Last week I saw what I can afford in a really nice neighborhood, on a tiny historical street in a groovy part of Long Beach.
For $399,000 the house was only 540 square feet. That’s it. The bedroom was even smaller than in my apartment now, a bed and a dresser would be a tight squeeze. The place was kinda cute and in ok condition. But nothing had been updated. Ugg. An old tile kitchen with no personality and a tiny crappy bathroom. But the neighbors were outside so I met them and loved them. With such small yards, you really would get to know each other.
And the whole lot was less than 3,000 square feet, which might be ok but there was a cement slab in back instead of grass.
And the roof needed to be re-done.
And the wood under the new paint job was a mess.
And since it’s historical, you can’t make changes without getting approved first. A “certificate of appropriateness” it’s called.
And I actually considered it for about an hour. My second realtor was really wanting me to say Yes, and I think he broke up with me after only a month because I didn’t buy it. Crazy huh.
I’m open to a one bedroom house if it gets me in a swell area…but there’s gotta be room for me and a bigger than purse-sized dog.

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February 6, 2010 at 8:48 pm
kenya
Hi, ya!
Just checking in your bloggity blog to say “Hey!”
Saw this post and thought “She definitely doesn’t want to look at the link my sister-in-law sent me from Austin.”
But, just in case you do, cuz misery loves company:
http://www.austinhomesearch.com/Search/Details.aspx?li=148840&ml=true&cp=1&ps=12&pf=-1&cat=&add=&st=1&or=1#
Sigh.
February 8, 2010 at 7:09 pm
andrea
I know it’s rough out there…thinking about you this past weekend, ran into a realtor friend of Neil’s who was having an open house @ this cool modern house in Naples (way out of anyone’s price range!). We were talking to him and he said he mostly does entry-level, lower-priced homes for his friends…he is a really nice guy (cute too, don’t know if he is single!) and would love to help you find something I’m sure…no pressure but check out his website if you want (don’t be fooled by the homes on his site, that is just what he is personally into…)
http://www.uniquecaliforniaproperty.com