Anonymous
Post 11/15/2015 03:07     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
Anonymous wrote:We bought a tear down and built a new house which we promptly sold. It was really nice and thoughtfully designed...for a target demographic of a family with a bunch of kids and a nanny an/or in laws coming to visit. In other words, five bedrooms, 2.5 car garage, big lawn in the rear. And the way it was graded meant there were three levels and lots of stairs, including the garage being at the basement level. (Also not idea for kids but very common in N Arlington to have basement garage or detached garage). The people who bought it are in their 50s. No kids. Only a dog. He really wanted to be near metro and that was a big deal for them, and the house is super close to metro. But wow I'm in my 40s and no kids and I'd never buy a house like that in my 50s! What gives? I just can't figure it out. I want them to love it there...I put a lot of love and attention into building it.



They fell in love with it. Thought it would be a perfect place for their cousin the OG mid-atlantic meth cooker for Los Zetas to establish his meth lab. Be happy. Don't ask too many questions.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2015 21:42     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
So if they had a few teenagers you would be okay with it? They are 50. This is not their "forever@ home. It will prob be sold when they retire.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2015 21:15     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
Neurotic!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2015 23:02     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
Op here. Love that this thread is alive and appreciate all the perspectives! As a small scale builder competing with the big guys, I'm always trying to gain insight into why people buy houses and what they are looking for. I have to engineer using assumptions about demographics, but clearly my assumptions are flawed!!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2015 22:50     Subject: Re:Why did these people buy our house?
You are too attached, OP. You can't know people's motivations for choosing one home over another.

Our new neighbor, who lives in a former tear down, now new 5000+ sq foot home, is a widowed 70-something year old woman. On the surface, it seems like an odd choice, but she bought it because her grandchildren live just a block away.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2015 22:37     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I can't. I'm emotionally attached. The realtor says they love it, and I'm worried about their dog having to go down the deck stairs to get to the yard (I have an old dog who will not do stairs).


Well, then, why didn't you sell it to a younger family? My family would have loved your house (we're not looking, but other people like us are a dime a dozen in this area -- 2 kids under 3, an au pair, love using metro, etc).

If your house is desirable, and it sounds like it is very much so, you probably had multiple bids. You didn't HAVE to take the highest amount of money -- you could have chosen to sell it to a family instead of empty nesters, who will probably only live there a short time (because 3 levels at 50 is fine, but 3 levels at 70 is not) instead of it being a forever home for a family.



Speak for yourself. I have relatives in their late 80s who live in a three story townhouse. Use it or lose it!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2015 20:27     Subject: Re:Why did these people buy our house?
they are buying to stave off capital gains tax and the house is really going to their daughter and SIL, who is probably a smuck
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2015 22:04     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?

OP,

We bought a tear-down, and fixed it. We love our tiny old house. We may sell in the distant future, and I am sure 99% of people will only be interested in the land, and the first thing they'll do is raze our home to the ground. The home we are raising our children in - they will probably be very sad, because the house will represent a big part of their childhood.

These things happen, OP.

Anonymous
Post 10/25/2015 21:18     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
Anonymous wrote:DC housing is garbage if people consider that too big.


Not garbage, but extremely expensive. How can you not know that?
Anonymous
Post 09/03/2015 19:34     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
I'm in my 50s, and I'd love to live in a larger house. We have three children still at home, so could use more space. When the children move out, I'd like to move to a lovely old, old apartment or four-story townhouse, as long as it's old and solidly built. I think the stairs will keep me in shape.

To each his/her own, OP. The buyers may be in terrific shape, and love having all that space. I'd love to spread out more. I need a home office and a sewing room and a craft room and a larger kitchen, none of which I have now. I could use a five bedroom house just for me and DH and the doggies, so I envy your buyers!! Wish them well, OP, and move onto your next project.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2015 22:00     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
You are crazy, OP.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2015 20:54     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I can't. I'm emotionally attached. The realtor says they love it, and I'm worried about their dog having to go down the deck stairs to get to the yard (I have an old dog who will not do stairs).


Well, then, why didn't you sell it to a younger family? My family would have loved your house (we're not looking, but other people like us are a dime a dozen in this area -- 2 kids under 3, an au pair, love using metro, etc).

If your house is desirable, and it sounds like it is very much so, you probably had multiple bids. You didn't HAVE to take the highest amount of money -- you could have chosen to sell it to a family instead of empty nesters, who will probably only live there a short time (because 3 levels at 50 is fine, but 3 levels at 70 is not) instead of it being a forever home for a family.


Ugh we lost in a bidding war to a couple in their 50s. I was heartbroken. The sellers and I talked about antiques and maintaining the home - they were a gay couple - they ended up selling to a disgraced Bush staff person. Still upsets me. I hope they modernized the shit out of that property.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2015 16:07     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
i find it weird that you even think about it OP. You sold your place and moved. That's it. Why do you care why they bought it? Done deal...move on.
Anonymous
Post 09/02/2015 06:23     Subject: Re:Why did these people buy our house?
Anonymous wrote:Really, why do you worry about them? We're in our 50's with young children and frankly, we're still very active. We have a large house and we need all the space, even if we didn't have kids. We have a lot of family that visit and need the space. I have times that both siblings, my parents and my nieces all come to visit. Other times my in-laws (4-5) come at the same time. We need the extra rooms.

My best friend and wife just bought a 4700 sf house as a childfree couple around 50. She is a fish breeder and converted half of the finished basement into a specialized fish breeding farm. Of the 5 bedrooms, she has a craft room, he has a hobby room and they have 2 guest rooms for when their extended family comes to visit. They have holiday meals in the area (his siblings live nearby) and extended family often stay at their home when they come to visit and they need the space. They use all of the space and they have no kids. They are also still very active in their late 40's/early 50's.

Frankly, the fact that you consider 50's to be too old to need space is laughable. Many of my peers who are in their 50's actually have hobbies and activities that they don't want to put away and also want rooms for entertaining like a specialized game room. Most of them have the disposable income to have cleaning services come and clean (especially since they have the income without having to pay for kids) so why wouldn't they have the space to expand and enjoy life and hobbies.



Hi this is the OP, didn't realize the thread was back alive, thanks for the insight! I was just curious. Of course I am so happy it sold for a good price, and no it wasn't cheaply built, I don't know how to build cheaply- I am really passionate about home building and all choices are good quality. I've already acquired the land for my next project, and I will have better perspective now!
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2015 09:15     Subject: Why did these people buy our house?
You sold your house take the money