This is definitely a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. The Ozarks are high rolling ridges and mountains, providing gorgeous views as you drive through all of Northwest Arkansas. But of course, from a house, it's more likely to be the nearby trees filling your view. And this is fine by me. I want woods and creatures and as much quiet privacy as I can get to enjoy it all. Thus, this house may very well work.

   
A good book with a fairly plain cover.

One Floor! (and a ceiling, and some walls ;)
Just the way I like it, everything all on one level. Although the lot is sloped and so there's a quasi-basement foundation, there are no rooms there. Terrific.

Brand New!
No more rickety plumbing hassles, worn mechanicals, or inherited flaws which previous owners failed to disclose. We'll be the first to live in this abode and, if there's a problem, we'll have a warranty to invoke and a builder to smack!

Trees!
And a promise of many little neighbors, whose presence is most welcome. The house appears to be surrounded by mature forest. We're hoping to acquire the lots to the left and right to preserve that. But in any case, the woods behind the house are 'common green space' and should remain.

These photos are essentially Before pictures. I will surely share the After pictures, after we get it all done up?

Great Room!

       
If standing in the middle of the great room, the first photo is looking forward to the front entrance and dining room. The second is looking back through the living room at the fireplace and back door, including part of the vaulted ceiling. There's a a glimpse (far right) of one of the windows in the eat-in kitchen nook which is a bay. The third is just a closer look at the chunky brick fireplace and the living room view out to the deck and wooooods. Obviously some of these pictures were taken after Spring sprung ;) Look at all that greenery!


       
There's a cut-out in the kitchen wall looking into the great room, and another glimpse in the right-hand photo of the nook-bay. So basically you're looking at either side of the kitchen wall dividing it from the great room.


       
Gotta love this gorgeous covered deck, the nook-bay, the woods! and a door onto the deck from the master bedroom which also has double windows with a view. So there's the deck... and the view from it. Oh yes, that's what I'm talkin' about!

   
Speaking of the master bedroom, it also has a master bath. Double sinks, large whirlpool tub, separate shower, and behind all of that, a monster walk-in-closet.


   
The back left and back right from a ground view, but I doubt we'll see much from there. We're more likely to be on the deck and enjoying nature from the inside out.


Other Specs:

Open and roomy 1685 sq ft ~ 3BR 2BA, including a veritable Master Suite in this split floor plan. One of the other bedrooms, looking out the back at the woods of course, will be the office/computer room. The other, a guest bedroom. We may still get by without a lawnmower, as we hope to landscape the open ground as no-maintenance as possible.

Although this seems like a remote location, Bella Vista Village is being built up quite a bit, yet they are taking some care to maintain common green space. (Actually there's not much choice since the whole area is crinkles of forested ridges and they simply cannot build in the ravines! ;) We also get fringe benefits as members of the property owners association, including access to other common grounds, like golf courses, lakes, etc.

Bentonville, Arkansas, the town that Sam (Wal-Mart) Walton built... is maybe 15-20 minutes away. Rex's commute to Fayetteville will be a bit longer (about 40-45mins), but he's driven it enough while looking at properties to know that it's acceptable. It's a fairly straight shot from this property to the main highway and then a swift and smooth ride from there.

All in all, this seems like a good place. While I'm not crazy about moving, selling, etc, this is shaping up to be a terrific change of pace for us and we're quite pleased.