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…
Cassie says
Congratulations guys! Can’t wait to continued to be inspired by the two of you :) Good luck with your new adventure!
Ivy says
The “Home Alone” house! One of my favorite movie houses. Congratulations!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! You’re the second one to say that! I want to call it that forever now!
xo
s
Tracey says
Ok, what the what???? I got on YHL last night to look up “polymeric sand” (couldn’t remember what it was called and hubby & I were knee deep in reno conversation) and saw this post. At first I was like… We’ve been duped! Then I was like, maybe they didn’t get everyone good enough for April Fool’s….? Then finally… WHOA they’re really moving! Congratulations and wow! I can’t wait to see how you guys’ style translates to a traditional colonial!
Christa says
Congratulations!!!! That house looks like it has great “bones”! I love that the previous owners built the deck around the tree…what character that gives it, hope you guys keep that style…(the tree not the deck, ha ha) Love all the other big trees too! Enjoy having stairs!!
Susan says
Félicitations! I was just thinking this week that this might be on your radar. You’ve acomplished so much in the current home and you’d want to find another “project”.
Happiness and good fortune in your new home! Can’t wait to see the transformation.
Stacey says
It’s LOVELY!
My biggest question is what color will you paint the front door?? Oh, the suspense!
Stacey says
OH, and I told my husband this news (I refer to ya’ll as my favorite blog friends and he knows exactly who I’m talking about). His first response was “Are they selling their ranch house?… where is it? Richmond?” followed my a **deep in though moment**
I think he was trying to logistically figure out how we could buy it and move in!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! So funny!
xo
s
YoungHouseLove says
So many swatches, so little time! Can’t wait to decide :)
xo
s
Ashley says
YAY! I bet Clara and Burger are excited about the stairs! Im so excited to see the after pics!
Lee says
Congratulations! I saw this coming!
The clue was this blog is your livlihood.
I can’t say i’m said to see you go ;; because i can’t wait to see what you guys do to this one!
Good luck and I’ll be reading along!
LizWill says
I’m with everyone else on the “prank” first thought. But I’m SUPER excited to see all the new amazing DIY projects that await them!! Congratulations on start of an amazing adventure.
Laura says
Wait. Too funny. I literally had a dream on Saturday that y’all put your house up for sale and then I woke up and told my boyfriend (who went to UVA, also) that we’d be moving to Richmond this summer. Psychic?!
Congrats to all of you! So exciting!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny!!
xo
s
caree says
…..record needle scratch… wha wha WHAT?!
I have a question….because I am dealing with something; how do you reconcile leaving all your DIY projects behind? Due to my pinterest addiction, we’ve been tackling little home projects left and right (adding board & batten to the foyer, turning our builder-blah baths into cute cottage oasis(s)), but I don’t love where we live and if given the opportunity, would move in a heartbeat. But then I gaze at our lovely board & batten project my hubby and I lovingly worked together on and I think…. but but, we can’t just leave it behind! Maybe I’m a little selfish/sentimental like that. And it’s also a consideration for future projects…. I’m considering adding a chalkboard magnetic wall to our laundry room, but I think, Do I want to go through ALL that trouble (8-10 coats? eeek), when I would move tomorrow if given the chance? How do you not live in limbo but also consider the future at the same time?
YoungHouseLove says
I think our first house taught us that things come with you (everything but the walls, mostly) but some things stay behind too (like our pretty first kitchen, and the backyard where we got married) so I think it’s nice to know those pretty things live on (they’re not dying or anything) and since so many things come with you, along with all the photos and memories, it helps me not to mourn too much. I would much rather have showed the house love and left it nicer than I found it than hold back for fear of leaving things later, ya know?
xo
s
Kristin F says
I feel the same way another reader mentioned above, like we were breaking up or something. That’s how much I’ve loved the current house. But the real question is: How does Sue (the Napkin) feel about this change?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! We’ll have to see what she thinks…
xo
s
Mandy says
I am so very excited for you guys, congrats! We also just bought a beautiful, nearly perfect house – after looking for a year, this popped up in a town that we weren’t even considering! But it was the perfect price, perfect size, so we pounced! When its right, its right. Can’t wait to see all of the amazing things you do!
bethany says
Can’t.Contain.Excitement!!!!
Abby says
Yay! I feel ridiculous because I don’t know you but somehow I think we’re best friends? Anyway, I’m so excited about this new adventure! You two just keep encouraging me to see the good in those houses that “need some love.” And I wish I could move from Texas and buy your current house because I would BUY IT SO HARD and live in the kitchen forever. Sorry. Too much? :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! You’re so sweet Abby!
xo
s
@ESWterry says
Congratulations! I had a feeling you kids would be moving soon…your current home is practically perfect and you need more projects! Best of luck to you in your new adventures. <3
Kim says
Congratulations!
Hope you get a lot of good pets of the penny tile in before the move!
So excited and literally can’t wait to see what the new house’s “Sue” will be!!!
Jennifer says
holy moley!? So, as soon as I read this post I called my fiance at his office, and was like, “great news! guess what?!” “YoungHouseLove bought a new house!!!” He wasn’t enthused but I had to share my excitement with someone. I was totally not expecting this, oh the possibilities!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Amy says
Okay, so another shocked reader here – but super excited for all the new diy projects to come. Also, am I the only one secretly loving that chevron/scalloped/paisley wallpaper in your lovely reasons-this-is-a-fixer-upper photo collage????
Also, I think you totally need to include a copy of your book in the sale of the existing Petersik residence…how cool to own a home with such a history (and such a wonderfully documented history at that!)
Good luck and can’t wait to “read all about it”! (shameless Newsies plug)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! We’ll totally toss in a book with the house :)
xo
s
Misty says
Is your first house for sale again too???? I’m seeing it in listings. What are the odds?? So excited for you guys! My hubby saw this coming (who has become a reader of your blog and it cracks me up) but I did NOT! So surprised! Can’t wait to see what you do.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, isn’t that funny?! Everything’s in bloom so it’s selling season :)
xo
s
Amanda says
Your first house is for sale? Are you going to go do a tour of it and take photos so we can see how it’s changed? Is that creepy? Haha, we’ll say it’s not …
YoungHouseLove says
We were dying to crash and asked the realtor but she said no. Boo! Here’s hoping some new owners get in there and invite us over someday :)
xo,
s
Adeline says
I have to tell you I admire your bravery to take on this new challenge (even if you job requires you to tackle new projects).
Good luck with the showings of your current house and all the best with your new home et new neighborhood!
(and like most of your readers, I’m excited to see how you’ll transform this one).
Natalia says
One word: Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!
Karah @ thespacebetweenblog says
Woo Hoo!! Super congrats to you!! What a gorgeous home … from the outside. :) And I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one with the inexplicable urge to do the Carlton at random. :)
Megan says
Holy smokes! You three have been busy–congratulations!! It makes total sense that your dream neighborhood and more projects would make for the perfect place. Wish you all the best with your packing!
Connie says
Perhaps Clara chose her new room based on closet size because she hopes for a comfortable reading spot.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I think you’re right!
xo
s
Brittany says
Congratulations!!! I JUST saw that your first house was up for sale also! Good luck, SO excited that you guys have a new place for fun new blog posts!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that so funny?!
xo
s
Anna says
I’ve never commented before but have been following you guys for quite a while. Yesterday morning, I found out my husbando will be in New York while I remain in Texas with our new baby boy–he’s a pilot. For some reason, this post totally made my day better, so thank you! Very excited for you and excited to see the journey!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Anna! All the best of luck with everything!
xo
s
Laura says
Have you noticed that every house you guys is brick, with tan trimming, and black shutters?? haha
Laura says
buy is*
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we certainly have a type huh?!
xo
s
Chris says
DITTO to what Megan wrote!
I’m so happy for you guys. You continue to think out-of-the-box. You know, I was pretty fed up with my house until my teenage daughter stumbled upon your website and pulled me in…You have inspired us to do those things that seem to keep getting put off…and now we have fallen back in love with our forever home.
Can’t wait to see what you guys are going to do next!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Chris!
xo
s
KayJ says
I’m so excited for y’all!!! Congrats!!! :)
Kim B. says
Congratulations! I can’t wait to see how you tackle everything inch of your new home. Our family is prepping to move so I’m sure I’ll be inspired by your new journey.
Briel K. says
Wow! Congratulations on finding a house in your budget in your dream neighborhood. That’s awesome. I can’t wait to hear more about your new home and see some before shots. I love that you are excited to tackle some new spaces!
Alison says
Looks too formal for you guys. I hope you respect the architecture. This should be interesting.
Heather says
Sad you’re leaving Bon Air! I like to think you guys made our area “cool.” :-) Totally understand your reasoning, but it is definitely killing me not knowing what this mythical charming Richmond-style neighborhood is with good schools, trees and quiet streets! Please take me with you to this place! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! We’ll always be Bon Air peeps since our first and second
housesbabies live here. Haha!xo
s
Yalanda says
OMG! Congrats! Can’t wait to see what you do with the place! If we lived anywhere near Richmond I’d be doing anything I could to take your beautiful home off your hands! You’ll sell in no time!
Meg says
Congratulations to you both! I’m a long time reader though I’ve never commented before. I did meet you at a book signing – best day ever haha! I really admire how you guys work hard and save for the things that matter to you. You remind me of my parents who saved for years in order to live more than comfortably now that they are nearing retirement. Speaking as their daughter, you are setting a wonderful example for Clara. Such a gift! Stories like yours keep me on the path of living within my means even when it’s tempting to keep up with my peers. Congrats again and enjoy the new house! So excited to see what you do with it.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Meg!
xo
s
Nicole says
Congrats!
2 things: how many bedrooms/bathrooms?
This BETTER spawn another book :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! It has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and it shall spawn many more years of blogging! Haha. Since books take so long to write and come out, we’d much rather blog about the updates that we do in real time with you guys over here :)
xo
s
Andria says
Wait, how is that the same square footage as your current house? It looks ginormous! And FWIW, I was suspicious too…but so excited for you guys. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Yes, it’s almost exactly the same square footage! It’s just that our current house has an addition off the back (1000 square feet was added!) but you can’t see that from the road, so of course the new house looks bigger since instead of hiding that room in the back, it’s on top :)
xo
s
Sarah says
Congratulations! I look forward to following your next DIY adventure! I bet your current house will sell really quickly!
Allison says
EEEE!!! I’m SO SO SO excited for you guys! I have been dreaming about a $1.5 million dollar house down the street that’s a tad (hello, where are you sarcasm font) out of our price range right now. For you guys to find your dream home in a dream neighborhood has got to be incredible. Congrats!! I’m so looking forward to your new adventures.
Elizabeth says
I wanted to add to the thousands wishing you the very best of luck with your new home! I couldn’t believe last night when I saw all the congrats on Instagram that yesterday was the ONE DAY I didn’t read the blog first thing in the morning. Your home should be sold in a hot second, it is absolutely amazing and inspiring all of the ways you have made it beautiful. As a girl who in the past year moved into her dream house that needs quite a bit of work, you keep me reminded that it can’t be done all at once…it’s the journey! Every light fixture that gets hung, every wall we paint, makes it a little more like home. Thank you for that.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Elizabeth!
xo
s
Julie B. says
And to think, I just thought you were going to have a second baby. But, I guess, technically, you ARE going to have another baby –this one with STAIRS! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah!
xo
s
Liz says
I don’t think it evokes a whole range of reactions in some people. People move every day, no big deal. What I do see you buying into is keeping up with the Joneses. At least your other two houses had personality and character and you stood apart from others who have to buy the biggest houses, whereas this is your typical oversized, cookie cutter, flat front house. I would say my main question is, why are you moving? What was wrong with your old house? You certainly didn’t grow out of it, it was in a beautiful neighborhood (yes, I’m in Richmond), and I can only assume it’s because you need more opportunities and a bigger place to decorate to keep your main job and source of income. It’s kind of sad to me.
Liz says
Oh my gosh, I just read where this house is approximately the same square footage as your other house? Then count me as super confused, because I definitely don’t see the point of moving then. It must be appearances then, and this house looks & seems bigger. I can’t imagine moving from the house I’m in now (1,700 sf), where we’ve spent the last few years decorating, putting money into it (significant improvements), time and love, and then turning around and buying another house that’s the same size. Don’t get it.
YoungHouseLove says
As we mentioned in the post, it’s because 1) we’ve always loved this neighborhood and saved up for years to hopefully end up there and 2) this is not only our passion, it’s our livelihood (which John clearly called out). This blog not only puts food on the table and money in Clara’s college fund, but it allows us to do what we love (and did for years as a hobby). So we’re very grateful! We weighed the choice of staying in our current house and fixing up a rental or doing other people’s homes or trying to get into the neighborhood we’ve loved forever and a house came up in our budget so we jumped at the chance. Simple as that :)
xo
s
Carole says
Oh my-when we bought our house we had a tub faucet and yellow tile exactly like the one pictured. I can’t wait to see how you update this one. Our solution was to put a tub surround up-ugghh! Good news is that our next project is a re-do. Here’s hoping you do yours before I do:)
the cape on the corner says
congrats to you guys, i love the curb appeal in this house. question, so does richmond only have brick houses with black shutters? sure seems like it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! We definitely have a type!
xo
s
Justine in CT says
Whoa!!! I miss a couple of posts & WHAM – you’re MOVING!!! I’m so-o-o-o looking forward to what you do in your new dream house. We’re living vicariously thru your DIY adventures and you’ve been such an inspiration to us; we’ve actually did some projects in your book to make our condo feel less like a cookie-cutter house more like “home.”
Suzanne says
Congrats on the purchase of your dream house. Its a rare opportunity & really pleased that you are able to bounce on it “like a Velociraptor” with your ready nest egg.
Am kind of sad about the ranch tho, since it is the one you guys were working on when I started following your blog. Was looking fwd to remotely enjoy the fruits of your labor this year, read more about the way you guys are using the upgraded spaces, how Sherry is going to decorate the deck for parties/meals come warmer weather, the blooming action in the gardens and to see how the pergolaport/window boxes will look with your plants of choice. Not to mention the double-sided fireplace and the french doors to the deck.
But it is also the beginning of another exciting chapter, although my hope is that you would not have to live a nomad, moving every 3-4 years lifestyle in order to keep this DIY blog going, as much as we all enjoyed every single blog post on the casas.
Best wishes!
Letty says
Woooo hooo! Congratulations! I somehow missed yesterday’s post in the craziness of my workday, and so when today’s post pops in my Reader, I was all, “What announcement?!” I am soooo excited for you! This is such great news– new house, new DIY jobs, new memories to be created! With each move you make, I feel like we all get to experience having a new house too. :) Can’t wait to see more! xo
Patti says
I am struck by an amazing shift in the way I see things. You say, blue trim (read: ugly). Not very long ago, I would have been turned off by that and wouldn’t have seen the beautiful crown molding under that hideous paint. Reading your blog has definitely made me appreciate “good bones”. Congratulations on the new house. I can’t wait to see more.
p.s. Clara looks really tall in that last photo. She is so adorable.
Lisa says
I was beginning to wonder when a new house would be in your plans..I kept wondering how many more projects you really had left in your current place. Congrats and good luck!