Empty-nesters try the city life, but find home in historic bungalow

Jim and Xan Hummel raised their kids in Glendale and then as empty-nesters moved to a smaller, sleeker nest in central Phoenix.

The condo they bought had its perks. But two years later, when they drove by a historic Craftsman bungalow listed for sale, they couldn’t resist.

The irony: The house put them right back where they’d come from, close to their old Glendale neighborhood. And, unlike their move-in-ready, low-maintenance condo, this house needed a complete overhaul.

“It was a hot mess,” Xan said. “But when we walked through I envisioned what it could be and I told my husband that I loved it.”

Xan’s husband did not share her sentiments for the 1,300-square-foot home, built in 1925. His biggest concern was that the layout was dysfunctional. However, Xan had ideas for how to reconfigure it.  

Jim and Xan told themselves that if their offer were accepted, they’d sell the condo and move. This month, they are celebrating their first year of owning the home.

The big selling point that helped persuade Jim was the surroundings.

“I like the charm of the neighborhood,” Jim said. “All the mature trees on the street, and I like the older houses. I love these houses because they’re all a little different.”

The neighborhood is only a couple of miles from where the Hummels raised their kids, but it’s very different from that area and is certainly different from their condo building.

“We love to entertain and we liked our condo, but it was hard because we didn’t have outdoor space to entertain in,” Xan said. “We (toured the Glendale house) and envisioned family and events happening here. We really love it here. It’s definitely quieter, too, except the train that comes through.”

But, she said, the train adds to the old-timey feel.

The Hummels particularly enjoy entertaining during the annual Glendale Glitters light festival nearby. People stop by spontaneously, and the Hummels are always ready for them with wine and appetizers they can quickly prepare. They also like getting to know their neighbors.

“We felt like we were taking a step back in time,” Xan said. “People visit and say, ‘I feel like you live in Mayberry.’ All these homes have character and people are very neighborly.”

One drawback of the move, however, was the increased maintenance and landscaping.

“One of the reasons I wanted to move to the condo is that I don’t want to do yardwork,” Jim said. “But I really enjoy this yard, so I guess it’s worked out. I get up every morning and hand-water some of it. The bummer part is I had sold all my tools, so I had to get all of that again.”

While Jim had his doubts, no one was more concerned than the Hummel kids.

“When they first saw the house they were like, ‘You guys are in way over your head,’ Jim said. “But once they saw our vision, they love it now.”

The house had three bedrooms and one bath and was configured in a way the Hummels found illogical. It’s now a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home. The house didn’t have any appliances and lacked storage but is now fully outfitted and has a large pantry. The Hummels refinished floors, added a laundry room and custom shelving, removed track lighting, and got rid of the orange, yellow and pink color scheme.

“We did a lot, but we tried to not touch the original features,” Xan said. “We wanted to keep the integrity of the home but bring it back to life.”

And finally, Jim sees that his wife’s vision was spot on.

“Now that it’s all put together it looks nice,” Jim said. “To me it’s way better than I expected.”

Jim, director of operations for a north Phoenix church, and Xan, a trauma registrar for Banner Health, followed a winding path to find their home, but it’s home indeed.

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