Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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We Bought A New House!

So, funny story about the house below. We bought it and we’re moving in.

New House

We know this news probably evokes a whole range of reactions. Excitement for new makeovers. Sadness for leaving our current house. Curiosity about all of the logistics. Confusion. Anger. The inexplicable urge to do The Carlton.

Starting this story requires rewinding seven years, back to our first house hunting experience in Richmond in the spring of 2006. We had just moved from New York City and Richmond real estate felt very spacious and very cheap by comparison. It made dreamers out of us. We checked out a bunch of neighborhoods, and fell for an awesome old area with nice big wooded lots, great schools, charming tree-lined streets, and kids on scooters.

But none of the sweet old character-filled houses in that neighborhood were in our price range, especially because the bank had no faith in us. The issue was not our savings, but the fact that I was less than 2 months into my new job and Sherry was just as deep into her career as a freelance copywriter. In the eyes of the bank, Sherry was unemployed since she was a newbie self employed person (even though she was earning more than me!) so I ended up being the only name on the loan – basically cutting our buying power in half. Goodbye dream neighborhood, hello this looker.

Final Exterior Before

As deflating as that financial reality check was, it turned out to be one of the biggest blessings. Had we not been steered towards a fixer upper, we might not have ever started this blog or learned the advantage of buying a home that’s well within our means. By not stretching financially, we could stash away a lot more project money and build up our nest egg – because we hadn’t lost sight of that neighborhood we first fell for, we had just put that dream on hold.

Final Exterior After

Fast forward 4.5 years, past a new puppy, a wedding in the backyard, Clara’s birth, and me coming home to work full-time. Our beloved little 1,250 sq ft ranch (with only one full bathroom) was suddenly feeling cramped and we found ourselves house hunting again. Dream neighborhood here we come, right? Try again, compadre. This time I was the financial deadweight (having just left a salaried job six months earlier to come work at home – great timing, right?). So once again we found ourselves approved for something far below our actual mortgage-paying abilities thanks to the bank’s you-haven’t-done-this-self-employment-thing-long-enough-for-it-to-count doubt.

But it dropped another gem of a fixer upper in our laps. And this time we knew that an affordable needs-work home meant even more projects and more money squirreled away for our “maybe someday” neighborhood.

Current House Before

Now, I wouldn’t say we ever consciously thought of these homes as “stepping stones” or rungs on a property ladder that we were itching to climb. Even though we always loved that dream neighborhood from afar, Sherry was fully convinced our first house would be our “forever home” (we even have that statement on video). When we fall in love with a house, we fall hard. But the experience of outgrowing and leaving our first place made us realize that we enjoy the process of loving an old house back to life way too much to stop at just one.

So when we moved into this house, we went into things with a more open attitude. Knowing we’d soak up every second of living here (you know we’re nuts about the journey) but no longer making bold declarations like “we’ll stay here forever.” Admittedly, at halfway through year three of living here, the end came a bit sooner than we expected, but our time here since 2010 has been jam-packed. We’ve celebrated three Christmases in this house, created a book from start to finish here, and enjoyed countless Clara milestones (crawling, walking, talking, Gangnam Style-ing). So this place is by no means a blip on the timeline of our family history. It has been “home” through a heckova lot, which makes leaving it that much more bittersweet.

Pergola After Full House

We just knew we didn’t want our current place to be our last fixer upper (it’s not only what we love to do, it’s our livelihood), so when we felt ourselves tackling the last few untouched rooms on our list we started casually keeping one eye open for a deal that could be a potential rental or even a future Casa Petersik. We’d occasionally flip through real estate listings and drop in on open houses. We always hoped that something would come up in our price range in that dream neighborhood so we could jump on it like a velociraptor, but after two house-hunting experiences that didn’t lead to us ending up there, we weren’t very confident.

And then it happened. Pretty much out of nowhere, we found the sweetest needs-lots-of-love home in that old charming neighborhood that we’ve driven through at least five times a year just to stare creepily since 2006. Yes, this is a seven-years-in-the-making house coup of ours. We would have loved to take you guys on the house hunting adventure with us like last time, but it all happened so fast and before we knew it we were closing on it.

Closing Shot

And thanks to putting some of that saved-for-years cash down at closing, our new house’s mortgage amount is almost exactly the same as our current house’s – but our interest rate is even lower. We both spent closing day waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and scream “you got punked!” but all went well and the house is officially ours. We’ve even had it long enough to fix some first-priority issues like a leaking roof, a broken furnace, and even hooked up the alarm system.

The house hasn’t been updated since it was built around 35 years ago, and knowing that its interior might scare off others trying to buy in a mostly turn-key community, the sellers priced it way under assessment. It was over $100,000 less than another house of the same size that was for sale down the street. A low-priced fixer upper in a neighborhood that we’ve dreamed about for almost a decade? Yes please. 70’s wallpaper, blue trim, lumpy carpet and all…

House Peeks

Beyond the price, neighborhood, and glaring need to be rescued – this place is perfect for us in so many other ways. It’s nearly the exact same size as our current place (huzzah, no more extra square feet to clean). The street is beautiful and quiet (perfect for someday teaching Clara to ride a bike). It’s still just as close to our family (maybe they can watch Clara while we strip wallpaper). And it presents us with so many new design challenges and opportunities that our minds are spinning with ideas. I mean, hello, we have stairs for the first time in seven years of home-ownership!

Clara Burger2

Perhaps the funniest thing is that at our age, my parents were moving into their third house, which was where they stayed for over three decades. So apparently it’s in the Petersik blood.

Rebuild End Of 4th

We know that you guys probably have dozens of questions – When are we moving in? (Don’t know yet) When can you see more pictures? (Soon) What does Clara think? (She already picked out her room… based on the closet size. Is she 16?) But this post would be ten thousand words if we tried to cover everything, so we’ll get to those things in time. We also have a few things to finish around here to get our current house sold (anyone interested?) so in an effort to keep our own minds focused on those to-dos, it won’t be all new house posts all the time. We’ll just be moving at our usual real-time pace and sharing a little bit of everything that’s happening (selling, packing, planning, moving, and diving into our new house adventure).

Did I mention these two are the most excited of all? Okay, three if you count Ariel.

Clara Burger1

We can’t wait to continue sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly with you guys. Seriously, who wants to come paint some mauve trim with us? And if there were a moral to this story, it’s patience. This is not “the house the book bought” (we still haven’t hit our royalty point), it’s the house that seven years of saving up and living within our means bought. Had we strained our wallets and gone for a larger or more turn-key house back in 2006, we probably would’ve had a very different financial path, and most certainly would have had a different career path. So even though we had to wait a while, it just makes this new chapter in our lives that much sweeter. Who knows, we might just stay there forever…

Comments

  2. Cassi says

    Congratulations!! My husband and I just bought our first home!! I am so excited to see what you guys do to the new house to get some ideas!!

    Reply

  3. Lise says

    Ok, as excited as I am for ya (and I am, since we are currently looking for our 2nd home and looking at “grandma” houses) I can’t help but be a little sad for your current place ha ha. Good luck! I am looking forward to some more design inspiration!

    Reply

  4. Bethany says

    This is wonderful! I was shocked when you painted the kitchen blue and now I’m in a state of shock!

    Feeling awkward that I don’t really know you but I’m beyond excited!

    Reply

  5. Lauren says

    Ahhh! So exciting! I definitely did what many other readers did and checked the date to make sure you weren’t messing with us. Congrats on the new abode! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!

    Reply

  6. christina @ homemade ocean says

    AHHHHH AHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    I am so excited! I feel like IIIIIII am moving!

    I looove love looooove watching you transform these old beasts into beauties. This just made my day….oh heck this just made my year!!!!

    Wahoooooo did I mention I am excited :)

    Reply

  7. Brenda says

    Emotional overload! First I kept waiting for “April Fool’s,” then I was really sad, then I got really excited, then I felt a little weird about watching you work so hard to decorate rooms you won’t enjoy as long (Clara’s big girl room, guest bath, etc). But I’m seriously so excited for you! And for us, because you know we love getting to take the DIY journey with the family Petersik. :)

    Reply

  9. Heather G says

    Wow! Wasn’t expecting that news in this morning’s post!!! Congratulations on your new home; can’t wait to see what you do with it. Looks like it has loads of potential! :)

    Reply

  10. Sarah W says

    when i read the first paragraph it took me a second to question what date it was ( april fools?) and then i remembered about your rap video and that its almost may!
    However that is uber exciting!!! I can just imagine that your brains are spinning with new ideas and how the heck to get from point a to point b. have the most amazing time!!

    Reply

  12. Barbara says

    Wow! Talk about holding back a surprise! Obviously, you can’t get enough of DIY! I wish you luck in your very wished for neighborhood, and look forward to yet another Petersik household makeover!

    Reply

  14. ryan says

    congrats, petersiks! i have to admit that as i saw your list of “to-dos” on your current house dwindle, i wondered when you’d start looking. bring on the hideous trim and amazingly 70s touches. can’t wait to see it all transformed!

    Reply

  15. Constance says

    WOW!! Congratulations and can’t wait to read/see all about it!

    Have you two every thought about doing something related to sharing your real estate and/or personal savings/budgeting expertise? I am thoroughly impressed and I really like learning about this topic. I wish I had known (slowly figured it all out) or been taught (unfortunately no parental wisdom departed) about sound financial and real estate decisions when I was younger. I would have loved to have known what I know now when we bought our first place in 2007. All is well (thankfully!) but it did set us down a very different path than if I had had the knowledge I have today in my 20s.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have a bunch of money saving tips in a section on our Projects page called Money Saving and if you go into our categories tab on the sidebar there’s a Selling, Moving & Buying category with tons of posts about that process last time (and of course we’ll be sharing new posts about our experiences this time).

      xo
      s

  16. krys72599 says

    OMG!!! YAY!!!
    And re: a rental? We did it before, would never do it again, not unless we were living on site (like a two family). We did fine when we were there; the minute we moved out, our great tenants turned into the tenants from H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEYSTICKS!

    Reply

  17. Brittany says

    So stinkin’ exciting! Congrats! My husband and I are currently fixing up our live-well-within-our-means house while we stash cash for our dream home. Your blog and book are staples in our home. No exaggeration when I say that your book has nearly 75 colored tabs sticking out marking all of the ideas we want to try/have tried! As we started planning our full bath reno I may have uttered the phrase “what would John and Sherry do?” My husband just shook his head and asked what I had planned now. Ha! Best of luck with everything!

    Reply

  18. AshleyMG says

    AHHH! So excited for you guys. Seeing the few pics you posted reminds me of this awesome fixer-upper house my husband and I almost bought. The listing specifically said, “Window treatments included.” They were as equally fantastic as those floral drapes in your new kitchen (or appears to be the kitchen) and they were ALL OVER THE PLACE. Hope you get to keep those gems and congrats again!

    Reply

  23. Michelle says

    Congratulations!!! It must be so bitter sweet but oh so exciting! I have dark salmon trim throughout my house that I’ve been stalled with fear on tackling since there is so dang much of it so I’m sure watching you tackle the blue will be super inspirational for me!!! Happy for you guys!

    Reply

  24. Carly Cleghorn says

    CONGRATS!!! Oh, this is so exciting. :) As a reader, I kinda like the drama of not knowing you were looking for places until BAM.

    I first came on as a reader right after you moved into your current house. It will be so much cooler now that I am invested in y’all’s story to see the change. :D

    Reply

  26. Amanda C says

    WOW!!! I am seriously stunned, but SO happy for you guys! This is the second big bombshell of the day for me, the first happening at work (hopefully good news for me!) and now this! This day is seriously CRAZY! Congratulations!!! SO excited to follow you guys as you embark on this new journey! The house is going to be AMAZING knowing you two!

    Reply

  28. Meredith R. says

    OMG I LOVE the new house! And I haven’t even seen all of it yet! haha. Congrats to you guys! There is definitely something to be said about waiting until the time is right. It makes the “right time” that much sweeter!

    Reply

  29. Katie S. says

    My fiance and I are so excited for your family! What another fun milestone in your lives. We are getting married in the fall, and while I would LOVE to buy a house now, it’s just not in the market for us yet. Kudos to you for living in your means so you can get that dream home in your dream neighborhood. That is our goal as well! I am excited to live vicariously through you all and look forward to new home living and making over. Best wishes to your family and many thanks for continued inspiration!

    Reply

  30. Emily says

    WOW! Congrats! Like so many others, I thought you were joking until I got to the pic of John signing paperwork.

    Yes, your readers have SO many questions but I know you’ve got a LOT going on right now, so take your time!

    I’m really happy for you! Best of luck selling your old house.

    Reply

  31. Rebecca says

    So excited for you guys.

    We are on a similar path right now too. We ‘built’ our first house 5 years ago, but quickly figured out that we were not “planned subdivision” people. We had casually looked at houses in our dream neighborhood for the past couple years(we’re talking 4 blocks from grocery, coffee/cafe, all the schools are walking distance(they don’t even have buses), awesome school district (top 10 in Ohio), 2 blocks from an awesome park, everybody hangs out on their porch kind of neighborhood). A house caught our eye in January, which turned into looking at a dozen or so houses until we found the house we are closing on at the end of the month. We almost didn’t look at it because it is only 2 bedrooms, but after looking at it we discovered the living space was actually bigger than the 3-4 bedrooms we looked at. Now we have plans to totally open up the first floor and even add a third story master suite.

    Right now we are getting our current house ready to go on the market. Our neighborhood hasn’t had the best resale lately, but hopefully our upgrades/improvements will help. (Both houses combined are still less than what we can ‘afford’, so we’re in a good spot financially and our current house could always be rented.)

    Looking forward to seeing what you guys do with a 2-story.

    Reply

  33. Caroline says

    WEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! So happy for y’all!! This post just got my heart racing. I cannot wait to watch this renovation over the years. I cannot believe y’all have been in this current home THREE Christmas’, that’s nuts! Congrats!!

    Reply

  35. Erin @ Dwell & Tell says

    John, Sherry, Clara, Burger… CONGRATS!

    We just bought our first house and are renting our condo… blogged about it just yesterday!

    If you don’t sell you might think about renting it as well (?) I don’t think you will have an issue selling it though! It was more difficult selling our condo because (A) We couldn’t afford to list it super-competitively, in this market. (B) From a buyers perspective, condo’s are tough unless you’re a cash buyer, if the building isn’t FHA certified.

    CONGRATS!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We thought about renting it first actually, but a few realtors told us renters didn’t want to take care of so much land (lots of mowing) so it might be better as a sale in our area.

      xo
      s

  37. Abby Kinch says

    How awesome! Not because of that sweet new house, but because of your honesty. Hard work and saving for what you want is such a valuable
    lesson in our gimme it NOW world.

    I can’t wait to see what you also with the new digs. Congratulations!

    Reply

  38. Heather says

    Thats so exciting!! Congrats!! I can’t wait to see the before and afters of the new house! They are going to be awesome!

    Reply

  39. Samar says

    Wow, thanks for the heads up guys, you just gave me a mini spaz attack because I had no way to brace myself for the incredible amount of EXCITEMENT! I am SO psyched to see you work your magic on this new home! You guys Gorgeous home, congratulations, I can tell this is going to be your best DIY yet!

    Reply

  40. Megan says

    WHAT?!! Congratulations!! I hardly ever comment but just had to say I totally double checked the date to see if it was April Fool’s, and quickly scanned the post to see if this was a joke. I can’t believe it! Very excited for you guys, and especially excited to see you tackle all those… lovely … details. :D Congrats again!

    Reply

  41. Molly says

    I read faithfully everyday, but rarely comment. Just had to say, though, CONGRATS! Can’t wait to see what you do with it.

    Reply

  43. Leah says

    My only bummer for you guys is that you just got Clara’s big girl room fixed up in time to move. But at least you know what you want, and you can fix any small things you didn’t love love.

    Does this mean she’ll transition to the big girl bed, or will it depend on her new house comfort level?

    In any case, really excited for you and for us to get some new tips! I would really love tips on painting after removing wallpaper and on dealing with people who painted trim poorly before (is it bad that I’m hoping for a little misfortune?). Best on selling your house for top dollar!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We definitely are just waiting for her lead, so if she wants to move into a bed when we move we’re cool with that, although she still seems to love her crib :)

      xo
      s

  45. Monika says

    holy wow! Congratulations! I’m still riding the high of moving into my new house two months ago and I can’t wait to ride yours with you as you tackle a new home full of DIY projects!

    Reply

  47. Jessica says

    I read the whole post on the edge of my seat…I kept waiting for the “April Fools!”

    Congrats on the new house. I can’t wait to see and hear the details!

    Reply

  48. Jen says

    Amazing you guys!! Beautiful house and wonderful story. A good reminder of the benefits of living within (or even below) your means!

    Reply

  50. Cara D says

    Congrats! Looks like a lovely home. I am a bit sad you are moving, which is crazy. I was wondering how many more projects you could come up with as you were moving so fast. I hope the next one is your forever home and you do rentals or flips next. Having one “home” to remember is important for kids. The before and afters are going to be amazing!

    Reply

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