When sheltering at home people think about their homes differently. Nature, views, sunlight permeate their thoughts. Previously content homeowners become buyers during the pandemic. This is a specific examples of homes buyers desire that has all the characteristics of home people love , even more during a pandemic.
Homebuyers Want Their Home to Look Over a Lake and Park
Homes buyers desire look over a park, a trail, a creek, a forest or a lake. In this White Rock Lake home, from the large kitchen windows or through the living room and dining room floor-to-ceiling windows, or even when descending the elegant curving stairs, you will be looking over the White Rock Trail and 1,000-acre White Rock Lake.
Beyond the sailboats across the lake, you will see the backdrop of trees at the Dallas Arboretum.
Estate Home Backs up to Forest and Meadow is an Example of Homes Buyers Desire
The view in front of the home is of White Rock Lake. The glorious view from the rear balcony of the home is the extensive forest and meadows beyond the rear garden and backyard. Homes buyers desire are surrounded by nature.
From the rear of this historic home, one looks over the pool in the rear garden and over an acre of rolling terraced lawn and into acres of wildflowers and the forest of untamed city park land pictured below.
No homes are visible in front of or behind this White Rock Lake home, only views of nature.
Homes Buyers Desire are Architect-Designed
Good design trumps style. Architect Howard Meyer made this point as he created good design in both modern and traditional styles. Howard Meyer is well known for his midcentury modern design of the residential high-rise at 3525 Turtle Creek.
He is also well known for his midcentury modern home at 5381 Nakoma in Greenway Parks.
Architect Howard Meyer Designed Architecturally Significant Traditional Homes
Further, Howard Meyer designed architecturally significant homes with beautiful proportions and design in the late 1930s and early 1940s in traditional eclectic styles. Several years ago I was well aware of Howard Meyer’s architectural genius from his midcentury work when I walked through a simple Colonial Revival home on two acres on Cochran Chapel Road that neither I nor the owner knew was designed by Howard Meyer. There was nothing extraordinary about this 1938 home except it was extraordinary. On my request, the seller looked in the attic and found the architectural plans created by Howard R. Meyer.
The Howard Meyer-Designed Home at White Rock Lake Has Extraordinary Detail and is Also Extraordinary
The home on White Rock Lake has magnificent detail including a curving staircase reminiscent of the Crespi Estate and exquisitely detailed doors and craftsmanship. While some homes from the 1930s had hidden bars and midcentury homes might have panels that slide back to reveal a bar, this Howard Meyer-designed home on White Rock Lake has a hidden room accessed through library shelves that is a bar. In addition to the design details, this White Rock Lake home is extraordinary because of its proportions and that it contains the characteristics of homes that make people happy living and working and playing in them: sight lines into several rooms, sunlight coming in from several different directions and a home immersed in nature.
Nature, Land and Vibrancy Make Homes Buyers Desire
Along with homes buyers desire being immersed in nature, buyers also love vibrancy. Looking out the windows of this home is like looking at a human aquarium as runners, walkers, rollerbladers, bike riders and cyclists in a pack go by.
The family can play in the front yard and still be socially distanced from the constant activity of people at the lake.
From a distance a homeowner can wave at friends or neighbors from the front yard or join the stream of people on the paths while exercising and enjoying the lake. Sailboats and kayaks are another way of interacting with like-minded people and keeping a safe distance.
Many great restaurants and grocery stores are close, so delivery of delectable food found in the city is easy.
Niche Neighborhoods with Privacy and Connectivity
Niche neighborhoods with privacy and connectivity are what homebuyers desire most. The homes on White Rock Lake have a real identity and sense of place without feeling jammed up—a perfect environment for those living and working at home during the pandemic.
Many neighbors on the estate cove of White Rock Lake have private side fence gates for the sole purpose of being able to visit their next-door neighbor. Here the homeowners, when they take a walk along the lake, can see and say hello to their neighbors and friends, but can then retire to the beautiful seclusion of their home on the hill.
Homes Buyers Desire are Perfect for Children
When families have children, homes buyers desire include property where children can play, roam, explore and enjoy. The vast expanses of lawn are conducive to exuberant play. Shade trees are the perfect place in the summer to eat an ice cream cone.
The many trees and proximity to the lake bring much wildlife beyond an abundance of birds and squirrels. They also bring armadillos, rabbits, bobcats, raccoons and foxes. Horses and riders walk by from the stables nearby, providing an additional sense of country to this urban location.
Aesthetics are Imbued in a Child Living in an Architect-Designed Home
Even when museums and schools are closed due to the pandemic, a child’s aesthetic eye can continue to be sharpened when living in an architect-designed home. In normal times children might have an art class in grade school or take an art history course in college, but nothing trains the aesthetic eye of a child like the details and proportions of an architect-designed home. Seldom have I seen someone who grew up in architect-designed home not retain an architect to design their own home.
Homes People Desire During a Pandemic
Very few homes can have all the elements that this home has to offer that make a homeowner happy living, working and playing in a home, but every homebuyer can try to find a home with as many of these elements as possible to ensure their happiness in their next home.
Congratulations to Bryan and Megan Fears
Congratulations to Bryan and Megan Fears for what I consider the best Dallas home purchase of 2020. It is uplifting to see the success of Bryan Fears, co-founding partner of the Fears Nachawati law firm. It is even more encouraging to see the clarity of Bryan and Megan’s vision and desire for a home that has character, history, exceptional design, architectural significance and a site immersed in nature that will bring decades of enjoyment to them and their children.
