So, funny story about the house below. We bought it and we’re moving in.
We know this news probably evokes a whole range of reactions. Excitement for new makeovers. Sadness for leaving our current house. Curiosity about all of the logistics. Confusion. Anger. The inexplicable urge to do The Carlton.
Starting this story requires rewinding seven years, back to our first house hunting experience in Richmond in the spring of 2006. We had just moved from New York City and Richmond real estate felt very spacious and very cheap by comparison. It made dreamers out of us. We checked out a bunch of neighborhoods, and fell for an awesome old area with nice big wooded lots, great schools, charming tree-lined streets, and kids on scooters.
But none of the sweet old character-filled houses in that neighborhood were in our price range, especially because the bank had no faith in us. The issue was not our savings, but the fact that I was less than 2 months into my new job and Sherry was just as deep into her career as a freelance copywriter. In the eyes of the bank, Sherry was unemployed since she was a newbie self employed person (even though she was earning more than me!) so I ended up being the only name on the loan – basically cutting our buying power in half. Goodbye dream neighborhood, hello this looker.
As deflating as that financial reality check was, it turned out to be one of the biggest blessings. Had we not been steered towards a fixer upper, we might not have ever started this blog or learned the advantage of buying a home that’s well within our means. By not stretching financially, we could stash away a lot more project money and build up our nest egg – because we hadn’t lost sight of that neighborhood we first fell for, we had just put that dream on hold.
Fast forward 4.5 years, past a new puppy, a wedding in the backyard, Clara’s birth, and me coming home to work full-time. Our beloved little 1,250 sq ft ranch (with only one full bathroom) was suddenly feeling cramped and we found ourselves house hunting again. Dream neighborhood here we come, right? Try again, compadre. This time I was the financial deadweight (having just left a salaried job six months earlier to come work at home – great timing, right?). So once again we found ourselves approved for something far below our actual mortgage-paying abilities thanks to the bank’s you-haven’t-done-this-self-employment-thing-long-enough-for-it-to-count doubt.
But it dropped another gem of a fixer upper in our laps. And this time we knew that an affordable needs-work home meant even more projects and more money squirreled away for our “maybe someday” neighborhood.
Now, I wouldn’t say we ever consciously thought of these homes as “stepping stones” or rungs on a property ladder that we were itching to climb. Even though we always loved that dream neighborhood from afar, Sherry was fully convinced our first house would be our “forever home” (we even have that statement on video). When we fall in love with a house, we fall hard. But the experience of outgrowing and leaving our first place made us realize that we enjoy the process of loving an old house back to life way too much to stop at just one.
So when we moved into this house, we went into things with a more open attitude. Knowing we’d soak up every second of living here (you know we’re nuts about the journey) but no longer making bold declarations like “we’ll stay here forever.” Admittedly, at halfway through year three of living here, the end came a bit sooner than we expected, but our time here since 2010 has been jam-packed. We’ve celebrated three Christmases in this house, created a book from start to finish here, and enjoyed countless Clara milestones (crawling, walking, talking, Gangnam Style-ing). So this place is by no means a blip on the timeline of our family history. It has been “home” through a heckova lot, which makes leaving it that much more bittersweet.
We just knew we didn’t want our current place to be our last fixer upper (it’s not only what we love to do, it’s our livelihood), so when we felt ourselves tackling the last few untouched rooms on our list we started casually keeping one eye open for a deal that could be a potential rental or even a future Casa Petersik. We’d occasionally flip through real estate listings and drop in on open houses. We always hoped that something would come up in our price range in that dream neighborhood so we could jump on it like a velociraptor, but after two house-hunting experiences that didn’t lead to us ending up there, we weren’t very confident.
And then it happened. Pretty much out of nowhere, we found the sweetest needs-lots-of-love home in that old charming neighborhood that we’ve driven through at least five times a year just to stare creepily since 2006. Yes, this is a seven-years-in-the-making house coup of ours. We would have loved to take you guys on the house hunting adventure with us like last time, but it all happened so fast and before we knew it we were closing on it.
And thanks to putting some of that saved-for-years cash down at closing, our new house’s mortgage amount is almost exactly the same as our current house’s – but our interest rate is even lower. We both spent closing day waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and scream “you got punked!” but all went well and the house is officially ours. We’ve even had it long enough to fix some first-priority issues like a leaking roof, a broken furnace, and even hooked up the alarm system.
The house hasn’t been updated since it was built around 35 years ago, and knowing that its interior might scare off others trying to buy in a mostly turn-key community, the sellers priced it way under assessment. It was over $100,000 less than another house of the same size that was for sale down the street. A low-priced fixer upper in a neighborhood that we’ve dreamed about for almost a decade? Yes please. 70’s wallpaper, blue trim, lumpy carpet and all…
Beyond the price, neighborhood, and glaring need to be rescued – this place is perfect for us in so many other ways. It’s nearly the exact same size as our current place (huzzah, no more extra square feet to clean). The street is beautiful and quiet (perfect for someday teaching Clara to ride a bike). It’s still just as close to our family (maybe they can watch Clara while we strip wallpaper). And it presents us with so many new design challenges and opportunities that our minds are spinning with ideas. I mean, hello, we have stairs for the first time in seven years of home-ownership!
Perhaps the funniest thing is that at our age, my parents were moving into their third house, which was where they stayed for over three decades. So apparently it’s in the Petersik blood.
We know that you guys probably have dozens of questions – When are we moving in? (Don’t know yet) When can you see more pictures? (Soon) What does Clara think? (She already picked out her room… based on the closet size. Is she 16?) But this post would be ten thousand words if we tried to cover everything, so we’ll get to those things in time. We also have a few things to finish around here to get our current house sold (anyone interested?) so in an effort to keep our own minds focused on those to-dos, it won’t be all new house posts all the time. We’ll just be moving at our usual real-time pace and sharing a little bit of everything that’s happening (selling, packing, planning, moving, and diving into our new house adventure).
Did I mention these two are the most excited of all? Okay, three if you count Ariel.
We can’t wait to continue sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly with you guys. Seriously, who wants to come paint some mauve trim with us? And if there were a moral to this story, it’s patience. This is not “the house the book bought” (we still haven’t hit our royalty point), it’s the house that seven years of saving up and living within our means bought. Had we strained our wallets and gone for a larger or more turn-key house back in 2006, we probably would’ve had a very different financial path, and most certainly would have had a different career path. So even though we had to wait a while, it just makes this new chapter in our lives that much sweeter. Who knows, we might just stay there forever…
Beth @ BandBBuildALife.com says
I am BEYOND excited for you guys! …a teensy bit sad that your current gem won’t be home for much longer…. but mostly excited to see what you’ll be up to next! And HUZZAH for getting the neighborhood you want! Also, TOTALLY DOWN WITH PAINTING THAT TRIM. I’m ALL OVER getting that blue and mauve out. Right now. LOL
Can’t wait to see what you guys do next!
emily says
I am so excited! I’ve seriously been worried the past few months about how you were “finishing” your current house and what you would be blogging about.
And on another note, I am currently taking down TONS of ugly 1970s wallpaper in our house and I was thinking “I wish YHL had a post about how to take down ugly wallpaper”. I guess you’ll have one soon!
Congratulations :) It was hard to leave our first house, but the upgrades and new opportunities with a new house make it totally worth it. Best of luck-I can’t wait to hear and see all about it!
Katie V. says
Congratulations!! I love it! I actually love that there appears to be a ton of work needed. Is that horizontal paneling?! Can’t wait to see what you do with the place!
Deb D. says
I just went back and looked at the teaser pics again and realized that your trim colors are exactly what we’re dealing with at our “new” house! Colonial Blue trim in several rooms, pink trim in a bedroom, Jets green in another bedroom… every single room in our house had a different color trim when we moved in! Slowly but surely they’re all going white. I also see a lot of DIF, tiger claws and painting in your future…can’t wait for the ride to begin! Congrats!
Mary says
Congrats! I am beyond excited for you two crazy kids.
Rebecca says
As an almost four-year reader of your blog, I’m so excited for you guys! As a “have several moves under my belt” home fixer-upper and DIYer, I understand how bittersweet it can be, but how rewarding it is to keep saving up for ‘the one!’ Here’s to a happy move!
Jessica says
Aw! This is soo exciting!!! I’m very happy for you! I’d say you have picked all three of your houses with something in common!!! Brick! It’s cool the first house was small, second a bit larger, and the third seems even larger :)
Can’t wait to see what you do to this one. You guys work so hard, you deserve the best!!! Wish I was closer, I’d come help you paint that mauve trim ;)
dylcia says
Super mega congrats!!! Could you please redo the stairs first so I can figure out what to do with mine? Thanks! haha
jessica says
tears in my eyes! can’t wait for the new adventure!
Kate says
Oh my lanta – CONGRATS PETERSIKS!!!!!!!! Here’s to all of the upcoming adventures in painting :) tell me you’ll incorporate a frame wall…and penny tile…pretty please?!!
Martin says
I am one part panicking and one part overly excited for a new kitchen demo! Ahhhh
But I’m going to miss your old house. I’ve gotten a little invested in it following you guys for the last couple years.
Dana says
What a cool story! So great to watch your progress over the last few years. I’m inspired for when I purchase my first place. Can’t wait to watch the evolution of your new home.
maria says
you people really have been kissed by the real estate gods. being able to buy a new home while you haven’t even sold the last one? (it’ll probably sell very soon!) so, so lucky. Meanwhile, I have a stupid apartment i am trying to sell for over 3 months and it won’t move and if it sells i’ll break even or possibly take a loss. Hope you guys count your blessings every day. Congrats!
Mandy says
Congratulations, guys! At first I was sure I was getting punked. As I’ve only followed the blog for the last 6 months or so, I’m looking forward to seeing you work on a house from the beginning in real time!
Megan A. says
Awesome news! And why was I so shocked at first? Do I know you guys? Nope, haha, but it makes total sense. You guys love a challenge! Congrats.
Megan says
CONGRATS! How exciting! Can’t wait to see what you do with the new space.
Kayla aka Kilo Bravo says
Whaaaaaaaat!?!? I don’t know whether to weep or jump for joy (well I do know I should jump for joy for you guys – Congrats!!). It’s amazing how invested I feel (and I’m sure all of your readers feel) I am in your current home – I remember the first blog post I ever read was the day you moved into it! I know I’ll get over this initial feeling of shock and I am so excited to see what you guys do in the next home!!
Any ideas how you plan to change your design style this time around? I know you brought a ton more color into your second home. Will there be brass animals instead of white ceramic animals in this third home?? Ahh the possibilities!! Congrats again!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah! I think we’ll have to see how it evolves. We remember moving into this house and thinking it would be new house 2.0 but a lot of things evolved and changed, so we’re going into the new house with an open mind and the expectation that over the years that house will evolve with us too :)
xo
s
Mary Otto says
CONGRATS on the new house!! How exciting to be able to remodel the house exactly how you want it! Not alot of people are willing to put that kind of time/effort into it and want a move in ready house! You guys got a great deal! Good luck with the move! Can’t wait to see pics!
susan says
I had to check to make sure this wasn’t posted on April 1st, I was so sure it was a bogus post. I can’t believe you’re moving! On the other hand, more DIY posts so, yay for that!
luann says
oh my! congratulations. im completely shocked but i love the look of the new place!
LindsayR says
So excited for you guys! My husband and I are on the exact same journey. Two houses later we are now moving into our dream neighborhood on the same street as my in-laws (that’s a good thing). We went from zero to 60 in the third house process just like you guys. We haven’t even sold our house yet, but have completely gutted the new house and our diving into a HUGE project. Our other projects were tiny at the last houses compared to this one. I am excited to follow you guys on this new journey as we have one right along with you.
Helen says
Oh, I am just beyond excited for that stair remodel! Talk about a house with epic potential. The first thought (because it’s Spring, duh) was how big is your yard? Can’t wait to get all these questions answered!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s around the same size as our current house (but hardly any grass, just terrible weeds, moss, and ground cover gone mad – ahh!).
xo
s
Sarah Stirling says
Oh my gosh!! Congratulations y’all!! There are so many neighborhoods in the RVA that are totally ‘covetable’! I’ll totally come help y’all paint, strip, grout, etc!! I was wondering what was next because everything seemed to be done! I smell another book in the making! Good luck y’all!!!
Geertrude says
Congratulations! That new house is gorgeous! Funny, I’m reading through your archives at the moment and I was a bit confused at first “but they just bought a new home – oh wait, that was 2010”.
I found your blog last year and I’m a big fan now. You may even have inspired me to pick up a paintbrush again soon (after some not so great results last summer).
Mary Pat says
I thought this was an April Fool’s joke! Congratulations on it not being one! Cannot WAIT to read about it all from the beginning :)
Meghan says
Congrats!! We close on our first home next week and I am over Theron excited. I can’t wait to see what you guys do with this place! What a lucky find!
Jessica says
CONGRATS!!!! I thought this post was a joke at first! I LOVE the new house. As someone who owns a cape- I cannot WAIT to see what you guys do with a multi-level house! Best of luck to you!
Melanie says
Holy moly! How exciting! Seriously shocked but can’t wait to see what a huge transformation you’ll do on this house. Is the bench surrounding the tree that Clara and Ariel are sitting on part of the house too?
It’s gonna be the cutest house on the block.
Danielle says
Woohoo – more projects :) Congratulations!!!
Eileen says
At first I thought this was an April Fool’s joke (after all, it still feels like winter here in parts of the Mid-Atlantic) … but no, I checked the calendar. Congratulations! I will enjoy seeing your real estate journey and fixer-upper journey continue to unfold. What fun!
Jen T. says
Wow! Congratulations! Can’t wait to see more photos and hear about what you have planned :)
jennie says
OMG!!!!! This is very exciting! But, I have a question: how is the new house the same size as your current house? It looks HUGE!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that crazy?! Our current house has an 1000 square foot addition off the back, so that’s why it looks as small as our first house (even though it’s twice the size). It’s just hiding in the back :)
xo
s
Kaitlin Jenkins says
Eeeek! How exciting!! I had to check the date and make sure this wasn’t a late April fools joke ;) WOW you guys were great at keeping such big news under wraps…I can’t believe Sherry is willing to part with her penny tile, and John with his deck! Can’t wait to see what you do with the new place :D
MegW says
WOW!!! Congrats guys!!! I’m super excited for you, but yes have to admit that I’m a little heart broken too, loved all the work you did on the last house.
I hope all the work pays off at an awesome selling point! Your realtor is probably going to have lots of lookie loos when he or she does open houses, but hopefully the new buyer takes good care of the house.
Wouldn’t that be an interesting and semi awkward house crashing? Go back to your old houses and see how others have designed them?
Michela says
I am literally feeling every emotion you listed- shock, excitement, confusion- and I’m getting royally made fun of at work for being so flabbergasted.
Congratulations on your new home! I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
And no need to be offended by all of our shock- we just assume we know you (my mom and I talk about “John and Sherry” all the time, much to everyone else’s chagrin) so it’s confusing when you keep things from us!! Haha. Anyway, best of luck and looking forward to reading all about it.
xoM
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re so sweet Michela!
xo
s
jenn @ beyond the stoop says
congrats! can’t wait for the next round of awesome renovations (and renovation ideas!!)
cheers.
Erin @ The Impatient Gardener says
I’m flabbergasted and SOOOOOO excited. I always worry that you guys are going to run out of great things to do to houses. Congratulations!
Anita says
Congrats! Can’t wait to see what you do with the place.
Lela says
My first reaction upon reading the news? Annoyed. Like “why did they not share this with us before annoyed?” What is wrong with my brain? You both make us all feel like we’re friends and therefore we should be privy to all decisions!?! Haha! I’m SUPER excited for your family! And I’m also really looking forward to all of the new adventures and design projects to come! CONGRATULATIONS!!! :)
Heather {A Fire Pole in the Dining Room} says
Congratulations!!! How in the world did you keep that under wraps for so long (even though it sounds like a fairly quick process)!? I was DYING to tell the interwebs about the firehouse when we stumbled on it. I can’t wait to see the new space and watch it get Young-House-Love-ified!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhhhh, it was the hardest thing ever! I think keeping secret book projects under wraps helped us build up a tolerance! Haha!
xo
s
Laura C says
Looks like there will be so many projects (how exciting)! Congratulations and good luck – I can’t wait to read all the updates and tutorials.
Amanda says
CONGRATULATIONS!
I hope you keep the front porch railing! It’s so awesome!
Rachel says
OMG! I have this weird sadness in my stomach because your current house is so wonderfully crafted to your personalities!! SO SAD!
Amy Elizabeth says
Congratulations! So happy for you guys- and for us as we get to see you love on another house!
Amber says
Crazy exciting!! Can’t wait to see all of the amazing projects in store – that house could use some serious YHL! I’m amazed you’ve been able to keep this a secret, I’d be bursting at the seams to tell everyone immediately!
Suzanne says
Just thought of something… you have a TWO book deal don’t you? So, in the future you had to buy the next house Young House Love back to life. If not, what would the SECOND book be about?
Smiles,
Suzanne (“& Kevin”)
NW Illinois
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I think redoing a house takes us so long (years and years!) that we’d rather blog about it than write a book about it (what would be blog about?! Haha!).
xo
s
The Orchard says
Wow! Didn’t see that coming at all! I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see how you make this new home into your home!
Kathy says
Congratulations!!!! Looking forward to seeing the layout of the house and brand new projects. We have lived in a 2 story house for the last 10 years and anticipate moving to a one story house in the next 10 years. Not a big fan of the stairs!!!
Alison says
I will come over to paint the mauve trim with you if you all come to my soon-to-be house (on the house hunt now!) to tell me what to do with it design-wise… :) We are in the Newport News area, so not too far of a hike!
Maddy says
KILLIN IT WITH THE BLUE TRIM!!!!!!!!
Ahhh, 70’s decor.