House Hunting! ...Seriously, this time.

Working with a tiny budget, Phil and I are once again, though more seriously this time, looking for an actual house! I never really expected to "fall in love" with a home within our budget, because of obvious reasons, but we found two options that look like they might be suiters!

OPTION 1: 1950s N WITH ORIGINAL FEATURES & UNTOUCHED WOODWORK
I'm just going to admit to you right now. I'm totally in love with this home! There are very few changes I would like to make (which is saying quite a lot!), and the price just can't be beat. All of our furniture fits inside, and if we moved in, we would be paying significantly less for our payments, insurances, and taxes than we are paying now for rent.

PROS:
• Below our price range!
• Really convenient floor plan
• Everything is on one level! As in, there's not even a basement.
• The craftsmanship of everything in this home is impeccable.
• Cool brick wall in kitchen ad living room.
• Two fireplaces
• There's not much work we'd want to do, and it's already move-in ready.
• Three bedrooms
• 1.5 baths
• Large living room
• Huge (to me) kitchen and dining area (super important to us!)
• Big back yard
• Private back yard
• Large two car garage with workshop
• Two storage sheds in the back yard
• Beautiful side yard patio with an arbor
• Large laundry room on first floor
• Room to add on

CONS:
• Only one level (Something about not having a basement = not kid friendly to me.)
• Not a lot of built-in storage, though there is a lot of room for storage furniture
• On a road with a bunch of apartments
• A crossroad ends right where the front yard begins
• Railroad Tracks behind back yard
• Highway behind back yard (highway has walls to deaden sound, and it's not super close)
• Small bedrooms
• There's not enough room for all of my clothes! (Simplify...?)

OPTION 2: 1950s RANCH WITH WALKOUT BASEMENT & UNIQUE FEATURES
Contrary to what you might think after seeing my cons list below, I really do like this house. It would need quite a lot of work to get it to be where I want it, and even with all that work the backyard is still tiny. I love the fact that there is a large basement- great for the future kiddos and the current husband (gamedays!). But, we're really not super digging this house, but we're still considerig it as an option.

PROS:
• Sunken living room (I love those!)
• Cool brick fireplace (though I hate the extended brick on the side.)
• Nice high ceilings
• Three bedrooms
• 2 baths
• Large, finished basement
• Large laundry room in basement
• Cool brick wall in galley kitchen
• Two fireplaces (one in the basement!)

CONS:
• Tiny dining room (wouldn't fit my heirloom farmhouse table!)
• Carpet everywhere (would need to be removed, stat!)
• Horrible lighting fixtures
• Shoddy craftsmanship everywhere
• Horrible kitchen cabinets
• Disgusting floor in the kitchen
• Tiny hallways
• Small bedrooms
• Smallish kitchen
• Old appliances
• TINY backyard
• Unpaved long, winding driveway (a nightmare in NE Ohio!)
• No room to add on
• Basement leaking problems that have supposedly been fixed
• CARPET IN THE BATHROOM!
• Paneling everywhere
• A weird mudroom right through the front door, which is a sliding glass door. Weird.
• Odd entrance to the front door. Must walk around the house from the back to get there.
• No curb appeal
• Windows will need replaced soon.

So, there ya have it, kiddos! I can't stop thinking about our future house, and I've already been picking out wallpaper and paint colors! Am I crazy? No, I swear, it's just that I've never been able to wallpaper a place before in my life, so my imagination is running wild. Last time we viewed a house, there was so much work that needed done, and the floorplan was sprawling and segregating. We now have a more realistic view of how we want a floorplan to contribute to our homelife, as well as how much work we are willing and able to put into fixing up a place. So, what do you think? Should we go with our gut and put in an offer on house one before it's gone?

Comments

[Victoria / Justice Pirate]

hmm. you two seem to have really thought it all out really well. I suggest searching a little more just for some extra options in case you fall for another place you really would love to own. Sounds like the first one is nicer. Even without a basement, it's okay. my parents have a basement and it wasn't used much ever by any of us until I lived there for the first year and a half of my marriage. I have two kids in a 2bd apt and it's fine for us but I do see that game rooms would be cool. My dad used to want their basement to be a game room. My brothers prefered being in their room and I prefered the same. :: shrugs :: so I don't know, all kids play in different areas. As long as there is space for them when you have them, that's what's important. I think an open living room is good for having kids and kitchens that aren't too closed in where they could get hurt. just my two cents as a mama. I can understand the concern for the rr tracks though!!!!! You never know who might be walking down them or if the kids will try to play on them and not know when a train is coming!!! I don't know how huge your space is for clothes or not right now, but yeah, definitely simplify. You really only need a few dresses and outfits in life as it is. but yeah, I still suggest looking around more. You're not crazy for coming up with decor ideas at all. . .that's something you are good at doing, I think!

[Lynn]

House #1 looks a treat to me - why is a basement kid-friendly? (I never wanted anything to do with our basements. They were always damp and depressing.) And good workmanship counts for like triple. IMHO.
Go for it!

[Mandi]

I guess basements in general aren't kid friendly, but finished basements are awesome and I was always a bit jealous of my friends (when I was a kid) who had finished basements for ping pong tables, big televisions, and other play things. You know what I mean? It's like official kids' zone because it doesn't really matter what it looks like down there. :)

[Mandi]

Victoria, thanks for your well-thought-out comment as usual! You've given me more to think about. :)

[Alison Hartley]

Yes! Do it. If it's under your price range and you can already imagine all the things you would do, it sounds perfect for you. How long have you lived in your apartment? My husband and I are so ready to move out of our apartment but we're not quite there yet.

P.S. I love house one too!

[meli]

My house has those same chairs from the first picture!!!! I keep seeing them everywhere! A couple of years ago I travelled to new orleans with the marching band I was in, and we went to a jazz performance where the lead trumpeter sat in one of the very same ones, and now they're here again! Haha my chairs are famous!

I can see why you're keeping both options open. I can see the potential in both houses, too. Happy decision making!

[Michelle Clement]

First one, first one! :) he he. Perhaps the railroad behind will make it feel like it's 40 years ago everytime one goes by? Good luck with everything - they're both lovely! The woodwork in #1 looks delightful!

[allison]

totally house 1. I don't think the basement is a big deal...a LOT of homes in Tennessee don't have basements...and the older homes that do (like our 1920's craftsman/bungalow) are often unfinished and yucky and scary. I agree with Victoria--as long as there's a place for them to play that's all that's needed.

exciting times!

[sydneyjean]

yes! doooo it :)

[Gemma]

I'm from Australia where basements aren't really a thing but here lots of houses have 'rumpus rooms' or 'granny flats' which are a large room or small studio style apartment separate to the house. These are often used as kids zones ( or even bedrooms for the grown up kid who won't home) could be a good solution to the no basement quandary, with the house being below your budget you could drop a bit on that? My boyfriends family (3 boys!) has one which was used constantly while they were growing up. They had a pool table tv and sound system and held sleepovers, movie nights etc there, it was also used as an art studio later on. And when they have parties it's a way of keeping the mess and noise out of the main house. I never had one and was always ridiculously jealous of friends who did.

[PepperReed]

I vote #1, it has less to change re: layout etc. and you do have to LIVE in those rooms, so too small hallway and dining room? You'll notice it each time you're in there, so nix house 2. However, for house #1, check out the train schedule for those tracks from the neighbors or city council etc. to see how active they are and what kind of traffic (freight/slow, amtrak fast) and is there a crossing where they'd blow their horns nearby. Good Luck!! It's fun planning and dreaming!

[Mandi]

Alison, we've lived in our apartment for about 18 months, and it is soooo beautiful. But we are getting ready to start a family and there is only one bedroom, we are on the third floor (long, narrow stairs that go up from the basement level), and the floorpland is less than ideal. So, we really gotta get out. But it kills me because the architecture in our apartment is so unique, and we know we can't afford something that grand in a home. Sigh.

[Nicolette Lafonseca]

There is always a pro con list regardless of budget. However option 2 does have a bigger con list and the kitchen looks quite crampt like a long corridor. You seem to have lots of open space and a good flow to your currnt abode you may miss that if you go for option 2

Happy hunting - just keep looking it is possible to fall in love on a budget some place just have that feeling, you know!

Take care
Nicolette xo

[Jen from insideways]

House one sounds really fantastic! I just want to throw out one thought - do you plan to live there for a very long time? If it's more of a starter house, then really consider resale value. Railroad tracks and the highway could make it difficult to sell in the future.

I can't wait to own a house some day... have fun with it and * definitely* keep dreaming about decorating :)

[Jillian]

We bought a 1962 ranch home back in March, which was in move-in condition but didn't suit our taste, and we're still renovating and will never be finished. Based on the two houses you described, I would run far far away from the second one. I love our house, but I didn't notice all of the shoddy craftsmanship on the trim and drywall before we moved in. Also, we have a huge "finished" basement and don't use it for anything except storing junk we should probably get rid of. I could see it being handy if we had kids, but it needs about $30k of work first. Besides, the first house looks awesome.

[Megan]

I have a serious case of house-fever as well! Go with whatever makes you happiest. It will work out either way.

[Julia]

I kind of think that big living areas and backyards are awesome, but I grew up at sea level... so no basements for me.

Your first option seems so fun. And what's with the amazing open space over the kitchen cabinets? So cool.

I loved this post, We own and we rent so I am definitely forging a view of what we want in the future. And picking out wallpaper already makes perfect sense to me. :)

[elsie]

so so so excited for you!

[amy t schubert]

my hubs and I are house shopping to :)

Our budget is *super* tiny so I think we're going to have to take a while to find that perfect balance between decent-size yard and decent-size house.

By "take awhile" I mean we've been looking for over a month and found one house we *mostly* like

oh well!

(P.S. houses in SoCal don't have basements at all! I can't even imagine that being on our list :) )

[Bianca]

Number one seems like a really great starter place and something you could add a lot of personalisation to. Must be so exciting and nerve racking to think about! Houses in Australia don't have attics or basements, but I think it would be cool to have one. Good luck lady :)

[Lisa]

if it were me - i'd pick house one! Sounds like the backyard lends itself to lots of play! Outdoor pingpong table?!?!?!

[Mandi]

Lisa, the only problem with that is in Northeast Ohio, kids can really only play outside 2 seasons of the year. Second half of Spring, Summer, and first half of Fall. So, the rest of the year they'd be cooped up inside. Or else at friends houses...? :)

[Amber]

From the looks of it, the first house is the guy instinct house, and I'd say go for it! The cons are actually managable:

• Only one level - One level houses are easier to heat in the winter and cool int he summer. They also have a sort of rustic charm, and with a big back yard, kids and husbands alike can spend tons of time outside, enjoying nature!

• Not a lot of built-in storage: Can be hard to deal with (I'm living in a one bedroom with two people who are NOT together so I know that problem well) but is also easy to manage, and sometimes you can get really fun, retro cabinets for storage that add a spark!

• On a road with a bunch of apartments, A crossroad ends right where the front yard begins: I live in apartments on a road that sounds similar to this. To be honest (now, we're Atlantic Canadian so we're pretty friendly folk to begin with) it's sort of a relief, because since moving to my apartment I've made several new friends, and our neighbourhood is one of the safest in the area because a lot of young families and elder people are home all day.

• Railroad Tracks behind back yard, Highway behind back yard: Trust me, within the first two months of your living there, those noises will be white noise.

• Small bedrooms/ There's not enough room for all of my clothes: Small bedrooms just mean finding better, more exciting ways to make room! I have two beds, a sewing desk, a dresser, a bookshelf and some side tables in my bedroom, which is NOT that big at all. It's all about placement!

In the end, my vote is for the first house; but, go with what your heart tells you!!

[Kait]

My two cents: my husband and I bought a house with great potential in 2005, that needed plenty of cosmetic work to bring it to where I wanted it cosmetically. He is upstairs sanding the floor in the last bedroom that neededto be remodeled. This after three months of nagging....since I spacled, sanded and painted the room in August. We did all the work ourselves, and after the second year of working two jobs and living in construction mess for months at a time I cursed my choice repeatedly! Buy the one that is move-in ready!!! ( then again, if you have a budget for contractors this may not be an issue for you:)

[Kait]

Oh, and I'm from Northeast Ohio, (westside Cleveland ) and I think that the idea of reselling a house from our area anytime in the near future seems kind of impossible. So I think the house you buy you should love- you may be there for some time! Also, if there is room to add on, you could always build a game/playroom. Basements can have mold/ water issues too. Ok, done now- good luck!

[Jolie]

Option one: Love the terrazzo floors always wanted a house with terrazzo floors.
When JP and I were looking for a house we saw a lot of houses that were cute, nice and would work but when we found the house we currently live in/bought the moment we walked in we knew it was the house we wanted. We looked for over a year and we thought about putting offers on many homes however for some reason or another we didn't and boy am I glad we didn't. I say all this to say, if it doesn't feel right don't buy it!!! I equate house shopping to wedding dress shopping you just know when you find the right one. It is a huge decision and right now there are more houses to choose from because of the current housing market. I loved the post and I hope you find the perfect home. Miss u :)

[Gabriel Syme]

In my 15 years of marriage, my husband and I have owned two different homes. Here are my few thoughts from the east side of Cleveland:

I'd consider location first in our area of the country. W/ the current market trends, any ideas of a starter home are now obsolete. The house you own, you will probably own for a long while. So, if it is not EXACTLY where you want to be, I would wait, and save, and budget until you could be where you want to be. Apartment neighbors are usually transient ones, and w/ a constant influx and outflow of people, that effects the neighborhoods and schools. Anything inside a home can be changed or altered to your liking in time. Where the house is, can't change. See how long this one has been on the market, and ask yourself why.

[becky]

A train track, highway ... those are pretty major cons in my opinion! Even the most perfect house on that sort of lot would be a no-go for me and my young family.

The other house -- do not forget to figure in the cost of renovations when you are considering the actual house costs. Renovations are probably something that you will enjoy. We have done an entire home remodel, and I love the fact that I have a house exactly how I want it, down to every fixture and finish. It has taken us several years, but it is easier on the budget that way, and we enjoy doing it all ourselves.

If neither of these two options are perfect. Keep looking. An ideal home is there for you, somewhere.

[Mallory]

I grew up in a one story ranch style house with no basement and I LOVED it. We had a HUGE yard and we were almost always outside as kids, so the house never felt cramped. I would vote that a large yard is more kid friendly than a basement. :) Good luck!

[brittany]

I grew up in a house with a basement and it flooded all the time. It was a pain in the ass. It wasn't finished, but I don't think i would have gone down there much anyway. Some of the cons in that second house are pretty serious.

We just looked at a house for the first time on Sunday... 3+acres, 2 greenhouses (!!!), 3 bedrooms, and a nice deck, all for a decent short-sale price. But it turned out to be a dump. The deck was completely rotted away, one greenhouse was rotting, the other had a collapsed roof, and there was tons of garbage all over the yard. Plus every house around it belongs to the same family and there's shared wells, shared driveways, crazy property lines, etc. Needless to say, we're not going to inquire further. This is my first attempt at buying a home and I kinda don't know my ass from my elbow, so I'm glad I at least got the ball rolling and actually looked at a house. It's good practice, at least.

[Hazel Lou Anna]

I have no experience in buying houses. It seams like a wonderful adventure though, and I really hope that you get the one you want.
However I have experience of living in houses. We had a basement and, regardless what my dad tried to do with it, fix it up or whatever, I always thought it was a bit scary, and have always thought basements in general is like a scary place (to much horror movies for me maybe). So I could definitely be drawn to a house without a basement. GOOD LUCK!

[Hazel Lou Anna]

Ops, it should be: "It seems like a wonderful adventure", not "seams". Lucky for me I'm not attending any spelling contests any time soon!

[Darius Degross]

You should pick the first one, Candi! It's perfect for you and your hubby. And it's okay if it doesn't have a basement. You can still find other ways to store your stuff, anyway. Do you have other options aside from this?

[Bianca Osbourne]

House one for sure! Based on how you described it, you've definitely made up your mind!

[Elise]

Oooooh, that's a toughy!

I think my like-tastes are heading more toward Option 1. You seem to like 1 more, I'd like 1 more and I think 1 more.. :D

Happy choosing xx

[Leigh-Ann]

Number 1 sounds and looks so good!! Hope you guys are able to get whichever one you want :)

(((hugs)))
Xo

[Krista of KJ and CO.]

Sorry to hear what a terrible time you've had of late, but I hope you'll take comfort in each other and the exciting steps ahead of you as homeowners.
Looking at the two homes, I can only imagine what fun you'll have making them yours.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a healthy 2011.

[Randy Robinson]

It's good to know that all of the furniture fits in perfectly. Option one struck me as the more viable option. Just knowing the fact that it's a 1950s house makes it all the more a better option because, based on my experience, most old houses are built according to the strict standards of construction.

[Christian Traughber]

Ooh, I love your need for fireplaces, and having two in your apartment is really convenient, and definitely great for extra warmth during the colder seasons. With so many things to consider here, I understand how restless you feel about getting the place done right. I’m looking forward to this myself =)