House Hunt: House #2

We have been watching a 5 bedroom/3.5 bath house near downtown Decatur like hawks. This house was $359,000 but then went into foreclosure and has dropped multiple times in price.  Because the location and the size should make it an expensive house (tax info says it sold for about $550,000 in 2007), we knew something had to be off.

And so it goes with most things that seem too good to be true... this house was too good to be true. 

This once beautiful house has not been well maintained, not to mention it's been the probable victim of foundation troubles (the hills and valleys in the floors were unreal) and mold and moisture damage. The online photos show an "updated kitchen;" upon live inspection, it looks as though they put up nicer cabinets for show. 

Our realtor told us the house once was a duplex and/or apartments for college students. That nugget helped us account for the awkward and choppy layout.

Quasi-updated kitchen.

Neat glass light fixture (not neat enough to buy the house though)

Single-paned glass windows that overlook a concrete slab to the street.

Possibly the house's original fireplace.

Built-ins in the foyer. 

Mold. ANd my stepdad touched it just to be sure. Gross! (Mold was in most rooms of the house)

Odd little room upstairs. Our realtor said, "this would have made a great fraternity house!"

Second fireplace. 

You can't really tell from the photo, but this branch is on the roof. I'm talking laying and pressing down on the roof.

The PROS:

• Killer location
• HUGE (we joked that we could get lost in this house)
• Period detailing 
• Hardwoods

CONS:

• No covered parking
• Countless repair needs inside and out
• Foreclosure (means it will likely be sold "as is" — and it's tough to estimate how much the repairs would cost)
• Choppy layout

The verdict: This house is NOT for us. This house needs major, major work that these can't fully explain. It's really a shame that the place has fallen into disrepair. Our group consensus is that it should probably be turned back into affordable college apartments. At least our curiosity has been satisfied.