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Throwback Thursday .. and this is where it all began

By
Real Estate Agent with Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 MD594797

20+ years ago I lived in Merrimack, NH and attended the local High School as an exchange student. My host family's family lived in the Binghamton, NY area and we traveled there for the holidays. I got to stay in this lovely old home, owned by my host-grandparents ... and this is where it all began.

HIstoric home

This is where I fell in love with older and vintage homes. This is where I first appreciated the character and discovered that old homes have a soul.

I grew up in a "modern" 1970s high-rise that had central heat. Central heat! Everybody else had to heat with coal. Those high-rises on the outskirts of the city had a long waiting list. What they offered in modern amenities, however, they lacked in character, history, warmth and soul.

When I found myself in that house in Binghamton, I had found a piece of myself. That is where it all began. What followed was a historic rehab in Chesapeake, VA, treasure hunting at local restores and flea markets, a bit of re-purposing when the time allows and building my niche, finding older and vintage gems that my buyers love to call home.

Throwback Thursdays ... and this is where it all began.

Posted by

Andrea Bedard
Thompson Co., REALTORS®

Silver Spring, Maryland
andreabedard.com

Fluent in Real Estate and German.
Old house lover.
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Comments(16)

Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Andrea, what a charming home! I love older homes, too, but usually out here in the desert we need air conditioning in the summer and usually older homes don't have the energy efficient central air. I love your post title, "Throwback Thursday..." Keep up the good work,

p.s. I just discovered this is a running theme. 

May 29, 2014 01:42 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Well no wonder you like that style home so much.  It looks a bit like a castle in this photo.

May 29, 2014 02:24 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

This is a cool looking house Andrea, I like the old vintage homes too, so much more character and history.

May 29, 2014 02:52 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Andrea, I love vintage homes. Our last home was built in the early 1900s and my sister's home was built in the 1800s.

May 29, 2014 03:48 PM
Eric Crane -- Your Full Service, Discount Fee Realtor®
DPR Realty LLC - Gilbert, AZ
Greater Metro Phoenix Arizona

That house has a lot of charm and Binghamton is a great college town, too -- thanks for sharing this story from your youth

May 29, 2014 04:10 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Beautiful house, Andrea. I started my real estate investing career in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. 

May 30, 2014 11:40 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Did you join the TBT club Pamela? Many older homes in my area have been upgraded with central A/C. I love it when they strike the perfect balance of maintaining character and including modern amenities.

It had such an influence on me Tammy, it was so different than were I grew up. I just loved it.

Isn't it Bob? That house was so interesting, unique and full of character and warmth.

Oh, very nice Sharon! Do sneak some pictures of your sister's house into a blog post. I would love to see it.

I don't remember much about Binghamton Eric but that house I will never forget.

Old Town Chesapeake Mike, across from the train tracks! There are some really nice historic homes in that area.

May 30, 2014 01:05 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Andrea, those older homes have so much character. The woodwork alone is so unique

May 31, 2014 11:08 AM
Bette Gottwald
UNITED REAL ESTATE | Central PA - Mechanicsburg, PA
"Bet"on Central PA Real Estate!

Andrea, What a beautiful home!  I grew up not far from Binghampton, and share the same sentiment for Victorian homes.  My great-aunt had an 18 bedroom Victorian boarding home in Sayre, PA.  As a child my cousins and I had a blast playing hide-and-seek, sometimes even getting lost.

May 31, 2014 11:40 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

I love finding unexpected original details Ed, a pocket door for example, or hardwoods hiding under the carpet.

That sounds absolutely wonderful Bette! What a sweet memory. Victorians are among my favorites unfortunately, we don't have too many around here.

Jun 01, 2014 12:59 PM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Andrea~ I'm learning so much about you through old photos and AR contests. Love it!

Jun 04, 2014 12:55 AM
Nancy Laswick
United Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
Your REALTOR® For The Valley Of The Sun

Andrea, I can see why you fell in love with older "vintage" homes this one is a beauty! In my opinion, unique older homes have more "soul" than their younger counterparts.

Jun 05, 2014 03:16 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Isn't it wonderful Donna?! I have gotten to know so many AR friends through such personal posts. Thank you for stopping by!

I would love to call a home such as this one home Nancy ... some day I will! I believe that all homes retain some character of their owners and that's why these older homes feel like they have a soul..

 

Jun 05, 2014 05:11 AM
Kerrie La Guardia
ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA
Let it Rain!

Stunning, simply stunning!  I can see why this ignited your love for vintage homes.

Jun 05, 2014 05:32 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

I wish I had some pictures of the interior Kerrie, so much character!

Jun 05, 2014 01:12 PM
Debra Landy
StageTwoSell LLC - Horseheads, NY
PA and NY Home Stager

Interesting post for me! I grew up in Bethesda MD in a more modern home but have lived my married life in an older home near Binghamton NY. (Athens PA) The town of Sayre has homes built at the turn of the century most with a big wide front porch. As a home stager I find myself in many of these older homes helping sellers.
Long live these old homes!

Nov 19, 2015 07:40 AM