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…
Laura Jinkins says
I’m so excited for you, but I have to confess, I’m a little teary-eyed at the thought of your leaving your current home . . . having said that, can’t wait to see what you do with this one!
Jenny says
Congrats!!! The front of it is beautiful! Can’t wait to see how you guys make it your own! Maybe another book is in order…? :)
Jen says
So first I checked the date to make sure its not April 1 and then I scrolled all the way to the bottom to see if there was a “just kidding!” at the end!
The house is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Alison says
Congratulations!
So looking forward to following along on this new journey.
Holly Marie says
AHH how wonderful! I too was thinking, ‘ok, what’s today’s date? Nope, April 30…. sooo unless there’s an ‘End of April Fool’s Day’ then…. they’re fo’ surrrrious!! (and then I got really excited!) CONGRATS guys!
Debbie C says
Wh-what? I was waiting for the joke…the April Fool’s surprise…but it’s real. Wow…it’s a beautiful house! It looks so much bigger than the current house, but it’s the same? Can’t wait to see what you guys do with it, I know it’ll be great. Although the blue doors and trim are sort of charming.
Maryanne says
Awesome! I thought at first you were pulling our leg, just being so casual. But I had been wondering how many re-do were left for your current home, and the new one looks like my dream place. :)
Michele says
Congrats on your beautiful new house! I’m doing The Carlton for you RIGHT NOW!
Sarah says
Wow! Congrats! Beautiful exterior on your new home! And yes, as a Richmonder, I am dying to know where it is, but I totally understand why you won’t divulge. So glad you are staying in town. Isn’t Richmond just the best place to raise kids! LOVE! All the best with your move. Can’t wait to see what you do with those stairs (I need some ideas for mine)!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! We love Richmond!!
xo
s
Dusa says
Head exploding (in a good way).
Robin says
jaw drop wow. Congrats! What an exciting time!
Jane says
Well that is seriously so very EXCITING!! So many of us are inspired daily by your journey. For me it is partly by your financial journey! Save for the important things, the things that make you a family…for you all that is your home! Quite honestly recently and slightly panicked, I found myself wondering, “What are they going to do when they are finished with this house?” Hats off and thanks for the daily dose of DIY!!
Carolyn says
Wow!!! Like some of the others, I had to scroll down to see if there was something else going on, too…lol! Huge congratulations to you guys! Can’t wait to see what you do with it. And good luck with selling your current house…I bet it will be snatched up quick!
Skeeter says
Congratulations! I love the exterior of the new one. Although, I kept waiting for a “psych!” at the end. So excited to see what you guys do with this new one!
Marcy says
Ok… I totally thought this was going to be a joke a la April Fools. Or a house crashing of a house you really wanted.
Congrats! There’s going to be A LOT of DIY opportunity to this one. Can’t wait to see what you do.
Kellee says
So excited for you all! I will admit to being totally blindsided by this, but I can’t wait to see what you guys do. I love getting to see your crazy-creative brains at work!!
sue says
well deserved! and i love that you stress that this is the reward for hard work & patience… that lesson seems to be lost to so many who want everything now, now, now! kudos to you & may you have many, many happy years in your new home!
Kelly says
YAY! I am sure that your current house will sell quickly. The new house is classic and gorgeous — I can’t wait to see what you do with it! Congratulations to both of you!
julie says
It’s gorgeous!!! Congrats to you all! Thought this was a late April Fool’s post! :) can’t wait to see it blossom!!!
Nou says
OMAwesomeness!!! I had to double check the date to make sure it wasn’t 4/1 again. I started following the blog a year ago and never got see transformations from “scratch” so I’m super excited to see what you guys do with the new house. I can tell it’ll be another great memory in the making!!
Lisa says
SO thrilled for you guys! I don’t usually check in with YHL until lunch, but for some reason I looked at exactly 10:01 today. I’m so happy that I did! This is wonderful news.
My husband and I just bought our first home (we have a 2 1/2 year old son) in PA. I am looking forward to new tips on fixing up an old home from you guys! I have already purchased Rockport Gray, Moonshine and Cloud Cover paint for the house!
Emily Thompson says
JAW. HANGING. OPEN. AT. WORK.
*drops mic, walks away*
Rachael says
AHHH so excited for you guys – I can’t wait to see new ideas and get some new inspiration!
Lena says
I’m just waiting for Petersik part II… Clara is just too cute!
Talia says
I don’t know why I felt sad:( And here I am, thinking that this must be some April Fool’s joke.
What happens to Clara’s new room now?
YoungHouseLove says
It all comes with us! All we’re leaving are the walls :)
xo
s
Bethany says
Haha my first thought was Clara’s room too!
Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama says
WAIT! WHAT? Is this a late April Fool’s joke?
Wow! I am totally blown away! Congrats you two and happy DIYing…I know you’ve got your work cut out for you :) Can’t wait to see how ya’ll turn it around.
Allison says
Congratulations! Can’t wait to come along on this new journey with you all!
Lisa says
Wow! How exciting! It must be strange to have so many people have so many opinions on your life- but I just want you to know that I appreciate your honesty, courage, and fun-ness. I’m looking forward to seeing what the new house brings- but no pressure! ;)
Marianne says
What the what?!? Totally didn’t see this coming. Can’t wait to see the new house! It doesn’t seem like you’ve been there three years! Time flies.
Alex says
YOU GUYS!!! Oh I am so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!! Wow wow wow!!! Sending you so much love! <3 <3 <3
I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL THE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stephanie says
Hahahaha, this comment wins.
Kat says
holy smokes!! that’s awesome!!
Congratulations John and Sherry!!!
I love me some ugly wallpaper stripping!
Alisha says
I am so excited for your new adventure!! I just simply cannot believe it, I thought it was a joke! I LOVE the new house. Its awesome. I love the symmetry of the outside and it looks somewhat like my dream home. Excited to see what you are going to be able to accomplish in the years to come!!
Renee says
Congrats! Several readers figured it was coming soon! I hope to see your design sense grow and mature (and see some more furniture pieces bought that will last a lifetime) with the more classic style of the house! Have fun!
Stephanie says
:-O
Best of luck on your new journey! The new home is beautiful! I’m almost sad that you won’t get to enjoy the summer on your newly built deck (one of my fav projects), but it looks like you have a new deck to love!
Alicia says
Congratulations! It looks like your new place has some of the same issues as my new place. I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Kristina says
Wow! I’m beyond shocked and honestly a little bit sad. Not necessarily because you guys are leaving behing a great house, but because I know I’ll evenutally be leaving my little fixer upper as well. I just can’t imagine the day that I’m finally “finished” fixing up my home and decide that its time to move on to bigger and better things! Big, BIG Congratulations! You guys have worked so hard and definitley deserve to have a home in your dream neighborhood! Can’t wait to see what becomes of that fancy floral / striped wall paper!
Eva says
EEEEEE!!!! Congratulations! I can’t wait to see how you transform this new house and best of luck selling the old one. I’m sure it’ll get snapped up in no time at all.
Daria says
AHHHHH. That’s super exciting! The house looks GORGEOUS from the outside and I’m even excited by all that blue trim.
Congratulations!
Shannon B says
Whhhhaaaaatttt???? :-) Congrats! I had to check and make sure this wasn’t an April fools joke!!! Wish I live in VA and I would buy your old place! Best of luck! So excited for all the new projects to come! Woot woot!
Nicole Grove says
(keep getting duplicate comment error – trying again)
Holy Crap! I seriously had to check the date like 4 times to make sure I somehow hadn’t lost an entire month and we were back on April Fools day! You guys are so sneaky! I’m so so so excited for you, and can’t wait to see all the new projects! Good Luck!
Alexis says
AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see what you guys do to this place! I looks like it has loads of potential! OMG honestly I’m dyyyyyying over here! <—–YHL groupie! :)
Mandy says
Wow, is it strange that I am super excited for you guys?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks guys! You’re all so sweet! We couldn’t wait to tell you!!!
xo
s
nancy50 says
Congrats on the new house – if you could send your current house up to Montgomery County MD (it’s only 2 hours away) I would buy it in a NY minute! We have very few one story houses in my neck of the woods and at age 55 I’m getting tired of stairs! Can’t wait to see the reno projects.
kristi@SimplePrettyThings says
Oh my gosh! I mean, I knew there were rumors floating around but when I first started reading I was waiting for an April Fools (it’s the end of April after all)…It’s really happening?! This is beyond exciting. Wow I cannot wait to see where this all goes. Really this is exciting! I wanna come help paint!!! I can’t wait to see more pics!
Courtney says
Wow! That’s quite an annoucement. :)
All the best and I can’t wait to follow along on your new adventure!
Shan says
I too double- checked the date to see if it was April Fools…but it makes sense. This is why my husband and I always keep an eye on listings and visit open houses. When the perfect house comes along you want to be able to pounce on it AND have the confidence to know it is what you want at a good price. We just bought 6 months ago and we still visit the occasional open house!
Jen R. says
Congratulations!!
kate C. says
Wow – a pretty fun surprise! Congrats and good luck on this next phase!!
TJ says
Congratulations!
So so excited for you all. Sometimes I wish I would email you when I guess what might be happening next because I was only commenting to my husband in the last few weeks that I thought you were going to buy a new house and move in.
He thought I was crazy as you had not long been where you were.
I can’t wait to share in the new adventure xx
Wintry Mix says
IT’S NOT A RANCH! IT’S NOT A RANCH!!!
Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I have loved you guys and your blog since discovering it 4 years ago, but have never felt truly like kindred spirits in terms of decor because you’ve been living in mid-century ranches, while I live in a New England cottage built in 1792. So I am beyond thrilled that your new project will be (from the looks of it) a bit more in the direction of my own place. Meaning I will be able to steal even MORE brilliant ideas whole cloth. :)
And huge congrats on finding such a great deal!