11861 County Road P26, Blair, NE 68008

Three bedrooms, three baths, open kitchen/dining, finished basement, relaxed casual living on 40 private acres 25 minutes to central Omaha, two minutes to Blair for supplies and services including school. There is wildlife in abundance and quick, easy access to city life when one is tired of the peace and quiet. Large barn is great for two car parking, crafts, parties, etc. The casual living house was completely restored with new HVAC, insulation, plastered walls/ceiling , finished basement, geothermal wells for quietude and efficiency. Although Martha Stewart did influence the restoration of the house, one can relax here. There is no worry about chipping the paint since nothing has been or will be painted and the floors have seen many feet including shoes and the paws of dogs. If you are seeking a completely decorated, Architectural Digest house this is respectfully not for you. If you are seeking peace, quiet and comfort in a private environment with outdoors connections this could be an ideal place. Appliances include AGA range, Miele dishwasher, SubZero refrigerator/freezer and Bosch washer dryer all intergrated into the kitchen/dining cabinetry. The water which is free and coming from a well on the property is softened with a Culligan system for laundry, bathing and washing. The softened water is further treated with reverse osmosis for drinking water and ice. The heating and air conditioning is based on three geo-thermal wells tied to an electric heat pump for efficient, quiet cooling and heating. Gardens are set up for vegetables, flowers and lounging. The property is surrounded by great neighbors with families and similar quiet, rural living lifestyles which include outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, horse back riding, gardening, barn dances, music etc. This is a one year lease renewable per negotiations between the renter and the owner. On the signing of the rental agreement the Renter pays a damage deposit of $2500 refundable at end of lease if there is no damage and shows proof of renters insurance. The owner will show proof of casualty and liability insurance at the same time. The Monthly rent is $2500 payable on the first day of each contract month and shall be made via automatic deposit from renter's bank account to the owner's bank account. PayPal accounts may be used. The renter is renting and the owner is providing use of the house, barn and small utility shed. The renter is not allowed to farm, graze, hay or make any agricultural use of the forty acres of land but the renter is entitled to walk and hike and bike and participate in other activities that do not alter or damage the land. The renter may utilize the existing garden space and the well water for domestic purposes at no charge. Renter pays utilities, snow removal and grounds maintenance. Lawn and garden tools and equipment are available for use by the renter. Water and sewer are free of charge. Garbage hauling service is optional and can be contracted and paid for by the renter. The renter is encouraged to use the local recycling service in Blair and composting of organic kitchen and other waste materials on site. The renter is required to respect this Historical Property and is prohibited from subletting the property and making any changes to the property including painting attaching anything to any of the plaster surfaces and woodwork. No smoking anywhere on the premises. Vapes are OK. Pets. Cats are not welcome. Dogs are welcome and requested to stay off the furniture and beds. The renter is strongly encouraged to remember this farm environment can mean dirty dogs, so is strongly encouraged to take steps to keep the dog fairly clean before entering the house. Farm animals, including horses, chickens, goats, sheep etc. are allowed only by addendum to this lease and after discussion between the renter and the owner. This house has the original 1800's floor plan so this means good news and sad news for modern house seekers. Remember this house was completely restored/modernized to be on the National Register of Historic Places. In many ways this house is now more solid than most houses that meet minimum building codes. The house was built by and occupied by a very happy Washington County foundation family of eleven children and two parents of Scot descent: Anna McBride and John McDonald. They were all musicians and entertained their neighbors with barn dances. The good news is the house has plenty of large windows, an open design, well insulated, all surfaces renewed, large country kitchen/dining with a large country sink and soapstone countertops and central work station/island and well protected against pests, better than most houses in Omaha. It is very easy to clean and has a casual, comfortable feel. Here is the sad news for moderns. There are few closets for clothing, no bath tubs, no attached garage and 120 year old windows. More on the windows later if and when a tour takes place. Continuing with closets, there is ample storage in the kitchen for all the necessary equipment and a nice, lighted hood over the gas cook top. The first floor bath has a storage armoire for some clothes, towels, toiletries and a storage closet for cleaning supplies, pet food etc. Next to this bathroom is a bedroom with an armoire for clothing. So, the good news is everything one person needs, except for a large clothes closet, is on the first floor with nice light, comfortable furniture, a nice wood-burning Danish stove for atmosphere, views of the fields and hills all around, a well-stocked kitchen and parking right outside the covered porch and brick patio. The second floor has two bedrooms, one larger for parents with a custom made, walk-in closet. A second bedroom for kids with shelving for clothes and other items is right across the hall. These two bedrooms share a bathroom equipped with shower, sink and medicine cabinet behind a pocket door and a separate toilet room behind a door. All this bathroom space and equipment are well lit and ventilated. That is pretty much the closet conversation. Here are some other things that some moderns might not like about this house. The stairway connecting the first and second floor is steep and has no handrail. If you have problems with walking do not consider this house unless the person with walking issues stays on the first floor. The owner actually plans on spending his 80' and 90's on this floor. Speaking of steep stairs, the finished basement is reached via a traditional outside stairway with no handrail. The basement is very well lit, dry, comfortable and is used for arts, crafts, music jamming, table tennis, workouts, overnight guests and has a bathroom, a storage room used also for growing plants, a utility room, an egress window and a modest surround sound video set up . The floor surface is tile with a couple of rugs. There is no attached garage but there is parking along side the house, and if the front yard is dry or not recently frosted you can pull right up the front door to unload things, like groceries. When weather and snow threaten, the barn easily stores two compact cars...there is no auto garage door opener. Finally, the big positive and negative on the house is its size. The good news: it is easy to clean and ergonomic...that is few steps are necessary to cook, dine, lounge, etc. If you are looking for a larger house, or if you are a real big person, like six foot six, you may want to consider another house. Another thing to consider is the rural setting of this house. Some people do not like to be in a private place; they like the neighbors right next door. This house is in the middle of forty hill acres so it is in the middle of the great outdoors, which has the sounds and sights of wildlife, which includes mammals, amphibians and insects. The owner does not use pesticides or hunt and the land is presently in conservation which means the grasslands are not hayed and left to grow tall and regenerate the soil which needs this conservation practice. So, wildlife, especially bird life, abounds. If animal sounds or habits are a bother, this property is probably not well suited. Greater details are available. Since security is an issue for most people, including the owner, it is worth mentioning. All doors on the house have locks and the main gate to the drive way can be locked. Also, internet based security cameras can be installed so the renter can always sees what is happening around the property. The local law enforcement, which includes the Washington County Sheriff and the Blair Police patrol this area and are notified whenever the owner is away for an extended period of time. Plus the neighbors all keep an eye out for each other. There have been no problems of any kind on this property. Related to security is road maintenance, especially in the winter. The property is accessed by paved road except for the last half mile which is a gravel road maintained by the County. When the snow is heavy the gravel section is cleared by the County. Clearing of the driveway/farm lane is the responsibility of the renter and can be contracted with local service providers. The gravel road connects to Highway 133 to the west which is a four lane, 70 MPH highway maintained very well by the government.