My dad would rather pay for something useful, as opposed to something frivolous, so instead of a wedding, I’m getting enough for a down payment on a house and to be perfectly honest, I’m as happy as a clam. But, being this close to my lifelong dream of owning a home has made me one tough customer. When I was browsing through house listings before, I could afford to be whimsical and extravagant because I was just window shopping. But now that this could easily become a reality, I have become quite discriminating and want the best for my dollar.
I don’t plan on raising a family (kids and me just don’t mix), so I don’t have to worry about things like being in an “ultra-safe” neighborhood (whatever that means) or close proximity to a good school. What I would like is to be located closer to downtown where I can more thoroughly enjoy the oldest part of the city, the French Quarter. I also would like to have enough room to comfortably house guests who might want to visit.
Although the sale is pending and I’ll likely miss out on the opportunity, this pretty cool and affordable house on Urquhart Street is quite close to what I’m seeking. Previous owners have made some ugly changes to this historic property, but I’m guessing a lot of elbow grease and some extra cash could restore this awesome “side porch” shotgun to it’s former glory. I’m actually dying to see what’s under those vinyl floors and how the house would look with a proper, wrought-iron gate. Plus, I would love to rip out the drywall that changed those transom doorways into octagonal arches from hell and see how the place looks without so much stuff. I’m something of a minimalist when it comes to furniture and the closest I come to knick knacks are lots and lots of books.
The only worry I have, at least from what little I can discern from the listing, is that the house is in a rather sketchy location. It’s only 5 blocks from the Quarter and I know the neighborhood is changing, I’ve seen it transform drastically over the past ten years, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. That’s probably why this three bedroom and two bathroom shotgun is listed for a mere $80,000. Oh well, though this 75-year old treasure would be a lot of fun to restore, I guess I’ll have to keep looking.
