Starting out...

Looking and looking for a new house, and not finding what we want or can afford in the area we like. We've been weighing the benefits of moving vs renovating for some time, and it occurred to us that a renovation would cost boodles of cash, and we'd still be living in a 45 year old house. Low ceilings, cracked foundation, garage on the front, no side yard...all things that a kitchen/bathroom remodel won't fix.

This is the house C. grew up in, purchased from his folks 20 years ago. I'm ready for a new home. We love the neighborhood, love our neighbors, and didn't want to lose the benefits of in-town living. Add to it that our house was labelled a 'tear down', so only worth what we could get for the lot...not much to pay off the existing mortgage and put anything down on a newer home farther out of town.

After much knashing of teeth and wringing of hands -- not to mention a few screaming, crying, hissy-fits -- we've decided to tear down and rebuild in the same spot, more or less. With that decision, I went online and found a plan within a day, and C. ordered it the next week.

The dining room table is now covered with large rolls of house plans, tissue, pencils, erasers, rulers and the occasional 'cat helper' to chase things around. Drafting supplies from my art school days and more recently acquired quilting rulers are coming in handy!