For Those Who Live Far From Where You Grew Up

[pastafreak]

Have you ever googled your home town/village...and been dumbfounded/saddened by the changes you see? I'm not sure why,but I just had a look at real estate in the village i grew up in...about 30 miles east of NYC.Jeeezzzz...$600,000...on up to $1,500,000...and way more. I guess the village bears no resemblance whatsoever to when I last saw it, about 7 years ago.. Sad...all those way too large,over done houses...not homes. There was one for the street I grew up on- originally very tiny homes built in the late '40s....$900,000 and still to be built.
The only one I'd buy was the oldest house in the village a 1740 homestead,on the historic register...and the CHEAPEST!!!...only $389,000 I think. And small by today's standards( in America). :-(
It does make me wonder in an odd way if I'd ever go back...

[woofgang]

I was born in London, it changed before I left.

[tonyav]

Do you want to go back though, pasta.

[Peaspeculiars]

Yes! That's the beauty but also the sadness with Google Earth - The home where I was raised is very similar to when I was there over 30 yrs ago - It even has the same side gate that me' dad built!
But when I was looking, I felt sad as the elderly neighbours each side whom were considered 'aunties' didn't have the teddy in the window or the 1960's vase in the other house window, and I wonder what happened to them as my parents lost touch when we moved across the country :-(

[Baldric]

Not been back for at least 25 yrs, not Googled at all, nothing there that I'm interested in if I'm honest!

[Stephen_G]

Wish I did... I could stand outside my front door, throw a stone and hit the (Only other) house I've ever lived in (When I was born - moved when I was 18 months).

$389,000? Poor pasta. I'll have a rummage down the back of the sofa for you, kid!

[237SJ]

My village hasn`t changed that much except for a God awful wind farm that has been plonked to the east of us. The population remains almost the same (500 + inhabitants including outlaying farms) A few properties are holiday homes but apart from that, nothing has changed. Our family have been in the village (until I left, anyway) for 400 years and I don`t think my ancestors would notice much difference if they walked through it. I would like to live there again and may well do one day.

[pastafreak]

@ Tony....sometimes I'm not sure. Its all unrecognisable. I went back 7 years ago...and the tiny house I'd grown up in had been rebuilt into something out of Dallas. Columns and all :-(
This is the "cheap" and untouched one... http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/143-Berry-Hill-Rd-Syosset-NY-11791/31158892_zpid/
I bet no one wants it because its "small". I'd have it.

[tonyav]

Very nice, pasta.
Lot of money for a wooden house though.

[tonyav]

pasta, very rare that places stay the same. Is your old home town / village popular with commuters ( New York city ) now ?.

[jno]

my town changed a lot in the 80s, highways put through, tall buildings went up, old houses pulled down, including mine. Since then though, not so much has changed - in many ways it is more beautiful than it used to be. The weather hasn't got any better, though.

[ummmm]

That house looks lovely Pasta.

[jno]

you don't think "no representations" means "I can't promise it won't fall down within six months"?

[pastafreak]

Yes...it always has been. It's why my parents moved to "the sticks"... Dad took train to work...we had fresh air,and apple trees in the garden. My brother says now everyone just wants a show home.

[pastafreak]

Haha,jno...it's stood this long

[tonyav]

It's just the way things are, pasta imo. It's probably become a fashionable place to live these day's. It happens here to I mean look at London what was an unfashionable place to live suddenly becomes fashionable and house prices go through the roof ( no pun intended ).

[DSJ]

I visited the house in Gloucestershire where l grew up, and where my parents lived until they passed away, two years ago. The current owner invited my husband & l to call on him to have a look around. I was absolutely delighted with what l saw. He had extended the 1930s house very tastefully, modernised it but had retained many of the original features. The garden was a dream. My old swing was there too bringing back so many happy memories. I left there when l married in 1961.

[tamborine]

Is that £195k for 3b ensuite, pasta.....bargain ;)

[tamborine]

Ooops....wood, deduct £100k

[pastafreak]

I suspect wood was the most common building material in 1740...:-)

[237SJ]

Wooden framed houses were probably popular in new countries. They weren`t here but I have noticed that there are more wooden framed houses being built in this country now. They are cheaper and won`t stand for hundreds of years as did the properties of old