Since January Emma and I have been searching for a home to buy. Initially we wanted to buy a section, and build a replica of Frank Lloyd Wright's very first Usonian home: Herbert Jacobs, Madison, Wisconsin: http://www.usonia1.com
The Jacobs house is one of the finest small home designs of the 20th century. We planned to add a single garage and a walk-in-robe and ensuite to the plans.
However, we were stumped by the lack of suitable sections on which to build it, and eventually gave up on that idea. (I'm still keen to build an FLW design though!)
Since then, we have been amazingly unimpressed with the homes we've looked at here. Christchurch home buyers are frankly, bloody boring, and have no concept of design, "livability" and do not understand that a home affects your life quite significantly.
3 months ago, after complaining bitterly to a work mate about our situation, he said he had a home (tenanted) which sounded like what we were after.
Well, we went though the place and it's excellent. Almost exactly what we want. It's opposite a 27 acre reserve, ( http://www.thestyx.co.nz/ ) with a river flowing through the reserve. It's quiet, in a good neighbourhood, and the local schools are first rate.
It even has 7 minutes of open-road if I drive into town via the scenic route, as opposed to the very clogged main roads which lead in that direction.
Anyway, here's the house: http://4sure.co.nz/house
We have initially offered $450,000, but the vendor is going to counter with $480,000 I think - which is a price we don't really want to pay, but may end up having to, seeing as there's literally nothing else out there in this price range, and so well situated.
We've had some heartache about this so far, and I'm sure the next few days are going to be nerve wracking.
I'm hoping to persuade the vendor to come down in price a bit, if we offer a $100,000 deposit (settlement date = 7 weeks from acceptance) and the balance at setllement date. Our offer is unconditional.
Wish us luck!
The trials and tribulations of home buying
Looks like a great house. A tad on the contemporary side for my tastes, but I like how the current residents chilled that out a bit with lots of more traditional wood furniture. Love the countertops and appliances in the kitchen. Is it just me or do the windows seem of somewhat low quality? How old is the house? Is that American dollars you're talking about?
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Mobius
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Thanks for the kind wishes people! 
Yes, it looks like we'll pay 480,000 NZD for this place. ($336,000 USD) But the important point about the price of the house is that the average income in Christchurch is around $34,000 a year - so the house is 14.1 average annual salaries, which is very high. Christchurch has an average house price of $290,000 which is still 8.5 times the average salary. That makes housing in NZ very expensive. (It's generally agreed that house prices over 6 times the average salary makes them tough for normal people to afford.
The house is 16 months old. The windows are all aluminium framed, argon-filled double-glazing with the exterior panes all tinted grey to reduce how much of the inside can be seen from outside.
The floors aren't Terrazo, that's a very expensive process indeed - and costs an absolute bomb. They are simply exposed aggregate polished concrete. The kitchen benches are the same finish. Apparently, they had to throw out the first 2 bench tops, as they had trouble matching the look of the floor. ($10,000 down the toilet for the builder!) The home was designed as an architectural show home, but they dragged their feet building it, so by the time it was finished, all the sections in the subdivision were sold, and most had houses on them!
The house features underfloor heating throughout, in 9 different sections, gas hot water (no cylinder - it's a push-through califont), 12V halogen lighting, gas fire, security alarm, double-size two-head shower in ensuite, twin basins, spa bath and walk in robe. The master bedroom balcony overlooks the reserve - which I really like.
The house is 220 sq. metres or around 2368 square feet - so it is a smallish home. Most of the houses in the subdivision are around 250 sq. metres. It sits of 792 sq. metres of land.
Little Mobiuses are planned, yes, but we are not sure when.
Yes, it looks like we'll pay 480,000 NZD for this place. ($336,000 USD) But the important point about the price of the house is that the average income in Christchurch is around $34,000 a year - so the house is 14.1 average annual salaries, which is very high. Christchurch has an average house price of $290,000 which is still 8.5 times the average salary. That makes housing in NZ very expensive. (It's generally agreed that house prices over 6 times the average salary makes them tough for normal people to afford.
The house is 16 months old. The windows are all aluminium framed, argon-filled double-glazing with the exterior panes all tinted grey to reduce how much of the inside can be seen from outside.
The floors aren't Terrazo, that's a very expensive process indeed - and costs an absolute bomb. They are simply exposed aggregate polished concrete. The kitchen benches are the same finish. Apparently, they had to throw out the first 2 bench tops, as they had trouble matching the look of the floor. ($10,000 down the toilet for the builder!) The home was designed as an architectural show home, but they dragged their feet building it, so by the time it was finished, all the sections in the subdivision were sold, and most had houses on them!
The house features underfloor heating throughout, in 9 different sections, gas hot water (no cylinder - it's a push-through califont), 12V halogen lighting, gas fire, security alarm, double-size two-head shower in ensuite, twin basins, spa bath and walk in robe. The master bedroom balcony overlooks the reserve - which I really like.
The house is 220 sq. metres or around 2368 square feet - so it is a smallish home. Most of the houses in the subdivision are around 250 sq. metres. It sits of 792 sq. metres of land.
Little Mobiuses are planned, yes, but we are not sure when.
Congrats Mobi. Good luck on sticking to your price.
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WarAdvocat
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Mobius
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Thanks Ferno. We looked long and hard before finding this place. It's definitely not your typical Christchurch home: it's quite quirky, and this is why we like it.
When I say "smallish" that's for the area. Most houses in this subdivision are in excess of 3000 sq. ft. I guess, on average, most "normal" homes in Christchurch would be around 2000 sq. ft.
DCrazy: The siding you refer to is in fact a ceramic and fibreglass weatherboard, which is impregnated with the colour you see - so it would be crazy to paint it another color, because that would entail repeatedly having to paint it again! The old-style, wooden weatherboards were very popular in New Zealand house construction from the very first settlers onwards, but their appeal was lost a long time ago, due to maintenance costs, and the fact they rot after a few decades.
The ceramic versions are called "Linea" and are guaranteed for 50 years against warping, loss of colour and degradation.
Linea is a nod to the old-style house construction, but with decidely better look, feel and performance.
The non-Linea exterior walls are 85mm thick Hebel aerated concrete panels, which are autoclave-cured. These panels have outstanding heat and sound proofing characteristics, as well as being colour impregnated: zero maintenance!
The roof is made from "Butynol" which is a 3mm thick rubber compound guaranteed for 30 years exposure. I'm not sure what you'd call it in the USA - maybe it's the same name?
When I say "smallish" that's for the area. Most houses in this subdivision are in excess of 3000 sq. ft. I guess, on average, most "normal" homes in Christchurch would be around 2000 sq. ft.
DCrazy: The siding you refer to is in fact a ceramic and fibreglass weatherboard, which is impregnated with the colour you see - so it would be crazy to paint it another color, because that would entail repeatedly having to paint it again! The old-style, wooden weatherboards were very popular in New Zealand house construction from the very first settlers onwards, but their appeal was lost a long time ago, due to maintenance costs, and the fact they rot after a few decades.
The ceramic versions are called "Linea" and are guaranteed for 50 years against warping, loss of colour and degradation.
Linea is a nod to the old-style house construction, but with decidely better look, feel and performance.
The non-Linea exterior walls are 85mm thick Hebel aerated concrete panels, which are autoclave-cured. These panels have outstanding heat and sound proofing characteristics, as well as being colour impregnated: zero maintenance!
The roof is made from "Butynol" which is a 3mm thick rubber compound guaranteed for 30 years exposure. I'm not sure what you'd call it in the USA - maybe it's the same name?
