Small Houses Part 3 (Augusta, Monmouth: construction, contractors, living)

[roadrat]

Originally Posted by mainegrl2011

Don't be surprised if someone buys the 600 sq ft house near Thomaston and pays more than the asking price. Some real estate websites include how long a property has been on the market. I looked but didn't find this info. Does anyone know?

I have no doubt that you are correct in this, realestate has gone insane here in Maine, In Lewiston a 3 unit downtown dump just sold for $292.000...10 years ago you could not give these places away, literally.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by PAhippo

according to realtor.com, 14 days.

I mean, it is new, it's aesthetically nice in terms of finishing materials, you've got the low temperature heat pump, the yard is nice and neat. But it's on a small random street outside of town, the yard is small, the house is small, and I don't really like the layout - the only bedroom being the low loft bedroom accessed by those funky stairs, and I don't see where the laundry appliances can be kept (though they say there is a clothes washer in there somewhere)? The house design below that I have posted before is just a little bigger in listed floor area - 676 sq ft, but it's all on one level, has a bigger footprint, bigger porch, full height ceilings in all the rooms, and I would greatly prefer it, not even close.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...e-plan-68574vr

A house is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, so who knows, but I also think this place is considerably overpriced, and expect the owners will need to accept a good deal less.

[OutdoorLover]

The above house in Thomaston is kind of a negative example of pricing. But here's a place in Belfast, 3 bedrms/2 baths, 2255 sq ft. It's an older house and not glamorous - it's been lived in for maybe 40 years without remodeling, but there aren't any obvious issues that I'd call significant as far as it being liveable, and it's being offered for $190K - less than that 600 sq ft place in Thomaston.
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/.../pid_45232523/

[OutdoorLover]

Here's a small 2-bedroom house plan that I think is exceptional in terms of getting maximum house for your dollar. About the smallest 2-bedroom plans I've seen that look livable before this one are 950sq ft (and I've loooked at a lot of plans!); this place is just 880 sq ft and it still looks very livable with 2 good sized bedrooms and an open living area. Moreover with the simplified shape and roofline, it should be inexpensive to build on a per square foot basis as well.

I don't care for the windows, doors, siding, etc, but all that stuff is very easy to change. It's the layout here that's awesome.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...plan-677006nwl

[PAhippo]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Here's a small 2-bedroom house plan that I think is exceptional in terms of getting maximum house for your dollar. About the smallest 2-bedroom plans I've seen that look livable before this one are 950sq ft (and I've loooked at a lot of plans!); this place is just 880 sq ft and it still looks very livable with 2 good sized bedrooms and an open living area. Moreover with the simplified shape and roofline, it should be inexpensive to build on a per square foot basis as well.

I don't care for the windows, doors, siding, etc, but all that stuff is very easy to change. It's the layout here that's awesome.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...plan-677006nwl

yes! love that one. Don't even mind the siding, windows, doors.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by PAhippo

yes! love that one. Don't even mind the siding, windows, doors.

If you love that place, you may also like this 1-bedroom place that's basically a smaller (584sq ft) version of the same idea. He's got two porches in this one, you could make one screened to ward off the Maine biting insects in warm weather and leave the other open.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...plan-677004nwl

[PAhippo]

nice but I rather like the idea of a 2nd bedroom. For me, it'd be a place to have my quilt stuff get as messy as necessary, then close the door and it's all neatened.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by PAhippo

nice but I rather like the idea of a 2nd bedroom. For me, it'd be a place to have my quilt stuff get as messy as necessary, then close the door and it's all neatened.

If you can spring for the extra space, the spare bedroom definitely gives a lot of added flexiblity - kid's room, guest room, office, hobby room, exercise room... while there is clearly more of a market for small 1-bedroom homes these days than there used to be, I think the 2-bedroom would be easier to resell because of this greater versatility - it can appeal to more buyers IMO.

[roadrat]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

The above house in Thomaston is kind of a negative example of pricing. But here's a place in Belfast, 3 bedrms/2 baths, 2255 sq ft. It's an older house and not glamorous - it's been lived in for maybe 40 years without remodeling, but there aren't any obvious issues that I'd call significant as far as it being liveable, and it's being offered for $190K - less than that 600 sq ft place in Thomaston.
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/.../pid_45232523/

Not even 10 years ago this house would be for sale at $90,000, or less.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by roadrat

Not even 10 years ago this house would be for sale at $90,000, or less.

Times have definitely changed. I bought my lot in Feb 2018 - almost exactly 4 years ago and even then I was regretting that I had not bought earlier. But things have definitely changed a good deal since.