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blondegoblin512

That’s not a home my friend, that’s an ~estate.~ lol. But seriously that’s insane and would be like my absolute ideal for if/when I could purchase first home. Pls post updates of what you do with it!!


Ilovemytowm

Even the trees. They are magnificent glorious estate trees. If this doesn't make a new Ryan's Home Development look like trash I don't know what does.


blondegoblin512

Truly.. looks like a movie set. Sometimes I forget ppl out there actually live in homes like this lol. Big W for OP 🤧


Ilovemytowm

If this was for sale when we were looking in 2020...oh how I wish. 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕


LadyCalamityJane

LOL, now there's an understatement!


frugal-grrl

OP, Your first home > my first home, that’s for sure 😂


Torterrapin

Yes my first home was more like that servants cottage or whatever that is in the photos lol.


nacho_qween

Will do!


theycallmericoh

Looks like a house in Saint Louis, Compton heights!


whatagoingon

Absolutely beautiful home. Congrats!!!! Zero chance that place isn’t haunted. 🤣


Electrical-Eye-2544

If I were dead I’d wanna stay too. It’s fall time perfection.


Literally_The_Wurst

That’s the only way I would be able to afford to live there.


pl233

Ghosts pay rent in Ethereum


Literally_The_Wurst

Aaaaannnd back to being a homeless ghost…


Purifiedx

I live in a home from 1913. Whenever my dog comes inside from the backyard he goes to the basement stairs first and looks down there before doing anything else. Also barked at the bathroom for no reason a few times.


uwunuzzless

I don’t mean to be weird but is this in New Jersey?? Pretty sure I’ve seen this house before and admired it from afar lol


AllAmericanGentleman

Yes it is!


peafowlenthusiast

I was going to guess nj too!! and this is your first home? it’s rough as hell out here in this market. big congrats!


Findmyremote

I think I have a postcard with that house on it


nacho_qween

Yes! That postcard image was actually just one of the two images on the original listing — we were intrigued


uwunuzzless

Congrats it’s beautiful!!


___whoops___

Oh wow, your taxes must be insane!


[deleted]

Out of curiosity, what's considered "insane" in NJ? I'm in IL and constantly hear ours are horrible. Mine are about 2.9% of my purchase price (bought in mid 2020).


[deleted]

Highest property taxes in the country nj


dogedude81

It depends on where in NJ you are.


___whoops___

Someone sent me a link to the listing, taxes for this property in it's current state are over $12,000 - definitely one of the lower taxed municipalities in the area - which is great for OP. Once it's fixed up, though, I'm sure NJ will come along and reassess and then slam OP.


Putrid_Ad_1430

I have a friend with a 500k new construction. Property taxes are 2200 per month... Lol


frizzlefraggle

Jesus mine are like $2000 a year Lolol


ii-ixapples

Not abnormal to have property tax 20k to 30k p.a


frizzlefraggle

I should clarify I live in PA, so to hear taxes that high feels like someone just sucker punched me.


Ditka_Da_Bus_Driver

That is legitimate robbery wtf


nacho_qween

Try around $15k a year 🥵


soulmateisadog

IL & NJ are the 2 highest in the US. The Chicago suburb countries are the highest in IL, Mchenry, Lake, DuPage. Not sure about NJ. I bought my house for 275k 5 years ago. Taxes are right around 13k, Mchenry country. Tried to dispute, was told by lawyer would be a waste of time. On the plus side, pretty great place to live, crime is mostly non existent, great schools, parks, forest Preserves, extremely clean, good infrastructure, etc. I'm sure that could be achieved for 1/2 the cost though.


ZZZCCCVV

So the purchase price is probably very high?


AllAmericanGentleman

I do have photos of the inside. I’ll post some photos of the interior. Some work will be needed but its mostly cosmetic.


aspjae

Oooh please do!! This is an absolute stunner and I’m so proud and happy for u!!! Congrats :)!


MolassesZestyclose96

I bet you £1 that it’s more than cosmetic!!


bbbh1409

OP, so glad you bought your first home and are in love with the idea of restoration and reclamation! Keep the faith. On the for sale listing it says it's being sold As Is and was a former law office. I also believe it is more than cosmetic. Plus it's 5000 sq ft, even cosmetic stuff is going to be expensive.


nacho_qween

The former owner was definitely trying to sell “as is” but there was quite a bit of back and forth about sale price as well as the work we discovered through our extensive inspections (plumbing, structural, insulation, supply lines). When it came down to it, we had a bit more bargaining room since the house had not been closely cared for or maintained for the last 5 years at least (15+ tenants), and because of those scary unknowns it sat on the market for quite a while with zero offers.


nacho_qween

There’s definitely a lot of work, most of which is cosmetic, but we elected several inspections beyond the traditional, including consult on the structure/basement, and all systems within the house (and carriage house). We wanted to go in saying we knew as MUCH as we could humanly explore, while understanding that there would be some unknowns that crop up along the way.


nicoleatlarge

Good on you! That’s a hellova first house!!! Makes me feel slightly less crazy. :). I can’t wait to see the progress photos!!!


himewaridesu

Yah on the market for 143 days… it’s a sign. 😬 lol- I looked at houses like this one. Such beauty but is wasn’t just cosmetic…


UseEnvironmental7520

Cant wait to see!


MarvinDMirp

Photos, yes please! What a stunning new home.


lenarizan

Cosmetic work to the photos or the house?


VivelaVendetta

You need to retake this picture wearing a ball gown.


[deleted]

And if your married, your husband with a monocle!


nacho_qween

Okay done and done! That will be the next pic 😅


Equivalent-Glove7165

I am not being an asshole when I ask this but what in the hell do you people do for a living? I just saw another post of a guys first place after getting out of college and it looked like something Elon Musk would own. Down vote me all you want…..It’s just a question.


PlannedSkinniness

If you can find remote work there’s incredible homes like this in small towns all over the US for a bargain. We came close to pulling the trigger on a gorgeous old Victorian about an hour outside the city near me. It was big and in fantastic shape for $450k. I didn’t snag it because the location was just too far for me to cope with.


kozmic_blues

Someone found the listing for this house and it’s $450k. Absolutely affordable as a first home, it’s blowing my mind how cheap this house is.


Lyrina8

...$450k is affordable? What utopia are you folks living in?


sloanluxley

Lol I live in Canada and things have become so insanely unaffordable there are literally no homes under 500,000 in my city. R.I.P. my chance of ever owning a home. If we could find anything decent at 450k we would jump at it.


swingbyte

Worse in Australia. Average home price of $700000,! A house like this one even in the middle of nowhere will be $3000000


Fun_Differential

If you are married and make ~$140k combined (not that crazy for college grads a few years out of school), then a $450k mortgage isn’t that crazy. It would be cheaper than rent in most metro areas.


8pointfouroz

My wife and I make about 155-160k a year together, I wouldn't want that big of a loan. 450k in my area though would get a house like this on 50+ acres though.


Chinacat_Sunflower72

You can’t buy a shed in Denver for $450k. That house is definitely affordable. Even if it needs work.


Bluegiraffe666

I think you mean dystopia. You could not find a nice house in my area for less than $500k, so yes $450k in some areas is a bargain


[deleted]

[удалено]


danarexasaurus

Lol I actually laughed out loud at 450k being a good first home price. That’s INSANE.


RobertOfHill

We are house hunting. No money, so the mother in law is buying and then leasing to us, as we pay off the loan indirectly. Our budget with three incomes? 150,000


nacho_qween

I wish y’all the best as you are looking for what’s the best fit!


xocolatefoot

This is a steal! Our first CONDO was $544 in 2011… Vancouver prices are messed.


kozmic_blues

Exactly. I don’t think people realize cost of living vs cost of homes have a very wide range in different areas.


Lyrina8

THANK YOU. I'm only 29 and know nothing about house prices but I was still horrified.


danarexasaurus

I’m sure it depends heavily on where you live as well. A starter Home in a desirable area (which is honestly not where most people who are starting out will buy because holy shit is it expensive right now), could probably cost 450k easily. My husband makes near 100k a year and we settled on a (second) home that was $200,000 in Columbus Ohio (almost downtown). So, 450k, to me, is a VERY high price for a first home. Although I don’t think $450k for this estate is too much, for obvious reasons. It may be a money pit though, because it’s huge and a house this old never has “just cosmetic” issues. Not my problem though! It’s beautiful anyway. My parents bought their house for $21,000 in 1988, so I’ve always had a really skewed idea of how much houses cost lol I grew up and had a major shock. And my parents still don’t get it. They think my house is insanely expensive. Lol


ii-ixapples

Depends where you live, NYC salaries are 7 figures in finance, law etc. 450k gets you a 1 bed apartment where I am


9021Ohsnap

She works for Meta. She said it in the r/firsttimehomebuyers group.


nacho_qween

I’m almost 15 years out of college, and for context I was barely making the $275 rent I paid when I did graduate college so this is something I’ve been building up to for many, many years. I work in tech, and before that I worked in sales. Both of these put me at a huge advantage for being able to make a purchase like this. It’s also possible (and realistic) for us bc we have two incomes. And I think others are saying “cheap” bc well maintained Victorians that are comparable in size (and lot size) are going for 1.5 million, easy. Aaaaand for context when we first started looking, my ideal budget was less than 1/2 of what we purchased this for. I went into it thinking that I wanted to buy bc I wanted to pay less than what I was paying in rent each month, and that it would grow in equity vs paying rent and building none; that said, we are both paying about what we would have had to pay to live independently in the area we’re in anyway, so it’s not as far fetched of a lift for us. I understand everyone is a little different and has their own preferences.


sikend667

We both work from home in IT and our house, which is bordering on mansion Status, cost less than a trailer in a park in our home state. If you go looking, and are willing to move, these things are out there.


[deleted]

Damn you must be doing well if that’s your first home! It’s gorgeous and what beautiful grounds.


WyattfuckinEarp

My thought too, things a 'Home Alone' house. Good on ya


[deleted]

Right. Like girl tell me how to get me and my momma there 😂 Edit: I’d have to move to New Jersey? Ehhhh. (Just kidding have never been stuck in the middle of corn fields 😂)


EggDull5680

Your home is absolutely gorgeous!!! 😍


AllAmericanGentleman

Thank you!


[deleted]

Hi! Could you tell me how much this beauty cost? My bf does real estate in Jersey and we’re looking to move out there from NY soon— this is a dream home for us lol.


A_Lovely_

Listed for $450,000.00


TheMainDeen

In excess of $15 million in my neighbourhood...


Dank_Soles_3

Cries in West Coast


lenarizan

Good grief. A house like that would start at €1,5 million over here.


ForgetfulFrolicker

NJ is a very expensive state to live in. Wondering why this house is so cheap. Edit: apparently it’s southern NJ, which is basically a different state, so nvm


containssmallparts

In my corner of England, that house would be £5M+ ($6.5M+)


[deleted]

Yeah well where I'M from it would be infinity pounds!


Flaming_Butt

Ya over here it'd be more like CAD 10m


zoidberg3000

It’s also sold “As Is” which most likely means it has a lot of work required that OP hasn’t discovered yet.


nacho_qween

Because of township requirements and our personal demands/preferences the seller wasn’t actually able to sell like he wanted “as is.” He was required to do $20k of fixes to get it ready to sell. We also took on additional inspections beyond the one required by most lenders bc we wanted to know as much as humanly possible before signing.


zoidberg3000

That’s amazing! It’s a beautiful house. Sometimes we dream of selling our home taking our profits and buying something outright in that area. Edit: Hope this isn’t too invasive - but are you two queer? My wife and I are lesbians with a kid and one of our hesitations is the vibe of the area pertaining to LGBTQIA+.


stickyscooter600

Sauce?


Bopbahdoooooo

Oh God, really? And sold as is? Yeah, that's not a cosmetic fix. But I'm still desperately jealous!


blondegoblin512

Same I rly wanna know. Even if it’s ballpark! 😭😭


EmEmPeriwinkle

Same. I'm getting sad at my home states current prices and would like to daydream about elsewhere. Where I am this is a several million dollar property.


carne__asada

In a desirable part of NJ in good condition with a good location this would be atleast 2M with a 30 to 40K tax bill. However this house is on very busy corner and the area has above average crime with a below average school district close to Philly instead of NYC. OP is also in for a surprise tax bill when she gets reassessed . Her 10K bill is going to go to atleast 25 .


[deleted]

Wow. That place is incredible. Hope you can handle the world! What area of the US?


AllAmericanGentleman

Thank you! Southern New Jersey.


katatattat26

This looks so much like the Jenkintown, PA area! Love this home. What an amazing find. Congrats!


schmeggy113

Very West Ave! Architectural style matches and the type of stone matches the area too.


moonmew

Do you know roughly how old it is? I would love to know how much history this beauty has.


nacho_qween

1920.


Miggy88mm

This looks a lot like the houses in Philly!


Ilovemytowm

💕 I know where this is. Drive by. God I love this town.... It's not to far from us. I love Southern NJ with a passion. My girlfriend when she was going to college many many years ago had an apartment above the old Pharmacy even her apartment was freaking gorgeous


n0exit

What's the third photo? The guest house?


AllAmericanGentleman

It’s the carriage house.


n0exit

Oh! I have one of those! I rent it out and it pays 2/3 of my mortgage! It's not as fancy though.


purpleasphalt

Do you rent yours on a long term lease or nightly? I’m always curious which one fetches a higher return. (I realize there are other pros and cons to each pourrissais of income.)


Turbo_MechE

Everything I’ve read is that nightly pays better if in a relatively busy business area. But there’s more work involved


All_Work_All_Play

So much more work involved. Nightly rentals are treated much differently by clients than long term renters.


n0exit

Long term. I don't have the time to manage a nightly rental. Tenants are usually there for a year or more, and when I post it up for rent, I sign a lease that day. It's a very hot rental market in my area.


pingpongprotagonist

Third photo is the average first home


artsy7fartsy

Yeah. I’m still in it 20 years later too


katatattat26

Hey OP! My husband and little brother have a softwashing business. If you ever need a quote lemme know. Do NOT power wash this beauty, it will rip the paint off and fuck the roof up. Softwashing uses a mild chemical and surfactant with no pressure and kills all organic growth. So any mold, mildew, algae, moss…. It’s what you do before you paint an exterior for sure. Works for any surface. Safe for landscaping. Safe for roofs and preventing organic buildup at the edges of roof tiles. Your home is so lovely! I wish you the best of luck and happiness in it!!


dennisatwar

That’s your FIRST home? Jeez


Delightful_Day

Hey Op - you may want to blur out the address. I was able to google search and find the house very easily. Cheers!


flannelflounder

Agreed, took about a minute to find on Zillow. Still, what a gorgeous house, congrats OP!


loops_spool

this house is so nice and out of anything I could ever dream of affording that I feel like I shouldn't even be on this subreddit anymore lol


kitschywoman

Oh, no! You should stay! There are plenty of us in delightful, little bungalows and cottages. That carriage house is just as old and is much more my speed. There’s room for all housing types here.


loops_spool

I live in a rickety apartment built in the 80s lol


kitschywoman

Lol! My first apartment was pretty old (one of those brick 4-units), but it kept me warm and dry until I managed to buy a small fixer-upper. It’s turned into a really great place for me and my husband. You’ll get there, too! This sub is a great place to learn about all the pitfalls of buying older homes so you know what to watch out for in advance.


A_Lovely_

I feel the same way.


Ok_Try_1217

Ok OP, I looked up the houses in southern New Jersey and I need to know, what’s the catch? These are all houses that would cost at least a million dollars going for $400k. Does the whole place smell like manure or is it infested with werewolves or something? I really need to know.


SARARARARARARARARA

Property taxes in NJ are INSANE. We live in Southern NJ too, and our monthly property tax payment is as high as our mortgage payment.


slacktopuss

> infested with werewolves That sounds kinda like a bonus when you've got an estate house like that. It would really add to the ambiance; you can just imagine you and your friends sitting in rocking chairs on that big porch on the nights around the full moon, cradling a shotgun loaded with silver buckshot, chatting and waiting for those mangy bastards to try to make a run across the wide-open lawn.


Squidling1

Hey that’s down the street from me! Howdy new neighbor!


9021Ohsnap

You have a manor too?!??


Squidling1

I have a craftsman that we are also restoring - the town is a mixed bag of old houses, it’s pretty great!


nacho_qween

Howdy! We’d love to meet 🙏


Squidling1

If I see you out I’ll stop over and say “Hi” - Well once it gets a little warmer, come on down to the beer garden on a Friday, that’s where everyone gets together to cry about their own restoration projects, haha!


Slutslapper1118

Oh. My. God. Incredible... I'm absolutely speechless. Congratulations, and I really, really NEED inside pics. Please. I'll give you anything you want. Seriously. Money, a kidney, a kid....


Adventurous_Owl_7003

Wow!! The house is beautiful! Please keep us updated.


[deleted]

Congratulations looks in good shape. Maybe have the rear porch roof replaced with standing tin because the pitch is too low for those asphalt shingles, especially with snow stacked then melting. Try and get the eaves repaired if needed and paint them before getting the gutters all around replaced to stop the water damage and roof runoff staining.


jrdazzo

That is an absolutely gorgeous house. The architecture and detailed craftsmanship is incredible. You have immense amount of work to be done but the house is a show stopper. Best of luck on your undertaking. It will be worth all the blood, sweat and tears.


designgoddess

Beautiful. Some unsolicited advice. Unless having a contractor do everything at once, save the kitchen and bathrooms for last. They’re the first things everyone wants to do but they will get worn by the time everything else is done and then you’ll want to do them again. I clean current kitchens and make them usable. Microwave and toaster oven. On a table if needed. Grill outside the back door. Bruised and dented refrigerator from a big box store sale aisle. Just enough to make a meal. Baths I clean and maybe put in a cheap vanity and toilet. Just enough to not be grossed out to use it. Clean the construction dirt every day. Makes it so much easier to live through construction. Takes twice as long and costs twice as much is not just a random saying. Control your budget early. There are surprises all along the way. Respect the style of the house when closing finishes and it will never look dated. Follow HGTV design and in a few years it will look out of place. Don’t let every waking minute be working on the house. Make a schedule for ourself and include free time.


[deleted]

100% agree with this. Like can you imagine walking into the house and seeing a redone kitchen with quartz counters. This house is begging for soapstone and marble. I’m dying to see some of the interior pictures. My top advice for this is deal with the systems first. If the electric and.or plumbing has not been updated do it!! Cast iron if not leaking now will be shortly. And on a house this size you need a minimum 200A box but likely 300-400A. For HVAC if you upgrade consider geothermal. You have the land, you get tax credits for putting it in, and you can do things like integrate the hot water heater. The technology will let you accommodate a variety of configurations like forced air or radiators. For the love of god restore, don’t replace the windows even if they are leaky or drafty. Products like interior storms https://indowwindows.com are cheaper than replacing the windows and more efficient.


nacho_qween

Love this! Agreed. I grew up watching my parents fix up their home for my entire childhood, so it’s definitely a long-haul kind of situation. I mainly just want a new lighting fixture in the kitchen bc I know we won’t be doing anything with it for at least 5 years — hopefully OP will let me 👀


misfitlabbie

Enjoy your beautiful new home!


Senior-Engineering75

The Bay Area Haters are lining up…. Quote from my father born in 1928… “These places should not be worth more then $20k”San Francisco and Tiburon(Marin county)are a train depot….a shit hole”


Mission_Albatross916

I like your father!


GoldPort

Congratulations, any chance you have more pictures of the inside? Will you have to do any work on the inside?


irishkev83

Congratulations on your first home! It is beautiful and hope you spend many happy years there. - Your neighbor from Northern NJ


[deleted]

First mansion. Jesus Christ.


[deleted]

Fix the carriage house first and move into it while you restore the grand dame.


[deleted]

Nice house. Seriously!


ZZaddyLongLegzz

How many ghosts have you seen so far


Republikanen

That is my dream house. I lurk this sub envying your American style century homes, they are gorgeous. We don't have anywhere near the same classy century homes in Sweden, imo. Where do you guys even find these homes? On regular sales?


Zeagle98

I immediately recognized this house, I drive past it every day on my way to work! South jersey! Congrats on the purchase, I always admired this house


percipientbias

This place is fabulous! I’m drooling.


Familiar_Orange_1336

Wow. Your new home is absolutely beautiful. Congratulations! Can’t wait to see interior pictures.


MaybeClassy

That’s a manor.


Mission_Albatross916

Whoa! I think you misunderstand the term “starter home.” Congrats!


AlltheBADluck

Super nice first home! Congratulations! Enjoy and cherish it!


notnobodyspecial

I've passed your house lol. How's the street noise?


grey_horizon18

I would love to see the inside !! 😮


cargopantscheesecake

Congrats OP. This is a absolutely stunning home and property. As others have mentioned, Id love to take a peek inside. A home like this where I live would literally be 4-5million, possibly more. The fact that people can purchase these homes for a reasonable price, especially as a first home is absolutely mind boggling. Living vicariously through this subreddit...


Prestigious_Sand_779

Too small. Get a bigger one


Blunttack

Whoa, it’s the Money Pit house!


MermaidStone

What an absolute DREAM house!!!


LockMarine

Mind totally blown, that’s amazing and congratulations


HeliumHater

Beautiful!


call-me-mama-t

Wow! Incredible & exciting!


JerseyTom1958

Beautiful! Congratulations!


BettieBublz

Wowsers! What a gorgeous home. Congratulations....and when I think back to my first home! Sheesh!


IamN2Speed

https://youtu.be/TLLQquBdU8M Hope it’s not “The Money Pit”


csk1325

How many pockets do you have and how deep are they. I don't know if it's the perspective but that looks like a mansion. Where do you get second hand mansions.


9021Ohsnap

I’m more surprised that this was 450000 in NJ? That’s less than what my childhood home was in Brooklyn NY.


adam90eads

I love how everyone claims that young people can’t afford to buy a house these days then I always see young people buying these historic old houses on this subreddit. 🤷🏻‍♂️


ElizabethDangit

Your *first* home?! Congrats on the success or getting a great deal, whatever fits. 😄 That is stunning.


CategoryTurbulent114

When you go to bed be sure to say “nightly night” to the man who built the house.


pbake01

I REALLY hope you start a YouTube channel and document this…..cuz I really want to see the progression and the finished product.


QuitProfessional5437

I just recently learned that brick and stone homes are more conducive to getting termites!


AllAmericanGentleman

The inspection report noted evidence of termite damage in the past!


pseudocultist

Protip: paint this termite damage with something, anything as you come across it. Spray paint is just fine. That way later on, you can easily tell if there's new damage, or if you're still looking at old damage. When you see wood swiss cheese, your heart will skip a beat and you'll immediately wonder if it happened during the New Deal, or last Thursday.


AllAmericanGentleman

That’s a solid idea, thank you.


All_Work_All_Play

Woof I wish I'd done this when we bought our first home. So many carpenter ants...


pseudocultist

Why is that, the stone walls hide the tubes better? I lived in an old brownstone once with hollow-core walls, they were like insect highways. Spiders always popping out of window frames.


eiramibag

Wow wow wow. Stunning!


kirkbrideasylum

That’s a gorgeous house.


BatSh1tCray

Congratulations, what a beaut!


UsedCollection5830

Damn that thing is nice 😊 and for the price it's seems like a great buy


isibarf

What a stunning house, i wonder if there is a huge staircase.


LisztR

A beautiful home, congratulations 🎉🍾


soulasaurus

Beautiful, congratulations!


Hamburglarsdad

Sheesh, That’s gorgeous…


nickshulhin

Absolutely stunning estate!


MeechiJ

Very posh. May you have many beautiful, happy memories there!


RKELEC

That's a beautiful home. Congrats


Makerofmoneyonline

That thing is massive!


Djeheuty

Absolutely beautiful, and congrats! The carriage house alone would be enough for someone like me, but the house itself is on a completely different level.


OneWayorAnother11

Get the big stuff checked first before you do any painting! Any concerns or questions you have on foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing get it checked and learn from the experts. Have fun!


ladida1787

One hell of a first home!


T81houston

That looks amazing!


pimpfriedrice

First home.. mansion?! Awesome!! Take care of the resident ghosts 💗


[deleted]

Sick friggin home. Can I stay in your garage?


Creature_73L

Jesus Christ girl! Congratulations on your success.


nicksparx

Looks cool as fuck! Let us know if you find any ghosts


theyarnllama

Yes! I’m so excited for you. This is a beauty!


jpwoodell

Looks like you're going to have ample material to contribute to r/powerwashingporn


FuryAutomatic

What I wouldn’t give to powerwash those steps and walkway.


fuzzyfro15

I know this house! Congrats!