Getting the beaten-old-house fatigue...now what? (Boston, Newton: for sale, 2009, apartment)

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by ThinkingThinking

Like i said, you need to ask your agent to show you turnkey rennovated properties. The kind that are 100 years old at the bones but everything else has been updated. They are gorgeous homes, too.

But these houses are often quite expensive. They have all the charm and details of older houses but with "all mod. cons.," (as the English used to say) providing the efficiencies and useful features of newer homes. Thus, becasue such homes typically offer the best of both worlds, they are often in demand and can command a premium price. Syracusa is on a tight budget and she is dealing with the housing price shock that greets many newcomers to the area.

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by FellsMom

Local builders are known to move from one old house to another, fixing them up while living there.

I have met a few people who buy run down older houses, live in them for a few years (allowing them to avoid capital gains taxes on most of profits from the sale of the house) and fix them up themselves, sell at a handsome profit when the renovations are complete, and then repeat the process. Moving is disruptive and the projects involve a lot of work, but home projects are their hobby and they can make a lot of money doing it.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by FellsMom

Many houses had been renovated here. They became too expensive after that renovation.

You are correct. The cost to renovate an old home can be staggering especially if it is done right and to maintain the architectural and historic integrity of that house. The cost of mill work and period hardware is astronomical as much of it has to be purchased via salvage or custom replications. Seemingly simple fixes like interior doors and replacement windows can be challenging and need to be custom made as well since today's standard doors and replacement windows do not fit in the jambs of antique homes. Then of course nothing is quite square- yet another challenge. Sill damage is very common as wood was untreated when these homes were built and years of water and pests like powder post beetles wreak havoc. Even a minor repair can cost in the thousands. Add antiquated electrical and plumbing to the mix and there is little left to pretty up the old place.

I remember the shock I felt when I realized that my antique home would probably be worth more sold off in pieces than it was as a livable structure.

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by ThinkingThinking

Like i said, you need to ask your agent to show you turnkey rennovated properties. The kind that are 100 years old at the bones but everything else has been updated. They are gorgeous homes, too.

In our price range, (2600 and under with plan to negotiate down substantially) she's shown us EVERYTHING there is. You get either "larger and newish in the God-forsaken boonies" or "old and un-renovated" in walkable semblance of civilization.

We were more than willing to go to the the burbs, but when we were told "burbs", I thought we were talking about "human burbs" not "deer burbs".

We saw a house in North Andover that is highly acceptable as construction in and of itself, but its boony un-lit location literally scares me. Is all North Anodver this rural? What do kids do over there all day long? Is all the life they get supposed to come from a daycare/school facility/organized activities miles away from the woods?

When I go to the polls I usually vote left because I think the right-wing insanity in this country is too much. But really, there's only so much environmentalism, naturalism, wilderness and tree-hugging I can put up with as a civilized human being.

I think it's time for all of us to stop having children.
Too late for me to contribute to this noble cause but I highly recommend it to those for whom this is still an option.

[teachertype]

Originally Posted by syracusa

I think it's time for all of us to stop having children.
Too late for me to contribute to this noble cause but I highly recommend it to those for whom this is still an option.

If you had the foresight to discuss this with your parents, you wouldn't have housing needs now. LOL

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by teachertype

If you had the foresight to discuss this with your parents, you wouldn't have housing needs now. LOL

You sure are right. This was the only thing that could have worked.

Some say the best move you can make in life is to choose your parents wisely.
I think mine were chosen wise enough - as for the grandparents, they were an incredible deal.

But then history happened...

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by syracusa

In our price range, (2600 and under with plan to negotiate down substantially) she's shown us EVERYTHING there is. You get either "larger and newish in the God-forsaken boonies" or "old and un-renovated" in walkable semblance of civilization.

We were more than willing to go to the the burbs, but when we were told "burbs", I thought we were talking about "human burbs" not "deer burbs".

We saw a house in North Andover that is highly acceptable as construction in and of itself, but its boony un-lit location literally scares me. Is all North Anodver this rural? What do kids do over there all day long? Is all the life they get supposed to come from a daycare/school facility/organized activities miles away from the woods?

When I go to the polls I usually vote left because I think the right-wing insanity in this country is too much. But really, there's only so much environmentalism, naturalism, wilderness and tree-hugging I can put up with as a civilized human being.

I think it's time for all of us to stop having children.
Too late for me to contribute to this noble cause but I highly recommend it to those for whom this is still an option.

I can assure you that many families "in the boonies" enjoy a wonderful lifestyle. While I am sure there are some people who reside there, who like you, are begrudgingly priced out of their ideal location, there are far more who made the choice to live a different lifestyle.

Many times the choice is made so one parent can stay home. The tradeoff to bustling city life is a fabulous network of close family friends who support one another and become more like extended family. The close proximity to the city make areas such as these a wonderful place to live and allows families to take advantage of all that Boston and the surrounding areas have to offer. All that along with an idyllic natural setting complete with fresh air and yes, deer running through the back yard. Some people like that. It doesn't make them uncivilized or tree huggers, it just makes them different from city dwellers.

While I find children raised in these areas to be more socially naive, I also find they are much more capable of entertaining themselves, have vivid imaginations, an innate appreciation of nature and curiosity, and a sense of community that is often lacking in children who live in more urban areas. They also seem to value friendship and less likely to "hang out" with someone just because they live in close proximity. They choose friends for substance and seem to stick by them.

Yes, kids are more likely to be involved in organized activities, it is not just rural areas that suffer from this affliction. Massachusetts schools are well regarded and that all comes from the rigorous academics. The school day is long and homework is a part of life from early grades on. Even if there is no written homework, many towns have computer programs that the children are required to log onto each night to do standardized test practice. It is not unusual to have children in middle school grades required to read numerous independent novels to build their frame of reference for MCAS. With all of this along with boyscouts/girlscouts, religious education, music lessons, and organized sports etc., there is little time left at the end of the day.

Once they get to high school, you can only hope you children do not have a lot of free time. Homework, clubs, community service and sports (all of which guidance counselors, college admissions experts and school principals will tell you are mandatory to take part in to get into college these days) take precedence. This is all the same be it in the "God forsaken boonies" or the utopia of an urban setting.

[ThinkingThinking]

LOL there is much more for children to "do" besides organized sports and regulated pasttimes for which you ferry them to and fro. I spent almost the first decade of my life out in the "boonies" and grew up with a great and healthy appreciation for nature, the ability to entertain myself via books arts and imagination, and an extremely healthy constitution built on hours running in the woods. I was also enrolled in Girl Scouts, went to school, had playdates, walked to friends homes, etc. Just because a home is located behind some trees doesn't mean it's isolated. There is a lot to be said for privacy.

We are looking for a reasonably priced home out in the "boonies", as a matter of fact. I'd be interested in hearing about the ones you've passed over!

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by ThinkingThinking

We are looking for a reasonably priced home out in the "boonies", as a matter of fact.

What's your price range? Where do you/your S.O. work (and, thus, what commute are you thinking about)?

[ThinkingThinking]

within a reasonable (30-45 minute max) commute to Marlborough, Good schools. about 2 acres would be nice. we've got big dogs and chickens and things.

I dont want to hijack the thread.