We went to Corsicana to search for our next house today, and we don't believe we found it.
This is not to say that we didn't find something interesting here and there...
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We stopped by the huge house just because I couldn't stop obsessing about it.
Peering in through the windows didn't reveal much that we didn't know from the listing, except that the place needs some pretty extensive work. It's not a disaster, but it hasn't been maintained very well from appearances. Needs paint, landscaping, new floors, that kind of thing.
It's on a corner lot next to a fairly busy road, and that certainly made it less appealing as well. Satisfied, we went to meet Lisa, the realtor.
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We saw a few places, most of which were good indicators that Lisa understands what we're after, but didn't quite satisfy us. One would be nice with a tiny yard, another would be nice with no place for the study we need. One was gorgeous, with a lot of creative design and a uniquely landscaped yard. Great for retirement, but not for raising kids.
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One has real potential, a house on Ficklin. It's huge too, at 3000 square feet. All that and it's still got a fairly big yard. Heck, it's even got a neat swing set.
But the kitchen is tiny, and the layout is a bit awkward. It's one we're considering seriously.
Turns out it's on the market because of a scandal. The owner is a prominent local politico. He and his wife were trying to have kids and could not for whatever reason.
Then she turned up pregnant, and the man made an appearance in church, thanking everyone for their prayers and support.
Next thing anyone knew he'd left the wife for another woman, boom. D-I-V-O-R-C-E.
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Lisa filled us in a bit on the huge house. I was right about it being part of an estate. And the downside is that it floods. Three times since '89, we're told, and not just trickles. The heirs have been advised to get an engineer out there to assess what can be done, but they're strictly trying to move it for $$$. It's been on the market a while, and it's becoming a bit of an albatross. Curious to see what will happen to it, but it WON'T be the next Briscoe abode.
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I thought we were done when the agent started talking about showing us this other place. Before getting the key she wanted to drive by and see if we were even interested in stepping inside. Kelli was, I could take it or leave it.
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As we walked up to the front and I peered into the screened porch, I thought, This is the kind of house Ann Rice would live in.
It's a three-story house, ya'll.
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It's in the Carriage district, this great old neighborhood in Corsicana full of homes built in the 20s. Lush gardens and magnolia trees here and there, with quaint cottages separated by the occasional gen-you-wine mansion. People are snatching up property over there to renovate and turn a profit.
And this place also comes with a scandal at no extra charge. Seems the owner had herself an improper relationship of some sort with a 15-year-old boy, allegedly. Was charged accordingly and got to walk due to a mistrial. She has left town and listed her house.
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The place is in reasonably good shape, though it would still need work. The bathrooms are in dire need of updating, and in fact, one contains a mikvah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikvah)
Turns out that's a Jewish shower, something used for ritual cleansing after childbirth, after menstruation, or perhaps after some other occurrence considered "unclean," like contact with the dead.
What it amounts to is a six or seven-foot deep pit you get into by descending a ladder. It looks like all sorts of trouble for a wandering toddler.
The upstairs bathroom would need renovating as well. Like the rest of the place, the bathrooms haven't been neglected, but the quaint charm of the fixtures of yesteryear doesn't nearly make up for their utter uselessness.
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The kitchen downstairs is small, but there's really good room to expand it into the breakfast area and make something really useful out of it. Living room is a good size.
Upstairs are two BIG bedrooms and a small room that's doesn't have an AC vent, so it'd probably be for storage or somesuch.
To go farther up, you have to climb a ladder.
It's the attic that was converted into this creative extra room. It's full of nice woodwork, with great built-in shelves and a pair of beds at the end. It's big up there, and utterly cool. This is the kind of place THEBOY would love to hang out with friends, a clubhouse extraordinaire.. His sister wouldn't be able to get up there to bother him for YEARS. She'd have her own large bedroom on the second floor anyway.
Not sure I could get over my fear of Kevin and his friends going up and down that ladder.
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Like my coffee shop idea from many months ago, this house is an example of a good opportunity that's just not right for me though. With school looming, there's just no way we could commit the time to working on (or overseeing) the updates this place needs. Every dollar sunk into renovations would probably double at resale, and it's not like we plan to be in our next house forever. The place is really not in bad shape, but it just needs a few key improvements that would be a real stretch for us to pull off.
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A link so you can see it for yourself: http://www.marrsrealty.com/marrs/listings/l0060.html
Photo #3 shows the entry to the mikvah.
Sorry for the links--when posting from the Mac I don't have the option of hyperlinks for some reason.
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We found out about the scandal with the 15-year-old from Kelli's father, by the way. The agent, citing the fact that she represents the owner, refused to play rumor-monger. A prudent move on her part I'd say.
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Be good.
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