As I mentioned in my first post, my husband and I purchased a new home in Las Vegas. Shortly before our move, Nick and I decided we would look into buying a home. I wasn’t originally on board because of the housing market crash and insisted that we look at rentals as well. However, the housing market in Las Vegas at the beginning of the year was insane and homes were foreclosing at record rates causing tenants to be shutout of their rental homes with no warning. The thought of being kicked out of our home with a few days to find another was not appealing. We did the math and discovered we could afford a mortgage because it was much less than the current rental rates. (Even including home owner’s insurance, which was just a bit more than we had paid for renter’s insurance in Mississippi.) I never dreamed Nick and I would have the opportunity to own a home together this early in our marriage, but with the market right now and the slashed prices we were able to do it a lot sooner.
After a month and a half of searching, we found a great house in a smaller subdivision. The house isn’t perfect, but it is in a great neighborhood and a good start for us. Some day I will get my dream home – a mid-century ranch house or a more traditional house with a wrap-around porch and lots of architectural details – but for now I’m delighted to have this newer home to call my own.
Below are photos from the realty website. Clockwise, from left. The front of the house: The biggest thing that drew us to the neighborhood was the many different floor plans and house fronts available. So many subdivisions were flooded with cookie cutter house after cookie cutter house. I’m not thrilled with the tile and the carpet needed to be cleaned, but the entry has so much potential! Entry from formal living/dining room. Family room: Niche that is perfect for the flat screen Nick is dying to purchase. Formal living/dining from entry: There is so much natural light in this room because of the patio doors. We are looking into replacing those eventually, they are so nondescript. We’d like a more secure door with a bit of character.
Clockwise, from left. Kitchen: Probably my least favorite room in the house, although I do love how spacious it is. I am not in love with the oak cabinets, but I’m hoping some fresh hardware will give them a little more flair. Master bathroom: Don’t you love the lime green paint? It coordinated with the pale lime green pain in the bedroom. Delighful! The master bath is almost embarrassingly big. Growing up I shared one small bathroom with my mom and step-dad (and step-sister every other weekend), to have this much space to get ready is unreal!
That’s a small preview of our house for now. We’ve done a lot already since we moved in April 1st, but of course we still have upgrades we’d like to make. The master bedroom, master bathroom, kitchen, family room, and my office have been painted. The only rooms left to paint are the spare bedroom and guest bathroom. Of course, the decor is still evolving. I’ve documented most of the changes and will be sharing them with you in upcoming posts.
Our plan for now is to try and sell the home once we PCS (Permanent Change of Station: military abbreviation that basically means moving to another location.) However, if that doesn’t work out immediately we can keep the home as a rental property.
Buying a home is such a personal decision for any family (and believe me our parents had lots of opinions regarding home ownership). Do you own your home? Or currently rent? Have you been affected by the housing market in a good (or bad) way?
Twitter: @bienliving
We bought our condo in the city 3 years ago, at the height of the housing market. Now, we are essentially “stuck” with it since the value has gone down appx. $40k. We’d like to move into something larger, but will have to suck it up for awhile! Instead, we remodeled our kitchen & we both love our home more than we ever have. Best idea ever!
You have started a very interesting discussion on design. I’m a cabinetmaker who really does not want to make kitchens for a living, because the most of what is done in the US is just boxes with a “choice of doors and drawer fronts,” the most of which are made in a factory somewhere. Boring. I want to do something else if I can, but what?
European design just absolutely blows my mind, and I find myself reading quite a bit on it, even though these are often modular kitchens that one would simply send away for and have installed by a local craftsman. But what fascinates me is the utter innovation of those designs, so I find myself returning to them quite a bit.
I am also looking to design a kitchen for my wife in a too small space in a tract home, which necessarily lets out those wonderful European designs that excite me so. And whenever I find myself going out on a limb with some idea or another for our kitchen, my wife always grounds me by saying, “If you stick with the classics, you won’t grow tired of them.”
So, what do you do that is different and yet timeless and practical and stimulating to make if you’re a cabinetmaker? Damned if I know, but if I ever figure it out, I mean to make it for us and splash that baby all over the Internet!
What you’ve written, though, has given me quite a bit to think about, and I thank you for sharing your concepts.
Your new home is adorable and like you said, has a lot of potential in areas such as the entryway. You have a great eye and a fresh approach and I will continue to follow your blog. I live in 100 year old farmhouse in New England and am on the verge of updating my kitchen in the next few years.