You do have a good agent working for you? The experienced ones are worth their weight in gold especially with a house like this.

Mold? Where I live that’s a big red flag. Make sure it’s not elsewhere in the house.

In our first home we had additional insulation sprayed in the attic. We did not know that we had inadequate ventilation (no baffles). When we went to sell, the inspector found mold. It cost us $3K to clean up and fortunately the buyers still wanted it. I would say that it does not mean the house is inhabitable or dangerous. You will need to have it taken care of as well as the source (no fans in the bathroom, no baffles in the attic, no outside soffits, etc.).

Best of luck.

You don't know anyone personally in the building trade that could go through the house with you to give you extra advice to set your mind at rest

the issue is not the mold itself, the issue is containing the mold and knowing how far and where its gone. mold tends to grow and grow if not dealt with properly

i know because ive had the usual basement flooded twice and the mold not only ruined everything but it crept around from water seepage, and in an old house like mine (&yours) with structures that arent as new and solid, its easier for the mold to cause an issue.

the problem with yours is having to figure out how much damage its done and how far, once you figure that out, honestly....its more an annoyance than anything, because theyll have to remove and repatch whatever got affected

i wouldnt let it deter me from buying a house i love though, unless the entire structure is ridden

We had a builder that is a friend of ours and was going to buy the home himself go through the He and his wife were going to buy it a year ago for themselves. He said he went through it and had all of his subcontractors go through it and the house was sound. He had some things needed to be repaired but they were not major fixes. He builds very high end, unique homes in our area. The builder was asking $550,000 at the time and it appraised at $465,000. The builder offered to pay half the difference if the buyer would pay the other half. The buyer said no so they walked away. He Loved the house though. We had another contractor friend walk through it as well. He didn't like the flat roof and was concerned about the price of replacing all the windows. He said don't do it but he doesn't like older homes. The terminate guy found no termites or evidence of termites.

The seller was asking $550,000 not the contractor. I apologize for all the typos

So far some mold has only been found in the outside water heater closet.

Looked up the listing ...wow love it !

We bought a FLW apprentice home I NW PA. It is the Usonian style home.

love it, but the concern is the plumbing...is it easily accessible or not.....you will destroy the house to fix it.

Negotiate a lower price based on your findings. Price in your risk. End result will be amazing if you have the time, cash and stomach for it.

Yep definitely negotiate the price on your findings. Amazing house, don't be put off by how long it's been on the market, which has obviously put off some potential buyers, just some would put it in the too hard basket. If you get the price down to go some way towards repair costs, are young, have some money in the bank go for it. I'm sure you will make on it in years time when you may decide to sell. That's coming from my experience.

Our flat roof was replaced by the previous owner for approximately 40,000. It is either a Firestone or Goodrich roof. We know the roofer and he extended the warranty and checks it yearly. The floors were heated years ago but when they blasted for interstate 80 there were major cracks that could not be repaired so we now have gas forced air heat delivered through registers. The plumbing needed to be replaced in the long section of the home so the Navejo red floor was ripped up in places and never restored. The second owners fled carpeting down in the hallway and three bedrooms. We ripped up all that and recarpeted. We ripped up carpeting in the living room and retired the hardwood floor. Never could figure out why it wasn’t water damaged. Also have replaced mostly all the windows except for one picture window, foyer window and an original angle cut window. Redid a small bathroom vanity and floor. And another bathroom vanity. Also replaced the cement back patio and front walkway and steps. Currently working on replacing the kitchen. SO.......be ready to sink a good bit of money into your project. The other thing we did was restore all the redwood throughout the entire home.

sorry i still think you should bite the bullet and buy it
if its a house youll love, no amount of fixing up or issues will prevent you from having peace of mind that its worth the money you spend... especially if its a forever home.

im so in love with your home, im getting nostalgic, its so lovely. believe me its rare rare rare to find homes like this nowadays or even a few years back

every home has issues

btw, did i tell you how much i love this home??




lol

At 50-60 years in, you should expect to have to replace things. They can send a camera down to see if the pipes in the foundation are OK. Flat roofs always have issues and have to be replaced more frequently. Just plan on it. Get an architect involved and plan on a budget then plan on 40% extra for all the things you will find behind the walls or other issues. My advice would be to update systems before you move in and to get the EMP up to code. I just did it on my 1970's home and its not difficult to put $150,000 in for new roof, plumbing, new AC/heat, hot water heater, new electrical panel (if you gut the kitchen you will need a new one because the new applicance will draw too much electricity for the old circuits, etc. If you love the house get it and plan on you next couple of vacations being staycations. If you can't envision that, then don't do it.

Mold on an outside water heater closet. Really? Lol. That doesn’t matter.

Plumbing can be pricey. You might not know for a while whether the bathrooms are entirely sound. Elderly people might have only been using one for years. Make sure you have 2-5% of the buying price per year for the next 10 years to update any deferred maintenance in this kind of time capsule.

We were supposed to have the plumbing lines camerad last week but they rescheduled it for Monday due to the holidays. I'm anxious to see what they discover. Our friend Dean that is a contractor has tried to talk us out of the home. He said due to the age everything will need to be replaced because it's coming to the end of its life. We know it could cost us $150,000 or more to replace electrical, plumbing, AC, water heaters etc. and I think realistically that doesn't even include the interior which will be another chunk. . I think if we can get the seller to work with us after we get all the estimates back then we would be willing to take on the task. It would be a forever home for us. We do however have our oldest currently attending Texas A&M to study engineering and a junior right behind him so I want to make sure that we are able to get a good price for the home or we would have to walk away.

Friggin fabulous. Hope you buy it

My sister and her husband bought a house that was 110 years old. There were repairs here and there but it’s still standing today. They loved that house. Sadly it has outlived them both. Buy the house and enjoy it.

It is a matter of priority unless you have limitless money.
You have x $$$ to spend on a home, x $$$ to spend on college for your kids, x $$$ to save toward retirement, x $$$ for vacations and entertainment . . .

If you buy this home will you be able to comfortably afford the renovations and repairs or will it upset your financial plan?

My parents built a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in 1963. My dad earned enough money to maintain the home and there was no worries about sending the 6 kids through college. They kept the home in good repair. When my dad passed away, my oldest sister, a pediatrician, moved into the home with her family and lived there with my mother until my mom passed away. Although my sister and her husband earned good money, the cost of maintaining the home kept mounting. When my mom passed away my sister sold the home and built a new home. She was able to move in and didn't have the worries about the next major fix that was just around the corner.

This is the rest of your life. Every time you turn around you are going to have one more fix that requires skills that fewer and fewer craftsman have and materials that may no longer be available. My parents home had old growth mahogany everywhere, doors, cupboards, paneling and furniture (Most of the furniture was built in (beds, dressers, couches, desks) and a few pieces built to match the home (dining room table and chairs). You can't replace it. It doesn't exist any more.

I narrowed my choice of homes to 2 last year when I moved back to Pennsylvania. One was built in 1956, is a true MCM home and has phenomenal architecture. The other was built in 1970 in the same neighborhood where my parents home was built. It was a custom ranch type home. Both homes were similarly priced and about the same size.

I picked the 1970s custom home because it had enough MCM styling to make me happy, had a ton more storage, had been better maintained, had been converted to natural gas heat and would cost me far less in the long haul than the MCM. Both needed work, but the MCM would have cost well over $150 K to fix and the 1970s custom home was going to cost about $50 K. That extra $100 K was needed if I want to retire at 65 and keep my two horses. I could have sold the horses or put off retirement or buy the home that would cost less to repair and maintain.

The longer I live here the happier I am with my choice. I can look out my back windows and see the home I grew up in and I feel like I am home again. I love the neighborhood and love the way this home functions. It may not be my dream MCM home, but it works for me.

Now when horses come into the picture that’s a different story. Horses forever.

If the appraisal was done by a bank, all the bank cares about is that the loan amount doesn't exceed the appraisal price for the bank to approve the loan. That is why some mortgage loans aren't approved and the buyer can't buy the house. So even if a house appraises for $400,000 and you are willing to pay $500,000 for it, and put $100,000 down on it, then your loan amount is 400,000 and that satisfies the bank because that covers the loan amount. The bank doesn't care if you overpay the appraisal amount. Someone else said appraisal value doesn't mean as much as people think it does.

The plumbers came today and put a camera down the lines. One side of the home looked good. The south side of the house had sitting water in the lines and tree roots as well. This is the line that 3 of the four bathrooms are connected to. They are supposed to get us an estimate tomorrow on having the lines cleaned and possibly replaced. The plumber mentioned trenchless repair as an option for the line that runs under the house. We were disappointed but not surprised. Any advice?

We owned a house on a slab in TX built in 76. Lots of plumbing issues over time=$$$ due to trees and foundation settlement...infamous TX soil. Has that been inspected? Our 3,500 sf ranch ended up needing 30k in foundation work alone.

We will get estimates tomorrow so we will know more about exact costs. It's concerning for sure

You have to weigh whether the cost is worth it to you, and that's not always an easy calculation, especially under duress of deadlines.

All I can say is that we fell in love with our current home two years ago, walked into it during an open house, walked right THROUGH it to the view... view was high on our list of "wants"... put an offer on the spot. A few days later, during the inspection, we panicked, as there were so many things wrong with the place, which we totally ignored when we fell in love with it -- by walking past all the problems and straight to the view. A view which will never go away, nobody can build in front of us ever, and take it away.

We re-grouped, took a hard long look at our finances. Consulted with our financial planner, even had him come over and look at the place too. Along with our realtor, who was a trusted friend, not just out to make a commission.

Ultimately we determined, financially, we could reno the heck out of the place. Our financial planner had said we should invest in real estate, he meant a second home. But this worked too, putting the $ into primary home to reno it. We put in over $300K.

Our kids were already through college, so that wasn't a concern.

All I can tell you is that property values here are increasing and the nearly-identical condo across the hall just sold for a price that makes up for that investment -- and more. Not that we are selling anytime soon. This is also our "forever" home.

stilesvi, if you love the house... yes older houses probably will need repairs. The majority of houses in my old neighborhood were around 100 yrs old. Still standing, still functioning. A friend of mine lived in hers for 28 yrs and only had one major plumbing fix. I lived in mine for 12 years, replaced the roof and had a minor plumbing fix.

It's all a crapshoot right? Someone else posted about all the work they've done to their brand new construction, so newer doesn't necessarily equal maintenance free.

The house is just stunning. I have my fingers crossed that you will decide it's your forever home, and we all get to go along for the ride ;-)

I'm going to add here that as empty nesters we didn't want to spend the rest of or forever-home lifetime living in a constant renovation zone. We wanted move in ready, but were willing to drop the $ and spend the (what turned out to be) 18 months to get it all done, including design stage (hired a design firm for that), finding contractors, and actual renovation time (9 months), for a place with a location not to mention bones and history that you can't find in new construction.

But, no way I'd have bought this place if finances meant I had to spend my empty nester years doing it room by room over the next decade or two, and living with construction dust and boxes everywhere.

I think you are younger than us though. We aren't getting any younger. Hubby has health issues that aren't bad now, but likely will and soon so that was hanging over our heads too.

Two years in, all the major stuff is done, new HVAC, walls moved, new bathrooms and kitchen, new furniture etc etc... now is just the fun part, collecting art and maybe changing out throw pillows.

I've been following your thread because I absolutely love the house and I do hope you buy it, but yeah. Could cost a lot, and there's a lot to think about. I get it.

Not to be morbid but there's also the factor of if you can't do it all now, and it then never gets done (health issues/ life issues/ financial changes) and goes more into decay, does that burden your kids when they need to sell it for you? We have dealt with that with my in-laws, so that was another compelling factor to sit with financial planner and determine whether we could bite the bullet and do it all now, not later or in pieces / as things failed.

My husband and I are both 39. The time it would take to redo this home is something that has weighed heavy on our minds. So far the concerns are the plumbing on the south side of the house. The lines had quite a bit of water and tree roots. The plumber has recommended they be replaced. Some of the lines travel under the home and he recommended trenchless repair for these lines which we've been told can be very expensive. We had to get an extension for our option period this evening because there are still 3 closets ( one of which holds a hot water heater) that our inspector has not been able to get into. We also want to have the underground air ducts checked because we've heard these can be a huge issue as they tend to collapse over time. We will have to go back to the seller with an amendment and estimates for all the repairs. We were hoping for the best during inspections, but we are thankful that we will have a good idea of what needs to be repaired and how much it will cost. We are trying to decide if it would be better to ask the seller to make the repairs or lower the price so we can. One of the two would need to happen in order for us to be able to purchase the home.

I could get behind plumbing in the ceiling if it was all PEX home runs

Sellers will usually get the cheapest work done since they won't be there later. Get 3 estimates for necessary, important repairs, present to buyers. Ask buyers would they rather get it done by them by company you choose or take the middle cost estimate off the price. Negotiate fairly & buy from fair sellers. Hopefully you can find a win/win situation everyone agrees to.

Beautiful home.

The problem with having the seller reduce the selling price for repairs is the buyer must then come up with the cash to make the repairs, which often isn't realistic on major work. Only on HGTV do buyers spend less than budgeted on their purchase, then have the difference available for upgrades. Doesn't work that way, unless your lender is the Bank of Mom and Dad.

Another option is for the seller to leave $$$$ in escrow for the repairs to be done after closing the deal.

Looks great! Don't muck it up too much or over update or you'll lose its charm. Talk to an architect with a solid background in historic preservation.

Fun house. Any work that needs to be done can't be any worse then all the victorians people were buying up a few years back. The bubble panels are awesome. Gotta love the phone in the bathroom.

Personally, I hope you buy it and share with us all you do. Could be fabulous

We don't want to change much about the house. We do however want to make sure it's sound and livable. I'm so grateful for all the advice. Love the different perspectives and insight. Definitely gives us food for thought.

Well I'm sensing half starry eyed and half realistic so that's the dilemma. All boils down to how deep your pockets are.

Flat roof just needs a good membrane. Not sure about underground ductwork- is it in a crawl space? That's not uncommon. Just need to clean your ducts and get them insulated. Plumbing? It's an older home, so there will be updates and repairs to do. The house looks really nice. Hope it works out, or that you find something even better.

Congratulations!!!

Way to go!

congrats

now please update us and take good care of the house as I will be buying it very soon


:,D

So happy for you! Remember one step at a time. Take your time and do it right.

Gorgeous and well done house for the era. Yes, jackhammering is the norm if you need to change plumbing in a slab. Figure it in!

Hey Kris! Haven't seen you here for a while. Hope your project got finished and you are enjoying it. @stilesvl This vintage home is quite a project and I am hoping you are taking a deep breath before the final plunge!

I've been busy, Flo. Yes, it's done except for a few things here and there and we are in, have been since March. Still waiting for my closets to be trimmed out. I ask for that for Christmas, LOL.

Super, I know you are enjoying that space! Post some photos. Love to see how you ended up doing things.

We are definitely taking several deep breaths . Someone had said in an earlier post to think about whether or not we'd be disappointed if we walked away. We thought we would be so we decided to take a leap of faith. Still so many details to be worked out before the deal is final but I think we are ready.

Any updates on the house?! How is it going?