Real e-stating the facts
I do these "Hey Homey" posts so often now that I forget that when it comes to house hunting in real life, it's actually not quite as simple as window shopping online, finding the perfect one you want and then magically blinking your furniture there in a split second (yeah, let's not even start talking about moving your stuff). No, you actually have to navigate the real estate market and chance upon the one that fits your price range, location preference and then the personal style of your family. You will most likely have to be flexible on several fronts and compromise on a home that fits everyone in the end. I only wish it was as simple as clicking here to be able to buy this beautiful home below (and just as easy to make the money appear magically in your bank account).
So what is the most important to you? Location? Price? Style? Will you compromise space for location? And do you gladly take on challenges to make a space fit you instead of the other way around? I'm not sure where I stand on these issues and would be happy to hear your input in the comment section below.
So what is the most important to you? Location? Price? Style? Will you compromise space for location? And do you gladly take on challenges to make a space fit you instead of the other way around? I'm not sure where I stand on these issues and would be happy to hear your input in the comment section below.
Wow, I'm always amazed at the sheer size of American homes - you could probably fit 3 UK ones into one US one.
ReplyDeleteI've always looked at the location but also at how the property "fits" for us. However, I've always been happy to do some diy, so I don't look for anything in a pristine condition. Generally though it's quite easy: I know within seconds if "this is the one" and base my decision on that.
Have a lovely week xo
With prior home choices, I've generally sacrificed size to have a cute place in a decent location with an affordable price. The home I'm currently renting, we've sacrificed location to get a cute place with enough bedrooms we could easily host several people and still have home office space. In the next year or so, however, we're talking more seriously about buying some land and building property on it in order to have a house exactly to our specifications - luckily enough this is quite easy to do in Thailand because there aren't all the crazy codes & regulations like in the U.S., and the price will be comparable to getting a house in a suburban style development. We even know a guy who built a castle because he thought it would be cool for his kids to grow up in a castle! And in Thailand you can do that because, hey, it's your land....you bought it, you can do what you want with it.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea. We're going to move soon and the idea of finding the right place at the right price, even just to rent, is really scary. Almost impossible in London! I think location is really important though, you can change the inside of a flat however you like, but you can't change where it is. Now the idea of buying a house? Completely beyond me.
ReplyDeleteI think location and style matter. location is top. style... well, give me an empty canvas to paint on. I can compromise on size if I have too. usually I do :)
ReplyDeletePrice is a big one for me. Although, you almost always have to sacrifice that for the more ideal neighborhood, so they go hand in hand (in my experience, anyway). Functional storage space and lots of windows to let in the sunlight are also biggies. But, like you said, compromise is a big factor and you're likely to lose something you want for another.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if it came down to it, I'm not sure either. I do know location is important, as is a house with character. Must have character, you know!
ReplyDeleteRooth, the kitchen of the houses you pick are always stellar...sigh...Anyhoo, I've always thought it's a combo of the location, price, and style, but in the end, I think location would be the most important thing for me.
ReplyDeleteI like the living room
ReplyDeletei couldn't afford the house that i want so i keep living in my 1930's town home. To give it up it would have to be exactly what I want in a house and that is not in my budget ; ) Here I have neighbors that are like family, old charm, wood floors, decent sized rooms (relatively speaking), huge gated english styled gardens . . . of course it has it's down sides - shared laundry, lack of storage. but i'd rather give up those types of things than something like wood floors!
ReplyDeleteI would sacrifice space in a heartbeat for city living (I've been doing just that my entire life) and I'd even sacrifice more space for more light. I'd live in a shoebox if it meant gorgeous streams of sunlight. I never want to buy a house I can't afford just because it's new or to keep up with the joneses. I was raised in a 900sf house, and would feel uncomfortable in some 3500sf behemoth where you can't hear someone breathing down the hallway, haha.
ReplyDeleteThe laundry room, the wall of windows, the butterscotch leather! What a dream!
ReplyDeleteI look for a balance of all factors, commute, not on a main street, parks, grocery and drugstores, schools, space, price, etc. the one thing I really wanted was a garage. I do not have a garage.
ReplyDeletePS - I've never quite felt more alone than when looking for help moving. lol
I think these are fascinating questions. We picked the house over location once and it was a great choice. Just the right thing to do. In this latest move (ten year's old now) we're in an amazing house in an amazing neighborhood, BUT. The house is too big for the three of us, and as much as I love my neighbors and my hood, I definitely feel hemmed in by suburbia. There are worse problems, for sure! I always recommend that if you're truly relocating to rent for a year before you buy. Learn the area, find out what side of town you end up on the most. Do you wish you could walk to that favorite restaurant or beloved coffee shop? Those are things you can't know until you get there.
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet shopped for a home of my own but I wonder about these same questions! I would love to stay in the city but the compromise of space/price may be too much. Plus, the idea of having my kid feel "safe" is also a big one. I grew up in a city environment and love it but my husband would prefer a suburban environment. Plus...schools! Private schools are incredibly costly but public is also a tricky one to navigate if you don't live in the "right zone."
ReplyDeleteBeing an adult is not quite as easy as it seemed as a kid!
xo,
nancy
I'd love this house on a beach.. preferably somewhere in the Caribbean. Don't know how practical that would be though.
ReplyDeletePrice is definitely the most important thing on my list, but style is a close second. If a home already has a lot of the characteristics I'm looking for, that's less renovating I'd have to do thus more money I'd be saving. Kinda scary to be thinking about buying a home for myself, but it'll be happening sooner than I think!
ReplyDeleteWow this house is a steal! Not! ;) We compromised on location when moving to our area, not that it is bad, it is just a little further from some public transport options but the prices already start to get crazy not even 10 minutes walking distance from our place. I am happy with that compromise, we have never regretted our decision.
ReplyDeleteThis is actually what I imagine my dream home looking like.
ReplyDeleteWhen Noel and I first bought a home, we were interested in the price...we really didn't care about location. NOwwwww.....location is everything. Ughhh!!! To know what I know now!
A beautiful home! I would really love to live there.
ReplyDeleteLUXESSED
For now, I think I'll spend something that's not too big and not too small either. This house is too big. There are more space. My preference is to have a small house (but not too small like an apartment) that everyone can see anyone easily. Hehe.
ReplyDelete