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RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:02:37 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
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quote:

ORIGINAL: roscho

It's been mentioned... but Zillow will prevent you thinking SFH when it is really a condo/townhome Multi plex.

If you have addresses, "drive by" on google. I do that all the time. You can get such a great feel for the neighborhoods that way.

Don't let your REA or anybody else talk you into getting involved in a short sale. The success ratio is very low. Bank owned is fine, just not short sales.




Actually my REA advised AGAINST short sale. Our two top picks aren't short sale. Well I know one isn't. Most of the pictures are showing the front of the house, so we know it is an actual house, not a townhouse or condo. We have done google earth on one that said it was walking distance to everything in that town. LOL, I don't know the town that well, but what I remember is that there was NOTHING to walk to! We found a pancake house, a restaurant, a church and an abandoned gas station, hee hee. We still love the house though. It is 3 bedrooms, full basement, formal dining room, eat in kitchen, and a bath and a half (with the old fashioned deep relaxing tub!) a deck and nice yard, all for under 100K.

(in reply to roscho)
Profile   Post #: 21
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:04:24 PM   
Hillwilliam


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Joined: 8/27/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady


quote:

ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam

At least you have options.


I think I'm going to send you the listings for a couple of our "top picks" and get your opinion. OK?

send away

_____________________________

Kinkier than a cheap garden hose.

Whoever said "Religion is the opiate of the masses" never heard Right Wing talk radio.

Don't blame me, I voted for Gary Johnson.

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 22
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:13:01 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		I've been getting all that same information on Trulia. I also am snoopy enough to go through and find that info out for myself. I'm friendly with our county board of health guy, too, so I think I have a little extra going for me.

NJ has a well testing law. Once every five years for landlords, and every sale, so no worries there. My biggest concern in the water pressure. I have very thick hair that reaches my butt and if there is no pressure, it takes an hour to wash and rinse my hair!

I contacted the realtor, and none of the houses we are looking at are her listings. She is a really good agent. She listens to what we want, knows which areas are good or bad, and isn't pushy (I HATE that).

I'm not looking for "x" square footage. More like when I look at the house and the rooms and see if they fit our needs.

(in reply to tj444)
Profile   Post #: 23
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:16:37 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
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quote:

ORIGINAL: lovmuffin

I know someone who went halves on some real estate with someone. Too bad they made substantial down payments. He lost his job and .......I could go on and on about how it all fucked up but IMHO it's a bad idea. They lost the house after their payments were way too far behind to catch up with all of it.

The other thing is you will do much better with a gas water heater and gas furnace. They are both the most costly if you go electric after the AC.  You will save a crap load if you use gas for those items. If you go with a Leni (spell check....pronounced len-eye) instant water heater you can save even more I think. A solar water heater is a good way to go if you live in a sunny or warm area with out too much shade on the roof.



Well there is always at least one who says it is a bad idea. My friend is in no danger of losing his job. He receives disability, lol. The mistake people make is buying as much house as they can afford, rather than simply what they need. We are looking at mortgage payments that will be less than $700 per month including taxes and insurance. My friend pays more than that in rent now.

I'm not opposed to natural gas, but will not have the hot water heated through the furnace. It is NOT cost effective. I've been reading a bit about solar energy lately and it seems that it isn't the great deal everyone thought it was.

(in reply to lovmuffin)
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RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:17:52 PM   
LafayetteLady


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From: Northern New Jersey
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quote:

ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub

One thing I recommend is driving around the neighborhood at different hours of the day and night.  That kept me from buying the wrong house years ago.


If you knew the areas we were looking, you would be laughing your ass off! We are headed out to farm country where neighbors are not spitting distance away.

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Profile   Post #: 25
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:19:25 PM   
JstAnotherSub


Posts: 6174
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady


quote:

ORIGINAL: JstAnotherSub

One thing I recommend is driving around the neighborhood at different hours of the day and night.  That kept me from buying the wrong house years ago.


If you knew the areas we were looking, you would be laughing your ass off! We are headed out to farm country where neighbors are not spitting distance away.
Ok, I am officially jealous!


_____________________________

yep

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 26
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:21:57 PM   
Hillwilliam


Posts: 19394
Joined: 8/27/2008
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quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

. I have very thick hair that reaches my butt and



PERKS!!!

End hijack

_____________________________

Kinkier than a cheap garden hose.

Whoever said "Religion is the opiate of the masses" never heard Right Wing talk radio.

Don't blame me, I voted for Gary Johnson.

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 27
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:28:04 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		You have mail pervy.

(in reply to Hillwilliam)
Profile   Post #: 28
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:37:03 PM   
tj444


Posts: 7574
Joined: 3/7/2010
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady


quote:

ORIGINAL: lovmuffin

I know someone who went halves on some real estate with someone. Too bad they made substantial down payments. He lost his job and .......I could go on and on about how it all fucked up but IMHO it's a bad idea. They lost the house after their payments were way too far behind to catch up with all of it.

The other thing is you will do much better with a gas water heater and gas furnace. They are both the most costly if you go electric after the AC.  You will save a crap load if you use gas for those items. If you go with a Leni (spell check....pronounced len-eye) instant water heater you can save even more I think. A solar water heater is a good way to go if you live in a sunny or warm area with out too much shade on the roof.



Well there is always at least one who says it is a bad idea. My friend is in no danger of losing his job. He receives disability, lol. The mistake people make is buying as much house as they can afford, rather than simply what they need. We are looking at mortgage payments that will be less than $700 per month including taxes and insurance. My friend pays more than that in rent now.

I'm not opposed to natural gas, but will not have the hot water heated through the furnace. It is NOT cost effective. I've been reading a bit about solar energy lately and it seems that it isn't the great deal everyone thought it was.

I have never had anything but electric and the whole blowed-up-good thing with gas/propane scares me.. lol Plus gas/propane needs servicing regularly and those carbon monoxide alarm thingies.

If your hot water tank is old and need replacing soon then i would look at tankless. I think with your hair, endless hot water would be the way to go! I prefer electric for that as well.

Sounds like you are planning to be there for a long time. You should set aside a certain amount every month for various repairs that might be needed in the future. You might not need a new roof now but maybe in 10 years? Just a thought. Find out from your inspector what will need repairing, approximate cost and how about how many years from now so you can budget it all in.

Happy hunting.

_____________________________

As Anderson Cooper said “If he (Trump) took a dump on his desk, you would defend it”

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 29
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:46:15 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		Yea, we are pretty much looking for the place that we will stay until we die. It's exciting and scary. Knowing you don't have to move is great. Unpack, and if it doesn't fit, get rid of it. Usually, I've had stuff that didn't get unpacked, but I keep because I know I might have room in the next place.

That is one thing we are going to have to talk about. Putting a little away for necessary repairs. Luckily, we have friends in various trades that we can call on for help with the things we can't do.

(in reply to tj444)
Profile   Post #: 30
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 5:57:55 PM   
DarkSteven


Posts: 28072
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline 		After you think you like the house, get to talking with some neighbors.  Ask them questions about the neighborhood, and see how they feel to you.  I did that once and got nasty vibes from what would have been my next door neighbor.  In my current house, I loved the conversation I had with the little old lady who'd lived there forever and knew everyone.

_____________________________

"You women....

The small-breasted ones want larger breasts. The large-breasted ones want smaller ones. The straight-haired ones curl their hair, and the curly-haired ones straighten theirs...

Quit fretting. We men love you."

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 31
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 6:01:11 PM   
tj444


Posts: 7574
Joined: 3/7/2010
Status: offline 		If you can get a house with 3 or 4 bedrooms, then you have the option of renting out those bedrooms to get extra $ should some thing come up. Being out in the sticks will mean a tenant that has a car so a little harder to find.

Where i am right now, the owner has 20 acres and he has just subdivided into 5 acre parcels (listed for sale). He lives in the upstairs of the house, i rent a room downstairs and there is a college student down here too. He rents out a cabin and there is an airstream trailer rented too. And there is someone in an RV parked on his back lawn for a short time too. So he has maximized his income on this property but we are all spread out so I rarely see anyone. We all have vehicles so being in the sticks is fine. I dont know what flies where you are but having possiblities for extra income might come in handy should you need that at some point.

_____________________________

As Anderson Cooper said “If he (Trump) took a dump on his desk, you would defend it”

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 32
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 6:27:45 PM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline 		TJ, I live in NJ. If you don't have a car in most of this state, you don't leave the house, lol. That's the point I was making before. Never buy as much as you can afford, just because you can afford it. But what you NEED. We need 2 bedrooms, but another space for "D" to set up all his model stuff. He does WWII airplanes, classic cars, right now is doing a scale model fo the Titanic. He needs space for his workbench, his airbrushes, all his paints and glues and all the equipment he uses. If it is a basement we finish or an extra bedroom, doesn't matter. We do NOT want to have strangers living with us. In the past I have had "roommates," which were really people who needed a place and I had an extra room. They were friends, key word there being "were." Difference here, is "D" and I are in it together. We really aren't looking to "maximize" the profit of the property. We just want to find a decent place to call our own. I have really had a "home" since my mom died nearly 20 years ago, and I want that again.

(in reply to tj444)
Profile   Post #: 33
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 8:12:40 PM   
littlewonder


Posts: 15659
Status: offline 		I love that you are on the whole "buy what  you need, not what you can afford".

People thought I was crazy when I sold my house and decided to rent when I moved here to Baltimore and I'm now renting a teeny tiny little place above a garage. I have very little storage space and just enough space for me to live. I personally like it though because I sold or gave away everything when I moved and so I don't have a lot and it's just me living here and it's nice to have a place that it just what I need and not more than that. It means it takes me about an hour to clean the entire place which leaves time for me instead of the house. :)

I'm all about simplicity so I love hearing people who understand that concept.



_____________________________

Nothing has changed
Everything has changed

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Profile   Post #: 34
RE: Buying a house - 10/18/2011 8:33:38 PM   
lovmuffin


Posts: 3759
Joined: 9/28/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady


quote:

ORIGINAL: lovmuffin

I know someone who went halves on some real estate with someone. Too bad they made substantial down payments. He lost his job and .......I could go on and on about how it all fucked up but IMHO it's a bad idea. They lost the house after their payments were way too far behind to catch up with all of it.

The other thing is you will do much better with a gas water heater and gas furnace. They are both the most costly if you go electric after the AC.  You will save a crap load if you use gas for those items. If you go with a Leni (spell check....pronounced len-eye) instant water heater you can save even more I think. A solar water heater is a good way to go if you live in a sunny or warm area with out too much shade on the roof.



Well there is always at least one who says it is a bad idea. My friend is in no danger of losing his job. He receives disability, lol. The mistake people make is buying as much house as they can afford, rather than simply what they need. We are looking at mortgage payments that will be less than $700 per month including taxes and insurance. My friend pays more than that in rent now.

I'm not opposed to natural gas, but will not have the hot water heated through the furnace. It is NOT cost effective. I've been reading a bit about solar energy lately and it seems that it isn't the great deal everyone thought it was.



  I didn't mean run the water heater through the furnace but gas for the furnace and gas for the hot water as separate units. The savings over electric on those items are are major.  and I was trying to think of the term *tank-less* as another poster mentioned when I tried to spell out a particular brand name. Ultimately I think tank-less is the way to go. Here in FL solar is almost free year round after initial set up cost. There can be problems with them sometimes though but you also get a federal tax credit if you install one or used to anyway.


_____________________________

"Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank and he can rob the world." Unknown

"Long hair, short hair—what's the difference once the head's blowed off." - Farmer Yassir

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 35
RE: Buying a house - 10/19/2011 3:10:05 AM   
LizDeluxe


Posts: 687
Joined: 10/2/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady


quote:

ORIGINAL: LizDeluxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady
My head is about to pop off trying to narrow down the list, lol.


Go look them in person. That will thin the herd quite quickly. I was house hunting this past spring. It's amazing how different they looked online and in photos as opposed to in person. I wish I photographed that well.



Don't we all, lol? We intend to go look at them in person, but I want to narrow the list down some first. I don't want to look at SIXTY houses! I'm hoping by next week we can start the "in person" looking.


You won't end up looking at sixty houses. You'll likely drive by thirty of them without ever getting out of the car. I crossed some off the list after only having pulled into the neighborhood without ever having seen the house itself.

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 36
RE: Buying a house - 10/19/2011 7:21:10 AM   
tj444


Posts: 7574
Joined: 3/7/2010
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

TJ, I live in NJ. If you don't have a car in most of this state, you don't leave the house, lol. That's the point I was making before. Never buy as much as you can afford, just because you can afford it. But what you NEED. We need 2 bedrooms, but another space for "D" to set up all his model stuff. He does WWII airplanes, classic cars, right now is doing a scale model fo the Titanic. He needs space for his workbench, his airbrushes, all his paints and glues and all the equipment he uses. If it is a basement we finish or an extra bedroom, doesn't matter. We do NOT want to have strangers living with us. In the past I have had "roommates," which were really people who needed a place and I had an extra room. They were friends, key word there being "were." Difference here, is "D" and I are in it together. We really aren't looking to "maximize" the profit of the property. We just want to find a decent place to call our own. I have really had a "home" since my mom died nearly 20 years ago, and I want that again.

Yes, I know that is not for everyone and I dont think for me I would do what the owner where I am is doing to maximize his property but I just find it interesting what he is doing. Otoh, when i booted my ex out of the 2 bedroom house i owned, for me it would have been nice if there was an extra bedroom or two to rent out (the 2nd bedroom was more like a big closet). Of course dont buy a 4 bedroom house if its substantially more than a smaller house, but if you can get one for the same or a little more,.. its nice to have that room for an office or guest room for holiday guests or an exercise room, etc.

I know what you mean about wanting a home again, it gives so much more freedom than renting. And if owning is cheaper than renting, then its sorta a no-brainer. I hope you find a good house that works well for you and your friend.

_____________________________

As Anderson Cooper said “If he (Trump) took a dump on his desk, you would defend it”

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Profile   Post #: 37
RE: Buying a house - 10/19/2011 7:21:39 AM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LizDeluxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady


quote:

ORIGINAL: LizDeluxe

quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady
My head is about to pop off trying to narrow down the list, lol.


Go look them in person. That will thin the herd quite quickly. I was house hunting this past spring. It's amazing how different they looked online and in photos as opposed to in person. I wish I photographed that well.




Don't we all, lol? We intend to go look at them in person, but I want to narrow the list down some first. I don't want to look at SIXTY houses! I'm hoping by next week we can start the "in person" looking.


You won't end up looking at sixty houses. You'll likely drive by thirty of them without ever getting out of the car. I crossed some off the list after only having pulled into the neighborhood without ever having seen the house itself.




I'm not even intending to drive past 60 houses, hence the idea of narrowing down the list. Initially, we "followed" almost everything that wasn't falling down, had the right price and right taxes. Now it is time to narrow the list a bit more. My biggest fear is that out 2 or 3 favorites will either be sold before we can get to them, or they will have problems you can only see when there.

Because we don't have children, we don't care about the school district (other than the school not be across the street), or parks or things like that. We are looking purely at the house and what is in the surrounding area as far as services. I'm just so tired of it all already.

(in reply to LizDeluxe)
Profile   Post #: 38
RE: Buying a house - 10/19/2011 7:26:12 AM   
Iamsemisweet


Posts: 3651
Joined: 4/9/2011
From: The Great Northwest, USA
Status: offline 		Be sure and carefully review any private covenants that might affect the property. Subdivisions will often have additional rules and regulations that have to be followed. These can include things like no outside RV storage, or limits on the number of pets you can have, as well as a number of other things. If you are looking at rural property, find out if it is served by a private road and how responsibility for repair and maintenance is allocated and handled.

_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

(in reply to LafayetteLady)
Profile   Post #: 39
RE: Buying a house - 10/19/2011 9:10:05 AM   
LafayetteLady


Posts: 7683
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Northern New Jersey
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Iamsemisweet

Be sure and carefully review any private covenants that might affect the property. Subdivisions will often have additional rules and regulations that have to be followed. These can include things like no outside RV storage, or limits on the number of pets you can have, as well as a number of other things. If you are looking at rural property, find out if it is served by a private road and how responsibility for repair and maintenance is allocated and handled.


Good suggestion. Some of the houses are in "communities" I know since they list fees. I try and stay away from them. Even the rural areas around here are on public roads.

I like the idea of limiting pets and not having Sandford and Son for a neighbor! After spending four months in a house with 20 animals, I don't want neighbors with dogs, unless they are mute!

(in reply to Iamsemisweet)
Profile   Post #: 40
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