The Search Goes On...

House hunting is the extreme version of window shopping and since I'm not much of a shopper (preferring instead to get in, grab what I want and go) this whole process is a love/hate adventure.  While I actually enjoy looking around houses, for every five houses we've looked at... only one out of five has what we're actually looking for.

For the record, pictures can make everything look better.  I'm not even sure the real estate agents snapping those pics do it entirely on purpose.  However, I wish they would invest in a camera that takes at least half way decent and realistic pictures.  Or learn some photo editing software.

That being said, I've also learned to not love the phrase "needs a little TLC".  Because apparently their version of "a little" and my version are not comparable at all.  Now I'd like to point out that I am not adverse to doing a bit of minor renovation.  This appeals to me greatly.  However, I most certainly do not want to spend three to four years living in a dust bowl as carpet is ripped up and drywall is repaired.

Mack and I have looked at what seems like several thousand possibilities.  One was an ugly duplex where the square footage involved was more than appealing.  The price was right but then we realized that paying the utility bills alone would negate grocery shopping.  And we kinda like to eat so that one was out.

Another home (which I might interject had the words "needs a little TLC") was in an historic section of town. It had good bones. It also had a petrified bat in the bathtub and the promise of having to rip out the plaster in every solitary room. Oh, and the fact that I bumped my head going into the basement. Hello... that never happens to me. Being all of 5'4" has some advantages.  Like never bumping my head in a basement. Moving on.

We missed a really good house. Never saw the inside of it but I feel in my bones it was nice. It lasted on the market all of three days.

So instead we looked at a house two doors down from the really good house. The downstairs had eight different types of flooring in it. It was only around 650 square feet on one floor so wrap your head around that one. EIGHT.  I'm not exaggerating in the least and yes, I counted. Moving on.

Then there was the So-So house.  An offer was made, a bidding war ensued and finally we threw our hands in the air and said enough is enough.  We liked the house but it was meh.  Could have seen ourselves living there but we were by no means heart broken when we walked away.  It was literally two streets over. 

Which brings us to the here and now. Waiting and still searching.