Are you living in your dream house?

[Firebird]

I happened to catch an episode of Property Brothers this weekend and ended up watching like five episodes in a row (stupid addictive HGTV marathons).  I have always HATED the idea of living through a renovation - my plan has always been to wait until DH and I can afford the move-in ready house we want in the area we want, even if it takes a little bit longer. 

But the show is pretty clever.  For those of you who don't know, it starts with a couple describing the kind of house they want.  Then the (superhot) property brothers take them to see a house that checks all their boxes in the area they want.  When they're done looking and the couple is drooling, they tell them how much THAT house costs - usually a couple hundred thousand out of their desired price range (if not more).  The drooling stops and everyone makes really sad faces.

Then the brothers find them two very affordable properties that they can remake into the dream house (or a close approximation) with some major renovations which they can afford since the house itself costs so much less than the couple was willing to spend.  The couple picks one, and 4-7 weeks later they move into a property on which one of the brothers has worked some incredible renovation magic.  It doesn't even look remotely like the same house. 

I didn't realize renovations could be done that way - upfront and completely finished to the point of being move-in ready.... before you move in. 

Anyway, it got me thinking about what we want in our dream house someday.  Here's our wish list:

1.  4 bedrooms, 2.5-3 bathrooms.  Plenty of space for our desired family size and enough for a guest room / office.

2.  Huge master bath with a Jacuzzi-size tub for DH. 

3.  A little bit of property, nothing too extensive (big yard would be fine). 

4.  High ceilings / open floor plan, lots of space. 

5.  Amazing kitchen - also with open floor plan so we can socialize while cooking. 

6.  Very clean and bright - I would love to be able to pick all of our counters, cabinets and fixtures. 

7.  Close to wherever we work (as God is my witness, I WILL NEVER WORK FARAWAY FROM HOME AGAIN!!!! )

I'm not delusional enough to think we'll ever be able to afford this in California - that's a huge part of the reason we plan to move.  But eventually, that's what we want and it should be doable in Colorado or Washington. 

What's on your wish list for your dream house, and are you living in it yet? 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Nope, the house we're in is not even remotely close to my dream house. 

My dream house is about 2,000 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath w/ a dining/living/kitchen open concept.  Basement would be furnished, dry and comfy.  Yard big enough for kid crap and some garden areas.  Oh and I've decided I do want an attached 2 car garage.  NO ALLEY! 

[Deleted]

My sis bought a house they are completely redoing before they move in.

no, I don't live in my dream house. 

[Deleted]

I have never thought about a "dream home". I am too practical, I guess?



The houses we have lived in have been comfortable and affordable. Not being strapped for cash is a dream of sorts, I suppose. 

[Deleted]

I prefer to keep my dream house in my dreams.

[giramomma]

We are not living in our dream house.

My dream house is a beautiful house on the lake. It currently has a baby grand in the foyer. Don't think we get an extra million "just because" anytime soon, so the house will remain a dream.

We are, however, living in a house we love. It's perfect for us.

[doxieluvr]

Not even close to living in my dream house.

I just spent a half hour looking online for my dream home and can't even find something comparable.

i would love a four or five bedroom home, 3 bath with a big kitchen for dh, at least a three car garage, at least 5 acres, preferably closer to 10-15, wooded for hunting, beachfront, nice living room, family room, den, hunting room for dh. Oh and a pool, both indoors and outdoor. 

What we will most likely find is a 3 bedroom rancher with a two car garage on an acre. 

[Deleted]

My dream house isn't like extreme makeover or anything. One can have realistic dreams.

[Deleted]

Actually I am. Size, layout and location are perfect. I like working on the decor and creating it for myself. And affordable is a huge part of my dream.

[vonna]

In some ways this is our dream house. Being the eternal optimist, I am pretty happy with our current home, and even though there are some things about this house that I don't like, I tend to focus on the good things about it.

I guess the things we don't like aren't bad enough for us to be willing to pay to change them!!

[swamp]

For the most part, yes.

I have about 2200' square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on 1.3 acres with 60 feet of waterfront and our own boatlaunch.   I also have a 3 stall garage and a work shop. 

I wish the house was closer to town, and sometimes I wish we had another bedroom, especially when DH is snoring.

[muttleynfelix]

I'm in my dream location.  But the house is a tad small to be a dream house.  The dining room, master bedroom, and second bathroom are all on the small side.  But if we had just gone with a walkout basement, it would help a lot. Oh well. We can afford it and like I said, I love my location.

[Deleted]

Hmm.  I'm living in your dream house but not mine.   We have all of those things but it's a split level with no bedrooms on the main.

My dreams are unrealistic and unaffordable.  Is it possible to have a home that's super private, on a lake, in the middle of a city, with a short drive to everything?

[Deleted]

Yes, but its unrealistic and unaffordable

[Wisconsin Beth]

Apr 29, 2013 11:46:03 GMT -5 oped said:

My dream house isn't like extreme makeover or anything. One can have realistic dreams.

I don't think my "dream house" is particularly unrealistic either.  I have a rough idea that my dream house would run about $250K, give or take a little.  But I'm not looking because moving isn't an option right now. 

[Deleted]

Actually friends are selling their house. I hate the house, but its on 30 acres 'in town'... No lake, but a pool. Sigh. I don't know what they are asking, but can location trump hating that house?

[Deleted]

but can location trump hating that house?

Only if you burn the house down. 

[swasat]

I don't care about houses. Zilch.

So does it count that I have no idea about any dream house? 

We currently live in a 2500 sqft, 4 bedroom/ 2.5 bath home with .25 acres in the back and same in the front. The basic reason we bought the house was because DH wanted to. My only condition was enough closet space and a practical layout (and of course good schools) and that I got in this house. So we bought it. It is somewhat updated, like we have all steel applicances, granite countertops, wooden floors etc. But no built in ovens, crown molding, jacuzzi tub in the master bath etc.

I have no dreams for any other house. I am perfectly content with what I got. In fact I would love to downsize when kids are out of the house. Its too much work to move and set up a new home. I am tooooo lazy that way

[thyme4change]

Ugh - MIA post.

No way you remodel an entire house in 4 weeks.  Even on property brothers, they only remodel 2 rooms - usually the kitchen and living room.  Meanwhile, the "disgusting" and outdated bathrooms are still disgusting and outdated.  They didn't give that couple a "fully remodeled" house as they promised - just a nice kitchen.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Apr 29, 2013 12:19:02 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Ugh - MIA post.

No way you remodel an entire house in 4 weeks.  Even on property brothers, they only remodel 2 rooms - usually the kitchen and living room.  Meanwhile, the "disgusting" and outdated bathrooms are still disgusting and outdated.  They didn't give that couple a "fully remodeled" house as they promised - just a nice kitchen.

Yeah.  And I'd rather have a full remodel than have them furnish the rooms for me and charge me for the furnishings. 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

My dreams change, so I don't focus on trying to find something so elusive as one single permanent "dream house". 

[thyme4change]

I've wondered if that furniture actually stays in the house, or if they basically use a staging company for the "big reveal" and then the owners bring their own tattered couch in after the cameras are packed up.

Here is what I know...

1)  They already bought the house before they go on the show.
2)  The contractor isn't likely running the crew.
3)  The plans and "decision" day is probably done after the whole remodel is complete.  I'm sorry there is no way that their plans have the exact finishes of every surface completely nailed down for the initial presentation.
4)  Probably most of the shopping scenes are filmed after the remodel is complete (maybe.)  But for sure, that isn't when they actually make the decision.
5)  The timeline is totally inaccurate.  Absolutely no way you remodel a whole in 4 weeks and come in on time every single time.  Shit - it took me 6 weeks just to get the tile ordered for my bathroom.
6)  The budget is likely inaccurate, or at least not out of pocket. I suspect they get free stuff from the "additional consideration provided by..." list at the end of the show.  

[Deleted]

TV would never lie to you.

[thyme4change]

I prefer to think of it as fiction than as lying.  I'm cool with television being fictional.

I am beginning to think that Barbara Eden didn't really live in a bottle.

[Deleted]

Well, since it was bigger on the inside than the outside my guess is that it was the TARDIS. 

[midjd]

If you'd asked me while we were home-shopping, I'd have told you my dream house was a log cabin in the woods, with 5+ acres, next to a lake, and near town.

We ended up in a Cape Cod in the woods, 6 acres, next to a creek, and about 10 minutes from town - so it's pretty close (or at least as close as we could get within our price range).

My ultimate dream house doesn't exist - basically our current house/property, but Manhattan-adjacent. Maybe they'd let me build in Central Park.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Apr 29, 2013 12:27:25 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I've wondered if that furniture actually stays in the house, or if they basically use a staging company for the "big reveal" and then the owners bring their own tattered couch in after the cameras are packed up.

Here is what I know...

1)  They already bought the house before they go on the show.
2)  The contractor isn't likely running the crew.
3)  The plans and "decision" day is probably done after the whole remodel is complete.  I'm sorry there is no way that their plans have the exact finishes of every surface completely nailed down for the initial presentation.
4)  Probably most of the shopping scenes are filmed after the remodel is complete (maybe.)  But for sure, that isn't when they actually make the decision.
5)  The timeline is totally inaccurate.  Absolutely no way you remodel a whole in 4 weeks and come in on time every single time.  Shit - it took me 6 weeks just to get the tile ordered for my bathroom.
6)  The budget is likely inaccurate, or at least not out of pocket. I suspect they get free stuff from the "additional consideration provided by..." list at the end of the show.  

Yeah, I saw an episode where the Brothers mentioned that the parents were kicking in $X so they could buy the furniture or something.  But it WAS mentioned that the couples are buying the furniture as part of the remodeling costs. 

[tcu2003]

Mine is probably close, though the location makes it not my dream house. We have around 3000 sq ft, 3-car garage, 0.25 acre lot, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and an open floor plan. The school district is also really good. We're in a north Dallas suburb, so the relatively moderate cost of living helps a lot.

I **think** I want a pool, but DH does not, so that will probably never be a reality. At least our HOA has a pool, so I have access to one. I'd also ideally like a 5th bedroom or 4 bedrooms+office space.

[thyme4change]

But it WAS mentioned that the couples are buying the furniture as part of the remodeling costs.

They say a lot of things that aren't true - like that the guy with the dark hair actually does the purchase negotiation.  It is not true.  To be on an HGTV show, you have to already have bought your house.  So, forgive me if I doubt that every piece of furniture is actually staying in the house when you leave.  It might - but there is no guarantee.

[Firebird]

Apr 29, 2013 11:56:04 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

Actually I am. Size, layout and location are perfect. I like working on the decor and creating it for myself. And affordable is a huge part of my dream.

I like this.

I should have put "easily affordable on one income" as #1 on my wish list.  For me, that almost goes without saying.  I don't want a dream house we can't really afford. 

But I think our dream is pretty practical.  Once we're in, I want to stay for good.