Well since we have been thinking about a move lately, of course our preferred area is back to our old stomping grounds. It is totally central to everything and so easy to hop on the main freeways and get anywhere you want to go. The #1 reason is it is closer to our children and grands. Only one problem, price and home availability.
We currently live in an area of all newer homes. Nothing over about 10 to 12 years old. Shops and facilities are all new too. The area we are thinking about moving back to has no new homes. All of the homes are between 25 and 50 or more years old. The shopping areas are older also. It is a very nice area and the prices have sky-rocketed, but it is different to look at homes that need a lot of work, or you pay dearly for one that has been updated.
The home that we sold 12 years ago now sells for around $200,000 more than we sold it for and that home is now 22 years old and I am sure ready for a few updates. That is just a reflection of what we are finding.
Here are a few that might work. However I really don’t want to downsize more and this home would be another downsize.
#1 This one has a great two story living room and I do like the area it is in, however – —
This kitchen is really small and needs a total makeover. The next drawback is no pool and for me that is a must have. Price wise this is at the top of our budget which wouldn’t allow for us to add a pool.
#2 This home has a pool and the floor plan would also work. It is a little more north of where I want to be, but it would work. As you can see in the pics, it would also need paint, a kitchen makeover and lots of landscaping. This one is priced within our budget, but doesn’t leave any room for updates and it is about 100sf smaller than our current home, so another downsize.
Living Room
Family Room / Kitchen
Kitchen
Backyard/Pool
#3 This home is in the exact area I want to be in. Love the neighborhood and the floor plan is fabulous and has 2111 sf. Not as big as what we sold but larger than what we have now. As you will see, it needs a lot of updating with paint and a complete kitchen makeover and the biggest draw back is no pool and about $10,000 over our budget. This one is 22 years old, so have to worry about the roof too.
Living/Dining
Family/Kitchen
#4 This home is in our price range and has 2230 sf and a great overall floor plan. Needs a lot of paint, flooring and a complete kitchen redo. It does have a great pool and is in a very nice area. Biggest downside is it is about 10 miles west of our desired area.
Living/Dining
Kitchen
Family Room
Backyard/Pool
#5 This home is below budget and would give us plenty of money to do some updates. It is about 5 miles west of our desired area,but would work. It is only 1853 sf, so same size as we have now and a really small yard. It needs paint, flooring and a complete kitchen makeover also.
Living/Dining
Family Room/Breakfast area
Kitchen
Backyard/Pool
#6 This home is 1856 sf, so the same size as we have now. It is totally updated and has a pool, so both are pluses. The minuses are $10,000 over budget and north of my desired area, plus this neighborhood is a little iffy. They have way overdone this home for the area.
Living/Dining
Den/Home Office
Family Room
Kitchen/Family Room – I really like this kitcen and the updated cabinets, counters and appliances.
Backyard/Pool
Nothing so far that makes me want to put in an offer, so we will continue to look.
Did you see one that you would like?
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