Friday, April 06, 2007

Condo Hunting







Well, maybe it's Christy and Amy, who are both looking for houses, that really got us started. Mark and I spent last weekend looking at condos. Yes, we are tired of sending our lousy landlord money every month and seeing nothing in return. We have lived here 2 and 1/2 years and the only thing that has been done is a termite bombing. I am pretty sure it is the only thing that has been done since the building was built in 1938.
It is a tough to get over the fact that our only option is a condo. My lovely friends have the sweet fortune of actually looking at houses. I have lived in a house a total of maybe 3 out of my 35 years, so maybe that's why I yearn for one so much. That and the fact that now I can't have one. Most of the condos here are apartment buildings from the 70's or 80's that are termed 'condos' because they are for sale. Here are some pics of one we saw. It was about 700 sq. ft. It had one window total on the bottom floor with the world's tiniest kitchen. There wasn't even a space for a couch or a TV, but there was an ugly fireplace with Three's Company mirrors and fake brick. It can be yours for $400,000. That's $3200 a month with all the fees, etc. Actually, if it was bigger we might have considered it. The horrible carpets, windows, and fireplace could be remedied. (We are thinking that we should just wait for an earthquake; They bring down costs.)

In spite of this, I am very cheerful and hopeful! With patience, we will find a great place, in a nice neighborhood, on a quiet street, with many windows, and a patio! Wish us luck!

5 comments:

saffry said...

I thought this looked nice until I got to your description. It looks so sunny even though there aren't many windows. But maybe it's just that everything in L.A. looks ten times sunnier than here.

This is a good time to start looking. You'll get a sense of the market before the summer when more things probably come up for sale. And I'll try to cheer you up with many tales of backed up septic tanks, leaking roofs and high fuel costs to make you appreciate a cozy little condo.

painterjoy said...

Thanks Amy! Yeah, the conda was really not that bad. It was just so small. And the view out the bedroom window was the next building. My one demand is that I can see something green and living out of the windows.

ks1k said...

It's because you have such a mean OLD DAD that you only lived in a house for three or so years :-)

Things are tough in the California housing market. If you find a place you like, just paint a scene on the window.

painterjoy said...

I wouldn't change my experiences living on Air Force Bases in condos for anything. I had a wonderful childhood growing up in Italy and experiencing the culture thanks to my OLD DAD.
I actually do not mean to say that I wished I HAD lived in houses. I just want to know what it feels like to own one now. Our very own place.

AllBeehive said...

I'm so excited you are looking. Don't get discouraged though. We looked at over 30 places.