realty round up - my picks
Emily Oster
As a way to finish off the comparison of the homes featured on Friday's realty round up series, I thought I would share my picks from each price bracket. The selections are not scientific in the least just the homes that I see the most potential in or really just seem like a nice place to call home.
information and images via Zillow
For the $0 - $250,000 category, my pick is the 1907 tudor designed by W.W. Hyslop in Spokane, Washington. The 3,010 square foot house was listed for $224,900 making it a steal at only $76/square foot. It has been well maintained but not necessarily updated leaving plenty of opportunity for a future homeowner to make it their own. If this were my house, I would let the original detailing and craftsmanship shine by contrasting it with light walls and clean and simple furnishings. First thing on my to do list would be to rip out the carpet upstairs and then plan out a new kitchen - maybe even one the required knocking down a few walls enabling a more open floor plan. So to summarize, I picked this home for its historic charm, investment potential and its overall design.
information and images via Zillow
For the $250,000 - $500,000 category, I would have to choose the 1924 blue cape cod in East Lansing, Michigan. This home was the largest in its price category at 4,482 square feet. It was also the lowest price per square foot at just $61/square foot. This home needs quite a bit of updating but has great potential. I love this house for its scale and proportion. Its exterior seems just right for its style - symmetrical and well sized openings on the front while in the back larger windows allow for greater light into the living spaces. If this were my home, I would focus on the finishes - new tile in the bathrooms, fresh paint colors, removing the wood paneling - the list would be pretty long. To conclude, this home gets my vote for very similar reasons as the Spokane house - historic charm, good economics, potential for projects and its overall charm.
information and images via Zillow
For the $500,000 - $750,000, I would pick the spacious renovated home in Myers Park, Charlotte, North Carolina. Built in 1938, this home has been updated to be more in line with a modern lifestyle. Walls have come down to create an open floor plan, a master suite was created that has two walk-closets and a master bath, new systems were put in place - all without losing any of the home's original charm. I tend to be very critical of historic renovations but with this home there is very little I would have done differently myself. I especially appreciate that while the home is quite a decent size at 2,735 square feet its scale remains intimate and well proportioned. Other things I like about this house are the yard, the back patio and of course the big master suite. I would buy this house and pretty much just paint and buy furniture!
information and images via Zillow
For the final price category of $750,000 to $1,000,000, my selection is the designer home in German Village, Columbus, Ohio. The aesthetic of the home is not necessarily in line with my own but it has been incredibly and meticulous maintained and renovated. The home features a long list of high end finishes that include custom Italian cabinetry, a glass staircase, French oak hardwood floors, 10' ceilings, high end appliances - the list could go on. One of the things I love most about this home is all the amazing light fixtures so if I were to purchase this home I would make sure they were included in the sale.
This is the end of the comparison series so I hope you have enjoyed it - stay tuned for new real estate content next week!