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…
josh o. says
Wowsers!! Congrats, and can’t wait to see what this new one holds!! another kitchen, and bathrooms, and all sorts of fun adventures.
Kat says
Congrats! All those curb appeal projects make sense now!
Jessica S says
Congratulations! Looks gorgeous on the outside and I know you’ll work your magic on the inside. Can you start with the stairs? :) My husband and I just bought a new house and I tore the carpet off the stairs and now I don’t know what to do them! Although yours look like they might be at a better starting point – I just have raw wood to work with right now!
Micara says
Congrats! Amazing news :)
Casey says
Step aside book tour and breast-feeding post. Make way for the newest “Most Popular Post” in the blog arsenal. 2,400 comments of love and growing! Congrats, you two! I’m sure this outpouring will make it hard to sleep tonight because I can imagine it makes you 10x more excited!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahah!
xo
s
Jackie says
This is insane! I’m a little sad that you (we) will be saying goodbye to your house!
Dana @ House*Tweaking says
A little late to the game here but…
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!
Way to work hard for a dream.
Jackie says
Oh, and congratulations!!
Tracey says
You’re movin’ on up!!!!!! Congrats. Sure wish I lived near Richmond cuz I’d be biddin’ on youe house for sure. We all feel at home already. Can’t wait to see what you do with the new one. Hey watch out. You know what they say.. new house new … Hey we won’t go there. cuz it’s none of my bees wax.So happy for the three..ur four of you. ruff ruff.
Kaitlyn says
But, but, THE PENNY TILE!!!!!!!!! I must admit, I am going to miss your current house and was hoping to see the pergola all covered in ivy. But how exciting that you get to start from square one (again!) and in your dream neighborhood no less. Congrats guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha thanks Kaitlyn! We’re sadddd to leave the penny tile, but I’m actually dreaming of working it into a bathroom in a different way so that should be fun! And as for those pergola vines, lets just say that whoever buys this house might have to hear me wax poetic about how awesome that would be just so we can drive by and see it growing! Haha!
xo
s
ansvi says
wow…cant believe it..the first thing like others i checked the date & then was like they got to be kidding…felt like just recently u moved into your now old house.
Congrats on getting your dream neighborhood & best of luck for the new house re-do. Excited to read about the new journey to begin..
Nia Nielsen says
Congratulations guys, so giddy with excitement!
Alice says
OH THANK GOD. You’re current home was getting to close to finished. I was worried we wouldn’t get to experience the process again! Keep moving!
Anna says
A beautiful new home for such a beautiful family! Congrats!!
I noticed the tip about removing wallpaper and I must give my 2 cents. Spray fabric softener mixed with water on the wallpaper, let it soak and it will come right off. My mother and I won the wallpaper battle with this secret weapon. Trust me, try it, works like a charm! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip Anna! Thanks!
xo
s
braelin says
John and Sherry,
Congratulations! I feel bittersweet. I want to tell you both that your first houses (plural) helped me become happy and content with my 1950’s rancher. I was never a ‘ranch girl’ (grew up in New England with colonial style homes)– and was adamantly opposed to ranch style houses. However, in my price range/location a ranch was really the only way to go. Begrudgingly so, until I found YHL in 2009. Slowly ranches began to grown on me, and I now adore my ranch. I credit your lovely homes to my openness to loving my own home and I want thank you for that. So, no surprise that I feel sad that you’ll no longer be a ranch-family! Of course I’m thrilled for your new adventures in your home (which is totally more of the style that I would have preferred until you won me over on ranches- ha)! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Braelin! Once a ranch family, always a ranch family! Haha! We’ll always love our first and second “babies” – so ranches are the forever special to us!
xo
s
Linnae says
You guys! This is going to be awesome! Looking forward to seeing you put your stamp on the new digs.
Anna-Lisa says
It must be stressful to have people watching your every move, so I think it was smart not to talk about this during the process. BUT, now that we all know, I would be super interested to see a post talking about which of your recent projects you did for resale value and why you chose them.
YoungHouseLove says
We’re getting that question a ton so we’ll be sure to blog all about it for ya :)
xo
s
Jacqueline says
WOW! I did not see that coming (I was also looking for the punchline… haha).
That house has such a pretty look to it (is “facade” the word I’m looking for!?). I can’t wait to follow your adventures in it. Congrats!
Randa says
Hahahahahaaaaa!!!! The dance of joy!!! So happy to see it here! We grew up watching Perfect Strangers… so much so that my bro even referenced Balki Bartatamus in his (hilarious) speech at my wedding. :)
Randa says
Hee hee… clearly I hit “reply” to the wrong comment. :)
Béa says
http://youtu.be/GfPg5LjGYz8
Béa says
-sorry for the huge format…feel free to adapt/remove it! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no way! I love it!
xo
s
Cheryl L says
Omg you have 40 pages of comments. I couldn’t get through them all, but just wanted to ask–Am I the only person who thought of the Bower’s first home when I saw the new house???
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! In 40 pages you’re the first one to say that, but when we showed her a pic of the front she said that too!
xo
s
alisha says
ME TOO!!!!! My first thought was “the Petersiks are moving to be closer to the Bowers so they bought their first house?!?!”
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, that would be awesome! Although we wouldn’t have anything left to do in their house!
xo
s
diana says
as a long time reader (since around the time u were prego) i have to say i was really mad and felt jipped reading this! but then the comments made me realize how much fun it’s gonna be watching u redo a whole other home! congratulations and best of luck with the sale/move :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Diana!
xo
s
Alisa says
Congratulations from our small family in Brisbane Australia. We too are in our third home, we love our piece of paradise love the hard work and reward to a do up, we just don’t make our progress as quickly as you guys do ;). All the best can’t wait too see what you do and of course get little bits of inspiration for here.
Ariane says
You have a thing with brick houses, don’t you ?!! Glad for you, guys, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with those stairs ! My house has 3 levels so we have 2 staircases to take care of … Good luck !
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we totally have a “house type” huh?
xo
s
Jennifer Fogerty-Gibson says
I am so stoked for you all! Congratulations on getting into your dream neighborhood in only seven years. Clearly you know how to save and make long-term goals alongside the short-term goals.I’m super impressed.
-Jennifer
Saskia says
Congrats! I have loved what you have done to the current house and can’t wait to see what you will do to this one! So much fun and adventure!! We are living in out first house now for two years in Belgium, it’s 100 years old and had not been touched for 54 years! We, like you only bought it as rest was far out of our reach and slowly have fallen in love with DIY ( that’s how I found yhl and follow it for ideas daily).
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Saskia!
xo
s
Lacey says
The structure is beautiful. I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Lindsay says
This post is like the first chapter of a book I can’t wait to read. Congratulations on your new home, and thank you for sharing this adventure!
Josh R says
OMG! I love it! Congrats!!! I look forward to read all about your new adventure.. Cant wait to see all the ideas and before and afters… Yay! I’m sure gonna miss your old cute house!
Emily | Sparkle Meets Pop says
The one day I don’t read blogs and I miss this doozy! I was officially in shock, but I’m so thrilled for you guys! We had originally anticipated staying in our current place for two years and we’re on 4.5 thanks to a falling market. And now that we’re looking for our next place, our dream area prices have jumped 50-100K! So we’ll keep saving and living within our means … and enjoying the thrill of fixing up a new place alongside our favorite bloggers :)
Avone says
Wow! What’s the record for comments?
YoungHouseLove says
This! Haha!
xo
s
Anne says
Congratulations! Wondering if this means Sue the Napkin will go into retirement…
Katie says
So last week in Game of Thrones when Dany was all like, “Oh, sure, I’ll trade you my dragon…” and then she was all like “But wait, I totally speak Valyrian, and you just better hold on, because you have no idea what’s coming.”
That’s exactly what this feels like.
Well done, Petersiks.
#gamechanger
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahahahah! I was on the edge of my seat with the whole dragon hand off! I may or may not have screamed “DRACARA!” right before the flames came a-flowing! #nerdyandIknowit
xo
s
Diana says
Congratulations on your new home!! I’m looking forward to sharing your new adventures and new projects!
I know what you mean by “bittersweet” because I wish I could keep all the houses I’ve ever lived in… just for the memories. The great thing is that you have all the photos and experiences recorded in your blog.
All the best to the Petersik family!!
Hannah says
Did y’all buy the house back in October?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re getting lots of specific questions, so we’ll be back with a huge FAQ post full of details for you guys soon! Hopefully tomorrow morning if we can get it together :)
xo
s
kory says
aaaaah, congrats!
my first thought was “wait, april fools was a month ago, what the hey?!”
anyway… I need to see a floor plan, fast
Crystal says
Scientists will one day trace the sudden lack of oxygen in the world for a few seconds to the thousands of YHL fans gasping in surprise at this post.
Congrats (on the house, not the gasping. But you can take the congrats for that too)!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Lacey says
My favorite part of this post? The very first line. Such dry humor and I LOVE IT! Great news guys, hope this new part of the journey is just as exciting as the previous chapters for you. The exterior is beautiful!
karen says
Petersiks= best. Secret. Keepers. Ever!!!! Congratulations, such exciting news. I can’t wait to see it become your home xx
Elizabeth says
I have to admit, I am one of those people who think “But I spent x amount of time or money fixing this up…” and would have a hard time letting it go! But I am super excited for you all and I cannot wait to see your new projects because you provide great DIY inspiration! :)
Maria says
Wow! I totally went through all of those emotions. A mini grieving period because I feel like I live in your house (Is that creepy? Yeah, that’s creepy.), then excitement to see how you guys turn the new place around. Can’t wait! Congrats!
Marti says
congrats!!!
CrayolaJW says
Congratulations you guys!!!
It looks like this lovely new abode has a lot of projects waiting for you and I am looking forward to reading all about them!
Gina says
How exciting! We lived in Richmond for several years and would have been happy to stay. Those neighborhoods with the big trees are so pretty. I wish you could hold off on selling your current home….my son may end up in the area this fall and I’d help him buy it in a heartbeat! LOVE your current home and all that you’ve done and look forward to seeing what you do to your new home! The wallpaper and colors looks like my parents home that they just left after 44 years. We are hoping to price it below the others in the neighborhood and someone like you will see the potential and want to fix it up! Congratulations!
KateD says
Very nice! Can’t wait to see what is next. We moved in to our cozy cape three years ago after it sat on the market for a long time with similar “needs”. Gotta love the 70’s / early 80’s, but not in our homes! Have fun and best wishes!
mel says
So excited for you guys and I did wonder if it was a prank at first. I hope my boys learn from our mistakes and live within their means from their early working lives.
I wonder how many houses you will end up with for us to view on the house tour list on your blog, very exciting :)
Sonel says
Eeeeek!!! SO excited for you guys! The new house has great bones and I’m so happy we’ll all get to come along with you on this adventure.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
How exciting!!!!
So first I checked the calendar to make sure it was May 1 not April 1 then I got really excited.
Clearly talk about you guys too much because when I yelled out ‘John & Sherry bought a new house!’ he knew what I was talking about.
We’re house hunting at the moment too. We’ve been going for months now but maybe we’ll find one in time to move with you guys.
Cannot wait to see what the new house holds!!!
ps if there’s one thing you guys will do well it’s stage a house to sell!
Kimberly says
Congratulations!! The new house looks beautiful on the outside. The interior snapshots are crazy. You guys are so brave to tackle all of that. I know it will be beautiful inside when y’all move in. I can already picture yearly pictures of your family on that front porch. I don’t know you but I am so excited for you and your new journey!
Emma says
At first I was hit with a pang of sadness but then realised that this blog is going to get a whole lot more awesome as you start on the new house. Congratulations, I know I’m excited! Wish I could buy your current house but it’s a bit of a jump from England!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Emma!
xo
s
Saskia says
Wow, exciting news! I’m so happy for you and all the upcoming projects. Not that I got bored of the old house but I’m so looking forward for more great inspiration!
Saskia