9.16.2010

POTENTIAL














I came across this home on our local real estate listings and was thinking whoever bought this home could really make it gorgeous. The more I looked at the home though the more I felt as if I recognized it. Um, could this be the same home I blogged about when I first started blogging in 2008? Why, I believe it is and I have no idea what happened to it. It was stunning, so stunning I blogged about it again. First it was going for about a $1.4 million, then just under a million, today it is going for $500,000 but needs to be finished. I am baffled. I would love to see it finished... again. I wanted it then and would still love to have it today. Oh, and sorry for the awful photos on my 2008 posts that was before I knew anything about the blogging world.

52 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow! That house is a stunner-just waiting for someone to turn it into a fabulous home. I'm not sure there's anything to *not* love about it...

Anonymous said...

Good Lord!!! I'd even put up with horrible neighbours to live in this stunner!!!! It's fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Good Lord!!! I'd even put up with horrible neighbours to live in this stunner!!!! It's fantastic.

Monika said...

Seems like you are documenting the history of this property :-) It is gorgeous!

beth said...

Wow, absolutely beautiful house. Love the way it was staged in the original listing. Does your husband remember that he said he'd buy it for you if it dropped $700,000? Well...

:: Lavender's Green :: said...

I love the kitchen and the pool! The pool reminds me of the Great Gatsby for some reason - love it!

x Jasmine

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

You find the best houses! I need to have you lol in my area for me ;)

Donna said...

What a wonderful house...beautiful bones!!!

Staley Mc said...

So beautiful I remember seeing this one on the MLS so much potential

Laurel-Dawn McBurney said...

You are so right... what I wouldn't give for half a million to buy this beautiful abode! I love the kitchen and the attention to detail on the staircase... the lines are so, so beautiful!

Melissa Marie Head said...

Wow that house does look amazing! I think you should buy it and turn it into a home!!

Melissa Marie Head said...

Just looked at your first two posts, loved the way it was decorated in 2008, not so much later. I bet this was a foreclosure based on the fact it has been stripped of EVERYTHING and is now so cheap. Sad

Heather said...

Cool! It's hard to believe it's dropped in value so much. In NY. It looks lonely, I think you should buy it and bring it back to life!

Unknown said...

What happened to it? Why was everything ripped out? That is an amazing home! ( and sort of affordable for it's amazing graces ) Wow.. so very awesome!

Sara Mueller said...

Hi Paula! It is a great home full of potential.

So maybe if you get a minute someday, you could teach me a little about the blogging world. None of my friends are bloggers - they don't have any idea how wonderful reading blogs is.

Sara

molly b. said...

oh, that makes me so sad! definitely needs someone to love it back to life. smitten with your new kitchen look, btw!

Unknown said...

Looks like a foreclosure strip. That is sad. I hate that someone could be so angry as to damage a home they once loved. I hope it gets a new owner that will love it and restore the damage left.

molly b. said...

oh, that makes me so sad! definitely needs someone to love it back to life. smitten with your new kitchen look, btw!

Ms. Bright said...

GOBS of potential. Sad and lonely looking in its current state.

Aren't you wanting to move???

Laura Bear said...

WOW. what changes it has seen. The casters on the kitchen island!! love!!! among many, many other things!!

coolkids said...

wow! That house could be AMAZING!! At that price someone will snatch it up for sure!

Jennifer said...

how sad that it has just been sitting empty! just needs the finishing touches (looks like they took all of the light and hardware fixtures) to be a stunner again!

Living It At Home said...

Oh my! I think I need to move there and buy that house! What a deal and it is adorable! I can see exactly what to do to really make it even more charming! Too bad I am so far away!

vanessa said...

That is very odd, maybe it got forclosed on and they took the fixtures? Your hubby better watch out because with that price dropping he may have to eat his words!

Victoria said...

We have been looking at houses and there are so many like this on the market. Foreclosures that were once beautiful homes, it is sad:( Could be a deal though depending on the extent of the damage and how long it's been vacant.

The Buzz Blog said...

So much potential it's nuts! My better half dreams of moving down south and this might just be the ticket! One could tunr this gem into a little French manor with the right touches...

Anonymous said...

i adore this home. i would completely make it over. and what most likely happened is the people who originally owned it spent wayyy too much money on it when the market was inflated back in 2006-2007 then saw the market crashing in 2008 when they tried selling it.. then something happened financially and they could no longer afford it. and then it was foreclosed and they took everything (down to the bathroom sink) with them. its sad, but being in real estate i see that all the time. beautiful home. i would rather have it in the state it is in i think. gorgeous.

A House and Home said...

what a great deal for someone to pick up! oh my, I wish I lived near you!

Lissa Pierce said...

Wow! Amazing potential. I am going to second the forclosure thing because it definetly looks like it has been stripped. Someone needs to jump on this one..great deal!

Alisa: a pina colada said...

I love seeing the potential of a home and starting off with a clean slate. What a beauty and you're right, it has incredible potential...

Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...

Blank slate perfect for your finishing touches

Elaine said...

Sad!! It is completely bare now. I bet it was a foreclosure. It is so beautiful though. I definitely would never leave and have a party every weekend all year round.

Aimee@ the Functional Space said...

Very sad to see it picked over but it will definitely be a gem for someone. Great Bones!

Jackie said...

Oh my goodness, Paula it's a sign! You must buy this house! Looking at the before pictures, it is crazy to see how fast it has deteriorated. It needs some Paula love!

keely @ luxe + lillies said...

Oh WOW! This would be a little dream home for me. The provencal feel is just so perfect and the home has so much character!

Colleen said...

You are so right. It is like a blank canvas just waiting for the right attention. Wish I could move in there.

Bridget said...

$500,000?! buy it! not that thats not a whopping amount of money, but it was over a million! and i love it. the backyard looks like its in europe or something. love it.

Unknown said...

Not that I have 500K lying around, but what a deal, even stripped. I love the pool.

Is this in Mountain Brook? It kind of looks like it but I can’t imagine real estate going for pocket change over there.

Lovely find.

Tanya (a Taste of T) said...

Weird that it needs to be finished now. Score for whoever gets it!

kelley @ the eclectic owl said...

that home is gorgeous. no, it's stunning. so european! if i had an extra half a mil sitting arounf i would scoop that puppy up!

Unknown said...

This house looks amazing! LOTS of potential!

Unknown said...

What an amazing house! Would love to move right in ... and "make it live" again!

Ps. Your blog is so inspiring! Just found it ... Thanks!

Pink Wallpaper said...

i keep going back and forth w/ the before and after pictures...i feel so sorry for the house. it's like the life was stripped away from it. i agree, it a foreclosure and probably a case of overspending. sad but what a fabulous house for someone to snatch up.

Pink Wallpaper said...

i keep going back and forth w/ the before and after pictures...i feel so sorry for the house. it's like the life was stripped away from it. i agree, it a foreclosure and probably a case of overspending. sad but what a fabulous house for someone to snatch up.

Doug Davis said...

yes, it's a foreclosure. the result of a pretty big and very failed business, unfortunately! I don't think it was ever WORTH $1.4 but it sure is worth every penny of $500!

bron @ baby space said...

How interesting. Am personally loving the potential of that pool!

3 Peanuts said...

In looking over the past photos and posts I noticed that your hubby said if it fell below $700,000 he would consider it;) wink wink.

I think you should go for it!!! I do wonder what happened to it:)

adornedlife said...

oh my, can i move in?...what a dream!!!

Unknown said...

This house could be stunning! I wish I could move in and finish it. It has so much potential.

Jennie Bee said...

I love how you can see a lot of potential in homes, defiantly have a creative eye!

hehe Yes you've matured your blogging skills:) One of these days I might too.

Anonymous said...

MLS#??? very curious, but won't be surprised if already sold.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Almost a 1 million dollar drop in price. There's something sort of sad about the place, but I agree with a bit a work and furniture it's an amazing bargin. I like what someone said about the pool: reminds her of the Great Gatsby. Finally if it's not already gone those photos from your 2008 blog would help to see it in a second.