We have pretty much decided to move out of Austin proper --- too liberal, too weird --- and closer to our jobs, which are in bedroom communities to the north.
I work in Georgetown, and the house prices there are getting crazy low. We've checked out housing subdivisions on the outskirts of Georgetown, so today we decided to look at the so-called "Old Town."
Walked into a house that probably dated back to the early part of the last century --- the church across the street has a Texas Historical Marker in its parking lot. The saleslady is there, holding an open house, and a family of shoppers is there with her already. Man, wife, two kids.
The house is really cool-funky, as old houses often are. Wood floors in the living and dining rooms. A nicely remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including a double convection oven. A pair of staircases, one leading to an upstairs sitting room, one leading into (yes, into) the middle of the upstairs bathroom, a bathroom which was spread over three separate rooms.
The husband of the other couple is all up in the Realtor's face. "Why are there so many houses in this neighborhood for sale?" (My unspoken response: "It's a neighborhood full of old people.") The Realtor actually had to ask him to hang on a moment so she could invite us to wander around.
The husband gets tired of haranguing the Realtor, and is now pacing across the living room floor. "Do you feel this?" he squawks to his wife, bouncing up and down on an open spot. "The floor is moving!"
I couldn't help it ... I laughed. "Sure it moves." I look over to the Realtor. "Pier and beam, right?"
"Yes," she smiled, foolishly relieved.
The husband looks at me as if I'd grown another head. "What?"
I smile at him, that smile that Texans give to folk like him. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"I live in Round Rock," he protested, proving my point that he wasn't accustomed to real Texas life, "and I've never felt a floor do this!"
"Well, I grew up in San Antonio," I replied, "and there are a lot of older houses built on pier and beam foundations, not concrete. Pier and beam foundations move and settle." I looked up, and found the telltale foot-long crack running toward the ceiling from the corner of the door. "Didn't get to all the taping and floating yet, huh?" I asked the Realtor.
Her eyes got wide, and she started trying to explain how the cracks were cosmetic, and didn't indicate a real problem with the house. I didn't stay to listen. My work there was done, and I went upstairs, where the kids were freaking about the staircase that led to the middle of the bathroom and the saloon swinging doors that separated the toilet from the rest of the three-room bathroom.
That poor Realtor ... maybe we should throw our business her way ...
Evening Rose, Bear - Sounds like you had a good time in Georgetown. Was there quite a few years ago but recall it being quite a picturesque little town. Glad to hear you’re looking at turn-of-the-century homes and that you have some experience in dealing local building styles and quirks. Good luck on your quest for a new domicile.
Even though it looks like it will be well into 2009 before we move, I'm going to look at a few houses while I'm downin MS in mid-August, getting the youngest settled into college. We're fixing to be empty nesters, and though we love our kids dearly, we're looking forward to it!