told me to go away I was a bad news customer. So I complained to the BBB. It was an offshore supplier with offices in NYC and while it took close to a year, I finally got all my money back. BBB was Super!

Not Cambria, but I was quoted $5k for 25 sq ft of Silestone White Zeus Extreme or $200/sq foot. I went to another shop in town and they wanted $3.7k for the same stone. This is in Appleton, WI which is less expensive than Allentown. I ended up going with Corian Designer White for $2.1k and I couldn't be happier. If I had done Glacier White it would been only $1.7k. This allowed me to spend some money on a good sink. You project sounds complicated. You could roll the dice with Home Depot for cheaper pricing but for the square footage you want to cover I would suggest taking a look at solid surface as an affordable option. It's not your Grandma's countertop.

I own this Antilocarpa area rug in my hearth room. It is stunning! However it is navy blue. I’ve considered carpeting my stairway with it as well.