There are so many really adorable, affordable houses in Florida

[Anonymous]

Just a random whine. I follow some Instagram accounts that post house listings for good examples of certain house styles, including bungalows (I freaking love bungalows). Often these houses, which are usually recently renovated with thoughtful, original details, have very high price points, and I ooh and aah over them knowing I will never be able to afford a perfect little bungalow in, say, west Los Angeles.

But every now and again these houses are actually reasonably priced at like 350-700k. And then I'll look and they are always, always in Tampa, Florida.

I get it, the houses are cheaper because they are in a place that I, and many other people, don't want to live. I just want to live in a charming little bungalow but that's going to run me 1.5-2m in the DMV even if it's like 1600 sq ft. Waaaaaaaah, I'm being a baby, I want a pretty house even though I'm not rich.

Go ahead and tell me to stop whining now.

[Anonymous]

How much does their homeowners insurance add to their little 700k bungalow (if it predates the Andrew building codes, probably a lot)

[Anonymous]

There are plenty in that price range in this area. But, they just aren't areas you want to live in. And that's not affordable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does their homeowners insurance add to their little 700k bungalow (if it predates the Andrew building codes, probably a lot)

We have a small bungalow. The homeowners is the same as any other house.

[Anonymous]

If I was going to buy a “nice cheap house” & proximity to jobs didn’t matter, I would consider a gazillion other places in that price range before I’d consider FL. Mainly in PA (Hershey, Lancaster, Lititz & Philly burbs) or Charlottesville area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty in that price range in this area. But, they just aren't areas you want to live in. And that's not affordable.

I meant affordable to me -- 300-600k is absolutely affordable to a dual income couple making 180-200k with a decent down payment.

And while there are houses in that price range in this area, it's not their location I'm complaining about. It's that they are ugly as sin. I want a cute house. I would be fine if it was in PG County or out in Ann Arundel or in the less desirable parts of Silver Spring or in Wards 7 or 8 in DC. I just can't find a cute little bungalow like the ones I see in Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I was going to buy a “nice cheap house” & proximity to jobs didn’t matter, I would consider a gazillion other places in that price range before I’d consider FL. Mainly in PA (Hershey, Lancaster, Lititz & Philly burbs) or Charlottesville area.

Cute. It has to be cute.

I also won't consider Florida. But if you WILL consider Florida, and love bungalows, you can find a great one in Tampa for 625k, I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a random whine. I follow some Instagram accounts that post house listings for good examples of certain house styles, including bungalows (I freaking love bungalows). Often these houses, which are usually recently renovated with thoughtful, original details, have very high price points, and I ooh and aah over them knowing I will never be able to afford a perfect little bungalow in, say, west Los Angeles.

But every now and again these houses are actually reasonably priced at like 350-700k. And then I'll look and they are always, always in Tampa, Florida.

I get it, the houses are cheaper because they are in a place that I, and many other people, don't want to live. I just want to live in a charming little bungalow but that's going to run me 1.5-2m in the DMV even if it's like 1600 sq ft. Waaaaaaaah, I'm being a baby, I want a pretty house even though I'm not rich.

Go ahead and tell me to stop whining now.

The reasonably priced ones in Tampa are also in gentrifying neighborhoods, so it may be doubly where you don't want to live. I get it though, because they are fun to look at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty in that price range in this area. But, they just aren't areas you want to live in. And that's not affordable.

I meant affordable to me -- 300-600k is absolutely affordable to a dual income couple making 180-200k with a decent down payment.

And while there are houses in that price range in this area, it's not their location I'm complaining about. It's that they are ugly as sin. I want a cute house. I would be fine if it was in PG County or out in Ann Arundel or in the less desirable parts of Silver Spring or in Wards 7 or 8 in DC. I just can't find a cute little bungalow like the ones I see in Florida.

You can get a cute house by getting a fixer upper and doing things like replacing the siding. Ours was ugly as sin and we replaced the siding, roof, windows, doors and trim and looks much better.

[Anonymous]

Watch out for condo boards and HOAs in Florida. Folks are getting taken to the cleaners in Florida over storm repairs, insurance, and other issues and the condo board or hoa can get suckered ang cost everyone a pretty penny.

[Anonymous]

I live in a generic suburban home that has plenty of space, is easy to maintain, great neighborhood, great schools, amazing neighbors, but zero character. I can't afford the entry fee to an analogous neighborhood with charm around here. So I get it.

I visited Mt Lebanon in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and I fell in love with a different house on every street. Nothing over 500k. Ditto my cousin's neighborhood in FL. She downsized to be near the beach and lives in a mid-century home with her husband and three kids. Every corner looks like something out of Domino or Remodelista. I know these are not perfect areas and I do love my house, but there is a je ne sais quoi about these older neighborhoods that I will always yearn for and never be able to replicate around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a generic suburban home that has plenty of space, is easy to maintain, great neighborhood, great schools, amazing neighbors, but zero character. I can't afford the entry fee to an analogous neighborhood with charm around here. So I get it.

I visited Mt Lebanon in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and I fell in love with a different house on every street. Nothing over 500k. Ditto my cousin's neighborhood in FL. She downsized to be near the beach and lives in a mid-century home with her husband and three kids. Every corner looks like something out of Domino or Remodelista. I know these are not perfect areas and I do love my house, but there is a je ne sais quoi about these older neighborhoods that I will always yearn for and never be able to replicate around here.

Yup, you get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty in that price range in this area. But, they just aren't areas you want to live in. And that's not affordable.

I meant affordable to me -- 300-600k is absolutely affordable to a dual income couple making 180-200k with a decent down payment.

And while there are houses in that price range in this area, it's not their location I'm complaining about. It's that they are ugly as sin. I want a cute house. I would be fine if it was in PG County or out in Ann Arundel or in the less desirable parts of Silver Spring or in Wards 7 or 8 in DC. I just can't find a cute little bungalow like the ones I see in Florida.

Pg County and Anne arundel? What? But y'all are school snobs

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of cute bungalows in Mount Rainier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of cute bungalows in Mount Rainier.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Mount-Rainier/3100-Windom-Rd-20712/home/10990106