House Hunters Carlo and Lesley met in high school, but they didn’t attend the same one. They were immediately drawn to each other, and now they’ve been married for over 40 years. Their children are out of the nest, so now is the perfect time for a big move.
Carlo also got a job offer that’s moving them from Portland, Oregon to Madison, Wisconsin. Carlo and Lesley are currently staying in corporate housing, and they only have 60 days left to find a new place.
Wish Lists
Lesley and Carlo both want a place that’s big enough and attractive enough to entertain guests. They also want high-end finishes and an updated kitchen.
Hers: Lesley wants a place downtown because she wants to be able to walk to activities and enjoy all the downtown perks. She also prefers craftsman style homes, and she wants something a little smaller, only 2000 sq ft. Lesley wants to downsize, but keep luxurious extras, like a huge walk-in closet and an open floor plan home.
His: Carlo doesn’t mind moving to the suburbs if it means a bigger home. He wants one with 3000 sq ft. He also really likes soft close cabinets.
Carlo and Lesley have a budget of $650,000.
House #1, $500,000
This home is close to downtown. It’s a mid-century modern home that was originally built in 1951. It has three bedrooms, and one and a half bathrooms. The minute Lesley and Carlo enter this place, they’re met by a very bold colored carpet. The home mainly has an open concept home, with about 2000 sq ft.
This mid-century modern pad has a very 70s vibe: Lesley calls it a “retro-chic” place. It has a bit of a loft style with a fireplace, triangular desk, and some metal accents. The home’s grand extra features include a big backyard and a laundry room. A big disappointment in this home is the small master bedroom, the small closet, and the small bathroom.
House #2, $679,900
This home is located in Verona, a suburb a litte far from downtown Madison. It’s a contemporary duplex, which means Carlo and Lesley share a wall with another resident, but it’s only a small section of the home. This place is located in a golf community and comes with a HOA of $356 a month. The place has a formal dining room, a large fireplace, and an updated kitchen.
This home comes with plenty of space at 4081 sq, and it even includes an entire extra living area in the basement. The basement area has three extra rooms, and a two of the three bathrooms are located on this floor. Lesley thinks the master bedroom and bathroom are a little underwhelming. However, the master bedroom has a pretty balcony to look off into the front yard, and a big closet with plenty of space for Lesley’s clothes.
House #3, $515,000
This home is also located in the suburbs, the Middleton area, which is only about 15 minutes from downtown Madison. It has about 2800 sq ft, three bedrooms, and four bathrooms.
The home has a completely updated kitchen, a sunroom, and a low maintenance backyard. This home has an extra all purpose room, and a jack and jill master bathroom.
Decision Time: Lesley and Carlo seem to be fairly neutral about House #3. Lesley felt like it was too far from downtown, and Carlo didn’t really have anything that he loved about it. House #1 seemed more like a home that Lesley loved, but she had a major problem with the lack of closet space, and Carlo didn’t like the lack of space in general. House #2 was a place that they were both immediately wowed by, but the price and size seemed too much for them.
Lesley and Carlo picked…House #2.
They ended up buying it for $619,000 instead of the $679,900 asking price.
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