We arrived at Town B at around 1:00. Town B was our first choice of towns. For Bergen County, it is quite big and has an extremely diverse population from contractors to Hollywood celebrities. The schools are top notch. We have friends in the town already. Steve's commute into the city would stay the same. We had tried to move to Town B when we first were looking for a home seven years ago, but couldn't afford it.
We looked at a short sale with an underground oil tank, a charming tudor that was too small, and then ended up at another split level.
This split level was quite large. It had been expanded twice and, because the woman was an artist, there were sky lights everywhere. One of the family rooms was her art studio. Yeah, one of the family rooms. The house has a living room and two family rooms. We presently own one sofa and one arm chair. Three bathrooms! A walk-in closet! This is way too much luxury for me. I used to live an apartment with cockroaches in the kitchen and an illegal washing machine that vibrated across the floor.
The house was in pristine condition for the most part. The kitchen was dated, but had high end, new appliances and was solidly built. Lots of built in bookcases. The place had good karma. The backyard wasn't huge, but it was big enough for us.
The owners were retiring and moving to their second home. They could be out of the house at any time. The house had been on the market for three months, and the price had come down by a huge number.
At 9:00 that night, we signed a contract with a bid. As the agent left our house, I confessed that I was freaking out. I don't usually make life altering decisions in one afternoon. Before I buy a sweater, I go to three stores to compare prices. This happened way too fast for me.
Between nursing Ian who was still puking, but with better aim now, and the demons of doubt, I couldn't sleep that night. Were we making the right decision? This decision would have a huge impact on my children. Would they make friends? Would they adjust? Would this afternoon decision put them on an entirely different path in life? Would it be a better path? Jonah is now Top Banana in his school. All the teachers know him. He's the captain of the Lego League and a starting player on his travel soccer team. Would he hate us for making him start all over again?
Well, the die has been cast. Our bid was accepted. A new mortgage was approved. Next comes the home inspection step. Three families' lives are in the balance for the next six weeks: our hotel living buyers, us, and the 80-year old retired couple.
Steve and I have taken turns freaking out. Right now, it's his turn. I'm calming down and picking out paint colors. (I'm thinking neutrals with cool colors. Furniture will be modern. Like this.)
Apt. 11d 
I loved, loved, loved that house on the inside. My family is too clutter prone and I am too lazy to pick after them sufficiently to maintain that clean, open, airy look. Someday, though.
Having seen pictures of your current house, I’m confident of your ability to emulate the look, though.
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You’ve discovered the Behr & Benjamin Morris color matching applications for the iPhone, right?
And, Behr has $3.50 samples + a flash utility that lets you test out wall colors on your own photographs.
All color matching is flawed (fascinating subject, actually, and an aggressive area of research), but the apps are fun to play with.
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I’m so excited for you guys!! The town sounds wonderful – schools, same commute, diversity. Good luck to the boys. I know that’s scary.
Once you put your personal mark on the home, the split level will look awesome.
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Sounds great – more space, the town you always wanted, same commute time. The boys will have their adjustments but will be fine. I think it would be more of a challenge if Jonah was even a couple of years older. They’ll do great.
Crazy when it happens so fast, eh?
You sound like me, picking paint colours – all that nesting…
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Yay! I love happy endings! Congrats!
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Congrats! Are you sure it isn’t your dream house?
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Wow. Wow wow wow. Thanks for telling the story in detail. I’ve been dying of curiosity! I too think Town B is a great town. I used to take D to the Y for homeschool gym class. It sounds like you’ll be very comfortable in that light-filled split level.
FWIW, I too adore older homes with character: Victorian, Craftsman (like our lovely house in LA, may it rest in peace), Tudor, Colonial… but now we live in a comfortable 1940’s brick house and it feels goooood. Ugly on the outside, great inside. We’re renting but would love to own it.
When we moved in October, D had a hard time emotionally for a few weeks. But it helped that we went back for fairly frequent visits at first — it made his old life feel accessible. It’ll be easier for you to accomplish this.
Good luck with the move, both logistically and emotionally!
Wow.
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I too was afraid of buying a split. I wanted the charm of an antique colonial, like our first house. We have now lived in our split for almost 8 years. I still have yearnings for a charming antique, but our current house is roomy and comfortable and we have made ours. Congrats and good luck! I’m sure the next few weeks will be crazy, but it will be worth all the headaches in the end.
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I’ve never lived in a split level, but they’re great for a lot of space! Congratulations! What good news!
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Damn, I mean, happy ending, but what whiplash! Otsukaresama.
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How exciting! Congrats! It sounds fabulous.
Our first home was a split level. While they might not be the most architecturally sophisticated designs in the universe, I really liked ours. You get a lot of space for your money, a separate sleeping area,an extra family room, and (usually) an enormous garage.
I miss our split level sometimes. We moved to a ranch house, closer to the lake – happily trading square footage for “proximity-to-water.” We love it, but I do so miss that enormous garage.
Good luck with all the transitions to come.
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Congratulations on surviving the whiplash of it all. I remember our “oh, this house looks nice, let’s put in a low-ball offer and OMG, they accepted, well, only if we can sell our house soon enough and, OMG, we’re listing right now and OMG, sold!” blur all too well. Our misery was compressed, yours very extended, but hopefully the good times are coming!
So, when are the home inspections to be done?
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I grew up in a split-level and now live in a hundred-year-old house with plenty of “character,” and there are MANY days when I long for the home of my youth! Congratulations!
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In 2000, we looked at every house in our price-range in Charming Older Neighborhood with Urban Feel. Too small, too raggedy, too weirdly remodeled. Finally, we looked at a classic 1950s front-to-back split-level in a Suburban Wanna-Be neighborhood just across the river.
Not at all what we had in mind, but everything we were looking for. It took us about 20 minutes to decide to buy it.
Last year, we did a major remodel (kitchen, both bathrooms, carving a sewing room out of the ginormous family room) so we’ll be happy staying here until the kids finish school.
Split-levels — maybe mot what you were looking for, but nice once you have one. Congratulations.
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Somebody needs to start a split-level appreciation society.
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WOW!! this is so exciting!! a compelling read for sure. I totally understand your tweets now — I would be freaking out way more than you (or, maybe the same since there’s just so much that can be conveyed in 140 characters).
We loved our split level in the Philly area and the house you’re describing — particularly the skylights, I LOVE skylights — sounds awesome! And if it is in great condition, that’s even more awesome. The house you linked to is amazing, I’m sure you can replicate the look.
Thanks for sharing and I hope the move turns out not to be too hard for your sons.
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Mazel tov!
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Amy P, people in our neck of the woods have begun murmuring about protecting houses built in the 1950s. Someday, the split levels will be antiques.
Congratulations & good luck!
I think Jonah has good cards in his hand. Sports help boys find friends.
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