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jaeclecticWent to look again at the place on Lakeshore: measured and attempted to inventory the work needed.
The conclusions: there is a ton of work needed, but mostly not really big-ticket items, so I can swing it financially if I want to, although it's stretching a little further than I'd planned. (I did also get an update from Karen, the better to factor in the tax bill, which unfortunately will really bite at this point -- the mortgage interest deduction will help next year, but not this year...)
And the space is adequate, although tight in some ways. The previous owner(s) had a fetish for build-in shelves and cabinets, most of it sadly not much to my taste. So, while I'm having trouble figuring out where I'd put my bookcases, there are already bookcases in the hallway that I could use instead. Except that I don't really like them, and don't really want full-height bookcases *there*. So hum. It seems odd to want to take out what seem to be reasonable quality bookcases and replace them with my smaller IKEA-grade stuff, but that might actually be what I want to do...
Anyway, lots of storage. Closets galore (including two with missing or broken closet doors), plus all the ugly built-ins.
On the plus side: I can tell the place will be really charming if it's fixed up, even though it's not looking its best just now. I do like the location, it's a mile from BART and a couple of blocks from a grocery store, not to mention close to the Parkway, not to mention across the street from the lake. And there's that view, ooh ah!
On the negative side: Another space with windows only on one wall, so no through air on hot summer days (seemed OK today though, which is more than I could say for my current space). There is noticable street noise from Lakeshore. The month of July will be chewed and swallowed by coordinating workers and writing lots of checks, although I suppose I shouldn't give much weight to strictly short-term pain. I don't really get a warm cosy feeling from the building itself, not sure I can explain that rationally, just some buildings feel nicer than others (separate from whether the apartment feels nice).
I meant to take my camera and take pictures. Then I could have shown them to you. Oh well.
At this point, I mainly feel tired and uninspired, but that is undoubtedly the result of a hectic workday, followed by contemplation of financial stress. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. Also, my realtor is going to run some more comps for me, to help answer the question "is this place really a bargain?" Because although getting a bargain isn't my main focus, I really just want to find a nice place to live, nevertheless if I'm going to stretch financially it would be nice to think it was a good deal...
Ah well. Time to stop thinking about it and try to relax for a little, and maybe make it an early night...
p.s. Absolutely nothing else has come on the market. Which adds just a little more stress to this decision. Bah.
The conclusions: there is a ton of work needed, but mostly not really big-ticket items, so I can swing it financially if I want to, although it's stretching a little further than I'd planned. (I did also get an update from Karen, the better to factor in the tax bill, which unfortunately will really bite at this point -- the mortgage interest deduction will help next year, but not this year...)
And the space is adequate, although tight in some ways. The previous owner(s) had a fetish for build-in shelves and cabinets, most of it sadly not much to my taste. So, while I'm having trouble figuring out where I'd put my bookcases, there are already bookcases in the hallway that I could use instead. Except that I don't really like them, and don't really want full-height bookcases *there*. So hum. It seems odd to want to take out what seem to be reasonable quality bookcases and replace them with my smaller IKEA-grade stuff, but that might actually be what I want to do...
Anyway, lots of storage. Closets galore (including two with missing or broken closet doors), plus all the ugly built-ins.
On the plus side: I can tell the place will be really charming if it's fixed up, even though it's not looking its best just now. I do like the location, it's a mile from BART and a couple of blocks from a grocery store, not to mention close to the Parkway, not to mention across the street from the lake. And there's that view, ooh ah!
On the negative side: Another space with windows only on one wall, so no through air on hot summer days (seemed OK today though, which is more than I could say for my current space). There is noticable street noise from Lakeshore. The month of July will be chewed and swallowed by coordinating workers and writing lots of checks, although I suppose I shouldn't give much weight to strictly short-term pain. I don't really get a warm cosy feeling from the building itself, not sure I can explain that rationally, just some buildings feel nicer than others (separate from whether the apartment feels nice).
I meant to take my camera and take pictures. Then I could have shown them to you. Oh well.
At this point, I mainly feel tired and uninspired, but that is undoubtedly the result of a hectic workday, followed by contemplation of financial stress. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. Also, my realtor is going to run some more comps for me, to help answer the question "is this place really a bargain?" Because although getting a bargain isn't my main focus, I really just want to find a nice place to live, nevertheless if I'm going to stretch financially it would be nice to think it was a good deal...
Ah well. Time to stop thinking about it and try to relax for a little, and maybe make it an early night...
p.s. Absolutely nothing else has come on the market. Which adds just a little more stress to this decision. Bah.