Lena and I are buying a home in Baltimore, Maryland (& will probably move in 1 year) - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Lena and I are buying a home in Baltimore, Maryland (& will probably move in 1 year)
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I just returned from a month-long trip to Baltimore Maryland (about one hour from Washington D.C.).

I found it difficult to write in the forum because I was staying with my parents, and spent most of my time searching for houses in the Baltimore area.

As some of you may know, Lena and I have been considering moving to the Washington D.C./ Baltimore, Maryland area to be closer to my family.

Part of the intention of my trip was to look at the different neighborhoods in the D.C. area, and to consider buying a house there.

During my visit, Lena and I decided that the historic "Fell's Point" area of Baltimore would be a culturally interesting place that offers interesting and affordable housing for sale.

So, after a thorough search of houses, and after sending hundreds of photos of houses to Lena, we decided to buy a particular house in Fell's Point, 6 blocks away from the water of Baltimore's Harbor.

My parents live about one hour away near Annapolis, Maryland, and my sister lives in Washington. D.C. with her husband, where they recently bought a historic condo in the artistic Dupont Circle area.

The sellers of the 3 bedroom, 1,800 square foot home that we were interested in accepted our offer, and now we are negotiating the results of the home inspection.

But I expect that Lena and I will continue to live in Los Angeles for about one year more, and then relocate to Baltimore in the summer of 2006. (We plan on renting the house until then).

I will post some photos of the house in this thread....

The house is a historic Federal style rowhouse that was built between 1860 to 1900. The house has been renovated and updated by the current owners.

I thought that it was a good time to buy a house now, since interest rates are so low, and since housing prices in the Washington-Baltimore area will probably continue to go up.

By the way, Baltimore has a reasonably-sized Ukrainian and Russian population. In one of the Fell's Point restaurants, I met this older Belarusian man who worked there, and was very surprised that I spoke Russian

Posted by: Khashyar

The house that we are buying is the red brick one in the middle of the photo...

It was built between 1860-1900, and has been restored ("rehabbed").

Posted by: Khashyar

The front of the house

(by the way, the man in the photo is my real estate agent).

There is actually an 80 year old Polish Deli one block away that, as I have been told, makes the best hand-made Polish sausages in the Washington-Baltimore area. (This is good for Lena, since she eats meat, but not so useful for my vegetarian diet

)

Posted by: Khashyar

I think that the house may have originally had a store in the front, because of the large front window.

Posted by: Khashyar

Here is the living room of the house, facing the front door.

I like hardwood floors, and am happy that they kept the original floors and did not install carpet. (Lena actually has some allergies to carpet and rugs).

Posted by: Khashyar

The livingroon, again.

There used to be a fireplace to the right of this photo.

I may install a woodstove in this room.

Lena is actually thinking about starting her own business in a storefront, and we may in the future have this main room as a shop main room, and then use the rest of the house as our living space just as some shopowners did 100 years ago (and as some shopowners do today).

Posted by: Khashyar

The livingroom (and possible future storefront) is beyond those doors.

If we do possibly create a storefront for Lena in the entrance room, then we will put a door in this doorway which will be the beginning of our personal living space.

There are three floors, a large diningroom, and three bedrooms that we could use for ourselves.

(Lena loves the idea of starting her own business, and so I will try to support her in achieving her goals if possible...)

Posted by: Khashyar

I love old staircases.... I am told that this is the original stair rail, and that it is made of Mahogany

(I will post some more photos a bit later.... Lena and I need to run some errands, since Lena was without a car driver for the past month while I was away in Baltimore)

Posted by: AngryFisherman

Great photos Khashyar!

I really like the fact that the livingroom is so bright due to the colors and the big front window. I could actually move right in there myself, and I usually do paint the place myself before moving in to feel at home :-)

And, oh yes, I totally agree on the hardwood floor! Wall to wall carpets are more trouble that they're worth.

Seems like the year ahead will be quite exciting for you two!

Cheers,
FisherMan

Posted by: sidney

Very nice start to a new life across country. I love the floors.
Sid

Posted by: Jason

Congratulations on finding a house!

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks Fisherman, Sydney, Jason...

Lena and I will probably be moving in about one year. Lena and I both want to wrap up some things with our lives in Los Angeles first.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

The diningroom... looking towards the stairway area and the livingroom front door

Posted by: Khashyar

Lena expressed to me that the kind of kitchen in a house that she lives in is important to her....

This kitchen thankfully has at least twice as much cabinet space as our Hollywood apartment....

It will be nice to have a dishwasher

Lena and I both don't enjoy washing dishes...

Posted by: Khashyar

Lena, like most Russians, loves to have an outdoor place where she can have cookouts and gather with friends....

(I'm thinking more that we can put a hottub in the yard

...and perhaps also a tressle with some grape vines, which by the way Lena's parents also have in the yard of their Mogilev house)

Posted by: Khashyar

Second floor bedroom #1...

Posted by: Khashyar

This is the hallway that leads to the second bedroom on the second floor.....

We will probably make one of the bedrooms a guest room, and one of the bedrooms into an office.....

Lena was excited when she saw the unfinished basement, and she was inspired by thoughts that she could turn the basement into her personal work room for her projects.

Posted by: Khashyar

Here is that second bedroom....

Posted by: Khashyar

This stairway leads to the third floor, and the master bedroom.....

(It is good to have three floors after a squabble when you want a bit of space

...and then after you come to your senses, you can kiss and make up. )

Posted by: Khashyar

The top bedroom is my favorite room....

I like high ceilings....

Posted by: Mr.H

Wow....after a week of living there we can call you "StairMaster"

should have strong legs in no time....

Posted by: Khashyar

the same top master bedroom....

I think that Lena would actually prefer something newer than the original 100 year old hardwood floors.... but thankfully she believes in compromise

Actually, I originally wanted to buy a house that was closer to the water, and that was over 200 years old.

I really liked the house, but Lena thought that it was too dark and small.....

I told Lena that I was considering making an offer on the first smaller/ older house....

Lena had such a negative dislike for that house that she almost turned to tears when she felt that we really might have to live there

That's when I "wised up" and realized that I couldn't and didn't want to transplant Lena in a new city and to a new house that she strongly disliked.

I think that Lena was more upset the she felt that I might not consider her feelings enough in buying a house that I really wanted, but that she disliked.

Again, I finally came to the understanding that if she disliked it so much, then I better consider her feelings and work closer with her in my house-buying decision-making.

It was difficult for me to search for and choose a house without Lena being with me (she had to work in Los Angeles). So, I took hundreds of photos and sent them to her, and we make a joint decision that way.

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.H
Wow....after a week of living there we can call you "StairMaster"

should have strong legs in no time....

Lena and I have both talked about getting more exercise

One question that I have is how much will it cose to heat this kind of house.... The windows are good double pane windows, and the walls are one foot thick, but....... there is a lot of space to heat...

Posted by: Khashyar

there used to be two fireplaces that ran up and down the house....

Because they are so old, I think that you would need to add a protective lining througout the chimney to be able to use it....

Lena and I might add a woodstove or two...

Posted by: Khashyar

The other side of the top floor master bedroom leads to a walk-in closet and a bathroom........

The top floor of the house is bigger than our entire current apartment.

When I came back to our apartment in Los Angeles, I felt especially cramped after knowing that we will have significantly more space after we move.

Lena's father (who is a very skilled builder/carpenter/interior designer) has offered to come stay with us and do any kind of work on the house that we need....

The house was pretty well upgraded and rehabbed recently, but it would be a chance for her father to spend time with Lena and put some Russian kabobs on the grill in the backyard....

I am sure that Lena will find some things that she will want him to change.....

Posted by: Khashyar

Well... it was a bit difficult deciding to buy a house in a different city where Lena and I live....

But "Fells Point" in Baltimore seemed like an artistic area where many young professionals and young families are moving into. There are also many nice restaurants and cafes, and a nice historic feel to the area.

It is difficult for Lena to think about moving-- leaving her friends, and looking for a new job. She feels like she will be "starting over," and feels a bit of stress about it, but she is a trooper in understanding that I want to be near my family, and that I wanted to live in a place where houses are more affordable than in Los Angeles. However, this house sold for about the same price that a two bedroom condo would sell for in Los Angeles. I was surprised at how much I needed to spend in Baltimore (Fells Point) to get a house that both Lena and I would be happy with.

But the happiness of both a husband and wife is worth it.

And I like the adventure of going to a new place and stepping on some new ground.

I believe that this makes you grow and progress as a person.

Besides, the interest rates are still low, and since I hear that the Federal Reserved will probably not as agressively raise interest rates as they had expected, the prices of houses will probably continue to go up.

But I can better take care of my parents when they need me, and Lena and I can move our life together forward by allowing our joint married life to expand into a new living space.

Khashyar

Posted by: rtking

Congrats on the new home.

That's a historic part of Maryland. Started by William and Edward Fell if I remember correctly. I think it's one of the primary shipping ports on the East Coast in the early 1800s... but I could be wrong. (I stopped through there on my way to Silver Springs, MD many years ago...)

BK

Posted by: Jill

Congrats! Looks like a lovely home

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks Bob and Jill,

Yes, Fell's Point was originally a shipping port in the late 1700s and early 1800s...

I have read that nearly all of the U.S. ships that were used in the War of 1812 with the British were built in Fell's Point.

We can hold some of the future RMP get-togethers there as well...

Posted by: Pin Boy

good choice khashyar (and lena)! looks very cozy. fell's point is wonderful. been about 7 years since i was last there after an orioles game.

do you know if they have linked fell's point and the inner harbor, meaning is it an easy walk? when i was last there, there was a bout a six block stretch that was not conducive to walking so we had to take a cab. my friend said at the time there was a plan to revitalize that stretch and make for a nice stroll b/w the point and the inner harbor.

count me in for the first east coast get together of the RMP

pin boy

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi PinBoy...

Thanks for the message...

Regarding Fells Point and the Inner Harbor....

There is major renovations taking place in Fells Point, and I believe that it is a pleasant walk now from Fells Point to the Inner Harbor.

I also recently discovered the Little Italy section of Baltimore, which is between Fells Point and the Inner Harbor. I didn't realize that there was such a large and vibrant Italian community there.

You're definitely invited to come for a visit when we move to Baltimore...

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

The closing on the house is on Friday (in two days)... My dad is going to sign the documents for me.

This will mean a bog change for Lena and I, although we are estimating that we will move to Baltimore approximately next summer (2006).

We are going to rent the house for a year until we move to Maryland. By that time, we plan to save a few thousand dollars to use for moving and relocating expenses, and to buy furniture.

It is still a difficult decision for Lena and I both to move, but I do want to be near my parents in their older age (My dad will be 70 this year, and my mom 64)... Who knows how long they will live (although I hope for a long time more)...

Lena is very understanding that I want to be near my parents.

Perhaps in the future, we may consider moving somewhere else if the circumstances permit (if my parents are no longer in Maryland, for example).

But, the deal for this house is nearly done, and we will own this house and have a place to live in the future.

For Lena, it is a stressful thought for her to move. She is concentrating and looking forward to the wedding, and I am sure that we both will think more about relocating after the wedding is over in early October.

But, one thing at a time.

Once we move into our house, you are all invited to come and visit...

...and talk about Russian culture.

Khashyar

Posted by: Jutman

Hi

Nice house. Its look a little european styled to me, particular dutch style.

I can related to the problems about moving, my moved into our house 1st of february this year.

Luckily we did before she started language school and work, so we start the 'new' life together in the new house, and we are very happy for it.

Since we life at the ocean (about 1/4 mile from the shore) maybe we send a bottle witha message for you across the 'creek'.

Posted by: Khashyar

Congatulations on your new life, Brian...

Yes, the house that Lena and I are buying does have a more European than American feel to it. It is a "Federal" style house that was built sometime between 1860 to 1900, which is also when many European immigrants were in that area.

I have read that there were many German and Italian immigrants, some of whom I'm sure were carpenters and builders, and lent their craftsmanship to building houses in that area.

Much of the American architecture of from 1600 to the early 1900s was modeled after European architecture, since it was Europeans who immigrated to the United States.

Khashyar

Posted by: BradIL

Quote:

Originally posted by Khashyar: It is still a difficult decision for Lena and I both to move, but I do want to be near my parents in their older age (My dad will be 70 this year, and my mom 64)... Who knows how long they will live (although I hope for a long time more)... Lena is very understanding that I want to be near my parents.

Khashyar- I appreciate these thoughts very much. While it was heartbreaking when my parents passed away, I was so very glad I was with them when it happened, in each instance. I love them very much and I miss them very much.

Beyond these depressing thoughts... your parents can be a lot of fun as they age. Its great Lena is understanding... and if a little Khashyar or Lena make a debut... your Mom & Dad will be glad they are close.

BTW... this house looks charming... er... cozy in the eastern european parlance. Congrats!

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for your thoughts, Brad.

Yes, I can't know how long my parents will live, so it will be good to spend more time with them as they age (as I age too).

Khashyar