You Just Never Know

When my husband and I moved from our big house in to an apartment several years ago, we both knew that the apartment was suppose to be just a place to hunker down while we decided what the next, more permanent place, would be.  Over the three years that we've been apartment dwellers, we pursued other housing options...sometimes in earnest, sometimes just casually.  We've looked at homes for sale in our general neighborhood, and in neighborhoods a little further removed.  We've looked at big houses and small houses. We have even entertained the idea of purchasing a condo in the new City Creek project until sticker shock gave us a reality check.  We've also looked at homes for lease/rent. 

In the process, we have developed a pretty good idea of what we want and where we want to live. We don't need to own a home.  A good long term rental property that meets most of these criteria is sufficient.

1.  Located within a reasonable walking distance of downtown.
2.  Easy access to Memory Grove/City Creek canyon
3.  1700 to 2000 sq feet home that is clean and well maintained.
4.  Living space large enough to accommodate at least our dining room table.
5.  Outdoor living space
6.  Garage
7.  Minimum of two bedrooms/two baths
8.  Washer/dryer hookups
9.  A decent kitchen with a dishwasher and disposal.
10.  A yard/garden - not too much
11. Bathrooms that have been updated in the last decade or so.
12. Storage for all the sports equipment, camping gear, etc. etc.
13.  Monthly lease payment less than our current lease payment.

Bonus:

1.  Hard wood floors
2.  Living space big enough for BOTH the dining room table and the baby grand piano.
3.  Gas range
4.  Fireplace

This criteria doesn't seem to be too demanding.  But in our older neighborhood, it's hard to find something that has even a few of the items.  It's been frustrating.

The other day, I was taking my daily walk up Memory Grove.  I passed a house on Canyon Road that had a "For Rent" sign in front of it.  I couldn't believe it.  In this little section of the city, you just don't see "For Rent" or "For Sale" signs.  Ownership and occupancy generally happen by word of mouth.  I took a picture of the sign and emailed it to my husband for him to check out.  He set up an appointment to see the home later that same day.  He told me that the owner said the house was small - only about 950 sq ft on the main floor. With that kind of square footage, most likely the rooms would be tiny.  The kitchen and baths probably would be stuck in the 50s.  Even though the location was to die for, we were prepared to be disappointed in the actual house.

But, lo and behold, we were surprised.  The home had been remodeled inside and had great space.  Whoever had done the remodeling had removed some interior walls and opened up the ceiling into the attic.  A loft area in the former attic had room for office space and a TV/sitting area plus a storage area.  The main floor was big enough for the dining room table AND the piano.  It had hardwood floors and with the original fireplace in the living room.  Even though there was just one bedroom on the main floor, it had a nice updated bathroom en suite with a large closet.

The kitchen had been updated in the last ten years or so.  It was small, but had good appliances and a GAS range.  Off the kitchen, on the way to the basement stairs, was a full bathroom.  The basement was totally finished with a half bath, a family room and another bedroom.  The total square footage of the home was about 1700 sq. feet. spread over three levels...but all very liveable.

The garage was under one side of the house and accessed off an alley behind the house.  Even with one car in the garage, there was still plenty of storage.  One small issue was that the washer and dryer hookups were in the garage.  Not an ideal set up, but workable. The yard was just the right size and well maintained.  A nice size deck on the back of the house filled the outdoor living space criteria quite nicely.  There was just the right amount of gardening space for me to putter in.

The home is vacant and, for the most part, meets all the criteria we have. So, we are moving...quickly...like starting today. We will have a lower monthly overhead since the lease payment on the house is less and we won't have to pay for an extra parking space, a storage unit or piano storage. Before the end of the month, we'll vacate our apartment and move to Canyon Road.  It's a long term rental with the possibility of being able to purchase it in three or four years.  I can't believe that we were this lucky.  And believe me, the ability to live in this particular neighborhood is either by knowing someone who is selling/renting or pure luck. 

So, it looks like Thanksgiving dinner can be around the family dining room table this year.  We will also be able to sing Christmas carols accompanied by someone playing the grand piano.  But before then, we might be able to have a BBQ or two.  We can certainly gather for some family dinners.

Anyone out there who has any free time, willing manpower, etc. etc. is more than welcome to come help with process.  We need to be out of our current place...clean and ready to go...by the end of August.  Yikes!  I better get off the computer and start packing boxes.

Update:  As I was in the home, in the process of signing the lease, a guy walked in the open front door inquiring about the home.  Snooze, you loose.

Note - This home is on the upper part of Canyon Road, in the row of about 10 homes just prior to the entrance of Memory Grove.  It is also next door to the duplex where my Grandpa Reid lived in the last years of his life.