Since my good friend M is busy moving out of her recently sold house she has not had time for blogging or house searching so I decided to do a bit of an internet house hunt for her. Normally she blogs cute photos of her daughter's baby fashion so I figured I would evaluate the properties from the perspective of a 1.5 year old. I do know that they want a bit of a project house somewhere in South County. I also decided they need at least 4 bedrooms so Grace and her future sister can each have their own rooms and there will still be a guest room for Aunties V and J to spend the weekend after drinking too much wine with mommy. Based on that, here are some options in no ranked order.
I don't have much info about this short sale but for $200k it seems like a steal and as a short sale, I imagine it will come with some projects. With 4 beds, 3 baths, and a garden, there is plenty of room for a toddler to grow and play.
http://www.trulia.com/property/3076737969-20-Ponte-Ln-North-Kingstown-RI-02852
This one is an early standout. It is on the market for $440k and not at all a project house but it has some impressive features for grownups and children. I'm drawn to the large covered deck and abundance of windows. It has cathedral ceilings which I know can be an issue for heating but just make a house feel so roomy. But what is a real draw is that it is part of an association with a pool, tennis and boat access. This is the perfect way to keep Grace entertained swim days, tennis lessons and not have to worry about the maintenance of a pool or driving a teenager to tennis practice. http://www.trulia.com/property/43912380-28-Anchor-Way-North-Kingstown-RI-02852#photo-24
At $250k, this Portsmouth property boasts 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and is in need of some updating. It boasts a water view and seems to be about 2 blocks away from the ocean which is always a plus in my book. It also has 2 kitchens which is something I seem to be finding more frequently than I realized while looking at US real estate. The 2nd floor is apparently set up as an in-law extension but it really seems to me like it needs to be viewed in real life as the photos are very hectic. This is the fixer upper for sure but it has a lot of potential. http://www.trulia.com/property/3114811932-12-Candy-Ct-Portsmouth-RI-02871#photo-16
To round out the set, we have this $300k 4 bed, 2 bath which is also in a private beach district. It attracted me to a couple of features aside from the neighborhood beach (the strongest feature). There is a serious outdoor entertaining space complete with stone counters and gas grill. There is also a fireplace which appears to be functional and there is a bit of charm to the curb appeal. The furniture of the current owner is, in my opinion, not doing the house any justice but there is a lot of potential here as well and it seems to have enough small projects for personalization while still being move in ready. It's also in the mid range price point. http://www.trulia.com/property/3119330636-81-Hemlock-Rd-South-Kingstown-RI-02879#photo-1
M, I wish you a stress free move and best of luck in finding your next home! I hope g gets a beach in her back yard.
XOXO,
J
