Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Latestarter]

Sure you didn't mean the kitchen cabinets in #3? Those are just plain ugly... and yes, green paint would HAVE to go! But as long as they're functional, that's what matters up front. I can always upgrade later. The thing that attracts me to #3 is the creek running across the back 3rd of the property as well as the (maybe) nice barn. No garage, and I don't like that it's right on a main, probably heavily traveled road... It's also the most expensive, but it is a brick home. Old and out of date for sure, but that can be mitigated over time.
The kitchen on #1 is very small, and I do like to cook, but mostly outside on a grill involving meat The price on #1 is most attractive and despite the fact that it "appears" as if it was recently listed, I remember seeing it listed way back the beginning of the year like Feb/Mar time frame. They prob took it off the market for being stale and just put it back on. They may just be desperate. Could I get it for less than 150K? Possibly/probably... I'd most likely start out with a 145K offer and see what happens from there

#2 is my favorite of them. I like the wood Babs! Love it actually. I'm not normally a fan of long skinny properties but the way this one is laid out I could keep a couple of steers up front and the goats/sheep in the back. Maybe put a barn off to the left of the house to access front and rear fields... Have to see how the land lays to determine if digging a pond would work, and where.

But really, each one has some really strong merits as well as some weak points. We'll see this coming Saturday. Kind of excited but not about another long drive.

 

[AClark]

Well if you're taking I25 down to Las Cruces and across on I10 through El Paso, I'll let you know, our freeway is torn up around exit 35 or so - traffic is a mess. You can actually avoid most of I10 though and it's a shorter trip. If you're coming this way, I'll let you know where to get off so you can avoid the craptastic El Paso traffic It's how I go when I run to Arizona for the weekend, shaves off miles and time, virtually zero traffic too.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I like the wood floors as well... But it's priced quite a bit high per square foot... It's been listed for 133 days, which gives an idea of how over-priced it is... Priced right, it would have sold almost immediately (IMHO). When I said "smaller" homes, that was compared to the one I tried to buy already that was over 2100 square feet, 4 br...

133 days in rural TX isn't the same as a suburb of Denver

 

[Latestarter]

Oh heck no! I take I70 east then catch 287 SE almost all the way there. I'll jump off on 82 East just the other side of Wichita Falls, TX, then drop south on 271 out of Paris, TX, which takes me right into Mount Pleasant where the first 2 properties are located.

 

[sadieml]

Poor Joe! I'll give you my take on each of the 3 if you want--if not, just scroll right on past my post--YOUR opinion is the only one that really counts...

Most of all I wish they had floor plans on those sites, you know, so you can see the lay-out!

#1 and #3 are both brick--a big plus for me
#2 is WAY high per sq ft
#1 yucky galley kitchen--don't you enjoy cooking on occasion? BUT 2 ovens is a plus for me (and the green does suck!)
#2 and #3 both have nice sized kitchens--you'd have to reface the cabinets in #3 and the counter looks pretty worn

Okay, total package:

The first one looks nice, pretty good curb appeal, and the price is great!!! I love the den with the fireplace, eat-in kitchen PLUS dining room, added-on game room (DH would put his Pez collection there!), and it has a nice pond.

I don't like the front of #2, but all that be-you-ti-ful wood is great. Rooms look nice-sized, and I like the out-buildings, the swing, and the storm shelter/cellar/???

Personally, I have a good feeling about #3, but it looks like they may have 5, 6 or maybe even 7 kids and with so few pics and no idea of sq ft, it's hard to tell much about size. I scrolled down on the page for #3 and I checked it from the satellite. barn? yes fencing? yes pond? yes--AND the back property line looks like a creek or could just be a gully for run-off, not sure (per your last post it is a creek--that's pronounced 'crick' btw)

I know I'm not being very helpful, but I am a strong believer that you have to be there and get a feeling for the place.
I really believe that since you're looking for guidance from above, when you walk through your "new home", you'll feel "at home". This whole process is very exciting...

 

[babsbag]

Skip whichever house it was that has the purple bathroom.

I really like the brick houses but houses can be remodeled, land not quite as easily. I live about 1/4 mile from the main road and that is close enough. Long driveways are a big ++++ And if you happen to own a cat or ever want one you don't want to be on a busy road.

 

[AClark]

Ah ok, I'm not sure where Mt. Pleasant is, I had guessed it was more down by San Antonio rather than up closer to Dallas. I had to look on a map where it is, I'm not familiar with anywhere but west TX (basically this side of DFW) so yeah definitely makes sense not to come all the way down here - you aren't missing anything anyway! lol
I try to stay on the freeway, since I drive a diesel truck I've learned that not all gas stations carry diesel, but staying on the freeway is a safe bet because truck stops do.

That purple bathroom is something else, isn't it?

 

[NH homesteader]

Yeah don't like the cabinets in #3 at all. The kitchen in #2 has too much brown haha. But #1 basically needs a new one. I'm kitchen minded! Otherwise any of them are good, but#2 is my favorite.

 

[Bruce]

Purple can be changed (house #1). Interesting that they have 2 pictures of the "eating area" in the kitchen with different furniture. Given there is a separate dining room, that area could be changed for more counter/prep space to make up for the lack of it in the kitchen itself. A galley kitchen isn't bad if only 1 person is in there at a time. Master bed has the sink IN the bedroom. Not a problem for Joe but that could be really annoying for a married couple where one gets up early to go to work. And that bathroom layout: Wind your way between the cabinet and the toilet to get to the bathtub? Maybe it is just a bad angle. Probably no sink in that cabinet so a smaller one could be put int. But the paper is on the opposite wall Time for a freestanding paper holder

 

[Bruce]

#3 is really dark, even with the lights on. Some of that can be attributed to the poor selection of dark flooring and yep, those cabinet doors need to be painted a light color or replaced. And no property pictures. That by itself is concerning especially since it is 20 acres.

Not sure where #2 REALLY is. Google and Mapquest place it in different locations and the satellite view doesn't look like the picture in the listing. But the pictures look like it is a good place for someone with animals and unless the REA cheated with photo lights, it seems pretty bright, especially given all the wood. I love wood