Photos By John Hoff Though much was written about the $7,900 house of Connie Nompelis (No-bell-iss, it's Greek) and no doubt more will be written, I realized none of my photos really showed...
...the spectacular woodwork. So here are a few more.
This woodwork wasn't even visible when Connie bought the house. It was beneath ratty gray carpet. The radiator in the background of the top photo is where I found the crack pipe while pulling carpet staples right before the "condemned house party." Connie bought the house on faith, and that woodwork in the living room was one of many rewards she reaped for having faith.
Right now, a lot of people are wondering whether the market has "bottomed out" and whether it's finally the time to buy. I say the $7,900 house is like a barometer, and the weatherman is saying: BUY NOW OR LOSE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS FOREVER!
What if there's that one special house that speaks to you, that feels like home from the moment you step across the threshold? What if you lose THAT ONE while hoping the market--already at bottom--bottoms out further?
Like America's founding fathers, Connie was willing to risk her "life, liberty and sacred honor" to buy an even bigger stake in a neighborhood we call NoMi, a place that is turning around much faster than mainstream media portrayals are managing to capture. She took a chance, plopped down her money, and this is the reward she reaped.
Why on earth would someone have carpeted over that? The floor doesn't even appear to be in bad shape! I'm only 31 years old. Was there a period in recent history that I'm not aware of when beautiful hardwood floors were deemed unfashionable?
ReplyDeleteActually, it's my understanding that's EXACTLY what happened. There was a time when having carpets was considered more classy than bare wood floors. I'm not positive exactly when that period of time was...maybe somebody who knows better can comment.
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