<p>Ha! Even if they were worth something, they’d have to be worth a lot to even pay for the toilet paper holder. I can’t imagine they’re worth anything - they’re just old beer cans. My H went to the NY World’s Fair, though, so he likes the idea of holding onto them just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>What is it about bathroom fixtures that make them so darned expensive.</p>
<p>I like that church turned into house. There are a few of those in our neck of the woods and they ARE interesting. </p>
<p>I hope you find a close to perfect for you house!</p>
<p>as I told the story in the other thread. I bought my house for 20K less than the asking price in a REO situation with 16 bids on the table. I am sure I was not the highest bidder, but lucky I got it. The reason?</p>
<p>Bank wants to close books at the end of year, offer accepted Dec. 20 and all proceeds must be in before Dec 27th in an all cash deal.</p>
<p>The house we bought at on-line auction from HUD/Fannie M. (can’t remember which) did have sewer liens against it. They paid those off. It was a cash deal and we closed in about 10 days, at a McDonald’s. H thought that was amusing. Sign where all the stickies are…bam…less than 2 weeks later…own a house. </p>
<p>It was my starter house (2 families between my sale and buy back) and I was happy to have it back. Even being familiar with the house, everything moved much more quickly than we usually do large financial decisions. Plus, you know that rush when you win an e-Bay auction? It’s <em>really</em> magnified when you hit “send” on a house bid!!</p>
<p>Hmmmm. You all are giving me some ideas about bidding on this house. artloversplus, the end-of-the-year pressure for the bank makes a lot of sense, too.</p>
<p>Of course, the inspection may tell us to walk away quickly, although I doubt it.</p>
<p>busdriver11
</p>
<p>busdriver11 brings up a very good point. VeryHappy – before you bid – can you ask your attorney to order title first? Not sure what state you’re in but normally the buyer’s attorney orders a title report, so you should be able to get a heads up on any surprising liens. Yes, you would probably incur a fee for the report, but it might save you money in the long run.</p>
<p>VH, look at this page:</p>
<p>[Klemm</a> Real Estate - Fine Properties - Litchfield County - Connecticut, CT](<a href=“http://klemmrealestate.com/properties.php?status=For+Sale&classification=Residential&price_max=500000]Klemm”>http://klemmrealestate.com/properties.php?status=For+Sale&classification=Residential&price_max=500000)</p>
<p>When I get ready to look, I am going to have you all make suggestions. I, too, like the renovated church.</p>
<p>Consolation, VERY nice assortment of houses!</p>
<p>Well – we saw nine houses today. What we learned:</p>
<ol>
<li>We don’t want to live in an antique. </li>
</ol>
<p>We saw three of them. The first one was too antique-y – not fixed up enough at all, and the property wasn’t good. The second one was better, but it felt very old and the layout was Jerry-rigged. The third one was delightful and in very good shape. It had a terrific property including a pool. But when DH and I realized that it was exactly what we had been dreaming of and that we still didn’t like it, we realized that we don’t want to live in an antique after all. Very low ceilings and very small rooms. The outside was delightful, but in the middle of the winter we’d be going crazy.</p>
<ol>
<li>We don’t want to live in a certain town that’s 22 minutes away from our current town. </li>
</ol>
<p>The houses are less expensive, it’s charming and rural, but it’s too far from everything we know. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>We did see two houses today that we liked. Both, of course, are at the top of our [new and increased] maximum cost, and both of them need work to bring them up to where we’d want them to be.</p></li>
<li><p>We still really like the Hoarder’s House on the river the best. It’s much less expensive than the other two we liked today and, we’re hoping, won’t cost any more to fix up.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>We’re having it inspected Wednesday afternoon and, based on the results of that, we’ll know how we’re going to proceed.</p>
<p>Edited to add: We also realize that the flow among the rooms is very important. The antiques definitely did not have that.</p>
<p>This is more fun than watching HDTV!</p>
<p>Crossing fingers for a good inspection!</p>
<p>Speaking of finding things in walls, we found a 1940’s New York Times book review in the dining room wall when we did our most recent bathroom renovation. (It seemed like we had holes in every wall in the house!) Our house is from the 1920s so it must have been a previous renovation. I put the old paper back and added a new book review from this year.</p>
<p>I hope we get pictures, when the decision is made.</p>
<p>The lighthouse and hoarder’s house are both gorgeous to look at. My loved ones who have done renovations have all ended up paying 20-100% more than budgeted. One of them was told it would have been MUCH cheaper & nicer if the contractor was allowed to just demolish the house & build a new one! Another did a kitchen, living room and one bathroom. Years later, did three more bathrooms. They will be doing the last bathroom one of these days.</p>
<p>Not sure our marriage would survive any renovation. We have been meaning to paint the house since shortly after we purchased it over two decades ago. H has been meaning to renovate the dry rot in the patio. The fence between our home & the neighbor needs to be replaced. <sigh> H wants to do it HIMSELF but takes his time doing it, so time passes, and passes, and passes.</sigh></p>
<p>mathmom, I love that idea!</p>
<p>HImom, I’m married to your husband.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ha. Totally agree. I check in every day to see if VH and H have made a decision.</p>
<p>Lots to think about. Lots and lots. I think I’ve already mentioned, the inspection of the Hoarder’s House takes place on Wednesday, and then we must make a decision.</p>
<p>Another factor besides the houses themselves: With the one I particularly liked yesterday, we could move right in. The current owner is deceased, the house has been completely painted inside and out, and it’s completely empty. Not a short sale. The Hoarder’s House – uh, that’s the exact opposite.</p>
<p>VeryHappy and HImom: sister wives! :D</p>
<p>The thing about antique (as in 18th century or early 19th) houses is that the ones with a great floor plan and higher ceilings are out there, but they tend to cost a lot more than your target price in Westport or Wilton and environs. The less expensive places tend to be places that were very modest to start with, and/or a bit ramshackle, with odd bits added on here and there so that the place looks delightful from the outside but is chopped up into a lot of odd little rooms inside. When we were last looking in the area, H had a problem with the houses that had very low ceilings on the 2nd floor, since he is 6-1 1/2. We ultimately bought a house that was pristine post and beam, built in 1790, with the original floors and windows, and a few well-thought-out additions. Great flow and nice-sized rooms. Loved that house. But it’s great that you and your H are refining what you really want.</p>
<p>Consolation: We’re not even tall people. I’m 5’ 0" and DH is – maybe on a good day – 5’ 6".</p>
<p>VH: Thank you for taking us house hunting with you!</p>
<p>sounds like you accomplished a lot this weekend… I am pretty relieved you ruled out the antiques - whew!</p>