I too had a home in Cape Charles for 15 years. You can't make money renting out your home there. The town taxes rentals to death and the season is very short. Almost every business closes from late October until May. And it is so cold and windy you won't spend more than one winter there. We sold to retire and knew we weren't going to make that our full time house.
I don't think they made much off the beach houses because of taxes and renovation. I think they were running out of income. Some of you are over estimating the money to be made as an influencer on these media platforms. They probably made a fine living but not to continuing to buy and renovate house without making buck on the rentals or sales. The area of Florida they moved to is pricey to be near the beach. All those houses are built for part time living. Google Seaside Florida. I would have spent half of that on a place in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay area is really hot right now. |
I just can’t believe that they traded four houses and their beautiful Virginia house for this one tiny house in Florida that does not have enough space to fit their family, especially with everyone being at home.
I can’t imagine moving there during a pandemic and not knowing anyone. I don’t understand how they could be happy with their choice and I do think they are misrepresenting the move. It is so weird how they used to post to Instagram regularly and now they have not posted in three months, although Sherry does do stories… Don’t they want to promote their posts and other things? The whole thing is really very odd |
I went down an internet rabbit hole today that brought me to YHL for the first time in years, and I can't even wrap my head around what they've done. Everybody I know has been itching for more space lately, and to be closer to family and trusted friends to "bubble" with, and these two downsized to a place far away from everyone they know! For no real reason except that they wanted to live on vacation? Yeah, to an extent we all want that, but it's generally not a good idea. Now 1400-ish square feet isn't that small, in strict numbers, but the layout is so so bad. They're using IKEA-style dresser drawers as a pantry! I know the timing wasn't their fault with regard to covid, but just...yikes.
Mostly, I feel sorry for them. I actually like John and Sherry - I appreciate they don't exploit their kids at all. And I certainly think that Florida house looks pretty. But pretty for a vacation rental, not pretty for a family to be living in 24/7/365. The "crystalllllsssssss" in the fireplace kind of sum it up: form, not function. And they have to know it, on some level, given how much space they devote to defending their choices in their recent blog posts. |
They both have other jobs! I think that's been made clear. They do advertising free lance work, that they can pick up more of to make ends meet. The blog/influencer side is probably 1 full time job on top of that, that they share. So they are clearly paring down the influencer side. There is only so much to share! And there kids are doing virtual school, so are home all the time. Anyhow, I think they'll move to a bigger place too. We'll see! |
The house number is 220 but the sales listing is for 205 in
Santa Rosa. 🤔
|
205 is the correct house number, they’re just trying to be sneaky. I’m assuming they are trying to protect their privacy which I can’t fault. |
She even said today that they altered the house number for photos. |
I definitely think they will be moving. If you look up the house you will see that the lot next to them is now not one but 2 huge multifamily rentals. The thing towers over their little house and their deck has zero privacy because the house next door is right ton top of it. If you notice they never show that angle of the deck (looking from the table towards the couch). because they want followers to continue to believe they are living the Florida dream.
Not to mention the house is way the hell too small for a family of 4. Their poor son's bedroom is a closet. These 2 are really great at making poor life choices without things through. Hello house 2. |
I still don’t understand why they sold their Richmond house. I loved that house and there is no way I would have sold to move to *the panhandle of Florida.* Pretty sure they are mentally ill or something. |
Can we stop with the "poor son" bullshit? He's got his own room, which is more than many children have. And tiny rooms can be very appealing. We have a tiny bedroom in our house--7x9, not kidding--and my DS1 *chose* that room when moved into the house, and when he went to college, my DS2 (who had his own, much bigger bedroom) asked to switch to it. |
Yeah. It was such a gorgeous house in a gorgeous neighborhood. With friends nearby! I do think the pandemic probably has thrown a wrench into their plans. When they did all this in February/March, they had no idea how long this would last. If they'd known their kids would do virtual school in Florida, and have no real friends, I'm sure they would have delayed a year or 2. And then it was too late, because they'd sold their Richmond house. But yes, I think they need to find a way to expand their living area. I've also really noticed how defensive their content has been lately. Lots of "this isn't for everyone, but we LOVE IT". They gotta drop the qualifiers. I do think Sherry's whole thing is being upbeat. |
Take a look at the recent (probably months) posts. All have been written by John not Sherry. I don’t really understand the DCUM judgement of the move and size of bedrooms. All were known before they put their house in VA on the market. Who knows why they moved?? Their life, their decisions. |
Yes, as someone who lived for several years with 4 people in a 1400 square foot house with one bathroom, I find the snarky comments here really obnoxious. No one living in that house is suffering. That is plenty of space for a family of 4. Who knows what motivated this move, and why does it matter? If you don't like what they are selling, then stop buying it. They don't "owe" anyone content. Maybe they are deliberately trying to cut back. Maybe one or both of them is WOTH because they need the health insurance. Maybe Sherry loves her job and wants to devote more time to it. Maybe she's spending all her time home schooling right now and she is spent. Maybe they would have made a different choice, or delayed this particular choice, if they had known they'd be spending a year+ stuck at home doing DL. I guess they didn't have a crystal ball. |
As we sit here in damp dc weather think about them at the beach or at a park enjoying the ☀️, I’d trade with them any day. Nothing like a Florida childhood, listening to the raindrops on a covered porch and endless days outside. |
Huge mistake that they refuse to own. They can make it work size-wise, but there is no storage, disrepair to still address, neighbors literally looming over their house and yard. And all along they keep selling this as an aspirational situation. |