Dated: February 22, 2017

Following my recent nine-part series on constructing our dream home here in Upland, where I mentioned our potential interest in retiring to a home in the nearby Village of Moravia (six miles away), I decided to browse online listings for suitable retirement homes.

To my surprise, the house pictured above was on the market. I’ve always admired this house and its location. Constructed in 1900, this Craftsman-style home was previously owned by a woman who recently passed away after residing there for the past five decades.

Having never explored a property listed by a real estate agent before, I was intrigued by this particular house. I reached out to the real estate agency, and we scheduled a viewing a couple of days later.

Marlene and I were both impressed by the house. You can view a comprehensive photo gallery here. 

The property boasts an excellent location adjacent to the town library. The street is also home to three churches and a post office at its end, with the local funeral home situated almost directly across the street.

While the lot itself is somewhat narrow, it extends significantly backward, bordering a creek at the rear. There is ample space for a garden and a substantial old carriage house situated at the end of the driveway.

Despite being well-maintained, the house requires significant renovations, including a new kitchen, two updated bathrooms, replacement windows, a modern heating system, and attic insulation. It is a classic old house that has retained its original character without being altered by vinyl siding or apartment conversions. One might describe it as a diamond in the rough.

To illustrate our level of interest, Marlene and I took the unusual step (for me, at least) of visiting the local bank to inquire about a loan. Longtime readers of this blog will know this is highly uncharacteristic of me. 

Our plan was to purchase the property and gradually renovate it, moving in later when we were older and prepared to relocate to town. We reasoned that investing our savings in tangible real estate might be more prudent than leaving it in the bank. 

We were on the verge of submitting an offer on the house, significantly below the asking price, but as the days passed and we deliberated further, we had a change of heart. 

And thus concludes the tale of our potential retirement home in town. 

It was an intriguing prospect to entertain.