Thoughts on this N Arlington house?

[Anonymous]

Let’s see. Offers are due Wednesday. Agent posts here on Monday to drum up
Interest. I wish agents didn’t do this.

[Anonymous]

So all 4 bedrooms are not on same level — so 3 bedroom with a den.

Super odd lot shape, but I guess is okay.

Kitchen is basically a galley kitchen with sink in island — that’s annoying at this price point.

The mortgage works out to $10k/month which seems insane.

It seems fine enough but really close to new build price for an oddly shaped house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s see. Offers are due Wednesday. Agent posts here on Monday to drum up
Interest. I wish agents didn’t do this.

Not an agent. I'm a neighbor.

[Anonymous]

I like it. I don't love the choices they made for cabinetry and other finishes (and I would change every lighting fixture), but I could live with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not "affordable"
People are losing their jobs.

Even with jobs no this is not "affordable"

I don’t disagree but also who is losing jobs? Feds? Feds weren’t buying at this price anyways unless they’re sitting on a ton of existing appreciation or have family $ or high earning spouse

I agree that plenty of people can afford this. Just not sure I understand the logic of spending this amount for an older home. New homes in North Arlington start around $2.1 million and you have more standard design choices (e.g., no funky kitchen cabinets) plus a finished basement. Of course $300K more is significant, and I'm not downplaying that, but for high earners, it's maybe an extra year or two of savings from salary. I'll admit that this house does have a nice backyard, but we barely use ours because of the crazy mosquitos in this area.

New builds in this neighborhood aren't $2.1m anymore. They're more like upper 2s or low 3s. So you'd need another $1-1.5m for a new build, and that house likely wouldn't have any backyard at all.

https://redf.in/dY5sbc
https://redf.in/yU8G5e
https://redf.in/Iut34r
https://redf.in/Iut34r

To get a new build for $2.1m you're either looking at a super busy street, lot that floods, or less preferable schools. It's fine if you're okay with those, but we didn't want to be on a busy street or flood, and schools are a priority.

In this neighborhood there aren't a ton of options between the tiny original builds and gigantic new builds, so a house with a tasteful addition is a good in between option. (And there are a lot with super weird additions that have have weird layouts. This one is well above average and maximizes use of the lot shape.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not "affordable"
People are losing their jobs.

Even with jobs no this is not "affordable"

For Arlington it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So all 4 bedrooms are not on same level — so 3 bedroom with a den.

Super odd lot shape, but I guess is okay.

Kitchen is basically a galley kitchen with sink in island — that’s annoying at this price point.

The mortgage works out to $10k/month which seems insane.

It seems fine enough but really close to new build price for an oddly shaped house.

New builds are now $1m more than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not "affordable"
People are losing their jobs.

Even with jobs no this is not "affordable"

I don’t disagree but also who is losing jobs? Feds? Feds weren’t buying at this price anyways unless they’re sitting on a ton of existing appreciation or have family $ or high earning spouse

I agree that plenty of people can afford this. Just not sure I understand the logic of spending this amount for an older home. New homes in North Arlington start around $2.1 million and you have more standard design choices (e.g., no funky kitchen cabinets) plus a finished basement. Of course $300K more is significant, and I'm not downplaying that, but for high earners, it's maybe an extra year or two of savings from salary. I'll admit that this house does have a nice backyard, but we barely use ours because of the crazy mosquitos in this area.

New builds in this neighborhood aren't $2.1m anymore. They're more like upper 2s or low 3s. So you'd need another $1-1.5m for a new build, and that house likely wouldn't have any backyard at all.

https://redf.in/dY5sbc
https://redf.in/yU8G5e
https://redf.in/Iut34r
https://redf.in/Iut34r

To get a new build for $2.1m you're either looking at a super busy street, lot that floods, or less preferable schools. It's fine if you're okay with those, but we didn't want to be on a busy street or flood, and schools are a priority.

In this neighborhood there aren't a ton of options between the tiny original builds and gigantic new builds, so a house with a tasteful addition is a good in between option. (And there are a lot with super weird additions that have have weird layouts. This one is well above average and maximizes use of the lot shape.)

You need to look at recently sold listings because new builds definitely exist for $2.1 million and have none of the issues you mention, except that they are in school pyramids that are even better. But totally fine to buy this one if people can't wait and don't want to do their homework.

[Anonymous]

The outdoor space is great, though I don't love the fireplace. It is unique and well thought out.

What I hate is that the front door opens directly into the dining room. Open concept kills flow and this is a prime example. Who wants to walk right into their formal dining space?!

[Anonymous]

I hate how the living room feels like an extension of the kitchen. I don't want to watch tv or relax inside my kitchen. Those need more separation, which is hard to do in the long and skinny house. The dining table looks like it's on a landing? Very strange.

[Anonymous]

Are my eyes deceiving me or is there a toilet in one of the showers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The outdoor space is great, though I don't love the fireplace. It is unique and well thought out.

What I hate is that the front door opens directly into the dining room. Open concept kills flow and this is a prime example. Who wants to walk right into their formal dining space?!

I think the office is actually supposed to be the dining room. They've put a dining table in an area that should be empty. Maybe they just did it for staging purposes, because in real life it seems like it would be annoying.

[Anonymous]

Backyard patio looks like a restaurant. Too much cement and needs more greenery and landscaping.
The interior is awful. A boring sea of white. It needs color and dark wood accents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are my eyes deceiving me or is there a toilet in one of the showers?

It's a terrible photo – it's a reflection, but I did a double-take on that, too!

I like the house overall, but like another poster said, I dislike the staging with the dining room table at the entryway. It makes me notice that there's no dedicated dining room – which is a negative thought when you first enter the house, even though I don't actually care about a dedicated dining room, and my house doesn't have one. I just feel like throwing the table there spotlights something that can be perceived as a negative to a lot of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are my eyes deceiving me or is there a toilet in one of the showers?

It's a terrible photo – it's a reflection, but I did a double-take on that, too!

I like the house overall, but like another poster said, I dislike the staging with the dining room table at the entryway. It makes me notice that there's no dedicated dining room – which is a negative thought when you first enter the house, even though I don't actually care about a dedicated dining room, and my house doesn't have one. I just feel like throwing the table there spotlights something that can be perceived as a negative to a lot of people.

I'd put a dining table where the 'sitting area' is now...wouldn't want that much upholstery sitting right next to the kitchen. I also really hate how the appliances are installed into the wall instead of into cabinetry - seems like a huge pain if something leaks or breaks. Agree that the price seems a tiny bit high for unfinished basement and specificity of some of the overall design choices (sinks, lighting, the huge soaking tub that seems to block the French doors), but given that it's in North Arlington, I'm sure it'll go at or above asking.