No Split Levels, No Tiny Closets, and Definitely No HOAs

With our move on the horizon, we’ve been thinking a lot about what we want in our next home. And this time around, we’re a little pickier than we were when we bought our Omaha house (which, by the way, we had to buy sight unseen in a crazy fast market—never again!).

We’ll be in this next house for at least four years, maybe longer if we fall in love with it, so we’re taking our time and hoping to find something that checks most of our boxes.

Here’s our wishlist:

A big backyard – Minimum ⅓ acre, ideally ½ acre or more. Room for kids to run, a garden, and…chickens.(Which leads me to…)
MUST allow chickens – This is non-negotiable. If a city says no chickens? It’s a no for us.
At least 3,000 sq. ft. – With hopefully 7 kids by the time we leave St. Louis, we’re gonna need the space!
Four bedrooms – (or a really great three-bedroom layout that we could potentially add a fourth).
A big primary bedroom, bathroom, and closet – The closet is a major factor in our decision.
No split levels – We’ve done that before. Never again.
Large storage room & basement – A playroom for the kids, a toy dump zone, and lots of storage space – the storage space is a must.
A bigger garage (or a place for a workshop) – I need a solid space for all my DIY projects.
Garden space – Goes hand in hand with the big backyard!
Quiet street – Not on a major road where I’d constantly be worried about the kids.
Close to a gym (preferably) – Stuart’s gym is by his work, so he’s fine, but it would be nice for me!
Close to a Home Depot or Lowe’s – This is definitely a factor. I spend way too much time there for it to be inconvenient.
Nearby green space, fields, or a forest –  Not a dealbreaker, but Stuart would love it.
Laundry on the same floor as the bedrooms – Not essential, but it would be a big bonus!

The House Hunt So Far…

The market has shifted a lot since we bought our Omaha house. Back then, homes were selling insanely fast, and we had to make an offer before even seeing it in person. This time? We actually get to be picky. 

We’re expecting a ton of new listings between March and July since military families tend to move in the spring. That’s great for us as buyers—but selling our Omaha house is still up in the air.

Either way, we’re hoping to find a place we love! And if we really love it, we might even stay after our four years in St. Louis are up. (Not in the military though. We’re over that.)

So that’s where we’re at! Fingers crossed we find something that checks all (or at least most of) the boxes.

Have any house-hunting tips or must-have features we should consider? Reply and let me know!

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