Thursday, June 25, 2009

Hi, My Name is Jen and I'm a House Stalker...

In a post from a few months ago, I discussed my tendency to house stalk. It’s not a regular activity, but every now and then a house comes on the market that I really like and I find myself thinking about it constantly and driving by it any chance I get.

It can be a charming architectural gem or it sits in a neighborhood I particularly like. The urge to stalk comes and goes, but lately it’s reared its ugly head and I’ve found myself driving by a couple of dwellings that are for sale, wishing I could afford them. Now that Hubby is starting a new job in an opposite end of town, I have this strong desire to move to a more centrally located neighborhood, that will be closer to our kids’ future school and where we attend church (the school is part of the parish church). Of course, this practice drives my husband nuts.

Please tell me I’m not the only who does this. Is there cure for this sickness? Do I just need to avoid these spots altogether? I realize we’re in a depressed economy, so the idea of selling and buying a house right now is somewhat crazy. Dear readers, please talk me down from this ledge!
Photo courtesy of Semonin Realtors.

12 comments:

preppyinnewengland said...

No cure, no cure!I do the same...I always say there is a right time for everything! Hang in there!

QueenBeeSwain said...

you are not alone! it's so fun and is a totally underappreciated form of inspiration. one of my fav' things about going home is that my mother and I will go to open houses in our neighborhood just to see what so and so's house looks like!

kHm

Seersucker Scrapper said...

You are not alone. I don't do the drive by but I will 'drive by' online all the time if there is a house I really like.

It is how we have the house we live in now!

Haven and Home said...

You are not the only one! I always want to drive around and stalk homes!

QueenBeeSwain said...

you're tagged too lovely :)

kHm

Gabi said...

Oh, I TOTALLY stalk houses too. I haven't done it for awhile, but there was one a few years ago that was on the market forever (at $2.5) that I LOVED (SO out of our range of course)
My boys even started asking me why we always drove by....no cure that I know of....
Gabi

Mary said...

You are definitely not alone! There are a few houses that I love to drive by for no reason whatsoever other than they please me.

Recently I was driving with a friend through a charming neighborhood where one of my favorite little cottages resides. Out of the blue she said, "We're about to drive past a cute little house that I just love!" When she pointed out the house - the same one that had captured my heart - I knew we were meant to be close friends. That is, of course, until that house hits the market!

Domestic Diva said...

Love the house pictured. I so adore my house and it location... would not want to move. It took me three years to find it. There is one house that I do stalk though... xxx me

Laura said...

We are all in this together.
I am always asking my husband to pull in a driveway or let me out of the car so I can look in windows of vacant houses.

What fun,
Laura

Jessica Ryan said...

I love going to open houses! We go less now that we have moved (just a year ago) and have so much to do to this house. But the best was when our realtor would take me to the 2. and 3. million dollar homes! It was sure fun to pretend to be buying those!

Hill Country House Girl said...

Very common disease, very common. Although I have to admit, I felt alone until I started blogging. Now I realize my affliction is shared by many. I stalk even when we are visiting a new city - looking for the older sections of town for great old houses, and also for good, really good, new construction. No cure - just embrace the addiction!!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Your definitely aren't alone. The hubs does not share my passion however. He's still scarred from the millions of homes we looked at when were buying ours. Ah ha.