House Hunt: Ramblin' Rose

This available home is known as a rambler, or a ranch style house. To be more specific, a rambler home is all on one floor and is either an L-shape or rectangle. It was a popular design after WWII, when soldiers were returning home and housing was much more affordable. There are many advantages and disadvantages to a rambler, and I hear both sides often. 

However, since I am a very upbeat person with the ultimate optimistic viewpoint, I will be focusing my efforts on the positive attributes of this wonderfully humble Sumner home.

This rambler is located at 8206 State Route 162 E. at the edge of Sumner. It is a 1,490 sq. ft., three bedroom, two bath and is on almost a third of an acre. It is listed by agent Jake Mercado with Properties NW of Gig Harbor who specializes in bank-owned homes. It also features an attached two car garage and has room for an R.V. or boat.

A bank-owned home has already gone through the foreclosure process and an unsuccessful auction sale. The bank then takes back the property and it is typically placed back on the market at a much lower price than the assessed value. In this case, this house is listed at for a beginning bargain price of $163,500, around $25,000 under the assessed value.

Now first I would like to say do not let the words 'state route' scare you. Yes, the road is fairly busy but the house sits far enough back that the noise is not that intrusive inside the house. Tall and dense trees line the front perimeter of the house and calm the sounds from the street. I happened to be there at the height of rush hour and of course went out to the backyard, to get the sensation of what it would be like to relax. There was a little white noise, but it was soon forgotten as I got to stare at the amazing sunset and the greatness of unobstructed farmland.

The front and back yards are nicely sized and at one time were very neatly manicured. With very little sweat and effort, it could once again grow proudly. The front is gated for privacy, has a huge two car garage and a lengthy, paved driveway for additional parking. One more thing most people don’t get excited about but worth mentioning -- there is a heat pump, located on the left hand side of the house.

As for the interior, it truly can’t get any better. The carpets brand new and a nice neutral tan. There are also new appliances in the kitchen, which add more appeal since the kitchen is a bit dated. A quick fix, in my opinion, would be to paint the cabinetry a lighter color and add more modern drawer and cupboard pulls. I would also take out the row of upper cabinets, which block some of the view of the dining area and put in lower cabinets under the sitting bar.

The floor plan is open in the main living area. The dining room looks into the kitchen and adjacent is a huge living area/family room with a brick fireplace. It is comfortable, clean and well-lit with canned lighting.  There are no unusual odors and it truly is a turn-key house. (Turn the key and move right in.)

There is a good-sized master bedroom with its own bathroom and double closets.  No walk-ins here, as these types of closets really weren't a must-have when built.  The additional bedrooms are decent in size and where there is a lack of closet space, spacious storage can be found in the multitude of hallway cabinetry. These cabinets are also dated and dark but again could be changed just with a little sanding and new paint.

Overall, all I can say is that this house is a cutie. The price is right and probably could be purchased for even a little less. It has good solid bones, is clean and comfortable and close to all major amenities.  There is really nothing that needs to be done in order to move in, which is a major plus in my opinion. It definitely is a flower waiting to be plucked—a ramblin’ rose without the thorns.