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I grew up in the 80s and 90s, living in cheap garbage built in the 60s and 70s, in a "good" location. So, the quality and style of my house became more important than location to me.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s, living in cheap garbage built in the 60s and 70s, in a "good" location. So, the quality and style of my house became more important than location to me.
There is SO much garbage being built even today. Its frightening. I have seen some very pricey properties that are downright ramshackle when it comes to their build quality. But people still buy them.
Part of it for me is the details-- built ins, old growth hardwood, balustrades, plaster ceiling medallions, pocket doors, etc. I bought my current house because of a staircase and a fire place mantle.
ONE of the reasons we have basically given up our search for a retirement home in New Hampshire is the lack of single story open concept homes -- and the lack of paved streets except on main thoroughfares and the lack of municipal utilities except in fairly large towns. (This is for the most part; I do realize that there are exceptions, but not that we have found in our price range, which is less than $400k.)
With us, it is house set-up, view, and paved roads first, with everything else being secondary.
I wouldn't buy a house I considered unattractive but I'm not so committed to a particular style that I couldn't find options in the location that I wanted. But I do prioritize location and wouldn't take on a long commute or not be in what I consider reasonable proximity to shopping, medical facilities, the activities I enjoy doing, etc. just to get a particular house.
ONE of the reasons we have basically given up our search for a retirement home in New Hampshire is the lack of single story open concept homes -- and the lack of paved streets except on main thoroughfares and the lack of municipal utilities except in fairly large towns. (This is for the most part; I do realize that there are exceptions, but not that we have found in our price range, which is less than $400k.)
With us, it is house set-up, view, and paved roads first, with everything else being secondary.
That's so funny -- what you described you are looking for was what I BOUGHT for my first house back in 2003 in Keene, New Hampshire. Single story, open living/dining/kitchen (which I actually ended up loving), 1520 square feet, 3 good-sized bedrooms, 2 full baths. Your typical ranch house, basically. I bought it partly because it did NOT have baseboard heating, which most New Hampshire houses DO have and which I LOATHE. (I am definitely in the minority on that, BTW.) City water & sewer too.
Ironically, what I REALLY wanted at the time was a Colonial or Farmhouse-style house, both of which are plentiful in New Hampshire. I still own that house from 2003 (it's now a rental), but my current house is a Colonial style that will basically look like a farmhouse with the addition of a big front porch (that's supposed to happen this summer, although I have a sneaking suspicion it will be postponed). It will fit beautifully in my neighborhood, where the houses are all wonderful but all DIFFERENT. No one style prevails at all.
Options: 1. Find a house that is in the way, move it to your preferred location. It does not cost that much.
2. Have a house built in your preferred style. I have seen some really accurate/nice reproductions. It is not cheap, so just make the house a bit smaller. There will be some necessary compromises such as porch railing height and spindle spacing, but you can get a decent reproduction if you find the right designer (if they say the words "vinyl" and "windows" in the same sentence, they are not the right designer).
Options: 1. Find a house that is in the way, move it to your preferred location. It does not cost that much.
It's the land in a good location that costs that much, plus the repairs after the house move. I've known people who have lost a million dollars on a house move.
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2. Have a house built in your preferred style. I have seen some really accurate/nice reproductions. It is not cheap, so just make the house a bit smaller. There will be some necessary compromises such as porch railing height and spindle spacing, but you can get a decent reproduction if you find the right designer (if they say the words "vinyl" and "windows" in the same sentence, they are not the right designer).
This!
Or else buy a house in a good location that has *some* of the attributes you desire and modify it over time, *as you get the money*, to suit your long-term needs. That is what we did (Victorian farmhouse, streetcar suburb, too small, 2-story addition when we were in our fifties).
sometimes I wonder if where you live determines what kind of style you like. I grew up in the midwest near a lot of ranch style homes, so to me a ranch style home felt homey. Then I moved to DC where my favorite neighborhoods were historic colonial homes, so then THAT became my favorite style (I still love colonials). Fast forward several years and we moved to new england where I ended up being most attracted to antique center-chimney capes, which are pretty ubiquitous here. I love nantucket-style homes as well. Anything with cedar shingles and dormers feels super homey to me now.
Very rarely I'll see a spanish-style home around here and I love the character of them. I have a feeling if I lived on the west coast, I'd be most attracted to those (since cedar-shingled 18th center-chimney capes probably aren't a "thing" there).
Honestly, I love all kinds of of houses so long as the house has history and character.
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