I don't think it looks like we're going to get that particular house unless they take a lowball offer. We might be able to swing it but it would lock us in to a higher mortgage that would preclude travel etc. Something cool is going to come together though. Looking at options.
Meanwhile I looked at expensive houses in my hometown for the heck of it. THEY ARE SO INSANE.
Here is one with a hanger attached so you can taxi out to the runway FROM YOUR HOUSE
Okay, the other house is gonna be too expensive; the renovation they did was pretty high end. How about this one? We'd be doing the renovation ourselves, but that means we can do it how we like.
We have visited this house twice now. It is definitely a "fixer upper". I would want to probably replace the entire foundation, which would allow us to dig the basement out to full ceiling height.
To afford living there we'd be committing to having at least one housemate for the foreseeable future, but it's also right by Catholic University, so it would be easy to find some cool grad student
Also, in related news to this thread, we are refinancing to lower our interest rate from 4.5 to 3.9, knock off our mortgage insurance, and lower our payment $300 per month.
that looks REALLY nice inside. I expected it to be way more busted. Really cool floors and walls, weird layout, that sunroom thing!! That kitchen looks like a recent remodel. A couple awkward aesthetic choices (some flooring/light fixture issues, etc.). But what else will you have to do to remodel??
It's so fucked up, we have to put a bid in by Weds COB but our structural engineer is out of town so we can't do a walkthrough with him.
We'd need to gut the upstairs bath, add another, probably combine 2 adjacent bedrooms, floors need resurfacing, and there is significant cracking in the plaster walls. Also need to redo the siding on the 2 additions (small room in front, 2 small rooms in back. relocate the attic stairs (you can't tell from the pictures but it's ridiculous getting up there) and use a spiral staircase. Possible HVAC retrofit, because we can get govt kickback if we go geothermal. Whole porch deck needs replacement and some of the eaves etc. And finishing the attic and basement. Find a place on 2nd floor for washer/dryer stack. Probably remove the central chimney if we can find an appropriate place for the woodstove.
Now the developer trying to purchase our place is lying and claiming his offer was for 100K lower so who knows whether we can get it together in 24 hours.
We are signing a contract today, selling our current place. We have 6 months after closing before we have to vacate. This is a little scary! Everyone seems to aim to sell their houses in the spring/summer so hopefully the amount of housing stock on the market will improve.
My bud in Seattle spent a whole summer a few years ago DIY remodeling his house in Ballard, and got the price he wanted! Next week it was knocked down to make room for development. Ha good times.
Our offer was just accepted on a house in NC! The listing isn't available, but there's a YouTube video that includes some photos (our decor will be a little different, though):
We expect to move in in mid-April. If you're around the Outer Banks after that, feel free to drop by.
Not ownership, rentership. Any UH interested in living in a Portland historic mansion in NOPO? Yes, it has been used as a film set. With 5 other peeps. Plenty of space for art and music making. Interested? PM me and I can connect. They also have a May sublet.
New idea: new construction. Is this crazy? The builder has a lot next to a lovely episcopal church in Silver Spring (we are well regarded in the local diocese and probably could convince them to let us record music there.) It's a deep and skinny wedge shaped lot. I like the idea of fixing up a century old home, but i also like not having to worry about stuff. There would be no more surprises or remedial repairs. Plus they could build it the way we'd like. It is insane that this is as affordable as an old home, but DC real estate is insane.
I've never even thought about this! Is it just an environmental disaster or could you do it in a cool way (materials etc.)? What are the pros and cons, have people written about this? This does seem insane but also if it is the same price as buying an old house then maybe??? WOW
"Infill" is usually considered enviro-friendly. Increases density, reduces sprawl.
Our (new construction) home replaced underused free-standing housing for cars. Now five people live in the spots where cars just parked. Feels right to me.
We visited the lot again and started to get nervous about it, and then on a whim looked at the house across the street which we hated from the pictures online. It turns out we love this house. It is filled with natural light, and spacious in proportion in a way you don't get in the pretty old houses. It was built in 1990, so there are aspects that are kind of dated which might make it possible to get a good deal, but also the infrastructure is less of a clusterfuck, with the HVAC and plumbing and stuff.
Comments
Meanwhile I looked at expensive houses in my hometown for the heck of it. THEY ARE SO INSANE.
Here is one with a hanger attached so you can taxi out to the runway FROM YOUR HOUSE
Here is the most expensive house in yakima, owned by the worst person, I'm guessing, based on the many dead stuff african mammals.
Here is what happens when you have a local architect who designs hospitals and community colleges build your house.
WHY
HOW
I FEEL LIKE I AM IN THE FOUNTAINHEAD I AM SO MAD ABOUT ARCHITECTURE
I really love that photo / thinking about the people who took it. Saved to hard drive.
To afford living there we'd be committing to having at least one housemate for the foreseeable future, but it's also right by Catholic University, so it would be easy to find some cool grad student
So the big question is how much of the work needing to be done would be superficial and how much would be structural, and what it would cost.
http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow/slideshow.htm?ListingKey=300023562390
http://tour.homevisit.com/mls/107945/1551-NEWTON-ST-NE-WASHINGTON-DC-20017
The views are pretty great!
We'd need to gut the upstairs bath, add another, probably combine 2 adjacent bedrooms, floors need resurfacing, and there is significant cracking in the plaster walls. Also need to redo the siding on the 2 additions (small room in front, 2 small rooms in back. relocate the attic stairs (you can't tell from the pictures but it's ridiculous getting up there) and use a spiral staircase. Possible HVAC retrofit, because we can get govt kickback if we go geothermal. Whole porch deck needs replacement and some of the eaves etc. And finishing the attic and basement. Find a place on 2nd floor for washer/dryer stack. Probably remove the central chimney if we can find an appropriate place for the woodstove.
Now the developer trying to purchase our place is lying and claiming his offer was for 100K lower so who knows whether we can get it together in 24 hours.
epic
EPIC
sidenote: 2nd-floor washer is such a cool concept and you hardly ever see it! But that's where it needs to be!!! Not down in the damn basement
GOOD LUCK KORVIN
We expect to move in in mid-April. If you're around the Outer Banks after that, feel free to drop by.
I like the idea of fixing up a century old home, but i also like not having to worry about stuff. There would be no more surprises or remedial repairs. Plus they could build it the way we'd like.
It is insane that this is as affordable as an old home, but DC real estate is insane.
Is it just an environmental disaster or could you do it in a cool way (materials etc.)? What are the pros and cons, have people written about this?
This does seem insane but also if it is the same price as buying an old house then maybe???
WOW
Our (new construction) home replaced underused free-standing housing for cars. Now five people live in the spots where cars just parked. Feels right to me.
We visited the lot again and started to get nervous about it, and then on a whim looked at the house across the street which we hated from the pictures online. It turns out we love this house. It is filled with natural light, and spacious in proportion in a way you don't get in the pretty old houses. It was built in 1990, so there are aspects that are kind of dated which might make it possible to get a good deal, but also the infrastructure is less of a clusterfuck, with the HVAC and plumbing and stuff.
UGGHHHHH