I'm about to take you on a roller-coaster ride through a tale of dreams, sweat, and a borderline embarrassing dash of irony.
First, I blame my mother in law. Really, she gave me a gardening book for Christmas about 13 years ago that may have tipped the scales towards this crazy, ridiculous, amazing ride. While we're blaming in laws though, let me get my father in law some blame as well. Driving home from his sixth generation property in the country I was reminded of a dream I'd had for years, but more vividly than ever before. Fast forward a few weeks and our side yard garden just wasn't going to cut it anymore and a day dream of a unique home on a chunk of land right by all of our friends, work, school and life, yet feeling remote was in full raging dream land. If you've ever wondered if you can have the best of both worlds – your dream home on land, right in the middle of all your wants and needs – then I've got a story that will ignite your imagination and inspire you to take the leap... I hope.
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Isn't that just a fantasy?" Well, let me tell you about my own adventure in turning that fantasy into reality.
Picture this: a house that's funky, like all the walls don't reach the ceiling, and a giant yard in worse shape than that out back. Yep, that was our starting point. I found an acreage property just minutes from all of the key places in our life for under $200,000, and I'll admit, it raised a few eyebrows. I mean, it wasn't underpriced. But here's the thing – it's not about the price tag; it's about what is possible.
You may be wondering, "How did you even begin?" Great question! Step one: I had to create such a clear picture of what life here would be like and all of the incredible experiences our family and friends would have here that a highly skeptical wife (wisely) would be in for the ride. Step 1A? Land acquisition. Now, I won't sugarcoat it – the market can seem tough, and it's easy to get caught up in the "now's not the right time" mindset. But let me tell you, that time is now. I jumped in with a healthy amount of uncertainty as is always the case, but we had a vision for our dream and the determination to make it happen. It helped that the financial value was not our only concern. We knew this place would be a tool for nurturing our family and friends.
On day one we had a two-bedroom, two-bath fixer-way-upper that was far from glamorous. Think piles of cinder blocks, rebar, and a house that had seen it's best days quite a while back. But that's the beauty of it – the potential was there, waiting to be unlocked.
Over the years, my wife Dana and I poured our hearts (and a healthy dose of sweat and money) into transforming this diamond in the rough into a beautiful home on an even more beautiful piece of land. We gutted, remodeled, renovated, and added touches that turned it into a space that reflected our unique style and personality within the limitations set by the original home.
The transformation was a labor of love. After a full remodel of the house before we moved in, we later turned our attention to the lot and began to add gardens, an orchard, a sport court, ponds, a pool, and much more to turn the space into an oasis that felt surprisingly fun, safe, and peaceful to us and to our visitors. We hosted countless gatherings, shared laughter, and turned this house into a home, one project at a time.
But as the saying goes, "Dream big, start small, act now." So, with each step, not always forward, our dream expanded. We tore down barriers – both literal and metaphorical – and found new levels of what it means to go all in. It wasn't easy, and it certainly required prayer, wise counsel, and a whole lot of determination.
Now, here's where the plot thickens, and feel free to get a chuckle out of this – remember that house we poured our heart and soul into renovating? Well, brace yourself because here comes the ultimate plot twist. After all those hours of paint-splattered weekends, endless debates over fixtures, and triumphs over stubborn plumbing, guess what?
We tore it down.
Yep, you read that right. We demolished the very house we painstakingly remodeled. Crazy, right? But hear me out, it wasn't a fit of architectural amnesia – it was a strategic move— a bold step towards our grand vision and away from a few seemingly unsolvable problems.
As I stood in my kitchen with my family (including me) throwing baseballs down the hall and through the drywall that was about to be leveled by an excavator, I couldn't miss the irony of it all. But, let's face it, sometimes you have to destroy something to make room for something better. That charming but oh-so-challenging house paved the way for our dream home on that same land.
Fast forward to today, and we are in the home stretch to completion of the new home. Our dream home on our land in the city is becoming a reality. We've reimagined the landscape, designed and redesigned the space, and brought it to life with love, intention and lots of help. The best part? It's just minutes from most of what matters in our lives – church, school, work, entertainment, and nearly everything that makes life vibrant.
Now, I know this sounds like a whirlwind, and you might be wondering, "Could I really do that too?" The answer is a resounding YES! I mean, I hope you don't have to dare down your house, but youreally can do that too. If you've ever yearned for a home that's uniquely fit to your lifestyle, a place where you can create memories and build a future tailored to you and your people, then take a page from my playbook and go for it. As imperfectly or even better than we did, go for it!
Whether you're starting with a fixer-upper, an open plot of land, or a wild dream, remember this: it all begins with a dream. Don't wait for the "perfect" moment because that moment never comes. The time is now. Take that leap, follow your heart, and turn your dream home or dream home on land into reality.
So, if you're ready to embark on your own journey of transformation, don't hesitate to reach out. Whether you're feeling uncertain or bursting with excitement, our entire team is here to guide you every step of the way. Let's turn your dream into a home and make your city oasis a reality. Call, text, or email us and let's start this adventure together!
