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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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What house would you rather buy?
a modest ranch that needs a little updating, no basement (that we want) but it's in the location of our DREAMS!
or
a colonial that is much bigger than the ranch. it needs quite a bit of updating. it has a basement and 1 more bedroom than the ranch also in a nice location but not the one of our dreams.
the colonial is 10% more than the ranch
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Posted 7/29/06 9:00 AM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
i need to have a basement, so anything without one is automatically crossed off the list.
i would go with the colonial
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:23 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
well you know me ....i wouldn't pick either
i can't settle not having something i truly want
IF i had to pick.... i would go with the colonial
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:25 AM |
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christy
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 6787 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
This is tough, I know people say LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION, and if one is in the location of your dreams it sounds hard to walk away from. But, I would lean toward the colonial...
Or keep looking until you find all that you need. 
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:26 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by Redhead
well you know me ....i wouldn't pick either
i can't settle not having something i truly want
IF i had to pick.... i would go with the colonial
I know what you mean about settling. the thing is... almost every basement we have seen (A LOT) smells like mold.  and I hear soooooo many complaints on here about water damage in people's basements. it just makes me wonder if it's something that should be a deal breaker 
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:28 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by christy
This is tough, I know people say LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION, and if one is in the location of your dreams it sounds hard to walk away from. But, I would lean toward the colonial...
Or keep looking until you find all that you need.
I am leaning more towards the location of our dreams b/c that IS the most important thing. DH really wants a basement though.
UGH!!!!!! 
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:29 AM |
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Jessee
LIF Adult
Member since 3/06 1260 total posts
Name:
Jessee
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
I pick #1 too. DH & I had a basement on our list as well, but REALLY wanted to be in Wantagh Woods where it's difficult to find a home with a basement (at least in our price range). We decided it's more important to us to be in the area we want and after looking since November, we're comfortable with our decision, b/c we know it's highly unlikely we'll find everything we want in that area for the amt. of $ we have to spend.
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:38 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by Jessee
I pick #1 too. DH & I had a basement on our list as well, but REALLY wanted to be in Wantagh Woods where it's difficult to find a home with a basement (at least in our price range). We decided it's more important to us to be in the area we want and after looking since November, we're comfortable with our decision, b/c we know it's highly unlikely we'll find everything we want in that area for the amt. of $ we have to spend.
the area we LOVE also has very few homes with a basement. it's a lot to think about. I know that ranches are great to expand on, but that takes $$$$$! so if we ever expanded, it wouldn't be for a looooong time, if ever 
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:41 AM |
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MrsRbk
<3 <3 <3 <3
Member since 1/06 19197 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
I'd go with #1 too. We had to make a hard choice like that too during our house hunting process but after sitting and weighing the pros/cons of each house in addition to the additional expense of updating each house and the price of each house, we went with the more practical choice for us. In the end though we ended up with a totally different house because the lady selling the house we bid on was wackado
Good luck!
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:42 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by MrsRbk
I'd go with #1 too. We had to make a hard choice like that too during our house hunting process but after sitting and weighing the pros/cons of each house in addition to the additional expense of updating each house and the price of each house, we went with the more practical choice for us. In the end though we ended up with a totally different house because the lady selling the house we bid on was wackado
Good luck!
your house is ANYTHING but practical!  it's stunning!
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:42 AM |
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MrsRbk
<3 <3 <3 <3
Member since 1/06 19197 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by MrsRbk
I'd go with #1 too. We had to make a hard choice like that too during our house hunting process but after sitting and weighing the pros/cons of each house in addition to the additional expense of updating each house and the price of each house, we went with the more practical choice for us. In the end though we ended up with a totally different house because the lady selling the house we bid on was wackado
Good luck!
your house is ANYTHING but practical! it's stunning!
Thanks!!! But the house we're currently in is neither of the two houses I talked about above!!!  And I have to tell you... right now I'm completely HATING on my basement!
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:44 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by MrsRbk
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by MrsRbk
I'd go with #1 too. We had to make a hard choice like that too during our house hunting process but after sitting and weighing the pros/cons of each house in addition to the additional expense of updating each house and the price of each house, we went with the more practical choice for us. In the end though we ended up with a totally different house because the lady selling the house we bid on was wackado
Good luck!
your house is ANYTHING but practical! it's stunning!
Thanks!!! But the house we're currently in is neither of the two houses I talked about above!!! And I have to tell you... right now I'm completely HATING on my basement!
your complaint was one of the one's I was referring to. sure it's great to have that extra space, but not if it's going to be a huge source of aggravation and a money pit.
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:45 AM |
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dooodles
When you wish upon a star
Member since 5/05 11997 total posts
Name:
Because 2 people fell in love
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Thank you for starting this post. This is something I've been struggling with also. I really want a basement too and saw I house I like with no basement. But I know I'm not truly happy without the basement.
But there are SOOO many that smell of mold that it makes me wonder.....
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:54 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by dooodles
Thank you for starting this post. This is something I've been struggling with also. I really want a basement too and saw I house I like with no basement. But I know I'm not truly happy without the basement.
But there are SOOO many that smell of mold that it makes me wonder.....
I can think of 2 houses in particular that DH and I saw that smelled SO bad that I had to get out of there ASAP! I really wish that DH wouldn't want one so bad! yes it's great for storage and extra living space, but the idea of having one on a house that is almost 40 yrs old scares me 
Message edited 7/29/2006 9:56:46 AM.
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| Posted 7/29/06 9:56 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by Redhead
well you know me ....i wouldn't pick either
i can't settle not having something i truly want
IF i had to pick.... i would go with the colonial
I know what you mean about settling. the thing is... almost every basement we have seen (A LOT) smells like mold. and I hear soooooo many complaints on here about water damage in people's basements. it just makes me wonder if it's something that should be a deal breaker
i hear ya...but i have seen a lot of basements that were AWESOME
IMO not having a basement IS a deal breaker!
And if i were to settle ...IT BETTER BE FOR THE HOUSE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PEEEEEEERFECT IN EVERY OTHER WAY
meaning NO updating, NO real big improvements etc etc
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:09 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by Redhead
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by Redhead
well you know me ....i wouldn't pick either
i can't settle not having something i truly want
IF i had to pick.... i would go with the colonial
I know what you mean about settling. the thing is... almost every basement we have seen (A LOT) smells like mold. and I hear soooooo many complaints on here about water damage in people's basements. it just makes me wonder if it's something that should be a deal breaker
i hear ya...but i have seen a lot of basements that were AWESOME
IMO not having a basement IS a deal breaker!
And if i were to settle ...IT BETTER BE FOR THE HOUSE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PEEEEEEERFECT IN EVERY OTHER WAY
meaning NO updating, NO real big improvements etc etc
you sound like my DH
the only thing this ranch needs are the kitchen cabinets refaced and new appliances. well, I would replace the flooring too, but I would do that in any house I buy. I would never want someone elses carpeting
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:12 AM |
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julz33
i run for bacon
Member since 5/05 20584 total posts
Name:
julz
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
I would choose the colonial because of the basement and that it is bigger than the ranch. It is also in a good area, right?
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:12 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by julz33
I would choose the colonial because of the basement and that it is bigger than the ranch. It is also in a good area, right?
the colonial is in a very nice area, but not the one that we abolsutely LOVE!!
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:13 AM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
well mama....
i guess you two really need to discuss whether a basement is a deal breaker
If not....GO for the ranch in the better area...
But before you do really think about if this is decision, not having a basement, would be something you would regret in the comming years!
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:16 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by Redhead
well mama....
i guess you two really need to discuss whether a basement is a deal breaker
If not....GO for the ranch in the better area...
But before you do really think about if this is decision, not having a basement, would be something you would regret in the comming years!
I know... thanks for the advice
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:20 AM |
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julz33
i run for bacon
Member since 5/05 20584 total posts
Name:
julz
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by julz33
I would choose the colonial because of the basement and that it is bigger than the ranch. It is also in a good area, right?
the colonial is in a very nice area, but not the one that we abolsutely LOVE!!
It could go either way then.
For us, to buy a house in our dream town it would have had to be 2 bedroom shack near the main roads... so we moved to another town we liked and got the bigger house. And now we love this town!
We love having a basement. Does the house without the basement have a garage and attic?
Do they both have the same # of bathrooms? Size of property?
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:21 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by julz33
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by julz33
I would choose the colonial because of the basement and that it is bigger than the ranch. It is also in a good area, right?
the colonial is in a very nice area, but not the one that we abolsutely LOVE!!
It could go either way then.
For us, to buy a house in our dream town it would have had to be 2 bedroom shack near the main roads... so we moved to another town we liked and got the bigger house. And now we love this town!
We love having a basement. Does the house without the basement have a garage and attic?
Do they both have the same # of bathrooms? Size of property?
attic I am not sure about, but it has a garage. the ranch has 2 full baths, the colonial has 1 1/2 baths
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:35 AM |
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Diana1215
Living on a prayer!!!
Member since 10/05 29450 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
I think that having a basement is HUGE. You can eventually turn that into a playroom for kids, can use it for lots of storage, there are soooo many uses to a basement.
It is up to you and your DH and what is most important to the both of you.
Good luck - it's a hard decision!
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:40 AM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
If there isn't a huge difference in the quality of the area I would go with the colonial.
Structural expansions are $$$$. My BIL is doing that right now on his already huge house and you don't want to know how much he is spending to just expand the great room.
As far as updating the house, it can be done over time. Would there be room to expand the 1/2 bath into a full bath... take away adjoining space from a room or closet?
JMO, I wouldn't buy a house w/o a basement for several reasons but that's just me.
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| Posted 7/29/06 10:48 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: What house would you rather buy?
Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH
If there isn't a huge difference in the quality of the area I would go with the colonial.
Structural expansions are $$$$. My BIL is doing that right now on his already huge house and you don't want to know how much he is spending to just expand the great room.
As far as updating the house, it can be done over time. Would there be room to expand the 1/2 bath into a full bath... take away adjoining space from a room or closet?
JMO, I wouldn't buy a house w/o a basement for several reasons but that's just me.
well you raise good points. the colonial is also in a great area, but not our absolute favorite. to be honest, we have not seen the colonial interior yet. I drove past it yesterday though. I will know more tomorrow when we see it. the ranch I saw (inside and out) yesterday, without DH.
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| Posted 7/29/06 11:00 AM |
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