do you regret buying an ugly house or not?

[Anonymous]

Yes, kind of. We only have money to do one house project every year- usually something that costs a few thousand dollars. After 7 years, it is much better than it was, but the interior cosmetic things do bother me and I am constantly wishing we had more money to fix it up. It would be a different story if you could buy and really renovate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love, love, love my homely house. When we bought it, it had that horrible Baltimore-style fake stone on the front. Still does. It also had metal awnings. The walls inside were layered with wallpaper and the floors with carpet on top of vinyl.

Since then, we ripped up the flooring and found pristine hardwoods. We slowly removed all the paper and painted. And we are finally redoing the kitchen. The outside is still funny-looking but it's definitely growing on me, especially because we never could have bought the house if it didn't look so bad to begin with.

We have space enough for 4, a full basement, and get to live in a great neighborhood. Thank goodness for ugly!

Are you in Baltimore? I am, and i know the fake stone you're talking about!

No, Capitol Hill. We have it here, too. But I noticed it really took hold in some parts of Baltimore. No offense meant--I love Baltimore rowhouses!

no offense taken. I just thought it was funny that I knew exactly what you're talking about!

Can someone post a link please? I'm having a hard time imagining this.

[Anonymous]

It's funny the lengths humans go into fooling themselves into rationalizing a decision. No where else is the phenomenon more prevalent than the DC area where old homes are too expensive to tear down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny the lengths humans go into fooling themselves into rationalizing a decision. No where else is the phenomenon more prevalent than the DC area where old homes are too expensive to tear down.

So what do you suggest instead, given a limited budget and looking for a decent commute and good schools? We're looking at the Silver Spring area for under $400,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love, love, love my homely house. When we bought it, it had that horrible Baltimore-style fake stone on the front. Still does. It also had metal awnings. The walls inside were layered with wallpaper and the floors with carpet on top of vinyl.

Since then, we ripped up the flooring and found pristine hardwoods. We slowly removed all the paper and painted. And we are finally redoing the kitchen. The outside is still funny-looking but it's definitely growing on me, especially because we never could have bought the house if it didn't look so bad to begin with.

We have space enough for 4, a full basement, and get to live in a great neighborhood. Thank goodness for ugly!

Are you in Baltimore? I am, and i know the fake stone you're talking about!

No, Capitol Hill. We have it here, too. But I noticed it really took hold in some parts of Baltimore. No offense meant--I love Baltimore rowhouses!

no offense taken. I just thought it was funny that I knew exactly what you're talking about!

Can someone post a link please? I'm having a hard time imagining this.

Sure, here's a beauty.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-3645035-richardsonian-romanesque-style-row-house-home-formstone-washington-dc.php

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's funny the lengths humans go into fooling themselves into rationalizing a decision. No where else is the phenomenon more prevalent than the DC area where old homes are too expensive to tear down.

So what do you suggest instead, given a limited budget and looking for a decent commute and good schools? We're looking at the Silver Spring area for under $400,000.

Maybe a condo or TH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny the lengths humans go into fooling themselves into rationalizing a decision. No where else is the phenomenon more prevalent than the DC area where old homes are too expensive to tear down.

That is just silly. Just because a home is outdated does not mean it needs to be torn down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm okay with ugly interior (that can be changed) but not an ugly shell. For instance, I'd never buy a rambler or a split level (hate those styles) but even a totally dated colonial or Cape Cod would be fine b/c I'd have hope of one day fixing it into smething I liked.

I agree tha tif you hate a certain layout then you will regret the buy but if you like the layout you can change the exterior appearance. Our house was not pretty to look at from the outisde, but after some fairly inexpensive fixes (changed out shutters, light, removed big bushed and had it landscaped) it looks 1000X better and we get a ton of compliment on how cute out house is now. Overall it cost about $2000 for the fixes we did. landscaping being the biggest expense. We could ahve saved money by doing the landscaping ourselves, but with kids we didn't have time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love, love, love my homely house. When we bought it, it had that horrible Baltimore-style fake stone on the front. Still does. It also had metal awnings. The walls inside were layered with wallpaper and the floors with carpet on top of vinyl.

Since then, we ripped up the flooring and found pristine hardwoods. We slowly removed all the paper and painted. And we are finally redoing the kitchen. The outside is still funny-looking but it's definitely growing on me, especially because we never could have bought the house if it didn't look so bad to begin with.

We have space enough for 4, a full basement, and get to live in a great neighborhood. Thank goodness for ugly!

Are you in Baltimore? I am, and i know the fake stone you're talking about!

No, Capitol Hill. We have it here, too. But I noticed it really took hold in some parts of Baltimore. No offense meant--I love Baltimore rowhouses!

no offense taken. I just thought it was funny that I knew exactly what you're talking about!

It is called formstone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's funny the lengths humans go into fooling themselves into rationalizing a decision. No where else is the phenomenon more prevalent than the DC area where old homes are too expensive to tear down.

Oh God. I just... snore.... zzzzzzz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm okay with ugly interior (that can be changed) but not an ugly shell. For instance, I'd never buy a rambler or a split level (hate those styles) but even a totally dated colonial or Cape Cod would be fine b/c I'd have hope of one day fixing it into something I liked.

You can do a lot with a rambler, while, I am sure many will find this unacceptable, just because it is not a two story house from the front, it certainly is not hideous and is a doable exterior renovation.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/101121/A-COuntry-Place-traditional-exterior-other-metro

Some more examples:

http://www.houzz.com/photos/155780/Up-Front-traditional-exterior-other-metro

http://www.houzz.com/photos/359471/Home-Front-Yards-traditional-landscape-san-francisco

http://www.houzz.com/photos/35403/Dormer-pop-out-provides-daylight-deep-into-space-contemporary-exterior-seattle

http://www.houzz.com/photos/328046/Knightwood-Residence-traditional-exterior-san-francisco

http://www.houzz.com/photos/357407/Kikuchi---Associates-Landscape-Architecture-contemporary-exterior-san-francisco

http://www.houzz.com/photos/345452/MESA-Landscape-Architects-traditional-landscape-little-rock

[Anonymous]

If you don't have the budget to renovate, I would disagree with PPs and get a house I love on the inside that isn't amazing on the outside. You'll be living it in! And let's be honest, in a lot of neighborhoods, if your budget is any way limited, you're not getting a beauty on the outside. You may as well enjoy the inside, which is where you'll spend most of your time.

I never thought I would buy a split-level, but we just found one with a very open floor plan in a great school district close-in, and we put a contract down. Love love the inside; I will learn to deal with the outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't have the budget to renovate, I would disagree with PPs and get a house I love on the inside that isn't amazing on the outside. You'll be living it in! And let's be honest, in a lot of neighborhoods, if your budget is any way limited, you're not getting a beauty on the outside. You may as well enjoy the inside, which is where you'll spend most of your time.

I never thought I would buy a split-level, but we just found one with a very open floor plan in a great school district close-in, and we put a contract down. Love love the inside; I will learn to deal with the outside.

I tend to agree. Doing a major renovation or a gut job certainly requires not only lots of money, but also time and often you are in a hurry to move in, especially if selling the house or when lease is running out. Doing work on the inside of the house when you are already living there with kids is a major ordeal. Exterior work can be done without as much inconvenience. So, I would prefer a house in a move in condition but with uglier exterior, over the one that is pretty on the outside, but needs lots of work inside.