The houses I love

My current goals are to get back to basics. Technically, I am not supposed to make any major decisions for another 6 months to a year. This is the recommendation after a huge, traumatic event in order to avoid regretting mistakes made. I, however, am weird. I do not carry regret and am a pretty clear thinker, so I am looking into moving and downsizing. The real inspiration for this decision is my daughter. I am giving her the biggest and most meaningful gift that I can give. I am bringing her closer to her father and his family, who love her very much. The loss of my husband, whom she loved made her worry for her father. She wants to spend more time with him. To me that is noble. It is worth the nightmare of moving.

I never really cared to much for any particular home style. I didn't have a dream home. It just needed to be comfortable. I always considered the people (and dogs of coarse) in it to be the 'home' feeling. The structure was nothing more than that, a structure. I didn't have any requirements for a home other than a fence. I would walk it and see if it was roomy, had good storage potential, and was in a cared for neighborhood.

So, I go to this new area of Florida about 90 minutes from where we live now and I meet my first historic home. Wham! It hit me. The feeling that people talk about when you love a house. I didn't think it existed. If I find something, this will be the fourth house I have lived in after all. Of coarse, being me, I have to love the riskiest homes to own. Historic homes are old. I mean really old. The one pictured here is a 1920's home. Every single home I loved was built in the 20's. Big huge sigh! This is not a bad thing. It's just that I am not in the position to own such a home. I would have been able to get the home pictured for a great deal and it is an awesome little house, but I don't have the funds to fix it.

It looks great I know. Honestly, this home may out live a lot of newer homes. I am not afraid of that. This home is in wonderful condition. The problem really is the insurance. Here in Florida, older homes are difficult to insure. In order to obtain insurance, the home must pass a four point inspection (Roof, Electrical, Plumbing, and Structure). If flaws are found everything has to be fixed immediately. This beauty needs a new roof, updated electrical, termite treatment, and siding work. This is easily a $20k job. Guess who can't put that into a newly purchased home? Then, of coarse things will surely come up with the home down the road, the a/c is on the older side etc. These things would not worry me if I had the means, but I am not the type to take these risks unless I am properly prepared. Now is about the worst time for it and for me. No worries tho, I am not discouraged. I know that I will have to let this one go and get a newer home. A historic home may not be in my future any time soon. It is nice to know that I have a style preference, even if it is the style of home that I can't possibly have right now and requires more TLC. I guess it goes with my personality. I am a TLC kinda girl sometimes.

I tested this to make sure. I have seen 8 historical properties and loved 7, 2 were my favorites. I have seen a huge amount of newer homes, too many to count, and have loved 1. We saw a historic home yesterday. It also had roof problems, evidence or termites and mold, dry rotted wood on the outside, and more goodies and I was behaving like I was in my perfect place. I guess this makes me complicated. I would do all the work myself, except the roof, if they would give you time to fix things and not require all problems to be addressed immediately. Then there was one by a lake. So cute, but it needed a ton of things. Sigh, perhaps when my little girl is on her own, I can revisit this. Then if the home falls apart, it is only me. I am pretty cool, I have to say. I know plenty of people who will take me in. :D