“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
So said 19th-century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And what an incredibly astute observation it was, considering the limited access Longfellow must’ve had to top-40 radio.
Of all of the arts, it’s music that tends to escort us through life’s significant moments, steadying us and lending voice to our deeper desires.
So when my wife and I decided to dip our toes back into the real estate market last spring, I had my iPod at the ready.
Our House — CSN
We’ve been in our starter home for over 10 years. For the most part, our house is a very, very, very, fine house. Our kids have their own bedrooms, and a small backyard in which to run. Our neighbours are lovely, and there is a strong sense of community on the block. But…
We Gotta Get Outta This Place — The Animals
As our kids have grown, our once cozy, open-concept home is now littered with LEGO pieces, video consoles, and picture book collections. Not to mention the many things our kids leave lying around. It is the clutter of a life well lived, but a clutter nonetheless. It’s clear that we have to get out of this place.
Location — Khalid
Leaving for greener pastures is no easy feat in the city of Toronto these days, and not just because of the distinct lack of pastures. For a family with kids settled in school and two working parents, it still comes down to location. And unless you’re a platinum-selling R&B artist, more space in the right space can be cost-prohibitive.
Crime Of The Century — Supertramp
My wife and I hit the pavement hard, certain that our dream home was out there waiting. But after nearly a dozen open houses, it was clear that an affordable upgrade really was a dream. (Thankfully, Supertramp’s "Dreamer" is on the same album).
With semi-detached homes selling for over $2 million, and two-bedroom houses going way over asking, it all seemed rather criminal. One couple tried to sell us a dollhouse for $1.3 million. Though in fairness, it had an ensuite bathroom.
Love At First Sight — Michael Bublé
Just when we thought we’d run out of hope, we saw a house on Alcina Rd. that had us bublé with excitement. It had a gorgeous master bedroom, floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room, and ample closet space to store all of our kids' crap. And perhaps even enough to store the kids themselves. Best of all, it was listed at a price well within our budget.
War — Edwin Starr
It turns out that the listing price on a home is the numeric equivalent of a fishing lure. Once hooked, we found ourselves in a bidding war that, I assure you, was good for absolutely nothing. Back and forth we went, offering up tens of thousands of dollars like it had no comprehensible value. Like it was Bitcoin.
Look What You Made Me Do — Taylor Swift
After our final offer was made, my wife and I sat waiting in a bar, staring at one another in wide-eyed horror. Had our love for the house gotten the better of us? Were we really that willing to forego our financial plan? The possibility that we had overreached got me feeling really foolish. (Unless it was just that I was a grown up in a bar listening to Taylor Swift).
Sorry Not Sorry — Demi Lovato
When you can’t find an appropriate emoticon to express your feelings, Demi Lovato can often speak for you. We did not end up getting that beautiful house, having lost the bidding war by a mere decade’s salary. And though we both breathed a practical sigh of relief, I can’t help but think how useful those closets would have been.
