buy an old house and renovate it

My grandmother had the greatest old house with a huge front porch. It had a big hanging swing and a rocking chair.. Perfect for watching the sun go down..

but worth it to transform something kinda run-down into something that reflects who you are. I renovated a 106 year old bungalow style house and really had fun with it, but it was an extreme amount of work. Of course soon after i was almost done, i moved to a different state. Miss the house though.

Yes, im only 13, but this has always been a dream of mine and a future goal. It seems like an amazing investment that can let you be as creative as you want.

This is something I’ve always wanted to do by myself, and depending on how things turn out given my current circumstances, it just might happen one day. Half the battle will be finding the right house to buy – I’m fussy, I don’t like butterboxes, I’m chasing an old Queenslander, 2 storey with verandahs the entire way around. I’ve started looking here, but there are so few left, and the ones I’ve found have already been renovated…

I’ve done this a couple of times. No regrets, but it always costs at least twice what you think it will. Even when you budget and plan reaaaaaly carefully!

I’ve always been passionate about old houses. I love the idea of a building having lots of history. I think it would be wonderful to restore and old house.

Our home is 81 years old, having been built in 1925. It’s 3 1/2 stories. A fully finished attic contains our library, sewing area, and game room. The 2nd story contains 3 bedrooms and our full bath. The master bedroom is 11×17! The 1st floor has our living room, dining room, 1/2 bath / laundry room, and kitchen. Our basement is the 1/2 story because it is only 5 ft high. It’s great for storage and tool area.

We’ve finished the attic, the main bath, 2 bedrooms and currently on master bedroom! It feels more like home everyday!

We’re in rented accomodation at the moment, but I’m at the old house (built in 1690!) every day interfering with the work, and doing as much as I can myself. I am amazed at how possible it is to love bricks and mortar – almost illegal! And we’ve had some great finds – including two beautiful arches which had been walled in, and an old window that had been sealed off when window taxes came in, but which still has its – very rusty – clasps etc. When we go back, it will be our house in a way that it wouldn’t if we hadn’t have done the work, but there’s also something else – a real feeling that we’re only borrowing it for our lifetime. Probably sounds sappy, but it puts lots of things in perspective.

I want an old house that someone has given up on. I want to breathe some life into it and bring it back to its former glory! I want a garden full of trees and flowers and roses and lightning bugs and butterflies. I want to be able to sit out on the patio and feel like I am in an oasis. I want there to be plently of light inside. I want a yellow bedroom. Just once in my life. I want a dark, heavy staircase and big open harwood floors where I’ll be able to hear the pitter patter of my feet and feel the smoothness on my toes. I want a giant claw-foot tub in an un-touched, original tiled bathroom. With big windows that open out to the outside. I want a small area on the roof, for a big telescope to look at the moon and stars. A big kitchen, to entertain all the guests. And a library, that can house all the books that I have and also want to collect. With a small sliding ladder and big heavy curtains, to protect everything from the light. I guess I would want any old historic house. Even in Mexico or Italy or even, perhaps, California. Somewhere where I can relax, yet still be close to the city. A courtyard with an old Spanish fountain would be nice, too!

I have the first steps done. I have short-term financing approved and long-term financing approved for backup if I reach the end of the short-term loan. My next step is to find a house to purchase. I’m mainly looking at post-foreclosure at this point.