Would you live here??

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

That type of house is called a garagemahal

Sorry to be semantic, but this is more of a BarnDominium. The GarageMahal moniker implies a level of quality and luxury that is completely missing from this one.

(But I'd still be all over it. It's a mess now but I could make it a lot more livable for not much money. In fact, I can't believe the current owner is showing it in this state. Makes me wonder if some old-timer isn't using it anymore and the heirs just want to get rid of it.)

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Zeke

The land is nice if not somewhat boring. The living quarters are just plain ugly. I'd have to do a complete makeover down to the bare floors and rip the kitchen out, maybe the bathrooms too. I'd have to see it in person.

The shop seems functional. Too bad the occupant is so messy.

Overall, I say no way would I be happy there. The question is would I live there? No, not for long.

I'm in agreement. The total lack of character would kill it for me.

While functional, it's too functional and not enough aesthetics. Could I live there? Yes. On a piece of paper, it's got everything you need. But that interior is, well, not the type of place I'd dream about living in. That raw 2x4 bannister is just too janky for me.

I took the question to be about the type of building/land, and not necessarily the exact location. i.e. if you you picked that property up and dropped it off somewhere else reasonable--you can't just drop it off in the middle of Manhattan, for example.

But considering the geographic area: Watkins Glen is close by--maybe an hour? The Finger Lakes are beautiful during the summer. I went to college in the area. Yeah, the winters can be a rough 4 months. They're more fun when you're a student and don't have to worry about a commute or shoveling snow.

[varmint]

Originally Posted by vonsmog

My wife showed me this place and said it was perfect for me, but she would not step foot into it! could you see yourself living in this place?

https://www.zillow.com/homes/3321-County-Road-40,-Bloomfield,-NY-14469_rb/348483839_zpid/?

Doors not big enough for an airplane.

And in a high tax state.


But yes. Every guy has thought about this.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by varmint

Doors not big enough for an airplane.

Mrs. Noah and I have thought about moving back to her childhood neck of the woods, Cape Cod. In perusing Redfin and Zillow, there's an air park in Falmouth. The homes there seem to be relatively cheap for their size. They're big (4000 sq ft) and relatively recently built (last 20-30 yrs, compared to the rest of the Cape, where you can really get homes built a hundred-plus years ago). And they come with an attached hanger on the edge of the grass strip. But they're priced a lot lower than other comparable non-air park homes. Why is that? Is it just the noise? Is there some sort of monthly HOA fee that doesn't show up on the online listings?

[varmint]

My parents lived in an airpark for a while. Loved it. But said the key is to find one not plagued with HOA type bull****.

Most of the air parks I’ve seen are located in Bum**** nowhere, The houses are sheet metal construction and appeal to a very limited audience. Maybe that explains the cost.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by varmint

My parents lived in an airpark for a while. Loved it. But said the key is to find one not plagued with HOA type bull****.

Can you/your parents give examples? HOA BS specific to living in an air park? Beyond the typical BS of any other HOA? Not challenging you--just trying to learn from your parents' experience. As a prospective buyer, how do you tell if an HOA is particularly rabid?

Unfortunately for us, it seems like at least 50% of the homes we've perused (online) on the Cape come with HOAs. Living in LA, uncommonly (at least for my economic strata) are there HOAs.

[varmint]

This was twenty years ago. Both have passed. I remember the developer didn’t sort out the water and wells situation. This was a problem in Nevada.

They loved the neighbors. Like minded retired pilot types. This seemed to select out a lot of the more annoying personalities.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

(But I'd still be all over it. It's a mess now but I could make it a lot more livable for not much money. In fact, I can't believe the current owner is showing it in this state. Makes me wonder if some old-timer isn't using it anymore and the heirs just want to get rid of it.)

For sure some old-timer lives there. He might even be on this site.

I love the dog looking in the window on some of the pictures. They probably put it outside to not be in the pictures and the dog is like "can you see me now?"

[Skytrooper]

Yes, without a moments hesitation ! I have been in several and I think it is the greatest use of space imaginable. Screw all the idiots with mansions, but not place for their RV’s, cars, projects, everything. I do not know why your wife wouldn’t like it. It is time to stop “ keeping up with the Joneses” and have a home that is truly unique. Believe me, your friends will want one after they see yours. If I had the funds, I would already have an offer in for it. Remember, that is farm country and if your property is tillable, you can get an agricultural exemption on your property taxes. A win-win in my book. It’s about 25 minutes from me.

[Skytrooper]

Hey all you folks warning him about NY. Von has lived in the Rochester NY area for a long time. He knows it better than most of you dissenters. Yes, NY sucks in many aspects, but Von knows this. I have lived there too. I cannot see why so many of you are in California and not trying to beat a hasty retreat. Cali is much worse than NY.

[Skytrooper]

And one of the most beautiful places to live.

[p911dad]

I am thinking this would be the perfect spot to base a new religious sect, plenty of room to create special places for the newly minted faithful! Lots of fertile land to grow our crops (I am familiar with Bloomfield, NY, very good land here).
Seriously now, I looked up the aerial photos of this place and it looks like good land surrounded by large farms, woods, wetlands, etc. In other words good land. Ag land in NY generally has its own special tax treatment that makes a farming enterprise doable controlled by the counties and towns. That's why you always keep a plow in the ground or a critter on the land to maintain ag status if you are a landowner. So the 50 acres has some value in addition to the structures, even to lease out to other adjoining or nearby farmers for crop production.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Skytrooper

Hey all you folks warning him about NY. Von has lived in the Rochester NY area for a long time. He knows it better than most of you dissenters. Yes, NY sucks in many aspects, but Von knows this. I have lived there too. I cannot see why so many of you are in California and not trying to beat a hasty retreat. Cali is much worse than NY.

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cali
cali from en.wikipedia.org
Santiago de Cali or Cali, is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia, with 2,227,642 residents


Yes it is. There is no such place in the USA. But we all know who the tourists are when they say that.

[TimT]

I would... The living area needs some serious improvements in "homieness" And the shop could be better laid out...

An hour from Watkins Glen..... and it is a beautiful part of the country......7-8 months out of the year the weather is fine.... and a few months of hell...Its rural...if that's your thing...

[Alan A]

Too small. Too crappily furnished. Idea is good but it needs a view and better fixtures.

[Zeke]

Let's face it, the residential part is one of the ugliest there are anywhere. The shop is a shop.

I caught the comment about where this is located. When I first posted I had not looked up the location. The place is bad any place you put it. However, you can't hate a shop.

What is that place, 2-3 bedrooms and two baths? Build a friggen house.

Turn the whole thing into shop areas with minimal residential and "I could live there."

[look 171]

No. Cheaply build and it looks like an apt. What the hell am I doing with a big shop like that? Sure, I can just walk down the stairs to work but I rather drive 20 min away and come home to a quite, nice smaller home that's away from the work environment. Shop space is nice but to me, there's a lot more to life then just a big building with a bunch of tools

[rfuerst911sc]

I could live in something similar but it would have to look less industrial . I was born and raised in upstate NY , while pretty in the summer there's a reason I moved away 30 + years ago .

[Skytrooper]

The floor in the living area would have to have radiant heat, otherwise in the winter it would be like living on an ice rink.
While it is definitely not for everyone, the convenience of it makes it interesting. My wife and I have talked about barndominiums for years. She would have not problems living in one. She actually thought this one had a lot to offer.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Let's face it, the residential part is one of the ugliest there are anywhere.

Yes. Vicki would take it as a challenge. She would spend another $100k on it.
But I would be designing the new kitchen.

Originally Posted by Zeke

However, you can't hate a shop.

No you can't.