1. Good bones. Basically a structurally sound building with a solid foundation. This is important because we don't want to be saddled with a money-pit.
2. Environmentally safe. Most places we've looked at are older; with the potential for asbestos, lead paint, mold, or leaking oil tanks. We'd need to deal with these items properly before moving in.
3. Basic comforts. Depending on funding, we may find ourselves moving into an incomplete space. Some initial criteria must include: running water, bathroom functions, kitchen sink, washer/dryer, heat, lights, and a safe space for my two cats.
4. Easy access to public transportation. I'd like to be able to commute without a car. That means a 15-minute or less walk to the train station.
5. Cash flow. Rick's desire to include our home as part of a long-term investment has led us to explore the possibility of a multi-family structure.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Start
This is the start of our Off Beat Dream House blog. We've been working towards this point for almost a year now! I'm so excited that our ideas have materialized enough to start blogging about our new adventures in home creation. Before I go there though, let's recap how this all started.
In Autumn of 2010, Rick and I started talking about moving in together - he from Scarsdale, me from Brooklyn. Then my landlord listed my Brooklyn apartment building for sale, which kicked up our moving schedule!
We decided that Westchester County would be ideal because we'd like more space than the city can reasonably offer. Rick's clients are mostly based in Westchester and my commute wouldn't increase by much if we lived in the southern portion of the County. Rick is looking for a place to live that would also be a good investment. In the fall of 2010 we started exploring towns and found that we're especially drawn to those along the Hudson River. The Hudson towns are pedestrian friendly and there's a lot fun things to do on this side of the County.
We became interested in a 3-family in Irvington that we had driven by a couple times. Rick made an initial offer and decided this was the time to put his house up for sale. Rick was therefore under the gun to sell his house within a short time period so as not to lose the 3-family that he had bid on. But after a few months when Rick's house didn't sell, the seller terminated the contract and moved on to another buyer. On the positive side, Rick was able to complete all the remaining unfinished projects so that the house would be more sell-able.
As chance would have it, Rick had also been eyeing a commercial building in Dobbs Ferry. Rick had spoken to the owner several years ago, but was surprised to find that it was now on the market. As it turns out, the building had been for sale for over two years, but was having problems selling probably because it is need of some serious TLC. We viewed the property a couple times and then Rick made an offer. At this point we have a signed contract and are waiting to hear when we'll be able to close!
In the meantime, a handful of people had looked at my Brooklyn apartment. Someone made an offer in August and the prospective landlord would like to keep me as a tenant. This gives us a little elbow room as we plan ahead. Rick has since closed on the sale of his Scarsdale house on Thanksgiving and moved into my Brooklyn apartment.
In Autumn of 2010, Rick and I started talking about moving in together - he from Scarsdale, me from Brooklyn. Then my landlord listed my Brooklyn apartment building for sale, which kicked up our moving schedule!
We decided that Westchester County would be ideal because we'd like more space than the city can reasonably offer. Rick's clients are mostly based in Westchester and my commute wouldn't increase by much if we lived in the southern portion of the County. Rick is looking for a place to live that would also be a good investment. In the fall of 2010 we started exploring towns and found that we're especially drawn to those along the Hudson River. The Hudson towns are pedestrian friendly and there's a lot fun things to do on this side of the County.
We became interested in a 3-family in Irvington that we had driven by a couple times. Rick made an initial offer and decided this was the time to put his house up for sale. Rick was therefore under the gun to sell his house within a short time period so as not to lose the 3-family that he had bid on. But after a few months when Rick's house didn't sell, the seller terminated the contract and moved on to another buyer. On the positive side, Rick was able to complete all the remaining unfinished projects so that the house would be more sell-able.
As chance would have it, Rick had also been eyeing a commercial building in Dobbs Ferry. Rick had spoken to the owner several years ago, but was surprised to find that it was now on the market. As it turns out, the building had been for sale for over two years, but was having problems selling probably because it is need of some serious TLC. We viewed the property a couple times and then Rick made an offer. At this point we have a signed contract and are waiting to hear when we'll be able to close!
In the meantime, a handful of people had looked at my Brooklyn apartment. Someone made an offer in August and the prospective landlord would like to keep me as a tenant. This gives us a little elbow room as we plan ahead. Rick has since closed on the sale of his Scarsdale house on Thanksgiving and moved into my Brooklyn apartment.
Rick's Old House
My Brooklyn Apartment
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