I am GIDDY over these houses (*Dialup Warning)

[ScreamingMeemie]

Yes, I'm doing it again. Trying (and failing) to not get excited over a couple of houses we saw. Check these out:

This one is on 6.75 acres with 2 acres of woods IN FRONT (!) and a winding road up to it. When I say "woods" I'm talking thick woods! And the house is in a clearing:

Not my favorite style, but we've decided we're tired of fixer uppers and the inside is all hardwoods:



I love the stone landscaping:


Master bath-isn't that the cutest?



Bonus room/Daddy play area:


Living room-natural (yaaay!) stone and marble fireplace



Here is the runner up house. I like this one because it has a walk out basement. It is on 4 acres with trees lining the road and trees in back. It was cute except for the poor little froggies that hop down the steps to the rear basement entrance and then get stuck down there and can't hop back up. We saved two while were there from the fate that we saw happened to about 4 of their brothers. An omen maybe?



disclaimer*** I am a real estate appraiser, so yes I know about inspections...yes, the back of the second property is properly graded and there is a drain to a pump under gravel in back. Very well built homes. Now, I'll try and calm down a bit...because the market sucks and there's the little bit about our house having to get sold in a saturated market. The first one is priced waaaay under SEV, and they keep dropping the price. As is the case here in MI. Lots on the market. LOTS of desperation sales.

[billyskank]

1. Beautiful! You must be rich.

Does the pool table come with it?

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. No! not rich at all... The market is glutted right now. There never was

A "BUBBLE" that people in GD like to talk about. And now all these people who built these homes are finding that out...the hard way, I guess. The top one is on market for $260 K and the bottom one for $265K. It would be a giant...GIANT stretch for us, but we would just be able to "eke" it out.

[billyskank]

6. It's a bit silly here

I look in the estate agents' windows and get depressed at the prices of houses. I think I will be stuck in my apartment for some time to come. (At least I don't rent, though).

You know what you are doing. I know you will be okay.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I hope so...

Sometimes we think we should just stay here, but I really think we'd be much happier there.

[Debbi801]

39. Beautiful homes, especially the first one....

Around here, they'd be in the 600K range unfortunately (at least for the time being). Next door to us is a 2000 square foot split level on 1 acre. It was built in 1974. It sold for 450K 6 month ago. I can't figure out how anyone in my area can afford to buy a house these days. Row/town homes are going for 250+.

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. Wowee!

You guys are all making me feel waaaay better about the price.

[Midlodemocrat]

45. $260K? Are you serious? WOW!

Here in the not so desirable Old Dominion, that top one would easily bring $450.

Go for it, Mrs. G!!!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

57. Series even!!

It's low for here by about 50K.

[MsKandice01]

84. That house would be easily a million dollars here in CA

And with absolutely no yard, front or back.

[Sequoia]

101. You know it!!!!

I'd faint for a house like that first one at that price.

[ScreamingMeemie]

104. There's a ton of them on the market.

If you can deal with a really nasty state economy, no jobs and construction on every road ever day...come on over.

[Momgonepostal]

60. OMGosh, that makes me want to cry

My husband wants to stay in CA. It makes me sad that we could probably almost afford houses like that somewhere else.

[ScreamingMeemie]

69. yes, but imagine shoveling driveways... and yicky stuff like that...

[Momgonepostal]

75. well, that's true...

What do people with long, winding driveways do, do you need your own snowplow?

How much snow does that part of Michigan get?

I'm always asking dumb snow questions on DU.

[ScreamingMeemie]

76. It depends on the year. We just had a pretty mild winter.

But sometimes that area can get a foot and a half. People either put plow attachments on the front of their trucks or on a four ATV. Or they stay home until thaw.

[Debbi801]

78. Not in Mickigan, but to answer your other question....

We have a very long, winding drive way. Our first couple of years living here, we paid someone to come plow it. But it was a pain waiting on him to show up so that we could leave our home. One year, we had a blizzard and it took him 4 days to get to us. After that, we bought a snow thrower. After a few years, it has paid for itself over what we would have paid to have the driveway plowed, and this way it is done at our convenience.

[Momgonepostal]

81. Do you mind if I ask how much they are?

Not to be nosy, I just am curious how cost effective it is to move to a snowy place.

[ScreamingMeemie]

82. They're about $400, but these homes have driveways that need more than

a snowblower/thrower.

[Momgonepostal]

105. That's not that bad, thanks

[Sequoia]

102. Just call Mr. Plow!

[MissHoneychurch]

2. I like the first one

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Thank MissHoney! The tub on the first one really got me.

I think it's adorable..and different. I'm sick of looking at houses with "master suites" with "jetted tubs"...

Short time for you to be here now! I hope everything works out right!

[MissHoneychurch]

5. The tub is great

great view out. I hope no one passes by when you are IN the tub

Yeah I know, only 3 hours. I really hope we get to meet for a coffee.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Heheehe...That would be scary, eh?

There are no neighbors close by and you can't see the house from the road... In fact, I told MrG we could run around naked and no one would care! Well, the family would I'm sure.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Looks nice

I like the fact that the first one has all hardwoods, though I also like the w-o basement in the 2nd.

good luck.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Thanks NewJeff!

The first one is the one we really like! We were stunned by the seclusion...and at that low of a price. I just got off the phone with MrG and we are figuring the price of gas for him to and from work. (My job is on the road, so it's always expensive). It would be about a 45 minute drive in and about $200/two weeks for gas. Which is an ouchy. We'll see. Thanks again!

[xchrom]

9. the bathtub does it for me.

i'd KILL for that bathtub.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I know!

If we got that house, I'd be a wrinkled up little prune.. But Clean!

[xchrom]

18. lol

pruney skin! me too -- i'd probably STARVE to death.

[Callalily]

13. I agree with

everyone else, the tub would definitely do it for me. Maybe you'll need a renter?

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. Heheehe...I'll have a DU Tub party.

Wouldnt' that be a blast?

[Callalily]

17. Yes, that would

clearly be fun. You'll need all that acreage though. We'll all bring garden hoses and water sprinklers.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. Hehehehe...

Then it would be a MUD party.

[Sequoia]

103. December 5 is Bathtub Party Day

About This Holiday
Most people today don't have time for a leisurely bath. We barely have time for a quick shower! Well December 5th is different. "Bathtub Party Day" is a time to immerse yourself in a long leisurely bath. Invite a few friends over and make a party out of it!

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. Great-looking houses, Mrs. G.

They'd be priced at least twice the price (and probably more) in a wooded area near Chicago. Good luck!

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Thank you GAT!

My cousin lived in Lake Forest and she is amazed at how much house they got when they moved here to MI.

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. Yeah, Lake Forest is really upper crusty.

Some of the estates up there are jaw droppingly beautiful.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Gorgeous even.

I grew up about an hour outside of Chicago (burbs of Milwaukee) and we spent a lot of time there... at my daddy's bosses bbq's.

[buddhamama]

22. personally

i like the first house more. The hardwood floors are nice and i dig the tub in the bathroom.

good luck, Mrs. Grumpy whatever you guys decide upon.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Us too! I love that tub...

I'm waiting for a reasonable hour so I can call our agent and see it...like yesterday.

buddhamama! How are you?

[buddhamama]

24. the tub and the view

imagine bathing- a little bath oil, a few candles and the view from the windows. splendid. I am OK, Laura. thanks

keep us posted on the house search.

[bigwillq]

25. The first house rocks!

I love the bathroom and the Daddy play area room! It's a sweet house!


The second one is cool too but I just like the first one better!

Good luck on the search!

Ok, what is the market like in MI?

B/C I know a house like that in CT with that much land would probably go for like $750,000! Just want to compare the prices.
You can estimate or PM me. I'm not trying to be nosy to see how much you may pay for this thing but in CT it's outrageous what the prices are.

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. We like the first one the best too!

It's listed right now for $264K... Very cheap. But it's a drive to anywhere from it, which is one of the drawbacks for some people. Not for us though.

[bigwillq]

27. Wow!

That's a bargain!

The house across the street from me is listed at $430,000 and they don't even have half an acre and it's only a raised ranch!
Could you believe that?!

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. Yowza!

For $430,000, in the area we are looking, you can get a 4500 s.f. house on about 20 acres. Wow!

[bigwillq]

29. The house up the street

same style as the one across the street just sold for $390,000.
The woman took anything she can get b/c she moved to Oregon to be with her sister. She just couldn't afford it here anymore. She had it over $400K but it kept dropping and dropping....stuff is so expensive here, it's insane.

[miss_american_pie]

30. Those are lovely houses

But I'm in the middle of packing hell if you need some discouragement.

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. On the plus side, in prep for selling our house, I packed up and we sent

to storage most of our crap.

Then, the house went up...and stayed up... So far, it's still a dream so we'll see what happens.

[miss_american_pie]

32. Oh good luck

Seems like everyone around here is selling their house lately.

[Corgigal]

33. I must be nuts but I l like the 2nd one more

I prefer those spa tubs. To each their own. I love porches and it was a big factor when I purchased my current home. Can you have horses at either of those homes? Could always get a cute goat (s) to cut the grass for you naturally.

What state are these homes in?

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. Michigan. It depends on the Towship for horses. This township

(where these houses are located) allows for as many horses/cows as you wish on over 2 acres.

[Katina]

35. Beautiful homes

and I'm stunned at the prices. Like Jeff in CT, the prices for homes like that would be double to triple depending on how far you are from NYC.
Good luck, I'm sure whatever decision you make, it will be the right one.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. As my brother says, so are the incomes.

Median income for this are is $38,000/year.

But it is still a great deal on the first one. The SEV has the buyer (whoever it is...hopefully us!) getting about 50-60K in equity. When the market rights itself, that is.

Thank you so much Katina.

[Katina]

38. silly question

what is SEV?

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. I'm sorry. SEV=State Equalized Value. As a rule of thumb, double

it and that's the value of the house, sans any upgrades (Central Air, landscaping, etc...)

[Midlodemocrat]

37. Gorgeous! Mrs. G. ! I hope something works out for you.

I LOVE that master bath!

And, I love the elevation of the second one!

[ScreamingMeemie]

43. Oh, thank you so much Midlo!

I know...it's such a tradeoff. The one with the w/o basement also has an unfinished upper level...so you're talking tons of extra square footage. The first one is a newer construction with an older construction "feel". It's tough. Look at me...here I am, no offers in..fretting.

Besides the fact, to sell our house we'll have to give it away. Ahhh...dreams!

[merh]

42. Wow, those are great.

I love the acres and the woods and then the great homes.

Got my fingers crossed for you, MrsG.

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. Thank you merh!!!

[huskerlaw]

46. The first one is gorgeous!

I like the 2nd one too, but the first one...seriously, so pretty.

Meanwhile, I'm so jealous of the housing prices up there! $250,000 here would get me a cardboard box under the freeway...in a nice part of town, but still. Seriously, there's nothing live-able for under $750,000. Even the decent condos *start* at $300,000 for an apartment-sized one bedroom. Ugh.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. My brother lives in Silver Lake.

They got a DEAL on a house 10 years ago for $350K that now appraises at just under 1 Million. It blows my mind. But, he gets paid a far sight better than we do. The jobs are fleeing from MI fast.

[huskerlaw]

48. Tis true...

most of us do make a fair bit more than our counterparts in other cities. I make a good $25K more than I would anywhere else. But it's still not enought to afford a mortgage on a $750K house. Not even close. And I've got a right decent job. Meanwhile, making $25K less in the midwest, I could afford a new, roomy 2 bedroom condo, no problem.

But hey, we don't have winter.

[XemaSab]

49. The first one is a BEAUTIFUL house

The second one... meh.

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. The second one has a great walk out basement with a tiered

gravel stone patio...that's what basically hooked us, but I'm really in love with the first. Thanks for input Xema!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

50. My dear MrsGrumpy!

I like both of them, but actually.......

I prefer the second one! I like how it's spread out.......

The first one feels and looks so vertical to me.....

More and steeper stairs? Something to consider. But......that's me!

Good luck! Keep us informed, OK?

[ScreamingMeemie]

53. Thank you CP!

The cool thing about the second one is the w/o basement and the unfinished second floor... Ahhh decision!

[LSK]

51. they look nice, but too big for me

Wonder what the heating bill would be on one of those?

[ScreamingMeemie]

54. They are big for us too!

We are currently in an 1150-ish ranch. But, they both have zoned heating which means you can shut heat off to parts of the house you aren't using...which blows my mind. I can't imagine having a part of a house not used.

[cspanlovr]

55. I vote for the first house. The landscaping rocks are great!

[ScreamingMeemie]

56. That's what I miss most about the very first little house we lived in.

The rocks. It would be nice to get a home with all of that done already.

[DemExpat]

58. I'll take the second home, MrsGrumpy, and put wood floors in......

that place appeals a great deal to my senses - looks more ranch style which I wouold love if I ever moved back to the States!
For these prices, maybe I WILL!

(Which part of Michigan do you live in?)

Best of luck with whichever home you buy!

DemEx

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. I live in SE Michigan... and there are tons of these available

in Saint Clair County. If you ever come back, let me know and I'll run listings for you...so you won't be bothered by an agent until you need to be.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

61. They are both absolutely beautiful houses

Perhaps it is because of the furniture in the first house but for some reason I think the second house looks much more traditional -which is not a bad thing for me, I like traditional houses. But both houses are absolutely stunning. I personally would go for the first house but only narrowly.

Good luck on your move

[ScreamingMeemie]

65. I think we could get the first one for cheaper.

I like the idea of all the space in the second. What I would use it for I have no idea. Contemplating houses twice the size of the one I have boggles my mind. Thanks!

[jobycom]

62. I pick door number one!

But door number 2 wouldn't get kicked out of bed, either. Um, so to speak.

[ScreamingMeemie]

66. It's kind of an either/or, whomever will have us kind of thing.

Maybe we will get turned down on both. I'll keep you posted!

[fight4my3sons]

63. I love that first house!

The bonus room alone would sell it for me! My boys need a big room like that

Hope it works out for you

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. I love, LOVE the floor in that room.

MrG is big on Poker and having Hold em parties... that would be perfect. Thanks!

[Debi]

64. I vote for house #1...but if they're free

I'll take either one!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

68. If they were free, I'd be greedy and take both!

[WannaBePassingFair]

70. NOOOOOOO!!!! You can't MOVE!!!

why MrsGrumpy?, why do you hate me?

[ScreamingMeemie]

71. You'd have a fun place to visit on weekends.

[WannaBePassingFair]

72. yes but I already have a fun place to visit on weekends....

and that one is only a block away!

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. It's not fun. Not as fun as this will be!

[WannaBePassingFair]

74. i will only let you move if you put a

rollercoaster and a petting zoo in your backyard since you will now have "land".

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. Perhaps. We will only follow your request if you pay half the mortgage.

[LaraMN]

79. You have every reason to be!

They're fabulous! One of my dreams is to have a luxurious bath-space, for bubble bathing and ... y'know.... stuff!

[ScreamingMeemie]

80. Yeah...that's what I think about when I look at that picture...

Closing the blinds, locking the kids out and reading a good book. Gosh I hope it happens!

[AlCzervik]

83. i love that first one!! that bathroom sold it for me.

please buy it so i can come over and use your tub, huh, pretty please? The second one is very nice also but i really, really, really like that first one.

[ScreamingMeemie]

96. You are always welcome here! Even if we don't get the house.

Although, as mentioned upthread, we are already halfway through planning a DU Tub party on this house.

[Sequoia]

85. No, get the first one!

It has style and personality. It looks like something from before the 1800s. However, I like the front porch of the runner up house.

[ScreamingMeemie]

94. We like the first one the best.

We're going to see them again on Thursday, I think. Thanks!

[Sequoia]

100. When was the house built?

We don't have that sytle in Northern Cal although there are plenty of good looking Victorian styles all around. I like a house that's been lived in with good vibes still around.

[yellowdogintexas]

86. what is the kitchen like in house #1? If the bath and living room

are indicators it must be a nice one.

I like it best, it has that old farmhouse feel

[ScreamingMeemie]

93. That's what we like about it.

Attention to detail, wood trim... etc. The kitchen is hardwood floors with Corian countertops. Thanks yellowdog

[Spider Jerusalem]

87. Vinyl siding = horrid

Brick, fine. Stucco, okay. But vinyl siding? No thank you. (The worst, IMO, are the new subdivisions I see with vinyl siding on three sides and brick or stucco on the side facing the street. Ugh.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

92. Would that we could have the $500,000 that a brick home (entirely)

costs on land. Isn't going to happen. Vinyl is durable and can be attractive at times on certain styles with only (in this area) a minor value adjustment made between vinyl and brick (even though builders charge out the a$$ for it) It's the one thing you don't get back on a home, equal value wise. I'm not going to worry too much about it.

[mwooldri]

88. They both look nice but...

... the second one looks like something Clayton Homes might have done as one of their posher efforts. Don't want to knock it. The first one on 6 acres would be worth about the 200k price range around here - mainly for the land. The second one - depends on where it was.

4 acres? In NC you're looking around $150-$170 for a house like that. At least that's what I'd pay. You can pay $120-$150k and get a K Hovnanian(?spelling) block on a 1/2 acre if you really want. Mind you we're apartment people right now so even a K Hovnanian home owned outright would be nice.

/Mark.

[ScreamingMeemie]

91. This post takes me back. I lived in NC for awhile as a child. My parents

bought a brand new, 3000 s.f. home on 2 acres for $52,000. Crazy, eh? Of course, it was 1975.

[Shine]

89. Wow, they're both beautiful in their own ways.

Out here in CA those would be multi-million dollar properties, especially with the acreage you're talking about. Wow, it's incredible that you can get those for under $300K. Mind-blowing, truly. I guess it's all relative, eh?

Good luck and I'm sure you'll find the perfect place for your family! Have fun with it! When we were house-hunting, we made a very specific list of all the things we wanted, so we could be very intentional about what we wanted to pull into our lives. We got everything we wanted and we celebrate 10 yrs in our home this fall, in fact.

If you haven't done so already, I really recommend it as a useful tool to get clear. There's power in the written word!

[ScreamingMeemie]

90. As an appraiser, I am immersed in housing styles, types etc

every day. Luckily my husband's aunt is our agent. She's very good and allows me to be picky. We've been looking at houses for 3 years. I'm sure she's sick of us.

Shine! Great to see you!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

95. Those are really nice houses!

I really like the room with the pool table and the tub surrounded by windows.

[ScreamingMeemie]

97. Thanks haruka! That's the one we're really gunning for because

we like the house...and the property is perfect! A bunch of trees (about 2 acres) cover the entire front with a long drive. Privacy would be awesome!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

98. Most of my parents property is undeveloped woods, but the people that

built the house did it in reverse of how they should have. Instead of clearing the front third of the land and leaving the house with a few of the road (granted there's a few miles of woods on the other side), they should have left a few acres wooded on the front and set the house back. Then, the house would have been really private. There's one neighbor, but there is a good tree barrier, so we don't really see them.

[AirmensMom]

99. I like what's behind ...

Door number ONE!

No need to calm down ... just sell your house.

[ScreamingMeemie]

106. Thanks AirmensMom...

We're going to have to take a dive I think.