So, funny story about the house below. We bought it and we’re moving in.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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!
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.
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.
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…
Heather P. says
Congrats on the new house! I can’t wait to see how you guys decide to make it your own. And how much Burger and Clara like living in a house with stairs!
Wendy T says
Yaaaay (kermit flail). It looks beautiful and full of projects!
Hanna says
Oh my gosh! That was a total shot of adreneline! I also scrolled ot the end to make sure it wasn’t a joke. Oh my goodness. So much of the inside reminds me of our house we just bought in August. I can’t wait to see all the reno details!!! I know it will be total inspiration.
My husband is going to keel over! he has a love/hate relationship with your blog. Love because it keeps me excited about working on the house. Hate because he is now trying to figure out how to put a pergola over our back door. /grin
SOOOOOOO excited for you. you must be feeling wicked giddy! Can’t wait for hte first wak-through vid!!!
Bridget P. says
Wow! Definitely surprised you guys would be moving so quickly, but so excited for you at the same time! Congrats!
Candy from Candied Fabrics says
Wow, you guys like to keep life exciting, don’t you? ;-) (Hubby and I are often told the same thing…) Huge congrats to you, the outside of the house is beautiful, you’ll make it stunning!
Cathy says
What a beautiful House! That is what my dream house looks like! Love the Colonial style. Congratulations and all the best of luck with selling the current Casa Petersik. Can’t wait to see all you guys do with it!
Elizabeth says
Are comments acting weird for anyone else? It won’t let me read them all and when I click on a certain page of comments it’ll say that that’s all there is…
For example: I click on page three and it’ll say at the top that there’s only 118 total comments and only 3 pages…
YoungHouseLove says
Sorry! It’s because we have 117 in moderation (we can’t keep up with you guys) so we’re trying to get them all up so the pages act normal again!
xo
s
Carla says
Wha???? Congratulations! That house is seriously beautiful. I like the blue doors!
Krysta says
Exciting and congratulations to you all! We actually just bought our very first house and like you had a lot of wallpaper and old carpeting removal to look forward to… although some of your 70s wallpaper looks kind of awesome. We also have a bathroom and kitchen reno in our distant future! Good luck with selling your current house and the move and I look forward to reading about your progress.
betty says
yay! congrats! i love everything you’ve done with your current house, can’t wait to see whats in store for the new one!! i recently moved to powhatan, myself.. so i love this area :) its great!
Jacole says
Exciting stuff…but at the same time I feel like there’s been a death in the family. (Addicted to this blog, much?)
Cameron says
You were working on an awful lot of rooms bad finishing touches. I was wondering when you would move! So exciting!
Lauren says
You guys are an example of how saving and working hard can lead to your dreams! Congratulations:) I can’t to follow you on your new adventure! The house is perfect for your beautiful family:)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lauren!
xo
s
Jessica says
Congrats!! We are actually in the same boat, except we are buying our first home!! It comes after 8 years of marriage and two kids later! We are ecstatic and should be hearing from the seller today!!
Kara says
Wow, I’m definitely in the surprised category! And really excited because I am going through the process of looking to buy my first home now! So it’s kinda parallel-ish.
Congrats guys! And keep on inspiring!
Kara says
And also – thanks for posting the scary-ish pics! That helps me to put things back into perspective as I’m hunting.
GreenInOC says
CONGRATS!
I actually thought this weekend that your current house is perfect and wondering when you’d move on.
It’s hard to believe it’s the same square footage, the new one looks ginormous!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny?! Our current house has an 1000 square foot addition on the back that you can’t see from the street, so that’s why it’s twice the size of our first house but looks the same size. Meanwhile instead of anything hiding in the back of the new house, it’s all out in the open on top :)
xo
s
Elena Maddox says
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! What a beautiful place to call home! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. :)
Bethany says
MIND. BLOWN. I read this post super slow so I wouldn’t miss the “just kidding!” that I was sure was coming. I haven’t owned my own home yet, but it seems like it would be so hard to decide to leave a home you’ve put so much work into! And you just finished Clara’s big girl room! Haha. I can’t wait to see how you transform this new house, I know it will be just a beautiful as your current home! Congrats :)
emily says
holy crap! congratulations!! can’t wait to read about all the changes to the new casa!
Jenn F says
Congratulations!!
The new house looks beautiful and I’m sure it will be super fun to renovate (and fun for us to watch!).
Megan says
Holy Moly!!! This came out of left field! Excited to see all the new changes.
Bree says
Wow Wow WOW are you serious? I had to double check the date because I thought you were posting an April fools joke!!!
Good luck with the move and selling your current house! Hope the market is kind to you!
Amanda says
AHHHHHH!!!!! This is so exciting! Also, holy curb appeal! Oh that Brick and shutters be still my heart! Can’t wait for the journey! My fiance and I will be shopping for our own fixer upper this Fall and I can’t WAIT to see what you all do!
LouiseD says
Wouahou ! That’s big big news !
Can’t wait to see this new house in a more complete way and to see what you’ll do with it…
Congrats !
Kelly says
Wow! Congratulations on the new digs! I’ll come paint some mauve trim with you guys any time!
amy @ drivethirtythree says
not gonna lie…teared up a bit reading this. So excited for you guys (and for all of us readers!!) Congratulations!!!!
Sarah says
Funny enough, I was going through your listy mclisterson last night because as far as I could tell, you were pretty much done with everything you wanted to do with your house… And I was wondering what you were going to do next. Best of luck on this exciting adventure!
Kristin says
Wow – between you guys and Merrypad, there’s a whole lot of excitement and new homes to be beautified in my go-to blog list! Congratulations!!
Jessica says
Ahhhh! Love the new house! Congratulations guys!!! I’m also really jealous, we’ve been house hunting in Richmond for ages and can’t seem to find the right thing. Sigh.
Jeanette says
Woot, congratulations!!! I’m so excited to see the new place and hear all about your plans for it!!! I must say, while I figured it would happen eventually, I feel a bit sad about saying bye to the old house though!
Christa @ a*typicaljourney says
Well Happy Birthday to me!! :) I’m so excited for you guys, congratulations! This kind of rocked my morning – but mostly in a good way. These photos remind me a LOT of the 70’s house my fiancee and I just moved into in December. We’ve got a lot of projects to do so I’m excited to have even MORE inspiration while you guys are doing the same!!
Annelies says
Wauw! Congratulations! And just yesterday I told you the house was nearly finished ! And although I said I would be sad to see you leaving this house I’m really excited for you and already look forward to seeing the love you’ll give this house ! Only thing is that I will be on holiday the next two weeks, so can’t wait to read everything when I’m back !
And yes, I first thought too it was an April fools joke. Good luck !
Kristina Strain says
Saw THAT coming. A mile away. Suddenly you were all kitchen-repainty and bathroom re-finishy, and throwing up that pergola just screamed curb appeal. And I was thinking, “gee, how much more project-mileage can they really get out of House #2?” SO EXCITED for you guys!
Anastasia says
What a sweet little bench outside! I can not wait to see more of the inside! I LOVE your current home but like you said, you were almost done with all the rooms. I am excited to see what the future projects will bring! Congrats :)
Meghan says
AH!! Congratulations! I am so excited for you guys! And for me – with all the new room designs you will be coming up with :-)
Sam Frank says
Wow, I am on a roller coaster of emotions right now, and it’s not even me who’s moving! Shows how much you guys really burrow your way into our hearts!
I have to say, I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around the new house being the same square footage as the old house (or close) – it looks so huge!! I hope we’ll see some floorplans soon to help show how that’s possible!
Congratulations, by the way!
Caitlin says
CONGRATS! Can’t wait to see what you guys do!
Big Tip! As someone who just took down 4 rooms of 80s wallpaper, save your trigger finger and buy a bug sprayer to soak your walls. Our realtor gave us that tip and it was a huge life saver. It’s also really good about keeping the water hot (you want the hottest water possible) so you’ll spend less time refilling it.
YoungHouseLove says
So smart!
xo
s
cristy says
Completely 100% shocked! Congrats!
Allen says
AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Yay, of course, but whoa. I guess I knew this day would come but I started reading your blog as you were moving out of our first house. Your current house (occupied) is like *my* first house. Much like Christopher Eccleston was my first Doctor and a Speak and Spell my first iPad. I’m sure I will soon love this new house right along with you but your right now house is PERFECT! But I guess that’s the problem, huh?
Ella says
Awesome! So happy for you guys! But also super jealous you live somewhere where fixer-uppers on beautiful, huge, tree-filled lots don’t cost $800,000. Now I’m sad, haha.
You mentioned a big factor in moving is the neighborhood – but what differs in the new one from the current one?? Because the both the current and the old one seem to have huge wooded lots… (again, super jealous)
Also, are 35 year old houses considered “old” now? Lol. You guys are almost the same age! haha
YoungHouseLove says
We actually grew to love our first house and current house’s neighborhoods, but have always just had a spot in our hearts for our dream neighborhood (there’s a bit more space between houses, there are many styles of home instead of mostly ranches, there are more people walking and playing in the street since there’s less through traffic). We will always love our first and current neighborhood though. When there was a hurricane we drove over to our first house to make sure it was ok, and I’m sure we’ll do that for life, while adding the current one into our “check on it” list :)
xo
s
Eileen says
I was literally just thinking, as the page was loading, that y’all were running out of projects in your current house and wondering what would come next… and then BAM! NEW HOME!
Can’t wait to see what you you make of the new place. I am certain you’re up for the challenge.
Cheers.
Jenny says
Omg guys it’s GORGEOUS so so excited for you!! Sherry you responded to a comment in the last few days that totally stayed with me… someone was lamenting you “finishing” your house and your openness to change in your reply got me wondering. Even funnier is that my HUSBAND im’d me to tell me your news haha!
xox
Leanne says
WOW! Definitely did not expect that, but congratulations!
Kitty says
Wow, I’m half surprised, half not! The new house is gorgeous and so different from the previous two you’ve had. I’m in love with the frontage and so much potential for the inside!
What is the lot like? I’m thinking because it’s in an older neighbourhood it has less outside space with it?
Good luck on selling your current house and I hope you are very happy in your new home, Petersiks!
YoungHouseLove says
It is around the same sized lot as our first and current house, but there’s no grass and lots of moss/weeds/crazy groundcover. Ahh!
xo
s
Jenn says
Wow congrats!!! I have been wondering for the last few months if something like this was in the near future. Your current house just seemed like it was getting a little too close to done :) Can’t wait to see the great things you dream up for the new place!!
Jess says
Congratulations!! You are such a beautiful family!
Kayce says
My husband and I are from Richmond and are in the market to buy our very first home. I would die just a little bit if we could buy your home! EEEEK! Congratulations!!!
Diane Taylor says
You guys are batshit crazy…in the best way possible! Bring on new Listy McListersons!!!! Bring on floor plans and tearing down walls! I was looking at refinancing since the rates are so great right now – but I have 5 years left on our mortgage and I just want to OWN my house. But it is sooo tempting to refi…..
Nice job shocking the crap out of all of us, lol!!!
LaDonna says
I’m so excited! I’m house hunting now and nothing is available in my dream neighborhood. I’ll just live vicariously through you.
Jessica says
So weird. Reading your post yesterday I was wondering when/if you guys were going to get a new house…