Encouraged Again!

It's like a seesaw around here! Up, down. Up, down...

OK, so basically, we passed on the wonky radiator house. We're also broadening our search to include more areas, which means being able to accomodate some of our wishes (good school system, a modest rather than cramped amount of space) while sacrificing others (walkability, and the proximity of some "cool" things like hippie co-ops and non-chain restaurants).

Look-- I've loved living in the city. I like walking to things. But is is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for my sanity and happiness? I can't say that I think it is. A good school system will win out over walkability every time. And quite frankly, it's beginning to look like 1.5 or 2 bathrooms will win out over walkability, too. As well as having at least 1,200 square feet. (I mentioned the "hot" city school district to our realtor, who promptly got back to me with a house in it that we could afford-- 864 square feet. Ouch.)

The further along we get in our search, the sharper certain priorities become. There are a few houses closer in to the city in good school systems that we might be able to afford-- it's a stretch, and would involve sellers coming down on their prices, as well as paying closing costs. These houses are cute, but tiny. Quite frankly, there really isn't that much "walkability," either. We'd be within a short driving distance of everything, though.

There are some houses exactly in our price range farther out, also in good school systems. These houses are bigger-- between 1,400 and 1,700 square feet. They would involve an average 20-25 minute commute, which would be longer during traffic heavy times. There isn't much walkability, although one house is in a neighborhood with an association (!) and things like a playground and a tennis court. Association = meh. Tennis court= double meh. A playground, however, is a pretty hot commodity. It says "something to do" plus "people to meet," which are both positives.

Anyway, what with e-mails from the realtor and from friends and relatives who are in on the search, I have about 20 houses I need to catalog. Yes, you heard me right-- I'm going to take notes on all of them and sort and cross-reference them into various categories like size, length of commute, word of mouth on the schools (merely OK? Stellar?), etc. Oh-- and price, of course. A lot of them are above our range, which makes me very nervous. I do not want to fall in love with something we ultimately can't afford.

We meet with the realtor to see some of them tomorrow. Wish us luck!