Despite striking out on our first official offer last week, we’re charging ahead with high hopes.  Of course, we haven’t made another offer on anything, but we’ve been continuing to pour through open houses.  And that’s where we found this beauty, er, at least if you squint your eyes real tight and tilt your head sideways . . .

Yeah, we know there’s no curb appeal.  None.  Zippo.  Zilch.  (Oh, and bonus to anyone who spots Spider-Man.)

But don’t think we’re totally crazy just yet.  First, let’s take a look at the stats for this “California Ranch” home (maybe if we live in a home designed for California, then it won’t feel quite so bad in the dead of winter surrounded by feet and feet of snow?  Maybe?):

• Location: Amherst (not in Snyder like the other two homes, but still in the best Elementary School district), in a neighborhood with sidewalks (that’s for you Nancy)
• Square Footage: 2,406
• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Lot Size: 0.21 acres
• Built in 1957
• All brick exterior (except for the attached garage)
• Attached 2-car garage
• Days on Market: 40
• Asking Price: $165,000 (down from $169,900)

Yeah, the asking price is NOT a typo–this home is C-H-E-A-P.  Why?  We’re not so sure, but we think it’s because the homes in the neighborhood just tend to be lower-priced, although they also tend to be much smaller (the house next door is currently on the market for the same price, but it’s only 1,700 square feet).  And as you’re about to see, it also needs a little bit of style.

Upon walking in the front door, you walk through a wide hallway that leads to an open living/dining room (complete with some pretty rad Terrazzo floors . . . if only the whole house was done that way–wouldn’t that be gnarly?  Can you tell I’m trying to get into the California spirit?).  Mr. Bunches, being a flooring genius, has informed me that Terrazzo floors are some of the most durable (and expensive) floors out there.  They’re usually used in commercial applications for that reason.

I’m a little in love with all the exposed brick and the huge sliders and wall of windows.  Here’s a more complete view of the living room:

So yeah, that’s a huge projection screen on the left.  These people apparently L-O-V-E to entertain.  To the right of those rooms is the kitchen which opens to another huge area:

Another fireplace and more huge windows and sliders.  The kitchen is open to the left of the pool table above.

Excuse the quality of the kitchen picture, but that one’s taken from the actual realtor’s site since I forgot to snap a picture of it when we were there.  You can just barely see a doorway in the far left of the above picture–that connects through to the dining area from the earlier pictures.  However, you can also go around from the pool table room . . . basically, it’s almost completely open.

The master bedroom is a bit separated from the other bedrooms, and also has its own bathroom:

There are more huge windows at the foot of the bed and another exposed brick wall (forgive me–we were rushing to lots of open houses, so I was snapping quickly).  The master bath has a separate room for the toilet and stand-up shower:

The other three bedrooms are decent-sized and have either exposed brick . . .

. . . OR the requisite wood paneling (it must be part of Upstate New York’s building code that every house has wood paneling in at least one room):

And the other full bathroom is sort of standard; that is, if standard means yellow.

There’s also a two-car attached garage (again, bonus points if you find Spider-Man):

The home has a totally private, fenced backyard (and yes Deenie–that’s a hot tub, although if we buy the place, chances are that won’t survive for long–sorry).

So that’s the house.  We’re a little nervous about the whole flat-roof thing, but our contractor friend Steve says it’s not that big of a deal.  In fact, from just what the Mr. has told Steve of the place, he’s a fan (he likes all brick construction and stuff built in the 1950s).  But maybe we’ll get him out there for a more thorough inspection before we decide to make an offer or not. 

Overall, we like the open floor plan, the exposed brick, and the potential that seems to be oozing from the home.  Does it need work?  Sure–what doesn’t?  But it seems that at least this home has the square footage and the good bone structure to make something that works.  So that’s where we’re at–we’re tossing it around and now we’re tossing it at you.

So what do y’all think?  Yay or Nay?  Do you see the potential?  Or do you think we’re now completely and totally certifiable?  You can be honest . . . no, really.  Tell us what you think (leave a comment on this post).  Please.  Clearly we need guidance ;).