Omphaloskepsis

[forgotten_aria]

I'm starting to get cold feet with the whole house thing. It worried me a bit, because I believe I started the crusade with legitiment reasons which haven't gone away. I have improved some little things in the house (like the extra kitchen cabinets but the major problems (lack of closet space, lack of shop space, poor insulation, etc.) are still there. I have a good feeling for the current market and at least a guess at what our house is worth, so if I started this crusade again in a year or two, that effort would have to be duplicated.

But, the fear, cost and effort of moving are starting to catch up with me. That and the things I would have to do to get the house in sellable condition (some of which I don't want done until we know we're going to sell.) And the uncertainty of the market. The condo across from us has been on the market for 230 days, if zillow is to be beleived (the listing for it on other sides seems to be a bit borked.) Though they're asking about what we plan to ask (a little lower) for much less space and a condo (which I assume goes for less than a whole house, but I'm not sure.)

Even though I haven't used the T in forever, it's still nice to be near Davis and Porter and I would miss my bi-weekly lunches with Jer (which is a tradition I should start with more of my friends0 and my trips in car with my taiko car pool. And really, this is a good house. It has problems, sure, but we were extremely lucky to get it when we did and it serves us well enough, and really, it's my house.

The cold feet started when I realized I wanted a house that looked unassuming on the outside but amazing on the inside, and I think that's because I don't feel like the type of person to own one of those amazing looking mansion-oid houses. Specifically the house I have a viewing of tomororw:



my brain says that people who wear t-shirts everyday don't live in a house like that. That the neighbors would scoff at my "practical" car. The house itself is an amazing deal and I firmly beleive that it would be a wonderful investment, but fro the same reasons that's true, I think I would feel like an intruder where I'd gotten a house for ~$150k less than anything else on the block and $560k less than some of the things on the block.

So how much of my fear is the effort to move and how much of it is my fear that this is the house i belong in. It's a solid, but inelegant house, with no style, unity or perfection, but that's what I am.

Comments

[mathhobbit.livejournal.com]

OMG who's going to clean that thing? Or mow the lawn?

I have some of the same feelings you do. This is a good time to buy a house. I could probably afford to buy a house. I don't want to leave my comfortable position. I wish I had a garden.

Can you make up any of what you lack in your current house? Could you build a shed for a summer workshop? (Maybe not practical in your yard.) Could you be happy joining a woodworking club or renting space in someone else's shop? Could you get space in the armory down the street for music practice?

If you don't think there's any way you can be satisfied with your current house, keep looking.

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

you're welcome to come garden in our yard, if that would make you at all happy. I've not had my soil tested, but I'd be happy to help you build boxes and fill them with soil (and probably even pay for the materials to do so.)

[mathhobbit.livejournal.com]

I'd love to help you with your yard! I know you're not interested in spending the afternoon pulling up nightshade, but maybe you'd like to hang out and fix stuff or paint stuff while I uproot the vines?

And before this goes any further, I should confess that I like flower gardens. I know growing food is more crunchy, but my femme roots go deep.

I reserve the right to avoid areas polluted by Mr. Prickly.

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

You could have a plot in the back which both has more space and fewer "angry" plants.

I wouldn't mind doing some edging and alike. though, sadly, it's getting cold, so we'll likely forget by next season.

[binkbink.livejournal.com]

Up to a limit, the more space you have, the easier it is to clean.
And some people find mowing the lawn is very relaxing.

[testing4l.livejournal.com]

my brain says that people who wear t-shirts everyday don't live in a house like that.

Your brain then is warped by the wishes of people like realtors who I consider to be the scum of the Earth.

Screw 'em. That's what I say. I'd be happy to have you in my neighborhood. If those theoretical neighbors wouldn't be, then they aren't particularly good people as far as I'm concerned.

It sounds like you have all the resources you need. You will develop other entertainments -- eventually taiko carpools and lunches with friends end at some point anyway.

If it's any sort of incentive, I promise you that the distance will not make me visit you any less often than I already have. ; )

As far as I've read (and know of your situation -- I'm still just a stranger on the internet who liked silly puzzles and lego people after all), the only valid point is distance away from the T. Everything else seems like insecurities which run the risk of stopping you from solving the problems which started the crusade.

The only thing that would give me pause at all would be if a similar house existed in an area that wouldn't cause you to move as far away. It seems like it would be foolish to wait for a theoretical house to come on the market.

At some point, you have to determine whether your risk threshold is too high. It hasn't sounded like this involves any unreasonable factors and the benefits can be significant.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

I don't think wearing t-shirts or driving a practical car are reasons not to buy the house you want.

I would agree that the style of that house is designed to appeal to people who also tend to wear impractical clothes and drive impractical cars with shiny logos on them and who want their house to look Impressive. But you don't have to move there to impress them - if you move there it will be because there's a nice spot you can imagine as a workshop and another nice spot you you can imagine as a music space and another nice spot for exercising and video games, and because you think you can feel at home there.

[cfox.livejournal.com]

The house pictured would look very much more comfortable with fewer silly shrubs and more trees. Is it just the naked look you find disturbing?

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

It's that it's trying to look grand. Like it's some horrible SUV of houses. As if it's puffing itself up at the expense of logic.

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

If you made the thing around the door and 2nd floor window go away, it would look more like just a house.

[binkbink.livejournal.com]

See if the neighbours wear T-shirts too, though I suspect they will be SUV driving soccer moms or two-income, driven, and therefore never there families.
The thing is that you don't much interact with your neighbours where you are, so you probably won't where that house is.
And yes, the bare lawn, tiny shrubs, lack of trees and no Zen garden with koi out back make it look more imposing.
But you don't look at it much. You should care more what the house across the street looks like as a view from your window.
Very low crime there, I bet, no vandalism, rare noisy parties, and chances are the neighbours will be helpful if you meet them.
The smell from the horses is the only thing I think you need to worry about.
And the goofy financing situation.