Bon Voyage Irvine, Hello Fullerton: Story of Finding our Dream Home

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congratulations McD!! That's great news. It looks like a pretty house. After agreeing on when to have a baby, I think buying a house is the second biggest decision in a marriage. Good that you guys finally found something both could agree on:-)
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1257515678][quote author="USCTrojanCPA" date=1257514932][quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1257513064][quote author="USCTrojanCPA date=1257512324] the homes do resemble the 20s/30s built bungelows in Belmont Shores.</blockquote>


Except these have big ole yards! FTW



And it be prefect for you too T. Nice yard for the large brood your ma ma is planning for you. :) ha ha</blockquote>






Here's a perfect home for RC...right down the street from you:



<a href="http://www.redfin.com/CA/Fullerton/609-Malvern-Ave-92832/home/3179568">RC's next home</a></blockquote>


umm, I have to disagree. RC will want to be where the neighborly action is. That house is in a more isolated spot being perch on the hill and on a single loaded street.</blockquote>




Here's nothing else for RC in the area unless he's willing to buy a 2bed/1bath home or until he waits for something new to pop up.
 
[quote author="Cubic Zirconia" date=1257516247]congratulations McD!! That's great news. It looks like a pretty house. After agreeing on when to have a baby, I think buying a house is the second biggest decision in a marriage. Good that you guys finally found something both could agree on:-)</blockquote>


And the third is let the partner with the design taste make all the remodeling decisions in the new vintage home. I have funny story. So the other night we were having dinner and hubby decides it would be fun to walk over to Home Depot to browse for stuff for the new house. I knew from the Gecko this was going to end badly. Dear Gawd, I left that store with visions of my cute little bungalow turning ticky tacky Persian Place. If he dares cares out any of these ideas, I'm calling Bk for the icicle gun.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1257518236][quote author="Cubic Zirconia" date=1257516247]congratulations McD!! That's great news. It looks like a pretty house. After agreeing on when to have a baby, I think buying a house is the second biggest decision in a marriage. Good that you guys finally found something both could agree on:-)</blockquote>


And the third is let the partner with the design taste make all the remodeling decisions in the new vintage home. I have funny story. So the other night we were having dinner and hubby decides it would be fun to walk over to Home Depot to browse for stuff for the new house. I knew from the Gecko this was going to end badly. Dear Gawd, I left that store with visions of my cute little bungalow turning ticky tacky Persian Place. If he dares cares out any of these ideas, I'm calling Bk for the icicle gun.</blockquote>
So no granite counter tops, travertine tiles, or double pane windows?



Btw, do you want me to post up a few pictures of the home for everyone to see the home (including the front shot)?
 
McD, congrats to you and your family on your new, er well built timely classic and vintage home. I remember how you said you had narrowed it down to two streets that you want to live and now you get to live there. In any market, hot, cold, or dead cat bounce that is tough to find, and since you used the IHB calculator to show it costs less to own than rent... you not only got the home that you want but regardless of the market you got a deal. Can't wait for the party.



And it is nice to see so many positive comments about t-man. I take back some of the things I have said about him, but not all. ;-P
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1257551603]Congrats... and uh... without getting too personal... does it have a garage?



Heh.</blockquote>


Yes, It's in the back off the alley. It's wider than a 2 car garage but not big enough for 3. Sorry to disappoint. I don't know, what would that be a 2 1/2???





None of my neighbors have driveways. The houses are set nicely back from the street with a continuous front lawn down the block with no barriers between the yards.
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1257526150]McD, congrats to you and your family on your new, er well built timely classic and vintage home. I remember how you said you had narrowed it down to two streets that you want to live and now you get to live there. In any market, hot, cold, or dead cat bounce that is tough to find, and since you used the IHB calculator to show it costs less to own than rent... you not only got the home that you want but regardless of the market you got a deal. Can't wait for the party.



And it is nice to see so many positive comments about t-man. I take back some of the things I have said about him, but not all. ;-P</blockquote>


So many people thought I was a nutter when I said I was waiting for a house on those two particular streets. So many times I heard "you better broaden your search or your never going to find a house, blah blah." Glad I tuned them out. :)
 
Oh, and Graph, I wanted to thank you. I took note of all your posts about thoroughly inspecting homes. We made sure to get a inspector experienced in homes from the 20's and we got several specialists out to the property to give opinions and estimates on needed repairs.



One thing we are looking into doing is a seismic retro-fit. Do you have an opinion on this? We found one guy out in Pasadena that is highly recommended but he won't do the OC for some reason.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1257562641]

Yes, It's in the back off the alley. It's wider than a 2 car garage but not big enough for 3. Sorry to disappoint. I don't know, what would that be a 2 1/2???

</blockquote>
That's good... 2 is too small and 2.5 is usually big enough... even for me. Need a place to put the bikes, the garage fridge and all my shoes (I used to be a he-cayci back in the day).
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1257564999]Need a place to put the bikes, the garage fridge and all my shoes (<strong>I used to be a he-cayci back in the day</strong>).</blockquote>


She can help you build a glass shoe cabinet if you need some help with that? You got ponies too?
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1257565131][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1257564999]Need a place to put the bikes, the garage fridge and all my shoes (<strong>I used to be a he-cayci back in the day</strong>).</blockquote>


She can help you build a glass shoe cabinet if you need some help with that? You got ponies too?</blockquote>
Transformers... it's all about Transformers*.









*This is either a funny lie... or the ugly truth.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1257564323]Oh, and Graph, I wanted to thank you. I took note of all your posts about thoroughly inspecting homes. We made sure to get a inspector experienced in homes from the 20's and we got several specialists out to the property to give opinions and estimates on needed repairs.



One thing we are looking into doing is a seismic retro-fit. Do you have an opinion on this? We found one guy out in Pasadena that is highly recommended but he won't do the OC for some reason.</blockquote>


There was a seismic retrofit done on our Paso home and the inspector RAVED about this.





I find the stories of people finally buying their home so heart warming. Congrats McD! While the bear consensus is that prices still will fall much further, finally there are homes that are affordadble for people that waited years and years. It's so exciting to buy your home. You have all the chaos of going through escrow, sign all the papers and then the fun really begins. You transform this decision into your home and continually become more and more comfortable in it.



Part of me feels bad for the people who bought during the bubble, but a big part of me doesn't. Those people helped drive up prices, keeping buying a home out of reach for the rational. The latter waited years and it gives me such joy to hear the tales of finally getting there. Enjoy!!



PS I'm so jealous.... that's exactly the kind of home that is my dream house. Paso here we come
 
[quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1257636987]Congratulations Mcdonna1980! I hope you enjoy your new home and the monthly savings each month.</blockquote>


Do I get a diploma now? I think I put more time into studying IHB than college. And you know what I think my IHB diploma might give me a better ROI. :)



Oh, about the monthly savings. I know this really isn't going to turn out to be a cost savings move. I full self awareness that this house is going to turn into a black money hole with me buying the nice furniture to match my craftsman home, all the gardening I'm going to do, and got have those vintage replica light switches, and on and on and on. But at least because the house is affordable, I have the money left over to do those things. So I'm very pleased.
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1257565131][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1257564999]Need a place to put the bikes, the garage fridge and all my shoes (<strong>I used to be a he-cayci back in the day</strong>).</blockquote>


She can help you build a glass shoe cabinet if you need some help with that? You got ponies too?</blockquote>


I need Cayci to come over a consult with me over what in the world I'm going to do with all my shoes. Judging by the size of the closet's in my house, women of the 20's only had like two outfits.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1257643647]I need Cayci to come over a consult with me over what in the world I'm going to do with all my shoes. Judging by the size of the closet's in my house, women of the 20's only had like two outfits.</blockquote>


Classic pieces in neutral colors, then mix and match. ;)



I don't know how I missed this until now, but I did. Congrats to McD and the family. I know someone who lives over in that area and <em>loves</em> it.



Yes, I would highly encourage the seismic retrofit. I think BK had his done at some point and may know someone. If not, I think Graph would.



You sound really happy, and that's what's important, right? :)
 
Before you start anything familiarise yourself with the craftsman vocabulary by books and home tour in Pasadena. Because the era of the Sears Roebuck kit houses many consumers associated those with the Craftsman as well but they are not craftsman. Through out the USA there are many of such houses standing and the market of accessories being labeled as "craftsman" or "art and craft" are just too many.



Crown Hardware in Pasadena is a good start to learn about hardware and accessories. Refrain from the knock offs from DIY home improvement stores such as Lowes and Home Depots.



There are numerous magazines dedicated to this genre. Vromans in Pasadena has a very good book section on Craftsman since the most pedigree of all Greene and Greene originated there.



Good Luck and enjoy your vintage home because having a one of a kind property with a yard and the pride of vintage home ownership are priceless knowing that your home has no vinyl windows, concrete tile roof, drywall finish, hollow core doors, bullnose corners and stucco screed.



The best of all you park where ever you want and no Fking HOA.
 
What school district is it? Troy? Sunnyhill? South of 91 is the Oxford school district boundary #1 in the USA and OC (US News and Worlds Report). Check if Oxford would allow enrollment from the fringes.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1257661613]What school district is it? Troy? Sunnyhill? South of 91 is the Oxford school district boundary #1 in the USA and OC (US News and Worlds Report). Check if Oxford would allow enrollment from the fringes.</blockquote>


I thought Oxford was by acceptance only.
 
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