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bobblehead
Joined: 09 Dec 2008
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: Advice needed on small house |
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Sorry I am double posting, I didnt see the residential board til after...
Hi, I am a single parent of a 13 y.o. boy. I have been renting a duplex for the past 15 years...and now have a stable enough income/job to qualify for a home loan without feeling I am getting over my head (I went back to school and graduated, finally, last year).
I want a smaller home so that it's more manageable for me (upkeep and utilities). I also want a fixer upper, to save on initial mortgage costs. And I want to stay urban, as we have been.
The nicer areas are too expensive, but there is a middle-low income, stable area that is nice, and close to everything, and there is a house there that is not expensive (comparatively). I just wonder if it's TOO small.
I think it was originally a one bedroom, the second bedroom is an add-on, and the bad thing about that is that you have to walk through it to get to the back door and 'basement'.
The basement is only the space under the added on bedroom, and has the water heater, furnace, and washer/dryer. (what happened to the main house's basement? It was built in 1904).
It also has white vinyl siding with reddish aluminum trim...
It does have an old two car garage and a big back yard I could do things with...
The dimensions are 818 total square feet, 10x14 LR, 10X12 BR, 10x10 BR, and a tiny bathroom and kitchen. It has a tiny front hall, and a front porch, which is nice.
It has hardwood floors, in the LR they are smooth, but the whole floor just ever so slightly bows up. The windows are in great shape.
Here is a picture of the outside.
What do you all think, liveable? any ideas for renovation?? Any way to improve the exterior's appearance? Any idea if this has a loft/attic hidden somewhere?
Any and all advice deeply and gratefully appreciated.
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 832
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:12 am Post subject: |
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It is difficult to assess this house with just a single photo. So let's talk about the bigger issues.
One is neighborhood (and schools). You state the neighborhood is stable. You need to determine if it will stay stable. And more importantly, are the schools serving this neighborhood going to provide your child the education you want him to achieve.
Really neighborhood and schools can be different issues depending on the overall community. Is your community a city of 100,000 people or a village of 1,000. How bad can the neighborhood be if the entire village or town is under 20,000 people and served by the same school district.
Homeownership. It sounds like your making your first solo venture into the housing market. You have to start somewhere and build equity. Will this house give you the chance to start building equity and value so that you can move up to something later? You need to get into the market and start investing. Be start - practice wise debt management. Why take on more mortgage just to get "bigger".
What is wrong with a two bedroom house for two people? Will it serve your needs.... do you really need to have more house? Or at least more house at this moment?
Older homes have character.... that's what you call the bowed living room floor.
You can't tell from this photo about whether you can do additions or major renovations..... you really have to be able to walk through and see this things personally.
As far a the whole small house thingy, you might go to the local library and find some books on small houses. You might get some ideas about making the house more livable. I typically direct my clients to read the Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka. While not necessarily a direct fit to your house, you might find some good ideas about utilizing space more efficiently. You might enjoy this website also http://www.smallhousestyle.com/ .... lots of links to small house plans and the like.
Now I realize I probably did not give you the answers your looking for, but only you can truly determine the house is right for you and your son. BTW - My cousin who is single has lived in the tiniest of places. She owns an art gallery and spends very little time at home - compared to the time she spends at work. Her last rental was about 16 x 22. It was a single room for living/dining/cooking and a private bedroom and bath. It was a small carriage or outbuilding that had been converted. It sat in the garden of a larger house. It was a great place..... the owner (of the larger house) decided to convert it into an art studio for herself - otherwise my cousin would still be living there.
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