Our first house had fixer upper written all over it. After renting through nine years of college and post grad we decided that a real job meant a real house. Interest rates were sky high but we managed to find a house about our age that we could afford. The retaining walls were falling down and the kitchen did not have a working stove. There were holes clear through the floor of the kitchen and the water pump failed the first week were in the house. In the first couple of years we insulated; glued parquet over the old linoleum in the kitchen; had the retaining walls and steps to the front door replaced; painted inside and out; rewired the screened porch; added a brick patio; and cleaned out so much junk from the crawl space that it spanned the entire front curb on bulk pick up day. The furnace failed early one fall and when they cut the ductwork it collapsed in a rusted heap. It had wonderful oak and maple trees in the front yard and locusts shaded the back. An ornamental pear made a mess in the side yard in autumn with fruit so disgusting that critters wouldn't eat them. It had a line for laundry and a dry basement. Compared to the apartments it was spacious.

Looking back, I have no idea why we were so keen on owning a home. We knew we had or could learn the skills to make it pretty. We made a tidy profit off our investment and bought a brand new house a few miles away five years later.

Yes, I completely remember our first home. The funny part of it is it cost less than a new Mercedez...true! It was located in a section of a township and had it's own name due to a charter. The beautiful history of the house is it was part of a summer camp location for Reverend Moon (not the guru one!) and originally had no heat minus the magnificent field stone fireplace. It was ever so small but fit our needs and financial means of the time. The front porch was made part of the living room (heavens, no family room) and we refurbished the attic as our bedroom. It was colonial in style with the typical pine furniture and our kitchen could never have held a formal dinner so we made another bedroom a small dining room...with a passage hole in the back splash of the kitchen. That was popular as it was like being at a take out restaurant. It was a very happy home....but I hated the neighborhood. As it was we ended up moving for my husband's corporation that he worked for...thus ended the small home with laughter. From that point on our homes in different States were large - happy - but will never reflect the charm and history of our first tiny home.

I remember our very first home very well. We lived in it with our four children and made some wonderful memories. It is now going on 43 years ago that we bought it and our grandson is now making his own memories when he comes to visit. In those almost 43 years we were fortunate enough to never have an unpleasant neighbor. Our first home is currently our present home!

We still live in our very first home...28 years later! We put in ceramic tile and new carpeting about 15 years ago. Still looks newish, as we bought high quality. Between paint, upgraded baseboards, window trims, and fine-tuning our home décor style, the interior is very nice. The major reno has been in the yards! Moving fencing, adding flower beds, walkways, cement slabs for the new pergola (14' x 20' that we built) and storage shed, fountains, et al. Still, I would like to see new windows (we have old aluminum frames), countertops, new wood-look ceramic tile flooring throughout the entire house, and get the kitchen cabinets refinished. But, alas, nearing retirement and looking to move to the country, we are reluctant to spend $30,000-$40,000, being just about 4 years away. No more city life for me!

We are still in our first home! We've lived here for 4 years and have had to do tons of work to it. We fell in love with this house because of the mature trees and the backyard. Not picture perfect but it suits us.

From the front.

My first house? 2 bedroom, 1 bath, wall heater, window unit a/c, 1 car garage. Bought for 8,000 in 1974. Lived there 3 years. Put a few hundred dollars in cosmetic work. Sold for nearly 14,000 in 1977. Neighborhood was ok - everyone kept up the homes and yards. Now it's trash and is so sad to drive through. SF in that house was 1100. It wasn't so bad then. I think society's expectations of what they assume they deserve and what they NEED is so much different than back then. And the pride for what we did have showed with the upkeep and care. Expectations that are so expansive and expensive - it can screw up your happiness.

My first home? Well let's put it this way, if all the termites stopped holding hands, the place would've fallen apart! ; ) It was a 40+ ranch style that needed a lot of work, inside and out.

My first home was bought with my then-boyfriend, now husband: a NYC co-op apartment - so-called "convertible" two-bedroom (the short part of the L in the long L-shaped living/dining area could be walled off as a second BR), 1-1/2 bath, 14th floor in a postwar highrise in the Gramercy Park area of Manhattan. There were no distinguishing details but lots of windows, including a windowed kitchen (a luxury in many NYC apartments) and great storage space. The most panic-inducing part of the purchase was the 30-year mortgage. I was in my early 30s and that seemed like a FOREVER commitment, 30 years!!! :) We sold after three years but have fond memories of the neighborhood and the space.

We're living in it- 17 years now. We lived here free for 5 years as one of the benefits of my husband's job, then bought it in case of a job change. So I never got to go "house hunting". Before we moved in there were trees growing up beside the house and cows in the yard. It had been painted by spray painting (white with taupe trim) and there was taupe overspray on the windows. We cleaned up brush and pulled up the "calico cat carpet" and sanded the hardwood floors underneath. Took up the kitchen carpet and laid lineoleum. After we moved in we have expanded the original bathroom, replaced a bedroom ceiling that was falling down, added on a bathroom, re-roofed and re-sided, completely remodeled the kitchen, added a master suite and expanded the living room, and cut the small bedroom into two large closets for the girls. I hope we are done with the major projects!

I don't have a specific favorite memory here, just enjoyed raising two girls on 5 acres on a quiet country road. Planning on staying here forever!

Here is a picture of how it looked before and after siding, plus the matching playhouse!

My first home was a three-story double house with attic and basement built in the early 30's. It cost $13,900 in 1971 and the monthly payment, including taxes and insurance, was $160. It needed to be completely updated. We stripped wall paper and painted, put down new wool carpet, and had hung 3/4 of the new kitchen cabinets when Hurricane Agnes hit. We were a block from the river and had 7 feet of water on the first floor. We lived on the second floor for about a year. We had to let the walls dry out and then start all over again remodeling. Since our wall-to-wall carpet was wool it shrank and had to be replaced. For obvious reasons I will NEVER forget my first house!

Our first house we bought in 1980 was in a beautiful west Sonoma county valley ( in fact it is now very chic). Our house however, was a step above a tear down which means we moved in to find a failed septic field in a winter swamp area, infilled dirt under the foundation that we had to begin clearing out with spoons ( no kidding!) when we put on a new front porch. My husband spent the first Christmas Eve in water boots in the garage assembling Christmas toys because of the standing 2 inches of water. That winter we also woke up to the ( the same?) 2 inches of water in the back bedroom from the run off from the hillside. French drains, new septic, excavated foundation were in our immediate future, had we just known it. Still...

In 1989/1990, I bought a one owner home...built in 1923. Although the elderly gentleman's daughter had legal title, the same man had lived in it for almost 70 years, raising kids and also grandkids in a small, two bedroom bungalow.

I bought it for $15,000 and spent about $6,000 with a new furnace, bathroom and electrical. Before two years were up, I moved into the city and kept it as a weekend place for myself, hubby and new baby until the original owner's grandson contacted me and wanted to buy it back. I sold it to him for what I had invested and closed on the sale when my second child was 7 days old. I loved that house but with two little ones to chase and a part time consulting gig, I really didn't need a second house. Plus, the new owner was happy to return to the house he lived in as a child.

I just bought my first house 2 years ago so I'm just learning the trials and tribulations of home ownership. The house is built in 1964 and I bought from the original owner who was a bit of a McGyver. Every day is an adventure but I'm enjoying the process of learning about home systems and making the house mine.

My first place was a 2 bedroom co-op in Mount Vernon, NY. I was getting divorced at the time 12 years ago and I was so anxious to buy property and move on with The bathroom always had plumbing problems. I always wanted my own house and I sold it after exactly 1 year. I sold it at the right time because I made a very good profit.

I'm still in it! 1916 Craftsman Bungalow. 99% original. I fell in love with it the moment I saw that porch! I never ever plan on leaving.

She needs a bit of work, but that's ok. All those great old details make it all worth it. It's taken quite a bit of time, but I have finished my bedroom, almost completed the bathroom & during the summer months I'm stripping & restoring the porch.

Oh...and one by one, I am restoring all the sash...complete with new weight cords too. No more sticks to hold them up!!

Anyone else out there got some "Old House Love"?? If so, you understand how it's all a labor of love. I am simply the caretaker of this old gal & I will do her justice as I bring her back to her glory days. :0)

Our first home was a brick ranch that had a lot of square footage. Loved the size of the rooms and windows. But the "piece de resistance" was an island measuring 3' x 8' that separated the kitchen from the family room. This was 1976 and I had never seen such open concept and island (we called it a bar back then). That was the best kitchen we have ever had. Another great memory was we found the house just as the builder had the house finished, but the yard was bare. I asked for it to be left bare. We were new to the small town and I saw a class in the basics of yard landscaping at the community college. Enrolled and for the final "exam" we designed a yard landscape. The man that taught the class had grown up in a family nursery business that was still operating. After our design was "graded" I was able to purchase the plants for a great price. Had so much fun; but work, landscaping our front yard. In those days, most new subdivision houses had a very basic builder's choice design. I have driven past that house through the years...our house is still the "stand out" of the whole street.

@bungalowmo - I tell people I meet that you have to love old houses, otherwise you hate them. Old houses are a labor of love because you can't make much money on them but if you love the charm, you'll never want to live in a new house.

When we redid my kitchen, my contractor/partner told me that he had never worked so hard to make it look like he hadn't done anything. I spent many hours working on a built-in wine rack which had originally been only a filler space. I could have stored wine bottles in an easier and cheaper way, but the wine rack looks great and really fits the look and feel of the original kitchen

Linda...I agree. It was never about making any money back. This called my name loud & clear! I never intend to leave this place. It's the perfect size for me on a large lot near our Historic Downtown area. I can walk to nearly everywhere! Well...except work. :0)

my very first house was made of concrete blockswith a cement floor with asphalt tile floors. It consisted of 4 rooms, each exactly 10 foot by 12 foot., with one corner of the back bedroom was walled off for a metal shower and single toilet. I loved every square foot of it....I painted every room again and again and added a little bookcases. It was a delight with the used $60 frig and $55 stove. No cabinets so I didn't yearn for marble counter tops. Lived there from 1952 and it was handed down to family, the last daughter lived there in 2008. By this time we had added two more bedrooms, a furnace, and a big bathroom. It was a precious piece of paradise.

Wow Alyce...what a great memory! I can just see that place now.

shorn45....There is nothing more frightening, exciting or liberating than buying your first home...especially if you're single! I getcha on the whole "prince charming" thing.

My first house was a 1950's rambler. Good solid bones. I had a laundry chute that I loved and was never able to have one again. It was never possible with my future floor plans.

Our first house was definitely a fixer upper. My fiancee (now wife) worked on it for a year while engaged and moved in on our wedding night. We lived there for 7 years and were always in the middle of a project. We finished the last project just days before the relocation company came to appraise it. I learned a lot in that house and am now sharing that knowledge with my son and daughter in their homes.

Our first house was a beautiful stacked town home on a golf course. The FSBO and our agent saw the stars in our newbie eyes, and colluded to jack up the price. Of course we were clueless at the time and only found out later, much later! But we so loved that house - open floor plan, spacious kitchen, brick fireplace, expansive deck. But seven years, not once did we use the golf course, but sure enjoyed the views!

When my husband got out of the Army he went to school on the GI bill and worked part time for the VA. I was working full time and going to school in the evenings. We made a pittance, but the supervisor at the VA helped my husband to understand we could afford to purchase a home with a VA loan. So ... we bought a very small, 1960’s ranch style; paid $28K for it. It was one story, tan with dark brown trim, and about 800/sf. It had a front yard which sloped towards the front and a broken down fence around the very large backyard. Teenie little kitchen right off the front door with old brown appliances, linoleum, and ‘wallpaper’ that was really shelf paper. Had hook-ups for the washer/dryer in the garage. Everything worked. Green shag carpet, drapes that were torn, one bathroom with a very small sink, tub and toilet and three bedrooms that were “maybe” 100/s.f. each. Could only fit a bed and two nightstands in one and the dresser was in another. Had to crawl over the bed to get to the opposite side. If it rained too hard one of the front bedrooms would flood because of the sloped yard (we had that fixed). It worked for us. We lived there for 7 years while we both went to school and worked on the house a little. We were out one weekend and decided to look at some model homes in a newer community and fell madly in love with one of them; bought one and lived there 24 years. We’ve since moved on but I’ll always remember our first little home.

Our first home we bought in 8-88 in Fresno, CA. A number I will never forget. It was an 1100 square foot tract home, single story that only needed minor cosmetic enhancements…nothing that an engineer and interior designer couldn't handle all by themselves as DIY'ers. Sold it four years later for a profit of 16K. What a nice down payment on a brand new home for two 30 year olds!

Our first home was a 47 year old brick cape with a white picket gate on the side of the house leading to the backyard. There were clematis, sunflowers and hostas in the garden and a japanese myrtle. There were three bedrooms and a finished basement with a summer kitchen. There was a brick fireplace in the living room and a decent size master bedroom with two closets with cedar walls. The windows and doors trim was stained a medium brown. There was carpet all over including the kitchen. The kitchen walls were covered with 1970's flowered paper on the top and white tile on the bottom. The appliances were brown and the cupboards were shellac and looked orangey, but I could see the potential. As soon as we got the keys, we went in and removed the carpet and found beautiful wood floors underneath. We painted all the trim white, the kitchen wallpaper was removed and painted yellow and the master bedroom was painted the palest blue I could find. The kitchen was eventually renovated. The tile was replaced by beaded board, new cabinets, and appliances. Now it was the house I always dreamt about, really cozy and warm. We lived there for eight years, then we sold the house and moved to Florida. I have tried to get the same feeling in my new home, but no matter what I do I cannot make this house feel warm and cozy. It has been eight years since we moved and I still miss that house.

Our first home was bought 43 years ago on the G.I. Bill. It cost $15,000 and the garage was bigger than the house.
It last sold in February for $78,000

I certainly do remember my first home purchase. We bought a two family house, in which the previous owners had lived on the first floor and rented out the second. We did the opposite, since they had done renovations on the kitchen and bath down, but not much to the kitchen upstairs. We spent ALL of our savings on the down payment and closing costs, and we had very little furniture beyond what had fit into a small one bedroom. We bought two base cabinets from ( I think) Grossman's Lumber and made a top by laminating plywood with a sheet of Formica that matched the small counter in the kitchen. Instant island! Two wooden bar stools from an unfinished furniture outlet completed our kitchen furnishing. We used old tea crates for end tables, another sheet of plywood with the corners rounded off over a disgarded. beaten up kitchen table became our dining room table. We painted EVERY room, custom mixing colors for the living/dining/study areas that opened into each other. I even reupholstered our existing sofa and chair because they were so boring, with fabric I found at an outlet for $3 a yard. I wallpapered the bathroom with contact paper in a multi-color floral print to distract people from the Bristol blue bath tiles. It actually worked pretty well. I learned to wallpaper over wood paneling by applying a liner that filled in the grooves. I also learned how to replace the cords in old windows so I could keep them open without a sliding screen or a piece of wood propping them up. We had a working fireplace, hardwood floors, and a big front porch that we screened in so that we had a second living area three seasons of the year. Tiny bedrooms, tiny lot, and only one bath made it too small after the first baby arrived, but it was a great starter, and the income really helped. Our tenants bought it from us 7 years after our purchase. for 50% more than we paid, so it worked out very well. I recommend income property as a starter home.

I love this his the moment I saw it on paper and I new it would be my first house it and now I think it may be my last house. I'm still in this house.