Tell me the Truth...What do you think of this house? ***dialup warning

[ScreamingMeemie]

It is situated on 10 acres...7 (we'll see) of them wooded. It's on a walkout basement and is 2400 sq.ft. with a 300 sq. ft. bonus room (unfinished which is why it doesn't count) over the garage. New construction...foreclosed (from the builder).

It's a killer deal (for these parts). We'd have about 25% of the value in equity right off the bat if we bought it. It's not my idea of the best looking house, but it's not bad (IMO).

Kitchen ( a little pukey)



Family room...gas fireplace when I would have liked natural



silly little pond (that's the thing to do out here)



On the one hand, we want some land...On the other hand, we've got a great little 15 year mortgage that we're banging the heck away at (since we've decided to stay in this state for awhile), but it's a plat home, in a neighborhood of other plat homes...which is not our dream.

Anyway, How does this home strike you. I'm not looking for an answer, I'm just interested in perceptions. It's not what we would have normally "gone for". We typically look for older farm homes on acreage...but those come with a whole load of baggage. I digress....

[LSK]

1. looks like it would take forever to clean and a fortune to heat

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, I am single and a minimalist.

Like the flooring and acreage thou.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. That's basically what we like...we'd be coming from 1100 sq.ft.

and don't really need much...which is a consideration, but, the land! oh the land...

Thanks LSK. :hi:

[Rowdyboy]

49. Its a very nice home but like you, I prefer older, more individualistic

places. But if the price, size and location is right, it would be hard to turn down.

Good luck!

[TK421]

2. Looks nice enough, but does it sit on a slope? It looks that way in

the picture. Yeah, the kitchen is in need of remodeling

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Yes it does...with a walkout basement. It's a natural gently rolling

piece of property.

[Divameow77]

4. Walk outs are always nice

and side load garages are becoming more and more popular. I'm surprised that the exterior is not a little more "dressed up" with some brick or shakes or something.

If you want the land and you can get a good deal on it, the house can always be altered to your own style (well somewhat).

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. It's very hard for me...because I'm trying to keep my "real estate

appraiser" opinion to a minimum and think of the value in the land...etc... Thanks diva! :hi:

[Shell Beau]

6. I like it! It is a little new-ish, but it is still very nice!

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Thank you Shell Beau...I think I would ivy the front maybe or Cedar

Shake shingle above the front porch...which we would extend. Ah...Decisions...:hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I think it is lovely.

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. Thank you Midlo!

So you'd come visit me there? :hi:

[datasuspect]

8. wow if i lived there and had a shotgun

i'd have to either stick it in my mouth or develop a more serious tranquilizer and booze habit.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. How so?

:shrug: I don't get your opinion...Are you a city person? :hi:

[datasuspect]

23. yes

cookie cutter suburb/exurb/farm encroachment places scare the living shit out of me . . .

their homogeneity and sameness suck the soul out of life.

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. The surrounding area is not what you describe at all...it's Wayyyy

out. The house is not one that I dream of but the land, oh the land....

[kick-ass-bob]

9. Is there a back deck/porch?

For me, I like a lot of outside porches (but again, I am from the south) and the windows strike me as somewhat odd - for being front windows.

The size is good - not too big, not too small.

And yeah, update the kitchen.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Me too! We'd extend that front porch, because it looks stupid to me

the way it is...and the back has a patio..I don't like the windows either, but MrG is great with windows and "stuff like porches". The going joke in our family is that if MrG and I could find a garage (his) with a wraparound porch (mine) on a buttload of land (both of us) that would be paradise. :hi:


I know, those cupboards are gross, aren't they?

[SharonRB]

133. Yeah, the cupboards aren't the greatest, but the

appliances look good. You could always paint the cupboards or replace the doors to warm it up a bit.

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. Eh.

Not fond of the vinyl siding. Brick insulates better and looks better. And it looks like a bog-standard middle-class subdivision dwelling. Indistinguishable from a few thousand others I've seen. But...if you can use the space (which you probably can, with...what, three kids?) it may be too good a deal to pass up...and if it's on ten acres, then the fact that it's in a neighbourhood of other houses won't matter THAT much. You won't be able to see your neighbours for the woods, after all.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. On either side is state land...Nearest neighbors are about 2 miles in

either direction. We have a brick ranch right now, and I am fond of brick as well for insulation and value reasons. This is why I am hemming. Our middle class suburban dwellings tend to be more gaudy than this. :hi:

[Spider Jerusalem]

30. Heh.

Thwere are a lot of the more gaudy ones around here, too...but I live in the Atlanta metro area (largest-growing human settlement in history, supposedly, for the past ten years or so) and it's NOTHING but bland subdivisions full of vinyl-sided McMansions with brick or stucco false fronts and two-car garages for miles in any direction.

Something else to consider would be the proximity and quality of the local schools, too...would it be a good move from that perspective? Seems to me there's a bit more to consider than just the house itself...

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. here's what I do...Every once in a while I run listings in areas that we

have researched, and found desirable to us, looking for a killer steal/deal. this already fits all of the criteria as in tax base, schools, city services, future planning etc...so it's basically down to the house.

[Spider Jerusalem]

44. Well, then...

it sounds like maybe you should go for it. If the asking price is well below market value, then you might not come across something this good for a while. (Especially not in an area that meets all of your other criteria.)

[XNASA]

12. It looks stark and sterile.

I don't think I could like in a new house, one with no trees, etc.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. 7 of the 10 acres are treed and there's a privacy line of trees in the

front. I'm not real hep on newer builds either...unless they're "designed" which is way WAYYY out of our price range. Thanks! :hi:

[Wapsie B]

54. That was my first impression of the exterior.

Needs landscaping for a house that nice.

[lizziegrace]

14. I think the setting is beautiful

The porch has potential and landscaping can make it far less ordinary. Can the fireplace be re-done or was it built only to handle gas logs?

Part of me says go for it, the other says hold out for your dream. :shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. No, it's only good for gas logs.

:( That's exactly where I am at with it. The interior would be completely repainted with some color...and those cupboards replaced...but I still go back. Sigh...Thanks lizzie!

[Lavender Brown]

15. I like the big windows and the setting

The cosmetic stuff like the kitchen cabinets could always be changed sometime down the road.

[ScreamingMeemie]

63. True enough... Thank you Lavender!

:hi:

[ET Awful]

16. I kind of like it. I'd be inclined to change/remodel some things

over time, but it's not too shabby as is. I'd probably do some re-design of the windows and remodel the kitchen. But it would wait a while, I could enjoy it greatly as it is.

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. Those are the two things that I really can't stand. The bathrooms

are perfect and the flooring is really well laid...so....

:hi:

[auntAgonist]

18. I like it.

A larger front porch would be nice. I'd be concerned about the items I didn't like though (?).
Are the things you don't like, bad enough that they are going to decrease your enjoyment of the things you DO like about it?

The 7 acres wooded appeals to me too.

btw I like the kitchen.

aA

[ScreamingMeemie]

65. I wonder if the kitchen would eventually be okay with some paint.

I'm used to color, maybe that is what isn't sitting well with me. :hi:

[samplegirl]

166. I really like the kitchen cupboards

as I have darker cupboards. They are just lacking
some good looking hardware. I think you could make
the kitchen stunning.

[xmas74]

21. House itself is ok.

I prefer the older "fixer-uppers"-like the old time farmhouses.
But the land-I really like that. And you can do wonders w/ some paint and a great imagination.
If you have weighed all the options and still like it-go for it!

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. me too. I'm still weighing, but I am appreciating the feed back.

We're looking at it again tomorrow. :hi:

[xmas74]

76. Good!

Give it a few lookovers, take some pics of your things from home and hold them up inside the house,thinking of what will look good in each spot. It might help if you can envision all of your belongings in there and do they really seem to fit.
Sounds silly, but I like to think of my belongings as a part of me(a few things have special meaning and special memories w/ them). If I can picture my things fitting into a place then I can picture myself being comfortable there.

[LynzM]

24. A little too "McMansion" for my personal liking...

But most new homes seem to be, right now. Needs some color and some character! But the land, and that kind of deal, might outweigh that. If it's the size and location you're looking for, I think those other things can be worked around, if it were me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. You've nailed it. That's how I feel about it, but then I look at the house

and wonder if we should hold out. We would definitely paint those walls with some life. :hi:

[LynzM]

69. I think you could do a lot with it...

Landscaping around the front, some color and texture inside (rugs, wall hangings, texture, too, not just paint) would make a big difference. Could you invest some of the money you'd save (?) into hiring an interior designer to help you figure out what you'd want, then do the work yourselves?

[radwriter0555]

25. Stick with what you have. The price will fall once you've bought it, which

is never a good thing. You could end up upside down in this pending market.

And, to be brutal, there is nothing I hate more than a garage with a big house attached to it. Granted, that one is off to the side, but it's so... suburban. I far, far prefer the old farmhouses with baggage and character, and hate the plastic, plaster and poorly built replicas like the one in the picture.

The kitchen is very boring, but the other room looks nice. You'd have a massive landscaping and land restoration and reclamation bill, close to $20K to do it right.

Stick with what you have, trust me. The last thing to invest in right now is brand new real estate. You've got a good thing going, keep doing it!!!!!

[LSK]

31. i agree

One of the financial traps people fall into is upgrading their homes. Unless you are putting a lot down already.

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. The asking price is way under value. I know the market really

well in this area as a real estate appraiser. It's what I get paid to know...it's the personal side of it that has me hemming and hawing.

[ScreamingMeemie]

33. The reason we're thinking of it is it is Way ( I mean way) undervalue.

I know this area really well, and it's actually a better value than where we are now...because of the market. But thank you very much. We wouldn't do much landscaping because of the land around it...Only about an acre in grass (lawn) and "curb appeal" type stuff.

but, I appreciate your opinion. As a real estate appraiser, I'm not so much worried about the market and values (the value is there in the land)...it's the normal person me that has doubts. :)

[texas1928]

26. How Much?

and I want it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

43. It was foreclosed upon for $250,000 in an area of $500,000 homes...

and most of the price would be the land value... If I don't buy it, I'll send you the listing. ;)

[texas1928]

51. I would but my wife would NEVER move that far north.

I would not be able to talk her into it.

[SharonRB]

134. Would you be able to sell off some of the land if you want to

down the road? Just wondering -- if you could look at part of it as an investment in addition to the house.

[Blue Diadem]

27. I like it, land sounds great

Walk out basements are cool. Landscaping could add to attractiveness of the home front.

I'm more into older homes though. We have an old farmhouse and it's always something to fix but it's fun imo..unfortunately, we don't have the land to go with it..dwindled down to 1/2 acre here.

[ScreamingMeemie]

45. What you have, housewise, is what we initially looked for, or a

sprawling brick ranch on acreage. This was a bit out of our imagination, but I do like walkout basements as well...I love the character that comes with being lived in. Maybe in 30 years I would absolutely love this home...it's just scary at the end of the diving board. :hi:

[Blue Diadem]

55. I understand..

I've occasionally been househunting with my youngest soon to be married son..looking at farm houses, acreage, new homes. He and his fiance really like old houses too but don't have the time nor money for repairs. They keep waiting..hoping something old and nicer will come along.

For me it's just hard to compare old horsehair plaster to drywall..and 2x4's that really are 2x4 and hard as a rock to the new lumber. This house has foot thick beams in the oldest part..that was a surpise when hubby was installing new wiring.

Good luck with making a decision. It's not easy..

[bif]

28. Where is it located?

Looks like Northern Macomb county. The house isn't my cup of tea, but I like the 10 acres. Don't buy itt if you're not in love with it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. It's St. Clair County...East China Schools.

Yeah, I think I'm going to look at it again. :hi:

edit: but right on the border of macomb...good job bif!

[davsand]

32. How is that builder's reputation?

Other than that little issue with the foreclosure, I mean...

You and I both know that not all builders are equal. If the guy has an adequate reputation then go for it--it looks like it has a lot of space for a good price. (Knowing what you do for a living I KNOW you know the values in that area!) If the guy is a hack (like a couple of the ones in my area) then I would run far, far away and never look back.

When I talk about bad, I'm talking about guys that cut corners and built cheap shit while charging big bucks for it. I'm talking about guys who used subs that were criminally incompetent. (Shoot, one local heating and AC sub actually did an entire subdivision with no screws in any of the HVAC ductwork... THAT kind of bad.)

Just my two cents.




The Other Laura

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. Oddly enough, a friend of my husband knows this builder ( he built

his home). The house itself is rather well built. Extra insulation, 200 amp plus breaker electrical, higher end flooring. This house was a casualty of a nasty divorce situation. I have yet to really go over it, but I will.

thanks so much for your opinion. I was hoping you'd post. :hi:

[haydukelives]

35. Nice landscaping!

[ScreamingMeemie]

60. .

:rofl: From the upkeep side it is. ;) :hi:

[wovenpaint]

36. Hey, if you can get 10 acres of nice land

I agree with you that the house is quite "generic" but if you can get a good deal and have all that land (I also dream of more land...)
the house is certainly livable.

The kitchen cabinets themselves aren't that bad, it's the "blah" color scheme. I'd paint the walls around the cabinets a real color-pick your favorite and then accent from there. Same with the other rooms, blah beige....

I'd be more inclined to change those windows in the front-too contemporary. As a fellow admirer of older homes, I think you could get "the look" with this one. And THE LAND!!!

How are the taxes, though?
Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth, good luck with your decision!
:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. The taxes are pretty decent, and it's a great ( I mean Great) school

district. Right now in our home, we have deeper, warmer tones...and I really think that would spice things up in this home. (the new one)...I'm just a second and third guesser.

Thanks! :hi:

[Beware the Beast Man]

42. It beautiful!

You're right about the kitchen, though. The cabinets need work. A little bit of landscaping, and you have yourself a pretty nice place. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

61. I just can't picture myself being in that kitchen. So it would have to

go...some color on the walls...that sort of thing. Thanks! :hi:

[rbnyc]

46. Needs landscaping, but 10 acres!

I'd take it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

62. Thanks for your opinion...that's really what we are real excited about.

:hi:

[BigMcLargehuge]

48. Another quality home from Bluth Development

:P

[ScreamingMeemie]

68. .

double :P :P

[mopinko]

50. i would mostly worry about a builder in trouble.

it's not my taste, but i bought my old house for the yard. so, i can see buying it for the land.
but i would go over that sucker with a fine tooth comb. a builder in trouble would be likely to cut corners. all new homes have glitches, and out of foreclosure, they would be on you, instead of the builder. you may end up coughing up that extra money in the end.

[ScreamingMeemie]

70. I got the skinny from my husband-his coworker knows the builder-.

Bad divorce. House became a casualty. It's got a lot of higher quality features-200 amp service, extra insulation, thicker flooring wood...

I'm not so much worried about that. I'm an appraiser and know what I'm looking for...it's making that plunge when we have a nice home payment here on a home that sometimes drives us nuts. There's ups and downs to staying...and to leaving. Thanks mo! :hi:

[Rambis]

81. Does it smell funny?

If it has a faint ammonia or cat pee smell watch out. There are a lot of houses on the market that have used to cook meth. One next to my sister's acreage 1.5 Mil$ was so bad they had to dig a hole and bull doze it. The chemicals used left a smell in (carpet,windows,flooring, drywall) everything but the granite counter tops.

[Lars39]

52. That's a lot of house to heat.

Just my 2 cents, but I'd sit tight, especially in this economy.
One question to ask, could you handle the mortgage if only one of you was employed?
You won't have the kids living with you too much longer, either. (:cry:)

A house that big has unintended consequences, too.
We moved from a small house to a much larger one a few years back. Our teens liked the elbow room, but missed being physically close to us, 'cause the house was big enough that you had to hunt somebody down to even see them.

We're now in a tiny house(1000sq feet upstairs, with an unfinished basement for storage),
and we're all much happier.
Kinda like puppies in a pile. :D

Our goal is to get acreage and build a passive solar house the size we'll need for retirement. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

71. The very cool thing is that it is zoned heating. We'd only be purchasing

it on one of our incomes, and my job (real estate appraiser) pays me as much or as little as I want it to. We're in the 1100 sq.ft. on a finished basement...but I'm just tired of row after row of them. We want to breathe a little. :hi:

Thanks so much for your input.


The other thing is that his mother is on very sketchy terms financially, and we figured that bonus room could be finished into a MIL suite if need be.

[NV Whino]

53. Two ways to think about this

1. The land
2. A stepping stone to what you really want.

If the land really turns you on, and it would me, you can always alter the house to suit your desires at a later time.

Knowing the house/land values as you do, ask yourself if you could put minimum effort/money into the house and sell it in a couple of years to step up to what you really want.


And then there is my own mantra: when in doubt, don't.

[ScreamingMeemie]

73. Number 1 is our thing.

When the market gets driving again we'd make a pretty good bundle on it, but the land is what is moving us. Thanks so much for your input. :hi:

[sarahinmexico]

56. At the very least

it appears to be a good investment opportunity. I would take it and run.

Aside from that it looks beautiful. I particularly like the kitchen floor.

[Xithras]

57. What a godawful ugly kitchen

It just screams "I wanted a nice kitchen but had no fricking clue what I was doing". High end crate cabinets without hardware? Cheap formica on the countertop? And who in their right mind puts STAINLESS in a country style kitchen? Bleugh!

The "wood" floor in the living room is also shabbily done, and it appears to be made of cheap laminate. If you look at the edges of the boards, you can see where they're not level and have high ridges. These ridges will wear down in a few years and start looking like crap, forcing you to either carpet the room or replace the floor (its a common "flipper" trick nowadays).

The whole house has the feel of something that was built in a hurry, and those types of houses generally tend to be problematic. If you can get it way under market, it may be worthwhile to do so just to flip it and make some money (like, to pay off the mortgage on your first house). I wouldn't want to live there though.

OTOH, if the land and area are nice, houses can be replaced. I paid more for my home than this one will cost you, and you could fit 30 of my lots on the 7 acres you'll get there. If you're willing to invest the time and money into fixing the place up, it could be worthwhile for that reason alone.

My personal opinion, though, is that you shouldn't buy yourself a new house just because it's a "deal". If you can flip it and make a profit, that's one thing. But if your current house meets your needs and you're making substantial headway towards paying it off, why sabotage your progress by starting over at this stage of the game? Unless your current house isn't meeting your needs and needs to be replaced anyway, what is the point of upgrading?

[ScreamingMeemie]

66. I know it appears that way in the picture, but the counters are actually

granite. All of the finish work was rather high end, just not to my "immediate" liking. The floors in the living room are pine 1". It's actuall a well built home, by a decent builder who fell into trouble due to a nasty divorce situation. The appliances would go in time, I like them except for the little fingers that would warrant constant cleaning. ;)

[Xithras]

88. Wow, it actually does look like formica.

Edge of the counter clearly looks like a formica edge, with the dark seam showing. If it's granite, you must have some funny lighting in there :)

As for the living room floor, it needs to be refinished if it's real wood. Those high edges will wear quickly and will look very bad when they do.

But I do stand by my statement that it's very style-free. We apparently have differing opinions of what high-end is, because to be perfectly honest, I can find that kind of craftsmanship in any cookie cutter subdivision I visit today. High end would have been an accenting tile on the kitchen floor or a tile border trim instead of straight cut edges. The tiles themselves look nice, but it's the kind of job any joe homeowner could do in an afternoon with a tilecutter. The bland cabinetry around the island is particularly uninspiring, and the whole kitchen strikes me as poorly laid out. Oh, and there is NO cabinetry there. I consider my kitchen to be rather small, and it has 25 linear feet of cabinetry and counters. That kitchen has maybe 10? It's certainly not a kitchen for people like me who actually like to COOK :)

I dunno, maybe it just puts me off because it's so white and sterile. My home is very colorful and is decorated and coordinated right down to the freize on the baseboards, so when I see bland white walls and mismatched styles in the kitchen, my first reaction is to start tallying everything wrong with it.

It has possibilities, and with some effort, a bunch of money, and about 20 gallons of paint, could probably become a very nice home. That yard is going to set you back a huge chunk of change too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

94. I've seen it with my own eyes and it's granite...with no seem, just a

weird angle to the photo I guess...look at the counter beyond it and where it bevels around the corners apposite.

When I say high end it has nothing to do with personal taste...it has to do with zoned heating and cooling, extra ampage on the electrical, structural build, not the things that you go and buy at home depot.

There is another bank of countertops and a walk in pantry on the opposite wall.

It's not a yard so much as property. The entirety of the acreage, not even the 3 untreed would be sodded. If we do buy it...seedlings from the state are free...again, not the things that really affect us. :shrug:

The edges are not high on the wood floor. I take a lot of photos of homes while appraising, unless one is teasing a home for better homes and gardens these are the shots you get.

None of what you have mentioned is of concern because it doesn't affect value. It's the value. Paint is paint and cabinets are cabinets...it's taking that plunge like I mentioned above.

I do value your opinion but we appear to be on a different wave length. The zoned heating and cooling system in itself, off the top of my head is worth @20,000.

[kwassa]

58. We have the same refrigerator as in that kitchen ..

so you MUST by the house that is around it. It is a good fridge.

This is a terrific deal, you know that as an appraiser, just have it well-inspected before purchasing. This could be long-term, or a stepping home to an even nicer house.

It is pretty representative of current housing construction. There seems to be extra value in buying new homes, too, over older construction that might be quite good.

The only problem is selling your old house. Right now, around here, the market has ground to a halt, and there are several attractive properties around us that are just not moving at all. We are tempted to buy, but are afraid of selling our old house, and having it sit forever on the market.

[ScreamingMeemie]

75. The market here is not the worst. We're near water (very near) and

home values tend to be a bit more stable with a pretty good market (list to sell ratio is really 5% with a reasonable asking price) and a typical marketing time of 30-90 days. We'd offer contingent upon the sale...

So, It just comes down to plunging off the board I guess. ;) :hi:

[yellowcanine]

72. I would be concerned about the workmanship. The design is a little

uninspiring and it looks as if no landscaping at all was done (a reflection on the builder's lack of pride of workmanship, imo). Are you sure about the foreclosure part? It has the appearance of a cheapo builder spec house. At the least, I would hire a top notch house inspector even if it costs you $500 so you know where corners may have been cut. Things to check....

Electrical system - is it adequate for the size of the house?
HVAC systems - ditto.
Appliances - cheapo or top of the line?
Well and septic system
Building materials - cheapo or top of the line?
Workmanship - slipshod or professional?
Energy efficiency - windows, insulation, structural, etc.
Storm water management and drainage around house.

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. I'm a real estate appraiser so I'm pretty up to speed. There is no

landscaping because it is a brand new construction and it is not typical in this marketing area, on this amount of land to landscape. The house itself is quite well built, just not to my liking (some things I really love). It's superadequate in the way of having zoned heating and cooling, 200 amp plus breaker throughout. I'm not worried so much about any of that. A friend of my husband knows the builder, plus public records can be accessed which spells out the foreclosure issue and what the terms of the deed transfer were. All of these things are checked out before I even consider. It's the move itself. Thanks for your input.

[Rabrrrrrr]

74. To have 10 acres with county land next door and no neighboors for 2 miles

and get it all for half of what it's worth with 2400 square feet +300 more and the possibility of a garganutan deck and all that privacy in a good school district?!?!?!?!

I'd put up with that shitty kitchen and the cookie cutter fugliness and take that SOB right-fucking-now. The kitchen can always be remodeled (and, god, it would have to be), and with some landscaping and extra work, some of the ugly could be lessened in a nice way. And even with the cost of the kitchen redo and the landscaping, you're still coming out ahead.

And it looks like the people who owned it at least iddn't feel the need to fucking carpet every goddamn square inch and actually put in nice floors.

[ScreamingMeemie]

82. And you are another that I am greatful for the opinion of. yes,

The kitchen would be repainted...and I guess I could live with the color of the countertops (they're granite) but not the cupboards...no way.

The floors are extremely nice. I cannot stand carpeting...it's so damned dirty.

As always, thanks for your input.

[Rabrrrrrr]

91. Yeah, don't give up the granite! I love the stone -

but it needs much more counter space.

And those godfuckingugly faux-country "oh, they're just precious! Hee hee hee!" cabinets I would rip out before moving in; I'll go without the storage, or else not allow anyone in the house, before letting someone see my own a house with those abominations. Someone posted another thread "What gives you the willies?" - well, for me, it's those cabinets and anything in that "I buy from Home Interiors and I love Precious Moments and poetry from Reader's Digest" style.

Meaning no offense if you like that cabinet design.

[ScreamingMeemie]

95. If you look above...I absolutely HATE the cabinets. There is another

12 foot counter that runs the length of the opposite wall with a walk in 8x10 pantry...the space is there it's just god awful ugly to my utilitarian type taste.

[uppityperson]

90. That's what I think also.

It is obviously new construction, unfinished, but you can finish it how you want. Beware all the roof lines all the places for roof leakage. Beware dropping dishes on the hard kitchen floor. Paint it, fix the porches. Other than that I'd make sure it is warm and go for it. Lack of carpets is great. Dump that big ugly maroon SUV. Actually, you may want to keep it as it will come in handy, but also get a small car for more regular driving. Junk up the kitchen with plants on the cabinets, toaster and coffee pot on the counter, paint the walls or the cabinets to warm it up. Acreage and decent school district is great. It works and seems like a decent price. No ivy though. Please, no ivy. Ducks for the pond to help spread bird flu. Nice place for animals and birds.

[Rabrrrrrr]

92. And none of that goddamn plastic ivy, either

Jesus I hate that shit. Idiots draping all over the tops of their cupboards, looking like shit when it goes up new and just getting worse as it collects dust and oil and grease and ... ugh.

[ScreamingMeemie]

97. I don't like plastic plants...

...I'm no good at upkeep. I buy live, they die...I buy more live. ;)

[uppityperson]

98. Just throw it into the dishwasher, or clotheswasher

Maybe that would clean it? Top of the cupboards is a good place for cat beds, teaching them to climb on the counters to jump up there and shed all over the food and hark up on top where they can dry and not be found until spring cleaning. Speaking from experience.

[ScreamingMeemie]

96. That's not my car. ;) These are pics from the listing.

:hi: We have a Pacifica (lease) and a paid for truck...and my husband's project cars. ;)

[RockaFowler]

78. I love the Wood Floors

This is a great house. Gotta love all that land. It's hard to find a piece of land like that today.
By the way I like the kitchen. I would update the formica to Granite or Stone, but that's just me.
Gotta love those Michigan winters. Good luck to you!:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

83. Me too on the floors. The countertops are actually granite. Rather

high end granite, even with the ugly colors. Thanks so much for your input. :hi:

[cmd]

79. From the point of view of a senior citizen

In time you will appreciate the gas fireplace. In time, you may regret the stairs. I love idea of a walkout basement. The pond is a dream of mine. Is that a two story entryway? Heat rises. Just some thoughts from an old lady with arthritic knees. Let us know what you decide.

[ScreamingMeemie]

84. Believe it or not, the stairs are a big consideration, given the fact that

I've got rheumatoid arthritis. The entry way is two story and the entire home has zoned heating and cooling. You are right on the gas fireplace, it's just I'm so used to the look of natural. I'd definitely put a mantle up though. :hi:

[kmla]

80. Seems to be a very nice casa...

The only concern I would have is if the builder decided to use vinyl siding instead of a cement composite or engineered, high quality wood siding. It seems that a house of this quality level (better than entry level/tract construction, but not quite custom level) would not have vinyl siding.

And unless your existing 1,100 square foot house is VERY well insulated and has a high efficiency furnace, I would be surprised if the heating bill is much different than what you are used to at this point. The kmla's went from an 1,800 house built in 1901 to a newly constructed, 3,000 s.f. house a couple of years ago, and our heating and A/C bills were actually lower.

9' ceilings, 3 car garage - what's not to like?

And it will look very nice once it is landscaped.

I'd snag it in a heartbeat if'n it was located close to me. But that's just me...;-)

[ScreamingMeemie]

85. Thank you very much for your opinion kmla. It is rather well built and

over insulated. We are not big fans of siding either, and would actually prefer brick...but you don't see too much of that in newer homes out here...except for the prefab fake crap that I hate on the true mcmansions. Again, I appreciate your thoughts. :hi:

[Debbi801]

86. The outside is a bit too cookie cutter-ish for my tastes...

But, I like the hardwood floors & tile in kitchen. Personally, I thought the kitchen was beautiful. :-) The thing that would sell it to me would be the 10 acres of land, especially if a good part is wooded. You can always tear the house down and start over once you have the equity.

[ScreamingMeemie]

99. Yeah...it's the land that does it for us, and the fact that it was

constructed well. :hi:

[Beausoir]

87. I think it looks lovely, but that pond worries me.

I love the appearance of privacy. I live on 7 acres in the middle of the forest. Nobody even knows we are here. I really like that.

But that pond! Do you have children? That would really worry me.

With some landscaping and some warm paint colors...this could be a lovely home!

[ScreamingMeemie]

89. We have a 7 year old and a 15 year old. The pond would probably

be filled in because it's not our thing.

thank you so much Beausoir. :hi:

[mopinko]

115. yeah, fill that pond. who needs the skeeters.

course, i had west nile 3 years ago, and am still not exactly healthy. so i am prejudiced.
it does look a lot like my suburban sister's house. i don't like her very much. the house is only a symptom.
but it is pretty hard to walk away from a deal like that.

[ScreamingMeemie]

119. Unlike your sister though...I am pretty cool...see? So the house would

be better then....yeah...that's it. ;) :hi:

[mopinko]

148. without a doubt

hey, you should come on over for the chicago gathering next friday.

[Initech]

93. Weird, I have relatives that live in a house almost EXACTLY like that.

I mean really, even the kitchen island looks like theirs.

[ScreamingMeemie]

100. Wow...The kitchen drives me a little batty...but it's a relatively

easy thing to fix. I would just say goodbye to the cupboards. :hi:

[uppityperson]

101. Keep the cupboards, just put new doors on them

paint or stain them differently also. Unless you'd rather keep them exactly as they are, in which case Mr.Grumpy could wear a powdered wig and you could have signing of the constitution parties.

Edited to add: and change the single handled faucet to 2 handled one. I like the hanging light fixtures.

[ScreamingMeemie]

102. .

:rofl: And great fun was had by all. :hi:

[SKKY]

103. You seem to be focusing on the things you don't like about it...

...which leads me to believe you're really not that jazzed about it. I would have a tough time forking over that kind of money for a house I'm not 100% "Jazzed" about.

[ScreamingMeemie]

110. I'm a worry wart and a person who always tries to talk myself

out of things...My husband's aunt just asked me (she's our agent), "how would you feel if you found out the house was pending?"...which is a very good question.


Thanks for your input...and yes, I don't like the forking over money idea for something less than perfect, but then I overanalyze and think is anything perfect? Sigh...

:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

104. It suffers from a common malady of newer homes: no character.

There's nothing wrong with it. In fact it's a fairly nice looking house. It just doesn't strike anything in me. Just...eh...

My current house has no character either, but it's a starter home. I can't afford houses with character. :(

[ScreamingMeemie]

105. Us either....really. Our current home is a 1950's brick plat home...right

next to others that look exactly like it...It's one redeeming quality is its coved ceilings. Sigh....

Hard to say.

[Missy Vixen]

106. Buy it

I like the kitchen, and the acreage is something one can't pass up. We have a gas fireplace, and we love it.

Of course, IMHO.
Julie

[ScreamingMeemie]

120. Thank you Julie!

Sometimes I think I should just follow orders, as directed, from people like you. :hi:

[Schema Thing]

107. 25% ??? Looks like free money just for signing some papers

That doesn't come along every day.

[ScreamingMeemie]

121. I know...I know....that's why I am dithering so much....

Thanks AT. :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

108. Seems to me that you should buy it......but don't fall in love with it!

Buy it based on intellectual, hard-thought-out reasons....NOT because you fell in love with it!

Cosmetic things can and should be changed. What you need to look at, and you already have, are the structural questions: how well built it is, the zone heating, the square footage, the acreage, the location, and all that.....

Sounds like a very good investment to me. I'd buy it....FWIW.....

Good luck!



:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

122. Thank you Peggy...It's worth very much to me to have your

opinion. :hi:

[Burma Jones]

109. You can always change your house

You can't change your lot (except for the obvious things)

So, if you like the lot, buy it.

The House itself looks OK. There's plenty of opportunity to do stuff later. there doesn't seem to be any weird stuff in or on it, so upkeep and repairs will be cheaper since the house seems to be pretty standardized....

25% equity will put you ahead of a lot of homeowners that go in debt to the teeth. You're smart.......

[ScreamingMeemie]

123. Very true...Yeah, the worst thing to upkeep would be the walls and

chandelier thingy (which I'd probably get rid of in time) in the entryway (cleaning and painting).

Thank you for your opinion new_beawr. You are all making this a lot easier than i was.

[Shakespeare]

111. Are those kitchen floors tile or scored concrete?

The scored concrete thing is HUGH!1! here in California lately (as is the under-floor heating systems most of them are paired with). I love the way they look, but shudder every time I think about accidentally dropping something on them...

[ScreamingMeemie]

125. It's tile. The concrete is getting to be a big thing here too. In this

case, I think the tiles would be more likely to break if I dropped something on them. :hi:

[lizziegrace]

112. What does Mr Grumpy think? n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

149. MrGrumpy feels it might all be a bit too much stress for me right

now, given certain health things...but, he really loves the land...and I am superwoman. ;) :hi:

[Cats Against Frist]

113. Truthfully?

I believe that all new construction that has siding that is a shade of brown, signals the death of all that is good and healthy.

[ScreamingMeemie]

150. Thank you for telling the truth.

:hi:

[undergroundrailroad]

114. Girlfriend, that house is SLAMMING! Oh, and put a case of Vernors in that

beautiful fridge!

I LOVE IT!

:hi: :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

151. For you...it'd be there! Anytime. Dear friend, I miss you...and I'm

too frightened to hunt you down in that other forum. :hug: To DU's finest mod ever. :toast:

[Dave Reynolds]

116. Can I put up a tree stand?

:hide:

[ScreamingMeemie]

152. Yes...yes you may. MrG is a hunter and he'd gladly join you.

:toast:

[gollygee]

117. The first thing I thought is, "That looks like Michigan!"

And I was right :D Not my part of Michigan though . . . :D

We have a small house with only about 10 years left on the mortgage and, while I'd love a bigger house with acreage, I personally wouldn't be willing to pay the extra to heat it and end up having a mortgage longer to get it.

Good luck whichever way you decide!

[ScreamingMeemie]

153. You have just what we have. five years ago we took out a 15 year

mortgage on our present home...and have been doing quite well...so, wel'll see. Thanks so much gollygee! :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

118. Too neo, not enough retro

If you're gonna go retro, honor the era. I had a house about eight years ago that was built circa 1930, with no aesthetic upgrades except windows, and that's not purely aesthetic. God, I loved that house. :cry:

That kitchen's way too small, too. I like the airiness around the family room, though. People knew how to use windows then.

Okay, will someone explain to this Kollyforniyan what a "walk-out basement" is? :shrug:

[Zookeeper]

144. A walk-out basement...

is usually part of a house that is built into a "hill." Basements are below ground level, but a foundation built into a hill leaves one side exposed, which means you walk-out directly onto the land at the bottom of the hill instead of having to climb a flight of stairs to go outside.

I hope that makes sense....

[ScreamingMeemie]

154. The kitchen is actually twice that size...It's about 22 feet across and

stretches quite a distance. Hmmmm...And a walk out basement is a basement, usually below level in the front,and exposed in the back with an entry at ground level. :hi:

[LibDemAlways]

124. That kitchen looks to be about the

size of mine - which is small. OK if you don't like to cook or entertain. But a pain if you do. That's my two cents.

[ScreamingMeemie]

155. The kitchen is really pretty big. It's about twice the size as in the

picture with a counter and cupboards stretching the length of the other half and an eating nook...with a walk in pantry. I'm actually quite happy with the size (about twice the size of current kit.) it's just the cupboards....Ick! :hi: Thanks so much LibDem.

[LibDemAlways]

170. Must have been the angle the photo was taken at.

My cupboards are 26-year-old cheapies that have been repainted numerous times, so the ones in the picture actually look good to me. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I'd love to get new cupboards, but by the time I got through paying for them, filling them would be out of the question.

Also, the idea of actually getting some land with a house is a novelty here in Southern California where most new homes barely have a patio and some are on "zero" lot lines which basically means you can hear every sound your neighbor makes.

If it's land you're after, consider that you can make just about any cosmetic change to the house, and go for it!

[baby_mouse]

126. Looks pleasant enough to me

A home is what you make it, of course.

[ScreamingMeemie]

156. Thank you for bringing it down to what really matters.

:hi:

[tigereye]

127. I'm not a fan of new houses

I love old cranky ones.... but the land, floors and amount of space look really cool.

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

157. I am not usually either...but this one kind of has us interested...the

land helps. :hi:

[tigereye]

169. plus ponds are good for skating! or fishing, or what have you!

(grew up in a small town)

I'm excited for you, Mrs. G!

[bleedingheart]

128. It is kind of plain on the outside and I think the Kitchen is Blah..

but those things can be fixed.

Personally I would start by putting mullions (spelling?) in the windows and then I would plant trees and trees and more trees and shrubs...I recommend bayberry not barberry...but bayberrys...and then I would plant more trees....hahaha the lot seems too barren and if you plant enough trees you will perhaps have more privacy and less grass to mow eventually..

My hubby and I have been considering "upsizing" from our 1200sq foot ranch for a long time...but we just don't know if we want to do it...seems like so much work and we are attached to our humble little abode...but we have two kids and they keep growing and they are growing us out of the house at times....

[ScreamingMeemie]

158. MrG and I go through the same thing...and our kids are growing...

well, one will be off to college in a few years. There is actually 7 acres of trees, just not around the immediate house area. Thanks so much for your input. :hi:

[GardeningGal]

129. Ten acres!!!!

Who cares how the house looks if it's livable. Oh what I would give to have 10 acres.........

By the way, the house looks fine to me. Certainly nothing that can't be dealt with if you don't like certain features.

[ScreamingMeemie]

159. Thank you GG...! That's what we've been weighing...cost to cure

that which we don't like versus the land we've been dying for. :hi:

[Ramsey]

130. The house looks very nice...

But the land is totally bare. It could use some grass, trees, landscaping! I suppose that could be your project.

[GalleryGod]

132. What She Said.

:rofl:

[ScreamingMeemie]

141. It's 10 acres...7 acres treed....Not barren at all...just the section

we're looking at. :hi:

[SharonRB]

131. Hey, Mrs. Grumpy

You're thinking of moving? Where's the house?

I think it looks like it has potential -- once some landscaping goes in and you paint and furnish it, it could be a very nice house and the land would be great.

Are you going to the town hall in Livonia tomorrow? Check out the Michigan forum -- Mich Otter and Pam-Moby are planning to go. Not sure about anyone else.

[ScreamingMeemie]

160. Every once in a while we cycle through this. In my job, I'm constantly

looking at listings...We're going to check out this house again tomorrow, but maybe we'll be able to make it. Thanks for the reminder!!! :hi: Hey lets have lunch or something really soon!

[SharonRB]

173. I'd love to

Give me a call and we can set something up. Hope you're feeling well these days -- I haven't seen you around much, but then I haven't been in the Lounge much.

Good luck with making your decision on the house.

[gardenista]

135. Good landscaping will do a lot for that house.

and the kitchen isn't that bad. Maybe you could reface the cabinets?

Also, though it lacks the romance of a wood fireplace, a gas fireplace is SO much easier to maintain, and you can just pop the fireplace on and off without a lot of forethought.

As you probably know, in some regions of the country, a well-designed, well-installed landscape can raise the value of the property by up to 20%. I hope that if you buy it, you invest in a good landscape, even if you have to do it in phases.

I see a gorgeous curved path coming off the driveway, with that entire section between the driveway and path planted with some kind of stunning small garden tree (you might even be able to fit more than one), some woody shrubs that flower and have good color in fall or winter, and then some easy-care perennials in the front of the bed, with another planting bed on the other side to soften the foundation of the house.

Wow, I hope you get it, I think it could be a great place to live!

[ScreamingMeemie]

161. Thank you mgdecombe for your opinion. I will keep you posted

as to what happens tomorrow. You all have no idea how much of a help you have been. I thought this thread would get five posts...max. I love DUers. :hi:

[Zookeeper]

136. 'Sounds like it would be a good investment.

Even if you decided later that it wasn't what you wanted, I seriously doubt that you would end up losing money by selling. I have some step-relatives in that immediate area and have the impression that it's growing pretty quickly.

From an asthetic point of view, I would plant a lot of trees if the soil allows it. Do you have any idea of what you would do with the ten acres?

BTW, a house can always be changed. The location can't. I would view the house as a blank slate. You can add features like moldings, new cabinet doors or different windows to give it more character.

Good luck! (It's really pretty exciting! :bounce: )

[ScreamingMeemie]

142. 7 acres of it is already trees....We would cover up a good amount

of the remaining three with more trees and maybe an acre of sod.

Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. :hi:

[Zookeeper]

145. You're welcome! Please keep us updated. n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

162. Thank you Zookeeper. It's a pretty stable area and a good bargain.

I'm a lifetime procrastinator though. :hi:

[crispini]

137. What on earth is a walkout basement?

Looks nice to me, but it's a tough tradeoff. If a house doesn't zing me I think it's hard to get excited about buying it, ya know? I mean, land vs. house. If it's a good value, you could always put the funky charm back in with decor and landscaping.

[Zookeeper]

146. I just answered that for Oedipus Rex...

post #144. I guess I can see where the term "walkout basement" could be a bit confusing to those of you who live in those basement-free, balmy climates...:hi:

[supernova]

138. The land is nice, and it's a good consideration

The house, as you say is cookie cutter, but it's got potential. It's open and you can always remodel. Paint works wonders. Yech! Who picked out those kitchy cabinets?. :P :D I'd look at how much you'd have to spend on remodeling to suit you, or if you'd be satisfed doing it in stages over time.

But thats a nice piece of land. If you like the area, I say go for it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

163. I don't think I'd like to know the person who picked them out...

;) Maybe they were a good bargain. We would do bits and pieces here and there with painting first. I need color in my life. :hi:

Thank you supernova!

[ContraBass Black]

139. The face looks a little bare.

Maybe some shutters would help.

[ScreamingMeemie]

164. I think we would also replace the windows with the old standbye

double hung. :hi:

[PassingFair]

140. There are sex offenders next door....

and it's TOO FAR FROM YOUR FRIENDS!

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

143. That would be my luck....but we'd have buttload of room for weekend

sleepovers...:hi: :hug: Actually that's a huge consideration...it's practically break my heart. :cry:

[Strawman]

147. $250K for a 2400 sq. ft. home on 10 acres? That's a steal

Buy it and when that area eventually builds up (the Det. suburbs keep going further out every year), sell it and all that land and buy your dream house.

[ScreamingMeemie]

165. Thats what we also have in mind...we'd like to retire someday 30

years hence...far away from everything. :hi:

[XemaSab]

167. I prefer older houses

but the land and the pond look great!!!

And BTW, pay someone to come inspect it before you buy....

[ScreamingMeemie]

175. Me too, but this one, on second look, is kind of stunning in the interior

All of the fixtures ( I checked them all today) are top of the line, dovetailed drawers, granite, ceramic...a Bosch dishwasher...I think we're coming around. The other thing that I didn't notice before is that the entire house is wired to be a smart house...if we wanted. :hi: Thanks XemaSab.

[KitchenWitch]

168. I like older homes

But the idea of 10 acres is really nice, and 2400 square feet would be nice.

[ScreamingMeemie]

176. Me too. We looked at this one again today...closer.

And I think we've decided to bid. :hi: Thanks KW.

[barb162]

171. great acreage, nice size, nice kitchen cabinet color, etc

grab it and have fun in it and enjoy all that land!

[ScreamingMeemie]

177. Thanks barb...I think, after seeing it again today, that we'll make

an offer. :hi:

[sasquatch]

172. Woo! That pond can be a hockey rink/fishing pond

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

174. MrG said that today when we went to look at it again!

:hi:

[bridgit]

178. not really architecturally bold, not much of an 'approach', i always...

wonder why when building a custom house people don't plan for a nice porch, pretty box'y...the 10 acre thing seems a plus; any land-use stipulations? island sinks are nice :thumbsup: