I love houses. My house, your house (you knew I could see your house through the computer, right?), any and all houses. I like touring model homes, going to real estate open houses, browsing real estate websites and watching real estate shows on television. The floorplans, different material choices, architecture and decorating are all of interest to me.
If I had an extra 1.2 million dollars hanging around, I'd buy a house I saw on the internet today. It's on the coast of North Carolina, close to where we take our family vacation every year. Here's the description:
But what if it weren't? Would I still be interested in it? Let's say that instead of Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, the living room had orange carpeting. And maybe there was an ugly light fixture in the master bathroom, the front hallway was covered in an unattractive purple flocked velvet wallpaper and the refrigerator was avacado colored. The answer is yes, I would still be just as interested. I may hope to pay a few dollars less, but I'd still buy it in a heartbeat. All of those things are easy and fairly inexpensive to change.
I'm constantly amazed, and sometimes irritated, to hear the comments buyers make on shows like House Hunters on HGTV. I've seen people dimiss houses for things like unattractive carpet and paint colors. I recently saw a couple pass on a house because the appliances were not stainless steel. I couldn't believe that the color (or more precisely, material) of the appliances was a deal breaker in a house that, otherwise, met every item on their list. It was a gorgeous place. I just don't get it. Would it really be so awful to have to live with white appliances until you could buy new ones?
What do you think? Have you bought or could you buy a home that wasn't absolutely cosmetically perfect? What would be a deal breaker for you?
Willoughby
If I had an extra 1.2 million dollars hanging around, I'd buy a house I saw on the internet today. It's on the coast of North Carolina, close to where we take our family vacation every year. Here's the description:
A grand waterway estate on 2.59 acres with approximately 3886 sq. ft has many stunning details. A stately stone fountain and manicured grounds compliment the appealing character of this property. Interior details feature the finest custom work, brazilian cherry hardwood floors, built-ins 10' ceilings, 8' doors and more! This fabulous home is perfect for southern living and outdoor entertaining. A guest house offers a kitchen and bath. Enjoy the pier, 18,000 lb boat lift and floating dock.I think my family and I could live there comfortably. With the guest house, I would even have a place for my fabulous blog buddies to stay when they came to visit (you would come, wouldn't you?). It's pretty close to perfect.
But what if it weren't? Would I still be interested in it? Let's say that instead of Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, the living room had orange carpeting. And maybe there was an ugly light fixture in the master bathroom, the front hallway was covered in an unattractive purple flocked velvet wallpaper and the refrigerator was avacado colored. The answer is yes, I would still be just as interested. I may hope to pay a few dollars less, but I'd still buy it in a heartbeat. All of those things are easy and fairly inexpensive to change.
I'm constantly amazed, and sometimes irritated, to hear the comments buyers make on shows like House Hunters on HGTV. I've seen people dimiss houses for things like unattractive carpet and paint colors. I recently saw a couple pass on a house because the appliances were not stainless steel. I couldn't believe that the color (or more precisely, material) of the appliances was a deal breaker in a house that, otherwise, met every item on their list. It was a gorgeous place. I just don't get it. Would it really be so awful to have to live with white appliances until you could buy new ones?
What do you think? Have you bought or could you buy a home that wasn't absolutely cosmetically perfect? What would be a deal breaker for you?
Willoughby
Comments
Example of skin: The house I currently live in had a huge American flag painted on the front of the house. Nothing against Old Glory but we had that painted over less than a week after we moved in. That certainly didn't scare us from buying this house.
Got any spare change? ;)
I can see the "bones" of the house and immediately start rearranging walls :-)
You and I would have a lot of fun touring houses together!
when Mr. Sister and I were first married and house hunting, the real estate agent told us we qualified for a mega buck mortgage. Mr. and I just turned to each other and laughed. We stayed with a very modest mortgage and revamped the little bungalow we bought. By doing so we were able to sell for a hefty profit (double purchase price) and buy a home in our present neighborhood when we needed the space for our growing family.
My house is an old one, but renovated with a fireplace and a small garden.
Thanks so much for your kind comments.
Have a great week-end!
xx
I had no say in the house I live in; my husband had bought it before we were engaged, but I like it here. The attic was built in such a way that it would be easy to dormer the roof to add additional space, which is something we think about often. Do we want to dormer or move? How attached are we to this house and neighborhood? Hmmmm....
Homes...I love looking. We are currently trying to find a ranch. Isn't it great when the agents try to talk you into doing something outside your price range. Oh...it just another 200K. It is a 3M house. What is another 200K? I don't care how much more it is, if it is over budget it is over budget.
We have to live within our means no matter how much a house cost.
One ranch we loved was originally listed for 4.5M. It went down in price, so we were willing to trade some property and use cash. 8 months in escrow we saw that he only wanted the 4.5M worth of property and cash, and another 200k was just too much more for me to pay out to him for that ranch. It is STILL on the market.