Am I crazy for wanting this house?

[madringal]

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/476-E-900-N_Valparaiso_IN_46383_M35188-10098







I messaged my realtor that we want to go see this house.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I first saw it. DH and I are obsessed.  It's listed for about the same price as I would list my own house. But my house is only 15 years old and updated. We have .25 acres.  We'd have to switch elementary schools, but it's actually a better one. The other houses in the area sell for 300-400k, but clearly this house hasn't been updated much since it was built in 1979. Did I mention we are a family of swimmers?

Am I crazy?

[hocus2]

I would totally get a house like that. Looks awesome.

[VillainV]

The link isn't working for me, but I love the indoor pool!

[sometimesrunner]

Last fall we sold our 10 year old house and bought a 40 year old house with little/no updating and a pool in the backyard. (we even sold our house for 10k more than we bought our new one) We spent 6 weeks updating the house before we moved in. At the time, it was a lot of work, but now I'm SO glad we made the leap. The lot and trees look amazing! If you and your H are on the same page, I would go for it!

[sacattack]

I can't get the link to work either, but I love the pictures in your link. Look at it as an opportunity to upgrade to your exact design choices.

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 15:27:04 GMT -5 VillainV said:

The link isn't working for me, but I love the indoor pool!

fixed, thanks!

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 15:29:47 GMT -5 sacattack said:

I can't get the link to work either, but I love the pictures in your link. Look at it as an opportunity to upgrade to your exact design choices.

Fixed the link And I was thinking the same thing! I'm already mentally updating, that's bad!

[sacattack]

OK - I looked at the new link. I like it. I think paint and new floors would go so far in the house. Depending on how handy you are those are both things you can probably do yourself!

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 15:33:12 GMT -5 sacattack said:

OK - I looked at the new link. I like it. I think paint and new floors would go so far in the house. Depending on how handy you are those are both things you can probably do yourself!

Very, very handy!  I was really expecting everyone to say I was crazy. This isn't helping! Lol!

[JRo]

I like it! The indoor pool would be awesome, especially since it is long enough to swim laps in. Obviously needs updated, but the layout looks nice.

[VillainV]

I agree that it needs a LOT of cosmetic fixes, but it looks like it has good bones. Though $189/sq ft is kind of a lot for something that needs so much updating. BUT THE POOL.

[raangoli]

I can only think of how much it would cost to maintain an indoor pool. But I am also not a swimmer.

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 15:39:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I agree that it needs a LOT of cosmetic fixes, but it looks like it has good bones. Though $189/sq ft is kind of a lot for something that needs so much updating. BUT THE POOL.

I'm seriously dying over the pool. It does have a full basement, so the sq ft almost doubles.  But the basement is just as outdated as the rest.

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 15:43:15 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I can only think of how much it would cost to maintain an indoor pool. But I am also not a swimmer.

That is on my list of questions. My husband also works for out local utility company so I am going to have him pull a history of their gas and electric usage (which is public information!).

[VillainV]

Jul 11, 2018 15:46:30 GMT -5 madringal said:

Jul 11, 2018 15:39:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I agree that it needs a LOT of cosmetic fixes, but it looks like it has good bones. Though $189/sq ft is kind of a lot for something that needs so much updating. BUT THE POOL.

I'm seriously dying over the pool. It does have a full basement, so the sq ft almost doubles.  But the basement is just as outdated as the rest.

I do wonder if having your own pool is kind of like having your own treadmill or exercise bike -- it sounds awesome, then after a year you realize you've used it maybe 4 times.

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 15:47:50 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Jul 11, 2018 15:46:30 GMT -5 madringal said:

I'm seriously dying over the pool. It does have a full basement, so the sq ft almost doubles.  But the basement is just as outdated as the rest.

I do wonder if having your own pool is kind of like having your own treadmill or exercise bike -- it sounds awesome, then after a year you realize you've used it maybe 4 times.

I'm just picturing winters in Indiana when it has been below 0 for weeks and the kids have been cooped up in the house....

And that I basically never have to pay for a birthday party facility again (3 winter babies)!

[Susie]

I'm a lifelong swimmer too (age group, then college, then professional ocean lifeguarding, then masters, then triathlon), and I would want no part of that house.  I feel similarly about pools as I do about work:  I like having a nicely appointed office where I spend Monday through Friday, just like new nice pools were always a joy to train in.  But I like having that office and that pool NOT being in my house, so that when I come home from work or a workout, I can (try to) leave it behind.  Also, pools are a ton of maintenance that is not for me.  Membership to a nice nearby pool, please and thank you.  Pool use also waxes and wanes over the years, so when I've been training a ton I've belonged to multiple pools at once.  When I'm barely using it, I can discontinue.  You can't discontinue a pool that's in your house.

As far as the rest of the house, I look at the $284k price tag and think about how close to the $400k range top end you'd be by the time you updated it all, and I cringe.  Plus then you have to live through the updates.  Yes, it is "just" carpet and paint, but if you replace enough carpet, wall and trim paint, flooring, cabinets, countertops, lighting, dusty rose showers and toilets, etc., you end up spending a LOT of money.  We've only ever owned one house, but it had the jewel tone carpet, dated kitchen and baths, etc., and we have spent that time and money.  I did it once, I'm not up for doing it again!

The full acre lot is nice to have if you're game to keep it up.  I always thought I wanted 0.5 to 1, but now that I have 0.25, I'm more on the "nah, I'm good" train.  0.25 acre is about as much as I enjoy keeping up and looking nice.  (We don't hire any of it out.)  I might feel differently if I planned to hire someone to mow, mulch, etc. for me.

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 16:01:11 GMT -5 Susie said:

I'm a lifelong swimmer too (age group, then college, then professional ocean lifeguarding, then masters, then triathlon), and I would want no part of that house.  I feel similarly about pools as I do about work:  I like having a nicely appointed office where I spend Monday through Friday, just like new nice pools were always a joy to train in.  But I like having that office and that pool NOT being in my house, so that when I come home from work or a workout, I can (try to) leave it behind.  Also, pools are a ton of maintenance that is not for me.  Membership to a nice nearby pool, please and thank you.  Pool use also waxes and wanes over the years, so when I've been training a ton I've belonged to multiple pools at once.  When I'm barely using it, I can discontinue.  You can't discontinue a pool that's in your house.

As far as the rest of the house, I look at the $284k price tag and think about how close to the $400k range top end you'd be by the time you updated it all, and I cringe.  Plus then you have to live through the updates.  Yes, it is "just" carpet and paint, but if you replace enough carpet, wall and trim paint, flooring, cabinets, countertops, lighting, dusty rose showers and toilets, etc., you end up spending a LOT of money.  We've only ever owned one house, but it had the jewel tone carpet, dated kitchen and baths, etc., and we have spent that time and money.  I did it once, I'm not up for doing it again!

The full acre lot is nice to have if you're game to keep it up.  I always thought I wanted 0.5 to 1, but now that I have 0.25, I'm more on the "nah, I'm good" train.  0.25 acre is about as much as I enjoy keeping up and looking nice.  (We don't hire any of it out.)  I might feel differently if I planned to hire someone to mow, mulch, etc. for me.

I'm sure my husband would use it daily to work out it, but other then that I fully expect it to be a recreational pool.  The lot size is more then I would want, but exactly what my DH wants. My sister recently purchased 17 acres and I would die! Lol!  I thought the same thing about the price and the updates. If i was being honest I'd probably only seriously consider the house if they came down about 20k in price. I feel like I'd have to paint and get new flooring for the whole house before moving in and that is easily 20k right there. The rest I'm content to do over time. But we are currently saving for about 20k in projects to our current house next spring. We wanted to tear out our back deck and put in a stone patio and put in an above ground pool. So I would reallocate that money. 

[outnumbered]

I am also a swimmer and we have an outdoor pool. The thought of the potential problems of an indoor pool can be a bit scary. Excessive humidity can cause rot and mold. You would need an expert to make sure the materials used to build the room were correct. Air handlers, vapor barriers, correct windows to prevent condensation, and the correct wall materials that hold up well to moisture. I would also check how much it costs to heat that room and pool during the winter. That room does look beautiful.

[sparkythelawyer]

I'm in love with that bar and if you buy this house you can never change it. That's awesome.

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 16:14:47 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

I'm in love with that bar and if you buy this house you can never change it. That's awesome.

After the sad carpet it will be the first to go! I think its just wall paper? I'm dying to see it in person.

[sillygoosegirl]

The above-ground bedrooms are pretty small, and it doesn't look like there is any natural light to speak of in the basement, but the sunroom looks neat, and obviously if you love swimming that pool would be to die for. Personally, I'd be worried about the work and cost of maintaining an indoor heated pool, but if the whole family loves swimming it would probably be money well spent. Given that you are saving for a pool already, if you like the location and general layout, this seems like a sensible move to me.

[noodleoo]

Um, yes you are crazy. I’m am not a fixer upper person. That house is all kinds of hideous and would need so much updating, I don’t think it is worth the time or effort unless you can do it all while not living there. Also, the market for people who want a full size indoor pool like that is pretty small. If you buy it, it better be a forever home because I think it would be a tough sell down the road.

[krystee]

The giant pool is not counted in the square footage, right? That would be a tiny rest of the house!

As long as you have the money to update, I'd do it!

[madringal]

Jul 11, 2018 16:21:21 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Um, yes you are crazy. I’m am not a fixer upper person. That house is all kinds of hideous and would need so much updating, I don’t think it is worth the time or effort unless you can do it all while not living there. Also, the market for people who want a full size indoor pool like that is pretty small. If you buy it, it better be a forever home because I think it would be a tough sell down the road.

Haha! I knew someone would tell me I was bananas! Yes, it would be a forever home. We love our town and our school system. The location is perfect. The layout is my biggest concern. If I am going to buy a forever home I need a formal dining room and I don't think this house has one. I feel like going to see it is going to give us an immediate "Yup!" or "Nope!" reaction.

[origami]

I’d have to see it in person to judge the “bones” but the aerial view looks like it’s in the middle of a little forest. Is the lot completely shaded and therefore full of spiders(lol)? Removing tall trees is super expensive, if that’s what it would take to make the yard usable.

[Velar Fricative]

Even though I watch a lot of HGTV I really don’t care if a house isn’t updated costmeitcally as long as the structure itself isn’t about to fall apart. I have no desire to have a pool but if that’s your priority and you don’t mind doing cosmetic updates right away or down the road, it’s fine.

[InBetweenDays]

To me that looks like a lot more than just paint and carpet. It definitely depends on your style, but I'd want to completely redo all the bathrooms, the kitchen, and the fireplace. And remove all the wood paneling. Is the only living/family room on the main floor the one with the fireplace?

I also grew up with an outdoor pool (in Minnesota) and LOVED it. We used it all the time in the summer. But I wouldn't want an indoor one. I'd be worried about moisture and chloramines.

[outnumbered]

Jul 11, 2018 16:35:47 GMT -5 origami said:

I’d have to see it in person to judge the “bones” but the aerial view looks like it’s in the middle of a little forest. Is the lot completely shaded and therefore full of spiders(lol)? Removing tall trees is super expensive, if that’s what it would take to make the yard usable.

I agree. I love old large shade trees, but this yard has too many. You will probably need to take down several for safety and useability. That can cost several thousand dollars.

[jenny1980]

That looks like a giant money pit to me.