House listing - diamond in the rough or run away?

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 16:41:34 GMT -5 midwest07 said:

Dec 10, 2012 16:26:51 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Look inside though! It's so roomy! And we'd burn calories!

Have you actually seen it in person? It looks like many of the real estate listings I see now where they use whatever special misleading camera lens/angle to make it look much larger than it is.

It looks like they may be doing that. A lot of walls off to the side on these pictures look slanty.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 16:41:34 GMT -5 midwest07 said:

Dec 10, 2012 16:26:51 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Look inside though! It's so roomy! And we'd burn calories!

Have you actually seen it in person? It looks like many of the real estate listings I see now where they use whatever special misleading camera lens/angle to make it look much larger than it is.

If you're set on being in the city, I would rather have something older/cuter that required a little work. I think you said you don't want that though, so maybe this is the house for you. If that's the case, I bet you could get a much better deal on it than what it's listed for since it wouldn't be as in demand as evidenced by this post.

No. I live 2.5 hours away. But I need to know there's something out there we both cna live with before I commit to quitting my job and moving to Boston. My mood on this issue ebbs and flows with real estate listings I find. Painting our apartment drove me BSC and I swore to never paint again after that. I'm not a renovation kind of person.

[mswax]

Dec 10, 2012 16:40:28 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Dec 10, 2012 16:39:06 GMT -5 mswax said:

Remind me again where work will be? Do you really need to be that close to the city?

Kendwood Square in Cambridge. I don't need to be anywhere but DH wants to be close. If I ever find a job I imagine it will be downtown Boston though.

Do you mean Kendall or Kenmore Square? I've never heard of Kendwood.

In any event, I'd look in Arlington. It's on the red line that goes straight into Cambridge, has good schools, a nice downtown, and a great bike path. I think you could find something decent in the $350-$400k range, but admittedly I'm not super familiar with the town's prices.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 16:45:07 GMT -5 mswax said:

Dec 10, 2012 16:40:28 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Kendwood Square in Cambridge. I don't need to be anywhere but DH wants to be close. If I ever find a job I imagine it will be downtown Boston though.

Do you mean Kendall or Kenmore Square? I've never heard of Kendwood.

In any event, I'd look in Arlington. It's on the red line that goes straight into Cambridge, has good schools, a nice downtown, and a great bike path. I think you could find something decent in the $350-$400k range, but admittedly I'm not super familiar with the town's prices.

Oh Kendall I think, oops.

I looked in Arlington - so expensive! I'll try again.

[cjeanette]

Could you go out there for a long weekend and view some homes in person? Or at least drive by?

You can hire painters.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 16:46:19 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

Could you go out there for a long weekend and view some homes in person? Or at least drive by?

You can hire painters.

The current plan is for us to rent an apartment there while I'm on mat leave and have me look then.

You know, cuz I'll have nothing else going on.

[laptopvixen]

It's one of the worst houses on the worst lots that I've ever seen in all of my life.

And $350??? my lord

[Deleted]

It sort of reminds me of Cameron's father's garage. Whatever, I'm buying it. You only see the outside of your house a few minutes a day.

[vanillacourage]

Yep, the fact that they don't give the sizes of each room make me question whether they're using a fishbowl lens - that's what the photos look like anyway.

Ditto others that you can change the inside all day long, but can't pick up the house and move it.

[drloretta]

Dec 10, 2012 16:44:35 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Dec 10, 2012 16:41:34 GMT -5 midwest07 said:

Have you actually seen it in person? It looks like many of the real estate listings I see now where they use whatever special misleading camera lens/angle to make it look much larger than it is.

If you're set on being in the city, I would rather have something older/cuter that required a little work. I think you said you don't want that though, so maybe this is the house for you. If that's the case, I bet you could get a much better deal on it than what it's listed for since it wouldn't be as in demand as evidenced by this post.

No. I live 2.5 hours away. But I need to know there's something out there we both cna live with before I commit to quitting my job and moving to Boston. My mood on this issue ebbs and flows with real estate listings I find. Painting our apartment drove me BSC and I swore to never paint again after that. I'm not a renovation kind of person.

I will paint for beer and pizza. Just saying.

I don't like the exterior, the stairs, that weird pole in the middle of the one room, and that thing bumping out of the wall in picture 22. I think the layout is probably weirder than the pictures are giving off.

Is your DH OK with taking the train? That may widen your options a bit.

[CloudBee]

Run!

[sa]

A SFH in this price range is rare, but I would definitely pass on this.

Is $350K your budget? Are you dead set on a SFH?

[LoveTrains]

Oh god. No, no, no.

This is an incredibly busy street. I used to work not too far from there, and the traffic will be stopped and idling in front of your house during morning rush hour from 7 am - 9 am and again from 4-7 pm.

You need to totally adjust your expectations on your budget. Or move to Providence, LOL.

[Deleted]

that house has little personality, just a bunch of rectangular spaces

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 17:11:56 GMT -5 sa said:

A SFH in this price range is rare, but I would definitely pass on this.

Is $350K your budget? Are you dead set on a SFH?

$350 is what I want to spend but DH said we could go up to $380 if needed.

It doesn't "have" to be SF but it has to have two full bathrooms and outdoor space.

And probably no to the train.

I keep seeing stuff I like in Jamaica Plain but everyone said it's not a good neighborhood.

Feel free to look for me. I just keep seeing stuff that's too small. We have 800 sf now and it feels like a dungeon. I need 1200.

[LoveTrains]

NQB, I seriously think you need to consider a condo in a 2-3 family home. Medford could be good - what is the status of that green line extension up towards Ball Square and Tufts? maybe liveintheville or SCM knows. Because your h could take that into lechmere and then walk to kendall square vs. trying to find something in Davis or porter and taking the red line.

But I also think something in Davis or Porter in Somerville could work for you, but you will have to consider a 2-3 family. They have yards, you can find one that is two stories, etc.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 17:29:53 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Dec 10, 2012 17:23:23 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oh god. No, no, no.

This is an incredibly busy street. I used to work not too far from there, and the traffic will be stopped and idling in front of your house during morning rush hour from 7 am - 9 am and again from 4-7 pm.

You need to totally adjust your expectations on your budget. Or move to Providence, LOL.

Map: goo.gl/maps/jqlLq

Oh yikes.

Hold on I found a few more. Let me pick one to show.

[Deleted]

This one is nice! 2.5 bathrooms and a fireplace. I wish there were more pictures.

www.homes.com/listing/176795215/140_Jaques_St_SOMERVILLE_MA_02145

It's above our usual search parameters so I hadn't seen it before.

[LoveTrains]

Oh yes, please, post more. sorry I have been super busy at work and not much time for daytime nesting but now I am home so wil be on for a while.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 17:38:17 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oh yes, please, post more. sorry I have been super busy at work and not much time for daytime nesting but now I am home so wil be on for a while.

I just posted it a while ago and I have to go to a party in an hour but this will be an ongoing effort I need help with so thanks. H's boss said he wants him to move by the end of Q1 but that seems very unlikely right now given the fact that they still haven't given him his raise.

[noodleoo]

I didn't read all the comments but I had to post this: THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD DO ALL THOSE STEPS WITH THE SNOW AND ICE WE GET IN BOSTON. Imagine going up and down those stairs, carrying groceries, when they are icy. It would be horrible. Not to mention if you have kids and have to cart all their crap up and down. And what exactly is that wall?

Don't do it. The inside is pretty and good price, but the stairs (in the winter) are a deal breaker for me. (and neck breaker! haha, I couldn't resist.)

[noodleoo]

Dec 10, 2012 16:32:30 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Dec 10, 2012 16:31:04 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

The inside is nothing special that you couldn't get elsewhere.

Please find me 1900 square feet in downtown Boston, I beg you! With some sort of outdoor space and no shared walls. It can't be done.

Have you looking in Waltham? We were looking at single family houses there that were that size and some were pretty renovated. Or consider a duplex or town house.

Also Watertown. I don't remember your situation, but you can get into Boston pretty easily from this side of town.

[drloretta]

The Somerville condo listing is MUCH nicer. Plus a garage? Yes please. I would wonder about outdoor space, or at least proximity to a playground. And I'd want another BR instead of 2.5 baths. But you're getting there...

[Deleted]

I love this place but my tiny baby would try to jump, wouldn't he?

www.homes.com/listing/173580387/107_Governor_Winthrop_Rd_SOMERVILLE_MA_02145

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 17:54:05 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

There is this one, which could be cute with some cosmetic love: www.redfin.com/MA/Somerville/6-Wellington-Ave-02145/home/8731029.

Not much yard space, though.

Oh I saw that one already and felt bad for the baby with poor tacky parents.

[LoveTrains]

Dec 10, 2012 17:38:15 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

This one is nice! 2.5 bathrooms and a fireplace. I wish there were more pictures.

www.homes.com/listing/176795215/140_Jaques_St_SOMERVILLE_MA_02145

It's above our usual search parameters so I hadn't seen it before.

This one I like. It is a little farther east down Broadway than i have ever lived so it might be a little more townie than Davis, but it means that it is also cheaper. i think this is also not too far from that proposed green line extension which might even have a stop in magoun square? Not 100% sure on that.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 17:56:10 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Dec 10, 2012 17:52:26 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I love this place but my tiny baby would try to jump, wouldn't he?

www.homes.com/listing/173580387/107_Governor_Winthrop_Rd_SOMERVILLE_MA_02145

Are you okay being close to an interstate?

goo.gl/maps/nf528

I like that it's near the water. Hadn't thought about the interstate. I guess I'd have to drive by.

[LoveTrains]

Dec 10, 2012 17:52:26 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I love this place but my tiny baby would try to jump, wouldn't he?

www.homes.com/listing/173580387/107_Governor_Winthrop_Rd_SOMERVILLE_MA_02145

No. have you looked at the location of this one on the map? you aren't really walking distance to any T stops, etiher, without getting run over.

[LoveTrains]

Dec 10, 2012 17:54:05 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

There is this one, which could be cute with some cosmetic love: www.redfin.com/MA/Somerville/6-Wellington-Ave-02145/home/8731029.

Not much yard space, though.

hrmm....location isn't the best on this one, either. There are lots of neighborhoods in Somerville and personally I would try to stick to the 02144 zip code.

[Deleted]

Dec 10, 2012 17:59:55 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Dec 10, 2012 17:52:26 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I love this place but my tiny baby would try to jump, wouldn't he?

www.homes.com/listing/173580387/107_Governor_Winthrop_Rd_SOMERVILLE_MA_02145

No. have you looked at the location of this one on the map? you aren't really walking distance to any T stops, etiher, without getting run over.

But the yard is pretty. Is there any site that lets you search by T stop?