Like Jeannie over at House in Progress, I regularly stalk neighborhood houses that are up for sale. Not because I have any intention of buying them, but because the curiousity kills me. If I had more free time, I’d be at every open house I could con my way into.
There are two very unique historic homes up for sale in our neighborhood right now. One, a pink gingerbread Victorian, changed hands about a year ago and is up for sale for the second time in two years. Everyone is wondering what reason the current owners have for leaving. Irritating ghosts? New job? Can’t take the snow? No one knows.
The house is beautiful though, and I’d hate to see a non-house-lover end up with it. I doubt that’ll happen since it’s 4,000 sq. ft. and must require a ton of maintenance (not to mention gas to heat it – though it has 2 woodburning fireplaces). Look at this exterior – that porch, those eaves, and the walkout balcony – what’s not to love? I’ve seen photos of the interior, and it looked to be in great shape with lovely woodwork and plenty of space. It’s got a GREAT garage/carriage house that wraps around the back of the house and would be perfect for a work area or woodshop. One of it’s major downsides is that there is no lawn to speak of and it’s right on the main road. Still…… it’s a great house, and someone else has already restored it. Why is it sitting there looking so lonely??
Another house I’ve always thought was interesting is this one, also pink (was there a sale?) which sits right next to our town library:
It just went up for sale a few weeks ago. My guess is needs work (it’s priced very low), but it has loads of potential. It has a really nice porch, and the “tower” to the left catches my eye every time I walk by. The listing says it was built in 1869.
Houses are very affordable around here, since we’re quite rural. The first is a 6 bedroom, 3 bath, 4,000 sq. ft. and selling for $179,000. The second is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,000 sq. ft. and selling for $47,500. Want to be my neighbor?
Comments, Thoughts, and Feedback
Both are very, very nice. We had prices just like that here 5 or 6 years ago when I first moved here.
Although prices are sliding back a bit, they are still very high for our area. The big Victorian now would be twice that here, maybe more if it was cut up into apartments already. One good thing about the higher prices is that it is no longer economically feasible to pay a lot for a large, single-family Victorian home and then pay to cut it up in to apartments. Sadly, though, fewer people can afford homes here now.
Holy Cow.
I can’t believe how cheap housing is in your neighborhood. I never thought that first HUGE house would be under $200k when I clicked on the Realtor.com link. We can’t get LAND for under $200k around here, let alone anything with a HOUSE on it.
Are you sure we’re on the same coast?? ;)
I wish! Those are both adorable. They’d probably be priced similarly here, though we don’t have many elaborate Victorians like that top one.
For that kind of money? Heck yeah!!
Rural New York seems to be the place to be, real estate-wise. We were looking at an estate last night that was priced INSANELY cheaply by our standards, up near Cooperstown. Something like three hundred acres with a modern mansion, a colonial home, and the ruins of a CASTLE (seriously!) and all the attendant stuff and nonsense, for like 1.8 million or something. You can buy TOWNHOUSES for 1.8 million here!
I couldn’t stop laughing when I read this because I do the same thing… going to open houses and browsing them on real estate sites. My obsession turned into a website I built where peoople can post photos of their houses and renovations. Feel free to snoop through my house! http://www.centralroost.com/communityroost/homegallery/view_home.php?homeId=196
You can barely buy a condo for that in the city proper here in Chicago. Extremely cute houses. I really like where we live, but sometimes wish for a more quiet place- maybe when I retire… :)
Yes, Upstate is very affordable – and if you don’t mind long winters, it’s got real charm. Driving down the back roads around here you’ll see postcard-worthy landscapes at every turn, especially in the fall. Cooperstown, by the way, is a great little place – and you can visit the Baseball Hall of Fame!
Once again, I’ll join others in saying that it’s hard to believe you can get that much house for the money. It is scary how high home prices have gone in our area…
Wow, if I was looking to move that would be tempting. A house like that larger one in my area would be at least $750K. I will actually be passing by that area on my way to Niagara Falls on Sunday. Maybe it will be open. ;)
Ha! That big pinkish-purple house is the one that appears in the short story I sent you!
Becky – This is your chance, snap it up! :)
I made note of that house when I left the other day… it is a stunner (although I can’t help but think “Pepto-Bismol”).
FYI – Joe and I are moving back to Syracuse next weekend. No house yet, but a nifty apartment on the Northside.
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