I have been married now for 15 yrs and have lived in this home we custom built for 10 yrs. The first 5 yrs we lived in a 2 BR, one Bathroom, tiny apt where we shared many precious times. We moved there after getting married in our early twenties. Prior to getting married, we struggled to scrape together $7500 for a down payment on 9 acres of land. While living in that small apt, we payed off they land, saved money, and had our first child, a beautiful baby girl. We also made many special friends. During that time, we also started building a 2400 sq ft home that we contracted ourselves. Not to mention the countless hours my DH and Dad spent plumbing, painting, doing trimwork, etc. We did not see each other much over the yr it took to build our home. When we finally were finished and able to move in I remember the excitement I felt moving the boxes and all the toys from that small apt just a couple of miles from our new home. But once we moved here, I felt isolated. No more neighbors to visit everyday. Only though it was only a couple of miles away, it seemed like 1000 miles, because my life had taken a drastic change. I cried for a couple of months. My DH even offered to sell our home and move back to the apts we loved so much our first 5 yrs together. I knew we had worked and planned so hard for this home to be perfect. We stayed and had a son about 3 yrs after moving to our new home. Now I would never dream of going back to the life I had before, but memories are securely attached in the back of my mind that I will never forget. Our family of 4 would have never made it in the small apt. I find myself now lurking on this website everyday that I discovered while remodeling my kitchen. My husband thinks I am crazy that I spend so much time looking at others visions and dream kitchens. He often makes the comment that I should be thankful for the home we have which will be payed for in just a few years and our kids are still just 8 and 13. I do see things on this website that I love and sometimes even makes me dislike the home I have. I have gained much knowledge on this website, but I also have become more critical of every detail I see. I am glad to read this thread that reminded me to be thankful for the things I do have. I know there are people from all places and walks of life on GW, but you never know what kind of situation they are in. My aunt and her DH have no children and make plenty of money. She has a brother who is basically homeless that moves from motel to motel just to survive. She does help him tremendously, but he lived with her for awhile while she was in the process of remodeling her kitchen. When she got a new frig she cried because it was not what she had envisioned. He just looked at her and said "you can't even be happy with a brand new frig, and I don't even own a frig or place to put one." That opened my eyes to the real world. There are so many people who have lost there life savings in these terrible times we live in. I hope this thread helps everyone on GW realize how thankful we all are to have the homes we live in. I could dream all day of something bigger and better or changed, but I still would not be any happier in life than I am today! Thanks Creekylis for the thread. In time your heart will heal and you will have wonderful memories of your other home!

You may have to do some research, but in Texas, the state trumps the bank- it doesn't matter if there is a lien against the property. What you pay at auction is what you pay, period. Like somebody else said, you only get to see the outside of the house, so you have no clue what the inside is like, and if it was used for a meth lab, there could be serious health consequences for your family. The chemicals used in meth production get into the walls and it's almost impossible to get out. They're supposed to disclose if a property was a meth lab, but what if they didn't know about it. Also, I went to a few of those tax sales with my mom trying to find her an affordable home she could fix up. The investors bought up all the prperties with houses on them. We bid, but we kept getting outbid by this one guy, and it was obvious he wasn't going to back down, so we gave up. The next week, he put the properties up for rent, without even cleaning them up or fixing the broken windows, painting or anything. Even his "For Rent" signs, he didn't spend money on- he took scrap wood that was laying around the yard and spraypainted "For Rent" on it!!!

Did anyone see the episode a few years ago in California's wine country? This spoiled, dry, unsmiling couple toured three gorgeous homes, large homes that anyone would consider to be dream homes. The man walked into one of the kitchens, a huge affair with cherry cabinets, granite counters, stainless, etc., and pronounced it very low end. My DH and I were incredulous. If that was low end, what does he consider high end? Titanium appliances? Gold-plated fixtures? Diamond-encrusted cabinets? Sheesh! Also, I don't understand why people need these huge homes. 5000 sq. ft. might seem impressive, but don't you get lost in that? How do you keep it clean? How do you afford the maintenance. Repainting and reroofing a 50000 sq. ft. home is going to be much more costly than a 1500 sq. ft job. Do you really need a separate exercise room, a separate wine room, a separate play room, a separate theater? Don't even get me started on the spoiled 20-somethings who are buying their first home for $500,000 OR MORE and sneer that a perfectly serviceable kitchen or bathroom is a "gut job." My favorite HHI was the one in Slovenia where bees had built a hive in the house (or was it bats?) also the one in Buckinghamshire, England, with the thatched roof.

I recently finished a kitchen budget update, I love my new kitchen, enjoy drinking a cup of coffee, cooking for the two of us or cooking a large meal. DH loves when we have breakfast or just sitt in the back, he loves the pool and privacy too. I cherish the memories of my daughter's growing up in our old house, unfrotunatly I never liked that house. For 20 yrs I knew DH wanted a summer house, and for 20 yrs he knew I wanted a new winter house, it's so nice that this house made both our "wants" come true. When anyone tells us how our small ranch style house is perfect for 2 people, we look at each other, since this house is larger than the house we raised our children in. I always wanted a formal livingroom, am so glad to have a separate den. I remember when I had to ask my daughter's if I could sneak in and use the bathroom, it's nice to have 2, and one of them is in my bedroom!!! another dream come true. I love everything about my new house. Yes, I enjoy making things the way I want, and hope to update the mud/laundry room next year, but if I don't that will be ok too....(Please don't tell DH I said that).