A house isn’t just rooms with a roof. A house is a powerful concept. If a car embodies the American notion of freedom – to roam, to explore, to just take off when the spirit moves you-- a house represents stability. It’s what grounds us to a specific location on planet earth, binds us to a neighborhood and community, gives us roots. For many of us, buying our first house is among life’s most significant milestones, right up there with getting married and having our first child.
Jamie and I love houses, which is why we became Realtors and love focusing on Irvington homes for sale. Our idea of heaven is an HGTV marathon, or an afternoon visiting open houses around Indianapolis. I collect miniature houses, including those wooden Swiss weather houses that look like cuckoo clocks. I photograph old homes around Irvington, from the Second Empires that look as if they sprung from an Edward Gorey illustration, to the homey Arts and Crafts bungalows in bold colors, so beautiful.
And when I see dilapidated houses around town with plywood windows and gaping holes in the roof, I find myself imagining how the builder must have felt back in, say, 1914, as he hammered in the very last nail and stepped back to admire his creation. It breaks my heart to imagine how he would react today, if he could see what had become of that grand home.
Jamie and I also dream about houses, and our dreams are remarkably similar. In them, we discover rooms in our houses we didn’t know existed, expansive basements with full kitchens, or hidden rooms stocked with treasures. These nocturnal imaginings are always exhilarating, and we always wake up feeling a little disappointed that they were only dreams.
Why do houses exert such a powerful influence on the psyche? Carl Jung theorized that in our subconscious, the house represents the self. To a Jungian, those dreams about homes with newly-discovered rooms hint at our own untapped potential, the possibility of expanding ourselves in exciting new ways. But if your dream house is falling apart (and I’ve had those dreams too), it could be time to figure out which parts of your life need repair or bolstering. Maybe that’s why we’re so fascinated with fixer-uppers, the homes that could be really spectacular with a little TLC (and money). A great rehab is the ultimate Horatio Alger tale, a rags-to-riches transformation that demonstrates the power of potential.
When you love houses as much as we do, there is nothing so rewarding as helping someone fulfill their own version of the classic American dream. Jamie and I look forward to being your consultant and guide to Irvington homes for sale. Share on Facebook
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