The only house we ever owned when I was a kid. (of course, it was government subsidized) I know you're all jealous of it's avocado green color. Guess which year in the early seventies it was built?I dream about houses a lot. These houses usually get bigger and more complicated as the dream progresses. The rooms lead into other rooms that have strange shapes and odd colors. Sometimes, I have a moment of clarity when I realize that I'm already renting an apartment and couldn't possibly live in the house I'm walking through. Every once in a while, I'm sad that I don't own the house I thought I owned at the beginning of my dream, but usually I'm relieved that I'm not responsible for a home that keeps morphing and becoming more complicated and unmanageable by the minute.
Lately, I've been talking to Mr. Dateman about the possibility of me buying a house. Like my dreams, the conversations can either make me hopeful or stressed out. On the one hand, I love the idea of not throwing money away to a landlord, but I know that it would be hard to afford the kind of house I want in an area where I could comfortably live. I'm spoiled by living so close that I can walk to work and the girls can walk to school. I remember when we first rented our place, Coadster said, "Mom, it's perfect. It's on your running route." I don't know if I should be happy or worried that my girls are so aware of my need for routine. I'm pretty sure that any house I could afford to buy, would mean that I'd have to create a new running route altogether. Of course, I also know that anything I choose to do might involve making a sacrifice for something else, and if that sacrifice would mean I'd actually have my own bedroom, I could probably figure out a way to make it work.
18 comments:
I have the same dilema. The kind of flat I could afford in an area of London I could afford to live in would be in no way as lovely as the place we rent. I've basically come to the conclusion that I don't see renting as throwing money away, I see it as paying for a better house than I could otherwise have with a lot of the truly terrifying stresses of seriously expensive maintenance removed. So many people I know who were so desperate to get on the property ladder now regret doing so because they're miserable in their houses; they live in an investment, not a home. That said, if I could find somewhere I liked and could afford you bet I'd jump at the oppoertunity to buy.
Churlita,
Having one's own bedroom is really a basic need in my book.
rel
it's sweet you girls are aware of your routine, they see you as stable
We always tend to dream about winning millions in the lottery and what we would do with it.. I want a nice little place out in the country with a little plot of land and safe for Mr.Giggles to play without worrying about all the traffic. Alas it is only a dream
I think after having spent so much time sleeping in the living room, you will probably have a hard time going to a room.
Maybe you can dream up a house sooo massive you can just run around it.
it would be hard to afford the kind of house I want in an area where I could comfortably live
Very strange. I've heard about ten variations on this from about - (!!) well, I guess that'd be TEN people in the last few weeks. It's a little hard to understand since I don't have the house-owning gene - the house we owned in England was the husband's plan.
But I wonder if you (and the other ten) can't find a house and then create the neighborhood or area into one that you could comfortably live?
I dream about getting a little house someday. There are some cute ones in the little college town nearby. Ones with front porches. Then you go down the street and there's a little lake with some picnic areas and a little collection of restaurants. Location, location, location.
I think you should try and buy a house. Go for it!
I'm going to guess 1973 on the year the house was built.
This post has inspired me for a post of my own. Such an idea thief! Thanks Churlita.
This photo reminds me more than anything of a similar snapshot of the house my brothers lived in, but I never lived in... in Iowa.
House dreams? I can remember haunted house dreams.
I have had similar dreams where the outside of the house is familiar but the inside is a never ending maze of rooms and different crowds of people I know. That is freaking weird you mentioned that.
I don't know if I should be happy or worried that my girls are so aware of my need for routine.
I'd say that's something to be happy about. You have considerate girls. Good girls.
I have to say that I do not regret my decision to buy. It's not a decision to be taken lightly by any means. It took me a while to figure out if really wanted a house, but in the end, it was the right decision...for me.
Mr Atrocity,
That is exactly my cunundrum.
Rel,
I hear you. I would love to be able to go somewhere and close a door sometimes.
Margaret,
I don't know if I'd go that far, but thank you.
Babybull,
A little place in the country would be so nice.
Killer,
I didn't even think about that. I'll start trying to dream that up right now.
Booda BAby,
It's more about being walking distance from everything but also far enough out that we don't live next to a bunch of college party houses, you know?
Tara,
Those house sound perfect. Could you pull it off?
Egan,
Damn, you were close. It was 1972.
LB,
I'm excited to read your post.
Dmarks,
Did you live in Arizona? We lived in Mesa in this house.
Evil-E,
Mine have weird crowds of people sometimes too.
Dana,
They are surprisingly considerate for teenagers. I got lucky so far.
AlienCG,
You're right. I definitely need to mull it over.
I know a single lady that went thirds in a house with her 2 girls when they started working...it worked out fine. bit soon for you though at the moment.
Best to buy as soon as you can...houses near unis always give a good rent a bedroom return...after/if the kids move it gives you the ability to pay it off quicker...
If you budget can only stretch to a unit rather than a house...well so be it....best to be in the market as quick as possible as after you get close to 50 you will find it harder to get your first loan! Its only the first home loan that is hard to get.....after that...if you want to sell and up grade...it a lot easier!!!
I wish that little place Jim and Sara D owned was still available. I loved that one.
You should buy a place, for sure, Churl. It's an investment in many ways. I would buy in a split second if I could afford it!
I know of a cute little place in Ottumwa that will be on the market soon.....
Les,
Thanks for all the advice.
Poptart,
My friend K. owns that house and it's where we have our garden. Small town, isn't it?
Bro-in-law,
If only we could move it up here and add a bedroom, I'd be all for it.
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