Home owners
- Thread starter HayleyMarie
- Start date
It just felt right and we saw 5 or 6 others afterward that were no where near the awesomeness that is our current house. It didn't fit all of our criteria, but fit the big ones, and the price was right. 
We did really like another house, but it was just too small, so we kept looking and found this house about 3 houses later. Overall, finding the right house took probably 4 weekends and 30ish house visits iirc. We did have a pretty strict deadline too (wanted to catch the home buyer tax credit before it expired).
We did really like another house, but it was just too small, so we kept looking and found this house about 3 houses later. Overall, finding the right house took probably 4 weekends and 30ish house visits iirc. We did have a pretty strict deadline too (wanted to catch the home buyer tax credit before it expired).
We were searching for houses for about a year before we finally found our home. We even made offers on a few different ones, but always backed down because either one or both of us were second guessing our decision. Since buying a house is the biggest & long term investment, we wanted to be absolutely sure that it's something we both love & could happily live in for a long time!
We kept searching until the moment we set our feet on this particular house! Something about it just felt right and I remembered thinking I can be happy living here for a long time in spite of a bunch of eyesores I didn't like and knew we would have to fix!! (no wonder my husband didn't like it as much as I did when he first saw it ), but he agreed that it has great potential and that he thinks it'll grow on him once everything is fixed to our liking & it did!!
We love our home. We still have a long way to go before we can turn it into an absolutely perfect home of our dream (I want to extend the two smaller bedrooms, add a master suit and a family room to the house!!!) , but that's what make it so fun living in this house. I love thinking about the potential, the possibility, the dream house of tomorrow, while thoroughly enjoy the many personal touches we already did to it to make it our own.
We kept searching until the moment we set our feet on this particular house! Something about it just felt right and I remembered thinking I can be happy living here for a long time
in spite of a bunch of eyesores I didn't like and knew we would have to fix!! (no wonder my husband didn't like it as much as I did when he first saw it ), but he agreed that it has great potential and that he thinks it'll grow on him once everything is fixed to our liking & it did!! We love our home
. We still have a long way to go before we can turn it into an absolutely perfect home of our dream (I want to extend the two smaller bedrooms, add a master suit and a family room to the house!!!) , but that's what make it so fun living in this house. I love thinking about the potential, the possibility, the dream house of tomorrow, while thoroughly enjoy the many personal touches we already did to it to make it our own.
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I didn't. I actually really disliked our home. The price however was right, the neighborhood was ideal, and my other half convinced me we could make it beautiful. He was right, we redid the carpet upstairs, we got window coverings, repainted the whole thing, fixed the pool, moved in and I really do like it now. It has a nice flow and its a pretty nice find for the price.
We had two other homes we liked, one was in a crappy neighborhood and resale/renter value went to this home. The other was perfect but a short sale which fell through, but it had super short walls (like 5 feet) and that couldn't keep in my pit bulls, let alone my malinois.
Don't be discouraged by a home needing improvements...
Became this in minimal time
Plus that was just the first step.
IMO, look for the neighborhood and look at the price, the rest can all fall into place with some ingenuity and time, plus it makes your place *yours*.
We had two other homes we liked, one was in a crappy neighborhood and resale/renter value went to this home. The other was perfect but a short sale which fell through, but it had super short walls (like 5 feet) and that couldn't keep in my pit bulls, let alone my malinois.
Don't be discouraged by a home needing improvements...
Became this in minimal time
Plus that was just the first step.
IMO, look for the neighborhood and look at the price, the rest can all fall into place with some ingenuity and time, plus it makes your place *yours*.
Go back to you current fav at different times of day - we did that with our front runners to make sure there weren't obnoxious partiers as neighbors, get a feel for the traffic in the neighborhood, etc. It didn't catch the barking dog next door to this house, but did catch loud highway noise at one place.
Didn't. Actually wanted another house, a very different house, but that deal fell through (owner got cold feet and took the place off the market...she'd lived there for over 40 years...). Then we were between the place we ended up buying and another. I wanted the other. Hubby wanted this place. There were pros/cons to both but in the end this place was the more logical and safe option, and both fulfilled my main wants so I acquiesced. Still not in love but it's coming together bit by bit.
The house we bought most definitely isn't "the one" We don't want to live here forever, ideally we will build what we want, but that's going to be a long time before we can afford to do that.
This one we got because it was the right price and had more space than any other house we saw at the same price range in the right location. Turns out that while I don't love our home, I love our neighbors and that more than makes up for not having all I want in a home right now.
This one we got because it was the right price and had more space than any other house we saw at the same price range in the right location. Turns out that while I don't love our home, I love our neighbors and that more than makes up for not having all I want in a home right now.
I just look at it, wander around for a long time, as I'm looking at houses that might work. I let the "vibes" sink in. Could I see myself living here...doing all the things one does in a house? Would it feel like a home? My home? Where would my furniture go? Will it be homey and cozy? Will it be someplace that makes visitors and family feel comfortable too? Will it be a property that a lot of people or average people would like to buy? (gotta make sure you get a very salable property for later if you sell) I was in a bit of a hurry to beat the Idaho winter and I only looked at about 6 houses. (after researching online for a while) One was not in as nice a neighborhood, one was way too big, one had a lot that was very, very steep and no back yard. Then I looked at a couple in this neighborhood and decided on this floor plan. I walked around and said to myself, "This would work. Yup...this would work." Had a good feeling to it. Went to the realtor's office, filled out the P&S agreement and off we went. I paid cash, got a bunch of nice appliances thrown in and my closing costs paid.... and it closed in about one or two weeks, went back to Idaho to pack up and came back in early Oct.
I'm not one to look at a million different houses. I figure, if I can't find one I like after seeing 5 - 10, then something is wrong with me. LOL. Ya can't have everything. No house is perfect. Look for potential but not potential that will cost more than it's going to be worth when you're finished fixing it up. Make sure it's feasable. Don't pay for "blind" potential. Realtors always throw that in. "But it has potential." You're not paying for potential. lol.
Different things about a house have different values to each of us. In my case, I was looking for a pretty narrow range of square footage. Space is important to me. But not too much space. So, I was looking between 1900 - 2200. I found one that is 2100. I also wanted a move in ready....new construction particularly. I love new construction. I've built before and knew what to watch out for. Most people have to sacrifice something. No house is perfect or has everything you want unless you're stinkin' rich. I did have a house that had pretty much everything I wanted, but that was a long time ago.
Something I never thought I'd like is living in a subdivision where all the houses are very similar and close together. I use to live in the toolies....major toolies. LOL. Lots of land, lots and lots of wilderness all around me. But things changed and I moved into one of these subdivisions. It's a smallish one. But what I found is that I could get a brand new home and it's a nice one, with lots of nice wood work and granite, some hardwood...not bad. And the big thing is, that it was very reasonably priced. I couldn't build a custom house of this size for this price. I know because I did build a house and am familiar with construction...might do it again some time. The lot is very small, just what I wanted because I don't want all the maintenance anymore. The neighbors are quiet and nice...at least so far as I can tell.
So, depending on what you want, focus in, make lists and see what your money can buy. I didn't want to be house poor so I bought a house significantly under what I could have bought. I like to be able to help my kids and do other stuff with my money, like maybe buy another house. LOL.
Anyhow, let yourself feeeeeeel the house and make sure it works for you. Don't get hung up on things like paint color or flooring. Pay attention to the floor plan...the layout and the bones, the location/neighborhood, re-sale potential etc. Make sure it's in good shape or if parts aren't, what will it cost to fix up. If the kitchen is out dated and you want to re-model, figure that into the cost....save enough to do it.
I see some people getting very hung up on "charm" of older homes. They are indeed sometimes charming, with wonderful wood work and unique features. However, be careful. You won't tend to get the open concept where the kitchen is opened to the living area. You might not get enough bathrooms and there will likely be tiny closets. The plumbing and wiring can be old, old furnaces that are about to go out, stuff like that. Of course, you'd get an inspection. But...me, personally, I love the new materials they have for plumbing pipes and a lot of other stuff. Everything is new and fresh. It comes with a warranty...or should. Some things are el cheapo sometimes, but not necessarily all bad. My house is very nice and has a lot of good materials and workmanship in most of it. It was not too expensive.
So, best of luck to you. I hope you find something that will suit you, feel like home, and work for you now and in the future, whether this is a house you'll live in for a long time or a stepping stone. Houses should be an investment. I've done well buying and selling, building and selling houses. It's not always a good market for selling, like just recently. But it is good for buying (in most places in the US) Just don't pay too much.
I'm not one to look at a million different houses. I figure, if I can't find one I like after seeing 5 - 10, then something is wrong with me. LOL. Ya can't have everything. No house is perfect. Look for potential but not potential that will cost more than it's going to be worth when you're finished fixing it up. Make sure it's feasable. Don't pay for "blind" potential. Realtors always throw that in. "But it has potential." You're not paying for potential. lol.
Different things about a house have different values to each of us. In my case, I was looking for a pretty narrow range of square footage. Space is important to me. But not too much space. So, I was looking between 1900 - 2200. I found one that is 2100. I also wanted a move in ready....new construction particularly. I love new construction. I've built before and knew what to watch out for. Most people have to sacrifice something. No house is perfect or has everything you want unless you're stinkin' rich. I did have a house that had pretty much everything I wanted, but that was a long time ago.
Something I never thought I'd like is living in a subdivision where all the houses are very similar and close together. I use to live in the toolies....major toolies. LOL. Lots of land, lots and lots of wilderness all around me. But things changed and I moved into one of these subdivisions. It's a smallish one. But what I found is that I could get a brand new home and it's a nice one, with lots of nice wood work and granite, some hardwood...not bad. And the big thing is, that it was very reasonably priced. I couldn't build a custom house of this size for this price. I know because I did build a house and am familiar with construction...might do it again some time. The lot is very small, just what I wanted because I don't want all the maintenance anymore. The neighbors are quiet and nice...at least so far as I can tell.
So, depending on what you want, focus in, make lists and see what your money can buy. I didn't want to be house poor so I bought a house significantly under what I could have bought. I like to be able to help my kids and do other stuff with my money, like maybe buy another house. LOL.
Anyhow, let yourself feeeeeeel the house and make sure it works for you. Don't get hung up on things like paint color or flooring. Pay attention to the floor plan...the layout and the bones, the location/neighborhood, re-sale potential etc. Make sure it's in good shape or if parts aren't, what will it cost to fix up. If the kitchen is out dated and you want to re-model, figure that into the cost....save enough to do it.
I see some people getting very hung up on "charm" of older homes. They are indeed sometimes charming, with wonderful wood work and unique features. However, be careful. You won't tend to get the open concept where the kitchen is opened to the living area. You might not get enough bathrooms and there will likely be tiny closets. The plumbing and wiring can be old, old furnaces that are about to go out, stuff like that. Of course, you'd get an inspection. But...me, personally, I love the new materials they have for plumbing pipes and a lot of other stuff. Everything is new and fresh. It comes with a warranty...or should. Some things are el cheapo sometimes, but not necessarily all bad. My house is very nice and has a lot of good materials and workmanship in most of it. It was not too expensive.
So, best of luck to you. I hope you find something that will suit you, feel like home, and work for you now and in the future, whether this is a house you'll live in for a long time or a stepping stone. Houses should be an investment. I've done well buying and selling, building and selling houses. It's not always a good market for selling, like just recently. But it is good for buying (in most places in the US) Just don't pay too much.
My Mom's friend was our realtor, so she printed out all the listings that fit/met my criteria. Next I looked through and elimated a few based on location, etc. Then I drove by myself to scope out the area and neighborhood/street. I think one should follow their intuition on this.
When we found our home (1 1/2 months before our wedding....I moved in with my best friend), I knew it was "the one" the moment I walked in. We looked at 3 houses that day, and there was 1 that was so-so that we were going to out an offer on. We couldn't find the 4th house on our list because it didn't exist on Mapquest or GPS. We finally found it just minutes before calling it a day. When I walked in to the foyer and went into the large living room with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace, I said, "This is it!". I continued to the backyard and it just reaffirmed by statement. It was on a dead-end street and kids were out playing with the parents out chatting with neighbors or sitting in lawn chairs on the driveway.
I loved that house. I miss it a lot actually. We lived there 5 1/2 years. My parents offered us the chance to buy their home - the house I lived in since May 1990. It's 4 bedrooms/2 1/2 baths with approx. 3,300 sq. ft. living area with a 1-bedroom/bath m-i-l apartment that's approx. 1,100 sq. ft. And a gameroom that's approx. 640 sq. ft. It's all on 4 acres with a barn as well. When they offered it to us for $150,000, there was no freaking way I'd pass it up. It was built in 1977 and the last updates had been done in 1990 when my parents bought it. So there's a whole lot for us to repair and update. But it's so worth it.
When we found our home (1 1/2 months before our wedding....I moved in with my best friend), I knew it was "the one" the moment I walked in. We looked at 3 houses that day, and there was 1 that was so-so that we were going to out an offer on. We couldn't find the 4th house on our list because it didn't exist on Mapquest or GPS. We finally found it just minutes before calling it a day. When I walked in to the foyer and went into the large living room with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace, I said, "This is it!". I continued to the backyard and it just reaffirmed by statement. It was on a dead-end street and kids were out playing with the parents out chatting with neighbors or sitting in lawn chairs on the driveway.
I loved that house. I miss it a lot actually. We lived there 5 1/2 years. My parents offered us the chance to buy their home - the house I lived in since May 1990. It's 4 bedrooms/2 1/2 baths with approx. 3,300 sq. ft. living area with a 1-bedroom/bath m-i-l apartment that's approx. 1,100 sq. ft. And a gameroom that's approx. 640 sq. ft. It's all on 4 acres with a barn as well. When they offered it to us for $150,000, there was no freaking way I'd pass it up. It was built in 1977 and the last updates had been done in 1990 when my parents bought it. So there's a whole lot for us to repair and update. But it's so worth it.
I have to laugh that 1600 sf is considered "little" in some areas! Our house is 1800 and I think it's HUGE.
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We looked at a lot of houses. We had what we thought was a list of "must haves" in our head, but as we started looking the list gradually shifted a bit. In our price range and this area, we were pretty limited. Everything was 1950s-1970s, around 1200-1800 sf, so the architecture of the house wasn't as important as the location. Traffic is horrible here, so we quickly narrowed it down to a small radius.
We started looking at all different styles of house, but I gradually realized I liked the very traditional colonial houses. At first we wanted a large, flat yard, but that quickly was ruled out as impossible to find, and moved down our list. We found a couple places that we liked, but we always changed our mind for some reason or another--the neighborhood felt sketchy when we drove through at night, there was too much renovation work to be done, whatever.
We found this place walking through at an open house. I think I just felt relief. Every door I opened, I kept waiting to see something I hated, some reason to leave it behind. But I didn't find it. It had really nice finishes to everything--ceiling fans in the rooms, Pella windows, a new deck, pretty new HVAC/roof. All things that are suuuuper expensive to put in. The kitchen/bathrooms are original from the 70's, but they're totally livable and don't cost us money like an old roof or windows would.
We called the realtor to put in an offer, and I said to Zach that I knew this one felt right because I didn't have any excuses or freak outs why we shouldn't do it. After seeing 30-40 houses, this was the only one we were really happy with.
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We looked at a lot of houses. We had what we thought was a list of "must haves" in our head, but as we started looking the list gradually shifted a bit. In our price range and this area, we were pretty limited. Everything was 1950s-1970s, around 1200-1800 sf, so the architecture of the house wasn't as important as the location. Traffic is horrible here, so we quickly narrowed it down to a small radius.
We started looking at all different styles of house, but I gradually realized I liked the very traditional colonial houses. At first we wanted a large, flat yard, but that quickly was ruled out as impossible to find, and moved down our list. We found a couple places that we liked, but we always changed our mind for some reason or another--the neighborhood felt sketchy when we drove through at night, there was too much renovation work to be done, whatever.
We found this place walking through at an open house. I think I just felt relief. Every door I opened, I kept waiting to see something I hated, some reason to leave it behind. But I didn't find it. It had really nice finishes to everything--ceiling fans in the rooms, Pella windows, a new deck, pretty new HVAC/roof. All things that are suuuuper expensive to put in. The kitchen/bathrooms are original from the 70's, but they're totally livable and don't cost us money like an old roof or windows would.
We called the realtor to put in an offer, and I said to Zach that I knew this one felt right because I didn't have any excuses or freak outs why we shouldn't do it. After seeing 30-40 houses, this was the only one we were really happy with.
All I can say is that you just know. I mean, obviously you look at a lot of things (the roof, remodeling needs, HVAC, etc), but the right house will jump out at you. You'll KNOW. We knew with this house (named Myrtle Branch. We knew when we stepped into the basement (I believe I said WOW!) which is huge, open, and actually airy, and thus perfect for our needs. I really knew when I stepped into the backyard and saw nearly a half acre of space with giant oak at the end. The house itself was tidy and well cared for, big but not too big, built the old fashioned way . . . it was right. It was home. Yeah, we waivered a bit . . . maybe we should see more places . . .but when it was bid or see it rented out long term, so we had to decide, we knew.
Edit: Now, admittedly, we had a couple of requirements that meant that there were very few properties that were going to suit us. But there were others that would have done. But they weren't right. This one was right.
Edit: Now, admittedly, we had a couple of requirements that meant that there were very few properties that were going to suit us. But there were others that would have done. But they weren't right. This one was right.
We saw about 30 houses before we looked at ours... and as soon as I walked in, I knew it was "the one." We made our offer right on the island in the kitchen (the house was vacant and the owners lived out of state).
Wood floors, a decent lot size, 4 bedrooms/3 baths, fenced in yard... those were our major wants, and it had all of those. I still love our house after living in it for 2 1/2 years
Wood floors, a decent lot size, 4 bedrooms/3 baths, fenced in yard... those were our major wants, and it had all of those. I still love our house after living in it for 2 1/2 years