David Bromstad of ‘My Lottery Dream Home’ Finds a Place Where You Can Live Like a Millionaire on a Budget MABA Massachusetts HomeBuyers RealEstate

On “My Lottery Dream Home,” host David Bromstad always tries to find his clients lovely homes in charming towns where they can live like millionaires, but not spend like them. And the latest place to hit his radar may surprise you with just how gorgeous affordability can be.

In the episode “Wonderland in Maine,” Bromstad meets Jeff and Gretchen, who have recently received an inheritance. They hope to move away from the hustle and high home prices of Massachusetts to Bath, ME—where they can live a more luxurious life for less.

“It’s quaint, it’s charming,” Bromstad says while looking at the homes in town. “The history, just the architecture, I’m noticing that all of these are well over 100 years old, probably even older.”

With a budget of $850,000 to $900,000, Bromstad shows Jeff and Gretchen beautiful dream homes with lots of history. Read on to find out which home they choose, and why, with plenty of lessons on what to look for when shopping for a house.

A separate dining room can be a plus for certain buyers

The first property Bromstad shows Gretchen and Jeff is a massive four-bedroom, four-bathroom home on 4 acres. The house, which is listed at $719,000, has one classic feature that adds a lot of charm: a huge dining room.

While newer builds usually have a less formal dining space—or sometimes eschew the room entirely—Gretchen loves the classic layout. She also likes the pass-through that opens up the dining space to the kitchen and living room.

“I love that it’s open to this room, so you’ve got that open concept,” Gretchen says.

“Not super open, but it’s open enough,” Bromstad confirms.

It’s a good reminder that while some may prefer a more open layout, a traditional dining room may be a great selling point for the right buyers.

Old homes often have wood detailing that’s hard to find today

The second property Bromstad shows the couple is a smaller two-bedroom, two-bathroom house listed at $799,000. This home doesn’t have as much room as the first house, but it has plenty of charm.

“There’s so much character right when you walk into the foyer,” Bromstad says when he, Jeff, and Gretchen first walk in the door.

“Even just, like, the detail on the wood,” Gretchen says, admiring some lovely wood paneling.

They just don’t make homes like they used to!

Even old homes can have an updated kitchen

While Jeff and Gretchen love the classic charm of this second house, Bromstad points out that the kitchen has been updated by past owners.

“This is the part that’s really open,” he says of the kitchen. “Obviously, they’ve got some variances here to tear down these walls. But they did a really good job of modernizing it but not taking away at all from the original character of this very old house.”

A grand entryway sets the tone for the whole home

The third property Bromstad shows Gretchen and Jeff is an eight-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion that used to be a maritime museum. The $890,000 home is beautiful from the first step in the door.

“Look at the glass, look at the stairs,” Jeff marvels.

Gretchen also loves the look. “Isn’t that wonderful? And the floors are unbelievable.”

While new homes have a lot of modern comforts, this old house shows one big perk with a historic place: a grand entryway. With a breathtaking staircase and beautiful wood floors, this home is certainly welcoming.

Fireplaces are lovely but high maintenance

This home comes with a whopping 14 fireplaces, and Jeff and Gretchen are impressed from the moment they see the first one.

“That’s gorgeous, too. Look at the stone,” Jeff says.

“It’s absolutely beautiful. That’s marble for sure,” Gretchen adds.

While having a gorgeous old fireplace in nearly every room may sound romantic, Bromstad reminds the couple that they’re also high-maintenance. Some buyers will find it well worth the work, but some won’t.

Which lottery dream home is the winner?

Despite the size and grandeur of the first and third houses, Jeff and Gretchen decide on house No. 2, the most modest of the bunch.

The reason? They know that old houses can be a lot of maintenance, and they’d prefer to spend their time relaxing and pursuing their passions rather than constantly doing upkeep and repairs.

“It’s just the two of us,” Gretchen says. “Having a house that we can manage means that it gives us time to do the other things that make our heart go pitter-pat.”

The post David Bromstad of ‘My Lottery Dream Home’ Finds a Place Where You Can Live Like a Millionaire—on a Budget appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS