Woke up this morning, excited and of course cautious.
We have 4 houses to look at.
We had all of the addresses and pre-arranged appointments, but we like to get there ahead of time, just to look around a bit and get a feel so that we don't have the ole "deer in the headlights look" on our faces when we meet the agent. Haha seems I like these silly phrases!
The 1st house was down a very long highway, a little crazy but not bad, but then it turned into a very crazy road that led to the dirt (not gravel) road the house was on. As we drove down this road we had to close the windows for fear of getting poked in the eye from the branches that were pushing back into the truck. This was definitely a one car road and you needed a machete to get down it.
When we found the house, there was another house nearly touching it on one side, and someone building another house on the other side that would have been near touching as well. Sardines in a row along the whole road. Most of these houses would be seasonal and our guess is that we would be very much alone most of the winter.
Now don't get me wrong, we want seclusion and privacy, but to a point. We don't want to take a team of dogs with a sled every time we want to get a quart of milk. And what if we need medical assistance? Then in the summer it would be no doubt very busy with cabiner's and their friends and families, how would we pass someone on the road? We would certainly be able to pass the toilet paper from 1 window to the next if the need be. Nope! Not even going to waste time looking at it. We called Stephanie and said no. It was on to the next house. She arranged for an earlier viewing and we were headed there, down the very same highway but a little further.
House #2 is where we met Stephanie. First thing she met Highway and Jack and jumped right in to meet them. Turns out she has 2 big dogs and 5 cats, okay I like that, she knows that we need to accommodate them.
We looked all around the outside of the house, needs a deck but ready for one. Has an above ground pool, okay, but not a deal maker. It had a really tall hill on the property behind the house with a road leading up it. We went up to the top. I was huffing and puffing most of the way and had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath. Stephanie struggled a little bit (maybe just for my sake) but I felt like a smoker and struggled more.
All the way up the road to the top of the hill there were apple trees, crab apples and berries and even more at the top. At the top there was a very large plateau/landing of sorts and the view was spectacular of the water and bay. Then there was a lookout mini cabin, maybe 10 x 10 feet on a small deck with a picnic table and yet another apple tree. This would make a very fun man cave for Tom no doubt. I have named this house and property The Look Out
We headed back down and went into the house. Only 8 years old and everything is very new inside as far as the house goes. 3 bedrooms, a large kitchen, dining room with French doors that would lead to a balcony if there was one, and living room open area with dark wooden floors and dark paint on the walls. All so very very modern. Not quite the look I wanted.
Basement is a walk out with French doors but is mostly not finished. Could be a separate suite, could host my studio, plumbing is there for a 2nd bathroom and certainly enough room for a family room and a workshop for Tom, but all unfinished.When I say basement, there is no chance of flooding as the house is also on the lower part of the hill and then there is a road and then the water.
So the house has potential if we finish the basement and add a deck. We like it but still not there yet. I really was hoping for a farmhouse with some rustic character.
House #3 on a small lot with a garage and loft. Cute character type house and deeded access to the water. Okay, lets check it out!
The cute back deck pretty much told us we are back at vintage Grandma's house. With the plastic potted flowers and the large ceramic dog and bird ornaments everywhere with loads more of wooden birdhouses and wooden signs. Yikes!
We opened the door and yep smelled like vintage Grandma! Again my nose struggled to walk through it. Too bad cuz it really had character. I couldn't even go down the basement. It was a no!
Turns out this house had over 60 up and coming viewings. I'm sure someone got past the smell and saw the potential.
On to house #4 Ocean front property
In the St George area on the Bay of Fundy sitting high on a hill on 5 acres. The property needed serious landscaping and it would probably take 3 years for Tom to clear out the brush and trees to open up the view of the ocean. The house needed some serious TLC and while there was opportunities to get it to work it would take so much time. If we were 20 years younger, I would have begged Tom to buy this house, but it really was too small and so much work that at this stage in our life we just don't want that much to do.
After visiting that house we headed up to the nearby town of St George to look around. Perhaps if St George would have had more to offer and more of the type of amenities we wanted, we might have still considered the house, but it was a long shot. And it turns out there wasn't enough to keep the interest. Sadly, good bye ocean front!
Ocean front property
Here is what we have learned about ocean front property:
It is either out of our budget range expensive or so dilapidated that it is not worth fixing, yet you pay premium prices for what I wouldn't host as the dog house.
Houses are too close together. Absolutely no privacy.
It is 15 degrees cooler than anywhere else and very windy. That is why everyone has clothes lines, the wind like the laundry never stops. Lots of fog too!
Water damage, and flooding. They may claim it has never flooded but there is always that pungent smell of moisture and dampness. Besides we all know the story about it never flooded in 50 years, it is year 51 and you know how that story ends....
Beach access is questionable. Either you are so high on the hill that you need a construction crew to build access, or you are right on the beach fearing flooding. Then there are marshy waters, mud, and rocky terrains. There is also the tourist trap areas and limited beach access. Both drive the prices so high and make it near impossible to enjoy a quiet day on the beach.
The beauty of not living on the beach, is that you can visit pretty much anywhere anytime and be at the ocean in under an hour. And the drive to get anywhere, even to go buy groceries or gas no matter where you live is like a day as a tourist. I will never tire of this scenery.
The dream or need of living on the beach is behind me now and Tom too. We are on holidays everyday no matter where we live.
Here are a couple of pics of scenery stuff.
No comments:
Post a Comment