The Home Ownership Thread

[jcman311]

This weekend’s project is complete.

Lights above the patio for the wife.

 

[Piobaire]

Looks great.

 

[Van Veen]

I don't know about the east side of Cary, but the western half is definitely nuts right now and new construction is constant.

The problem with the eastern part of Cary is they’re mostly modest homes built in the 70s. Tiny cottages and split levels painted olive green and poop brown. (I know because I live in one.) Even the flip market is slowing down a little it seems. Honestly I like the neighborhood, and downtown Cary seems to be on the upswing. It's just that the houses are ****. (Renovating a split level is just putting lipstick on a pig.)

Can’t really compare it with tract homes being built on the west side of town.

 

[brokencycle]

The problem with the eastern part of Cary is they’re mostly modest homes built in the 70s. Tiny cottages and split levels painted olive green and poop brown. (I know because I live in one.) Even the flip market is slowing down a little it seems. Honestly I like the neighborhood, and downtown Cary seems to be on the upswing. It's just that the houses are ****. (Renovating a split level is just putting lipstick on a pig.)

Can’t really compare it with tract homes being built on the west side of town.

If you want a cheaply finished house with one giant room in the middle, it may be perfect for you (new construction that is). I actually prefer East Cary because there is more diversity in house types. SE can be quick to get downtown Raleigh, but is more expensive and a pain to get to the Triangle.

There is always Apex too, and downtown Apex is much nicer (but the hot neighborhoods are quickly moving west).

I looked all over Cary, Apex, and North of 540 in Raleigh (basically from the airport to the NE corner of Falls Lake). East Cary had a lot more than split levels when looking. I really liked a dutch colonial in fact but there were certainly a fair share.

Then again I don't know what size you are looking for or what your price point is.

 

[Van Veen]

If you want a cheaply finished house with one giant room in the middle, it may be perfect for you (new construction that is). I actually prefer East Cary because there is more diversity in house types. SE can be quick to get downtown Raleigh, but is more expensive and a pain to get to the Triangle.

There is always Apex too, and downtown Apex is much nicer (but the hot neighborhoods are quickly moving west).

I looked all over Cary, Apex, and North of 540 in Raleigh (basically from the airport to the NE corner of Falls Lake). East Cary had a lot more than split levels when looking. I really liked a dutch colonial in fact but there were certainly a fair share.

Then again I don't know what size you are looking for or what your price point is.

Ideally, ~2500 sqft, <20 minute commute to downtown Raleigh, and I wish I knew definitively what my price point was. My problem is that I need utility space, and nobody builds utility space anymore. If more older houses had basements here, this would be less of a problem.

Apparently Apex was the 3rd fastest growing city in the country last year.

 

[brokencycle]

Ideally, ~2500 sqft, <20 minute commute to downtown Raleigh, and I wish I knew definitively what my price point was. My problem is that I need utility space, and nobody builds utility space anymore. If more older houses had basements here, this would be less of a problem.

Apparently Apex was the 3rd fastest growing city in the country last year.

I would look at south Cary or NE Apex. Trulia has a commute overlay that intermittently works, but close to 64 or 1 is about the same commute time as most of eastern Cary as you have to get out of the winding non-sense to get to a highway.

 

[Gus]

House went pending Friday. Close July 11, occupy July 31. Inspections, of course, and in the meantime planning an upgrade to kitchen and Master bath before moving in. This week will seek out best contractors and designers/decorators.

The home is one year old, great flow and separate guest suits. It's a bit plain vanilla but also a blank canvas to make it our own. Looking forward to it.

 

[jcman311]

Nice! Congrats.

 

[Numbernine]

Sangre de Cristos man a magic place

 

[Gus]

So anyone here have cement kitchen countertops? How are they? Would you do it again? Considering that as a bit of a contemporary touch.

 

[dazedstate]

So anyone here have cement kitchen countertops? How are they? Would you do it again? Considering that as a bit of a contemporary touch.

A friend of mine does concrete for a living and did his countertops in as much. They look pretty cool but they have cracked. Working with it on a daily basis, he said he expected it since concrete is bound to crack. Just it's nature.

Personally not my thing (went with boring granite). I think the key to no cracks is using the preformed stuff

 

[Numbernine]

A friend of mine does concrete for a living and did his countertops in as much. They look pretty cool but they have cracked. Working with it on a daily basis, he said he expected it since concrete is bound to crack. Just it's nature.

Personally not my thing (went with boring granite). I think the key to no cracks is using the preformed stuff

The stuff you use for countertops is especially made for that purpose . Not supposed to crack.

 

[RedLantern]

So I bit the bullet and hired the same people to paint the downstairs of my house (my brother had lived down there until about a week ago) that I had paint the exterior a couple years ago. Man, those folks are thorough with the prep! It is looking like it was almost remodeled they do so much filling and sanding of the trim and walls. As far as I can tell the process is fill, sand, prime, fill, sand, paint paint

 

[jcman311]

Yeah concrete only cracks do to the environment its in. Ground shifts, freeze/thaw, extreme heat. Even the temperature change cracks are more or less caused by the movement of the ground/environment around it.

Being in a controlled environment should last a long time.

 

[Numbernine]

Yeah concrete only cracks do to the environment its in. Ground shifts, freeze/thaw, extreme heat. Even the temperature change cracks are more or less caused by the movement of the ground/environment around it.

Being in a controlled environment should last a long time.

Or just your dirt

Cracked Foundations, Adobe Clay Soils and Water in Silicon Valley - Valley of Heart's Delight blog

In Santa Clara County, as in much of California, we have adobe clay soil and it's expansive. That is, when the dirt gets wet, it expands, and when it dries

sanjoserealestatelosgatoshomes.com