Not exactly. In fact, this is every home owner’s worst nightmare! I showed one of my friends the photos that I took during the house inspection and the next time I saw her, she told me she had a nightmare about this house! It is scary–a house of horror! It’s not just the derelict condition of the house, but it’s the large mushrooms growing on the ceiling and visible black mold throughout. Yep! This place has had a hole in the roof for years and has not been occupied for 9 years. Long story.
Money Pit?
You betcha!! It’ll take more than a little TLC for this dilapidated fixer-upper. It needs to be totally gutted and we don’t have enough money to tear it down and build a new house. This project would completely deplete my mad money account I’ve been saving. At least it would be for a good cause–a getaway right in my own backyard. Who knows how long it would take to make it habitable and where to live in the meantime?
So why would I buy it?
This house has the most spectacular view of the Grand River in Cambridge, Ontario. I am slightly completely obsessed with a river view! I lived a stone’s throw from here for two years. I loved waking up to the sounds of the geese in the morning and through the night, looking out my bedroom window to see deer wading in the river, swans floating peacefully, beavers swimming, herons and eagles flying, bunnies grazing on the grass. The first time I saw this view, I was mesmerized, it was like falling in love!
The sunrise was breathtaking and a reason to get up early, even for a night owl like me. The sunset was magical, but the full moon shining on the river was one of my favourite sights; right out of a romance novel.
All through the seasons, the view was magnificent: sparkling diamonds dancing on the river in the summer, autumn leaves turning gold and scarlet across the river in October, the white wonderland of ice and snow in the winter, and the blossoms of spring along the riverbank as new life comes to the river.
Take a peek …
The million dollar view …
Wildlife on the river …
Fashion on the river …
We will not be buying the house after all: it is rodent infested, the deadly black mold is through and through, extremely dangerous.
I still miss the river, but I’m sure it’s for the best. Health is more import than a beautiful view. And had we taken this on, it would have been financial ruin.
Would you buy a house like this?
fashion with compassion 
This was certainly a spectacular lot, my guess is that specialists had assessed the mould problems and thus, came the condemned aspect ot house. I personally lived in a cottage on a lake for several years, which had some issues as to mould. The problem wasn’t severe enough though to warrant a rebuilding, just had contractors come and open up the attic space where the problem was, provide better ventilation and clean up the mould with vinegar solution. It was wood that was affected, not drywall. They did a really good job with it. I suspect that the house you were interested in had plumbing breakdowns or similar in the past, if the house was uninhabited for so many years. Different story. Keep looking Jackie and you will find that dream house yet, if you haven’t already! Cheers, Anne
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Thank you for your visit Anne! I appreciate you taking time to comment! Since you lived on the lake, you know how wonderful it is. I’m not a swimmer, but I love seeing water!
We’ll keep looking!
Cheers!
♥ carmen
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I’m glad you didn’t buy the house after all. You’re right about “health is more important than beautiful view”. Plus, as you said, it will be financially draining as well. Don’t worry, I believe you’ll find your next dream house with a million dollar view soon. You know what they say: when one door closes, another one opens! 🙂
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Thank you my dear Violet! What an encouraging note! I really appreciate your positive attitude! 🙂
♥ carmen
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🙂
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The landscape around the house is amazing and having the opportunity to see all those wild animals would be such a daily source of happyness! But yes, the house would require too work and money to be fixed up…
What a pity ! I hope you will find something you like soon…
p.s.
I personally would be afraid to live in the country in an isolated cottage! Too used to live in the city center!!
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Hello my dear Dan! Thanks for dropping by!
This place is not in an isolated area in the country. It only looks like it is in the country when you see the pictures because that is the back of the house. There are houses all along the river and it is in the city. In the front, we can walk to the grocery store and all the shops to go shopping and enjoy city life! Across the river is parkland and the forest, but behind the forest is the residential area of the suburbs of Cambridge. That is why this place is so amazing–city in the front and country in the back! 🙂
Have a lovely weekend!
♥ carmen
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Wow! It is a really corner of paradise, then! I now understand why you love the place…I would love it too!
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You’d love it Dan!! It is a corner of Paradise!! ♥
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As others have said, what a shame. It has an incredible view and looks like it could be a very nice home. Mold is a tough one.
I like the spirit of your blog, positive and of course you are a lovely lady. I think blogging can be a good addition to one’s life. You show us a great example of a woman that is creative and feels matched with your life force!
blue hue wonderland
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So true, blogging has been a wonderful creative outlet these past two years and meeting lovely, interesting people!!
Thank you for dropping by and taking time to write such an encouraging comment!!
Have a wonderland weekend!! 🙂
♥ carmen
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I’m so sorry that your ‘dream house’ didn’t work out for you. You’re probably better off, however. Black mold is nasty, nasty stuff. My husband and I bought a fixer upper house in a beautiful location (we have an ocean view from our garage even), but we’re wondering if we made a mistake. The house needs a lot of work and we have mold too (not black mold, however). I’ve had allergies for years, but since moving to this house they’ve been worse than ever and we’re wondering if it’s the mold. Anyway, we’re trying to decide what to do now. Do we want to fix the house up or sell and settle for a house in a less desirable area. It’s a really, really tough choice. Celeste 🙂
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OMGoodness Celeste! Yes, I’ve heard mold can cause allergies and all sorts of health problems, that’s what scared us more than the work. Our health is more important than a beautiful view. I’d get a mold specialist in and have it checked. How long have you lived there? Mold can be killed, but in our case the house was too far gone.
All the best with your decisions.
Health is our wealth!
♥ carmen
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What a contrast between the view *from* the house and the pictures *of* the house! Even for a handy guy like dad, this project looks too big and too costly. I’m glad you didn’t get it. I have a feeling you’ll find a better place. And imagine being in the middle of a huge renovation when your TRUE dream house comes along? Yikes!
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Thanks for your optimism Jean! Most of the photos in this post were taken from the balcony and the bay window in my bedroom at the Rivercrest condos; two years living with this spectacular view!! ♥
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After seeing all the pictures you post of the river view, I understand why you are so desperate to want a river view home, keep searching , the right house will come along.
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Thanks Maggie, you know how much I loved it there and I have a photo of you on the balcony and many fond memories!
C’est la vie!
♥ carmen
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What a shame for that view.
There is no way I’d ever buy a house like that. It took us 7 years just to redo the fireplace front…we’d be living in that mess forever. We are the kind of people that want it all finished before we move in.
When we were shopping around for houses our realtor tried to talk us into a few that needed lots of work. We were *almost* swayed to do it too. Once again because of location. Turned out the lady was crazy and never got back to us on the offer we placed. That was great since I found a much better suited house for us. We look back on that thinking we were so lucky not to have bought the other house. It would have been awful.
bisous
Suzanne
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My husband is very handy, but even he was dreading this mammoth undertaking! He has been working on the house we live in now even before we moved in. It’s not finished yet, he’s in the middle of renovating the laundry room (it was a dungeon) installing dry wall and painting, new sink and faucet, new floor, new lighting fixture etc. I haven’t been able to do laundry for over three weeks, it’s seriously piling up, but the good news is I’ll have a new washer and dryer and hope to do laundry by next week.
A beautiful view is a luxury, but living in a safe, clean house is a necessity. Most of the photos are taken from my balcony and bedroom window when I lived on the river. You can see why I miss it.
C’est la vie!
♥ carmen
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The view is fantastic but really is it worth all the money you would have to put in. Well shame that that house was empty for so long. Keep looking!
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No doubt about the view–it’s amazing, nature in the back yard and the city in the front, with grocery store and shops all in walking distance! Most of the photos were taken when I lived near there two years ago in a townhouse.
C’est la vie
♥ carmen
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It’s a shame, Carmen. The house is a wreck, but the scenery and the view is wonderful. Should really be very complicated, financially and personally. It’s a shame, because it seems the perfect place for your living along the river and nature. A healthy woman in a beautiful natural setting. But it is a very personal decision.
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Yes, it is a shame that the house was left to rot for so long and is now beyond repair, a total wreck. We simply can’t afford to build a new house because the property is quite expensive considering there are beautiful houses in this area (ready to move in) for the same price.
Thanks for dropping by!
♥ carmen
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