How different cultures define a "great" home

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
muzie_IHB

muzie_IHB

New member
<p>Hello,</p>

<p>After coming from Canada to Irvine about 2 and a half years ago now, I think I've adjusted to the idea that I might perhaps one day plunk down, say, 800K$ for a home - before such an idea would have seemed completely insane to me. But even after adjusting to price shock, the thing is nothing I ever see here really excites me - to the point where I'm wondering if I really want to buy here, ever. </p>

Here is an example of a home that did excite me from back in Canada:


<A href="http://www.duproprio.com/recherche.php?topic=details&pid=67942&rech=a&pr=1&re=-1&ty=-1&minp=300000&maxp=1000000&orderby=prix_desc&ong=resultat&page=2&sp=19">http://www.duproprio.com/recherche.php?topic=details&pid=67942&rech=a&pr=1&re=-1&ty=-1&minp=300000&maxp=1000000&orderby=prix_desc&ong=resultat&page=2&sp=19</A>


(You can click the little icons below the picture to see more pictures.





The site is in french, but the lowdown is its 750k$ CDN, 3 bedroom + 3 bathrooms, 2400 sq. feet on a 1.4 acre lot, built in '99. Something about the layout and feel of it is very appealing to me - there's a feeling of quality there that I can't find here. Even high-quality 2-mil homes here have this ostentatious feel to them that to me makes them very unappealing - I'm looking for a home, not a show gallery!

<p>So I'm curious to see if is this a cultural bias of mine. What do people in this forum think defines an appealing home? Is this house universally appealing (I'm not saying this is the best home ever - but on average would people prefer this house over an average Irvine house)? Are there some traits OC natives value more? </p>

<p>How does your sub-culture define what is a "great" home?</p>



<p> </p>



<img alt="" style="position: absolute; width: 35px; height: 29px; z-index: 1000; display: none;" src="chrome://piclens/content/launch.png" />



<img src="chrome://piclens/content/launch.png" style="position: absolute; width: 35px; height: 29px; z-index: 1000; display: none;" alt="" />



<img alt="" style="position: absolute; width: 35px; height: 29px; z-index: 1000; display: none;" src="chrome://piclens/content/launch.png" />



<img src="chrome://piclens/content/launch.png" style="position: absolute; width: 35px; height: 29px; z-index: 1000; display: none;" alt="" />
 
the house is georgeous. it looks like something from the east coast. however, how close is it to the stores, restaurants, and theatres? i guess it depends on whether you're more urban or suburban inclined. personally, i wouldn't want to live there because it seems far from family, friends, and entertainment. maybe when i'm 50. but right now, i'm still in my 20's.
 
The house in Canada is very nice! I'm new to the OC (about 6 months) from the also-overpriced DC area and also think the houses out here aren't as much to my liking in general. Part of it is definitely smaller lots but also some floorplans that seem awkward or ostentatious to me. Then again I tend to like the exterior of the OC homes better in general. I don't miss the aluminum siding or brick with aluminum mixed together much :)
 
That house is definitely beautiful. I am in the process of selling a > 3000 sq. ft. house in St. Louis and moving back to the OC. After owning that house, when I look at this Canadian house, it looks like a LOT of work to maintain. Ease of maintenance is something I have come to value. Some people get a lot of enjoyment and pride out of fixing up and taking care of a house. Not me. I want it to be nice, but taking care of it just feels like work to me.



I also learned from my time in St. Louis that I value having entertainment and shops nearby.



Why no carpet in this house? All that wood is harder to keep looking nice and it would be colder in the winter. It would also make the house louder with more sound echo. Overall I think the style of the interior is more modern than the style of the exterior. Obviously, the 1.4 acres helps this house look good. Plenty of people in Irvine would love to have more land, but it is prohibitively expensive. Styling is very personal. In St. Louis, most of the nice homes have a colonial look to them. I hate it. Other people love it.
 
<p>For me, the houses in New England always seem prettiest to me. I believe it is because I grew up there and that is my "basis" of what a house should look like. It's a comfort thing. Perhaps you being Canadian, and the fact that this is a "Canadian" styled home make it appeal to you more. I've been to Toronto and the house you posted looks similar to some in their upscale neighborhoods. Of course, they look a little strange to me just because I've never seen such architecture. I don't know how to explain, it's just different.</p>

<p>I can't stand how close the houses are here in SoCal. That's my biggest turn off....well, not my biggest turn off...but that's a story for another day .</p>

<p>Months ago, bk posted a link for some cottage style homes. I loved those. If I can find the link, I'll edit and post it. </p>

<p>edit: Found it. Here is a house that appeals to me. <a href="http://www.rosschapin.com/Plans/Houses/MorganHill/MorganHill.html">Ross Chapin Architects</a> I like all the wood (and I'm sure the trees have something to do with it too). I prefer comfortable and cozy to huge and ostentatious.</p>
 
The Canadian house might work for some, but to me it looks creepy. Given choice I'd prefer something bright and shiny, with light colors and big windows.





I chose to live in an urban city (or suburb, if you prefer) for the easy access to shops and services, and in case of emergency, neighbors nearby. It's OK to have a little distance to your neighbors, but not too far away so they couldn't see people breaking down your front door, or for your kids to run to for help if they need it.
 
<p>The Canadian house is beautiful - thanks for sharing! I grew up here in so. ca but the only homes I have owned so far were living on the east coast. I did like the homes back east but coming back here and looking at homes here makes me realize that I do love the California style home - whatever exactly that means!!! Perhaps it really is somehow related to what we grew up with - I think there is a simialar phenomena (sp!) with weather and what makes people feel good! For example - no matter where I am living I always feel so good on foggy days - reminds me of growing up on the coast! </p>
 
Good post, Muzie. Thanks for sharing. The observation is right on that what constitutes a great house depends a lot on what part of the country (or world) you are standing in --- and that you carry your tastes wherever you go. On a smaller scale, IMO hands down the most beautiful neighborhoods I have ever seen are in Pasadena, South Pas, San Marino, and North Alhambra/San Gabriel. But since I can't live up there for a lot of reasons (price being # 1), is it any wonder that Northpark is my favorite neighborhood by far in Irvine ---- and guess which cities they modeled Northpark after?
 
That's one nice house. It looks real solid, too. In California, that would be too much rubble to fall on you when the earthquake hits. Of course, if you want to freeze the moment you step outside your front door for 5 months of the year, and play tennis while fighting off mosquitoes in sticky weather for another 5 months, then......
 
yeah we moved there before it became hip, then guiliani bussed all the homeless to the outer boroughs and we were like, hey this place is turning into one cool place to live!





were u a policewoman on CT too?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top