do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Saw a hosue and here are my pros and cons, would you think the pros out weigh these cons. Honest opiniions please.



Cons
On Soper which is a road a lot of people cut through to get to merrick rd.. or so I have heard.
Its a ranch which i said was not on my top choices AT ALL
It doesn't have any extra room on main level so the basement would be used as family room , play room. i had always said while I dont mind that, a fisnished basement was not a priority. i would much prefer to have a living room and family room on the same floor.

PROS:
New kitchen and baths- GEORGEOUS KITCHEN
oceanside schools and the particular school where we know people.
our friend live 2 houses away
nice size yard 60x100 not too big and not too small.
low taxes( which of course could go up)
asking 425 so could get it for a little under 400- hopefully
not much to do except paint redo wood floors( optional but we would bc house would be empty) and take down wall paper in 2 bedrooms. Oh and get carpet in basement which again is optional but we would do.
TONS AND TONS AND TONS of storage.
Has a 2nd fridge in basement.

THOUGHTS?

Message edited 4/18/2011 10:04:34 AM.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

it sounds like to me you were against a ranch so why would you settle if its not the style house you want? JMO.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

It wasnt my top choice at all, but it has a lot of other great features. I am wondering if the pros out wiegh the cons . We have a budget so i know that we are not going to get our PERFECT HOUSE. However, it has new kitchen and baths which was a major priority for us. i would rather pay more for the hosue and not have to redo kitchen and baths.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

I think you're the only one that can answer that.

Can you picture yourself living there and being happy with your choice?

Do you like it enough that you would be OK if it turns out to be your forever home???

I don't agree with the don't settle mentality, unless you have an unlimited budget. . . alot of home buyers have to settle.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

busy road would be a deal breaker for me!

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Sounds nice, I would check out the street though, if it's not that bus I would go for if...

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Again, I think it is really what you want and what tradeoffs you and your family can live with (because when buying a home, you usually need to make some tradeoffs, even if minor).

I wouldn't be hung up on the style of the home, because sometimes what we think we want is not what we actually want or what works best for us. I did NOT want a split, but I now own a split and live there very happily...it was definitely the best house for us. Many of my customers change their mind about style of house along the way.

It sounds like there are a lot of pros for you, and very few cons, but the biggest con is the location on the busy road. As others have said, location can't be changed. Only you know if the main road location is something you can live with. As previous posters suggested, if you are unsure, I would go there during several different times of day -- both during the week and on weekends -- to see what the traffic is like. Is it a main road with a double-yellow line, or just a through street to Merrick Rd?

Also, I would consider whether you could get a similar house, with all (or most) of the "pros" on a quieter street. The price should reflect the location on a busy road, and if that is the only way you could afford a house with all of those features and benefits, then you need to decide what you want to sacrifice, because something will need to give. Either you live on the busier street and get everything you want, or you get a less updated house or a smaller house on a quieter street with less traffic.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

The busy street would be a deal breaker for me. If your friend lives 2 doors down can't they give you the honest truth about the street? As for it being a ranch if it has what you want then I wouldn't let that factor in.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

I am throwing this out there based on some of your other posts. Are you SURE you want to live in Baldwin?

Even just based on asking about the street. You said baldwin/oceanside. Why add the Oceanside if the street is Baldwin.

Are you looking in any other neighborhoods? Have you looked in oceanside? Or RVC with Oceanside schools?

Not trying to be b!tchy just putting it out there.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

I was not sure if part of Soper turns in to Oceanside when it gets closer to Merrick or if its all Baldwin. Where the house is Baldwin. I understand you werent being bitchy , but again I just posted that about Baldwin bc i had heard mixed things, THATS ALL. I am fine buying a house in this area.


So back to my question..is it a busy road? Do you have any idea?

Message edited 4/18/2011 1:08:04 PM.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

I wouldn't say it is a busy street as it isn't double yellow. It is a through street which will have more traffic than other side streets.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Pros absolutely do NOT outweigh the cons.

Why settle?

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

i think it depends on how strong you feel about the Cons. IMO, those pros don't outweigh the cons. you can't change the location, changing the style house or layout would be lots of $$$. i'd rather have a location i like, style house i like. at the end of the day changing bathrooms and kitchens are a pain, but easier and cheaper than a whole addition! i could understand living next to a friend is tempting, but you never know if their situation will change, maybe they have to change jobs, will move i wouldnt make a decision based on that.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Thanks. The friends was a bonus, not a reason to move there. Its not like we are super close with them. It was just a pro not a major reason to live there. Sopry for confusion.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Keep looking. Don't settle.

This is a huge purchase.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Seems the cons are NOT fixable. Type of house, busy road. Vs you liking cosmetic features like new kichen. The layout is not what you want. Those are MAJOR cons.


You can remodel a kitchen anywhere. You can't change a busy road.

Your friends next to you. They might move in the future.

Message edited 4/18/2011 4:12:59 PM.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

Like pp have said only you can really decide if pros outway cons. Dh cousins and uncle live on that block and while it does go to Merrick rd there are quite a few blocks that do so I never considered it busy at all.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

For me, no. The pros don't outweigh the cons.

A busy road is a dealbreaker IMO.

Re: do you think the pros out weigh the cons

I would not let the cons outweight the Pros in your case.

I actually live a few blocks south of where this house is located - and I don't consider that street a "main/high/heavy traffic" street - if thats really the only reason holding you back from buying your dream house, that is a rather trivial reason IMHO.

All the other reasons cited as a 'con' can be fixed -- and really the only reason I'd let the type of street traffic deter me from buying my dream house would be if I have kids who I know plan to be playing in the street (which they really shouldnt be doing anyway, thats what parks are for )