Looking to buy my first home...
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Any advice on what to watch for from the CP homeowners? I've been avoiding ownership for a ridiculous amount of time because I kept moving, but it's looking like I might stick around for a while finally.
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Any advice on what to watch for from the CP homeowners? I've been avoiding ownership for a ridiculous amount of time because I kept moving, but it's looking like I might stick around for a while finally.
Two bits of advice: 1) Make sure no one is already living there. 2) Don't buy in New Orleans[^].
m.bergman
For Bruce Schneier, quanta only have one state : afraid.
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered. -- Voltaire
Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. -- Steve Landesberg
I am not a chatbot.
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Check whether it includes a homeowner association. If it does, you'll be happier in a tent outside town. Unless you're the sort of asshole who enjoys telling the neighbors whaqt they may do with their property - in that case, you'll fit right in. Avoid cities; not only are they crowded, unhealthy and ugly, they also have more silly rules to keep you from enjoying your property rights. They also have nosy cops to enforce them. Be sure to get a garage. Even if you don't have a car, someday you're going to want to work on something messy when the weather is less than wonderful. Garages are indispensable. Check the infrastructure. Is the electrical service large enough for all your toys? Is it on sewer, or a septic tank? How's the water? Clean and fresh, or rusty and inclined to reek of chlorine on Tuesdays? Do you get good cell phone coverage in the house or yard, or is it a black hole for cell signals? What Internet service is available, and what does it cost? Check the neighborhood. Do most of the neighbors keep the yard neat? That's good. Do all of them have immaculate yards? That's not good; check again for a HOA and run if you find one. Check the schools, if you have or plan to have kids. Do they have a good record? Good! Do they have armed guards every 50' along the barbed wire fence - not so good. Can you hear dogs barking all night? Or kids screaming? Do you care? Check the perimeter. Do you have a clear field of fire from all the doors and windows? At least 200 yards should be a minimum. Just a few items to look into... :)
Will Rogers never met me.
Roger Wright wrote:
Check the perimeter. Do you have a clear field of fire from all the doors and windows? At least 200 yards should be a minimum.
JSOP is not the guy who asked for advice on buying a house! :laugh:
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Two bits of advice: 1) Make sure no one is already living there. 2) Don't buy in New Orleans[^].
m.bergman
For Bruce Schneier, quanta only have one state : afraid.
To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered. -- Voltaire
Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. -- Steve Landesberg
I am not a chatbot.
that was a crazy story. i would've been all Revenge! on that guy, after the third time he pulled that crap.
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Any advice on what to watch for from the CP homeowners? I've been avoiding ownership for a ridiculous amount of time because I kept moving, but it's looking like I might stick around for a while finally.
Dont. Buy stocks instead. A house is a big responsibility, takes maintenance and limits your ability to move around for work and so on. Also over the next few years the chance of house proces rising are low, so unless you can get a very cheap house, one of these distressed sale jobs, you wont get much of a return on your money. Shares on the other hand (which over all during the last 40 years have seen the same capital growtrh as housing) will see some very good gains oiver the next 5 years (as in 100+ %)
============================== Nothing to say.
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Any advice on what to watch for from the CP homeowners? I've been avoiding ownership for a ridiculous amount of time because I kept moving, but it's looking like I might stick around for a while finally.
Congratulations ! If you're buying an existing house it depends: 1. You don't want to change a thing? Budget: You can go more expensive than option 2., but you will always want to change something, leave room in your budget to remove that bathroom or rebuild the terras. Leave about 1/5 to 1/3 of your budget for those things depending on the home. Structure: Make sure the structure is ok. Go to the first floor and jump up and down (no joke). Check for moisture problems. In Belgium we have problems with water in cellars, we check those things as well. Check if there's no draft under doors or windows. General: How's the electricity? How's plumbing, heating, ... Geographical: Where's the sun, where does the rain come from. Future: Kids, wife, family, friends they come and go as a matter of speech. Is the house big enough and adaptable enough? Can you throw parties for your CP fellow members? 2. You want to tear down the walls and rebuild it completely to your liking? Budget: Leave at least 1/4 of your budget open for unforeseen problems, those tiles that are just that bit nicer but twice as expensive, .... Structure: Make sure the structure is ok. Go to the first floor and jump up and down (no joke). Check for moisture problems. In Belgium we have problems with water in cellars, we check those things as well. Check if there's no draft under doors or windows. General: Think for the future. Isolation, electricity and other cabling. Will one bathroom do or might you want a second one in the future? ALWAYS go for maximum expension as budget allows. Adding a bathroom is no biggy, adding additional space is. Geographical: Where's the sun, where does the rain come from. Future: Kids, wife, family, friends they come and go as a matter of speech. Is the house big enough and adaptable enough? Can you throw parties for your CP fellow members? 3. Build completely new See 2. except of course you don't need to check the 'existing' house :-) Hope this helps!
V.
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Any advice on what to watch for from the CP homeowners? I've been avoiding ownership for a ridiculous amount of time because I kept moving, but it's looking like I might stick around for a while finally.
When you find one you like, take a few days, visit the area at night, or in the mornings. Make sure there are no 'Bad Neighbours' or nuisence youths etc.
--------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] English League Tables - Live
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Also, proximity to sex offenders.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
Well I don't have kids, but I guess that's also a good thing to watch out for anyway...
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It is a good time to buy in the US of A i think because your buying after a crash... always a good thing to do, put your vulture hat on and pick up a great deal :) happy hunting
Yeah, that's one of the reasons I finally took the plunge into home ownership. ..thanks... :)
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Have the home inspected by a trusted inspector. Don't use one that the realator gives you... Dig around on your own. It will cost you a little up front but it will be worth it. You don't want to sign on to an investment that is being eaten up by termites or was not properly designed/built in the first place. Edit- Wooohoo a stalker! I mean who one votes that advice. Maybe we have some realtors here on cp :rolleyes:
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
That's pretty good advice, although I know the realtor pretty well though (friend of mine)...
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Well I don't have kids, but I guess that's also a good thing to watch out for anyway...
Yeah, in all seriousness you should check it. You might not have kids, but future buyers may. In general a pedo next door might hurt the resell-ability. One way to avoid them is to buy near a school.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
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Couple of things I would state, try to meet neighbors. If you plan on being there several years the neighbors can make it a great place or make it that you want to get away. I had really great neighbors. I even had one that would watch my kids before and after school. Also depending on where your buying don't buy the lowest house in the area. I had a crawl space under my house and the sump pump ran a lot. I was the lowest of several houses in a row so the water went to the lowest spot. If this is for investment reasons, think about resale value also. I was a single parent so I bought what I could afford, a three bedroom house with one bath and a one car garage/driveway. That was kind of hard to sale when I needed to move because most families need two bathrooms and have more than one car. Jockey cars in a one car driveway is not fun. Also look at how the layout of the house is. I had a nice 7 foot archway/doorway between my kitchen and living room. Made the house seem really opened and big. But I really ended up needing the wall space and finding a dog gate to fit that wide of an entrance was hard. Also think about where things are. My laundry applicances were in a closet (I guess that is what you would call it) in the hallway. It seemed as if the kids were always leaving baskets of clothes in the hallway. Not fun. Also think about how long you are going to be there. Can you live with things the way they are or will you want to remodel? How much time do you want to spend on maintenance of the yard and upkeep of the house. That will help you decide how big on a yard to get and what type of composite the outside of the house is made of. Hopefully that helps. It's some things maybe new homebuyers don't think of when they are looking at houses. Good luck. Carolyn
If you can’t have fun at work, then why go to work?
Thanks for the advice :thumbsup:
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Where are you? If you're in an area that has "unincorporated" sections, buy there (if you can stand the peace and quiet). No sens in having to get permission from everyone and their uncle (and pay the fee) every time you want to do something to your propery.
No dogs or cats are in the classroom. My Mu[sic] My Films My Windows Programs, etc.
Yeah, I hear people complain about HOAs all the time. I'm in a city though, think I'd have to deal with the city to build anything (sucks, but I don't expect I'll be doing too many changes, it's just my first house and I'm a single guy).
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If the area has a river or lake, find the house on a flood plain map. It may determine that you are required to have flood insurance on top of your mortgage.
I'm waaaaaaaaaaay ahead of you on this one. I'm in Baltimore, so floods are definitely an issue to watch out for in the city (having the Patapsco river right there). Great advice! :thumbsup: :)
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Check whether it includes a homeowner association. If it does, you'll be happier in a tent outside town. Unless you're the sort of asshole who enjoys telling the neighbors whaqt they may do with their property - in that case, you'll fit right in. Avoid cities; not only are they crowded, unhealthy and ugly, they also have more silly rules to keep you from enjoying your property rights. They also have nosy cops to enforce them. Be sure to get a garage. Even if you don't have a car, someday you're going to want to work on something messy when the weather is less than wonderful. Garages are indispensable. Check the infrastructure. Is the electrical service large enough for all your toys? Is it on sewer, or a septic tank? How's the water? Clean and fresh, or rusty and inclined to reek of chlorine on Tuesdays? Do you get good cell phone coverage in the house or yard, or is it a black hole for cell signals? What Internet service is available, and what does it cost? Check the neighborhood. Do most of the neighbors keep the yard neat? That's good. Do all of them have immaculate yards? That's not good; check again for a HOA and run if you find one. Check the schools, if you have or plan to have kids. Do they have a good record? Good! Do they have armed guards every 50' along the barbed wire fence - not so good. Can you hear dogs barking all night? Or kids screaming? Do you care? Check the perimeter. Do you have a clear field of fire from all the doors and windows? At least 200 yards should be a minimum. Just a few items to look into... :)
Will Rogers never met me.
Great advice! :thumbsup: Unfortunately, I live in a city! :laugh: It is all of those things you mentioned, but it does have its benefits. It's definitely not for everyone.
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Location, location, location! We chose a bigger house over a nicer location and are feeling some regret. Have a drive around any potential purchase at 11 on a Saturday night and see what's going on
_Josh_ wrote:
Have a drive around any potential purchase at 11 on a Saturday night and see what's going on
I already have this habit from renting, so I guess it applies to buying as well, probably even more so since you don't really have the option to leave quickly.
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Congratulations ! If you're buying an existing house it depends: 1. You don't want to change a thing? Budget: You can go more expensive than option 2., but you will always want to change something, leave room in your budget to remove that bathroom or rebuild the terras. Leave about 1/5 to 1/3 of your budget for those things depending on the home. Structure: Make sure the structure is ok. Go to the first floor and jump up and down (no joke). Check for moisture problems. In Belgium we have problems with water in cellars, we check those things as well. Check if there's no draft under doors or windows. General: How's the electricity? How's plumbing, heating, ... Geographical: Where's the sun, where does the rain come from. Future: Kids, wife, family, friends they come and go as a matter of speech. Is the house big enough and adaptable enough? Can you throw parties for your CP fellow members? 2. You want to tear down the walls and rebuild it completely to your liking? Budget: Leave at least 1/4 of your budget open for unforeseen problems, those tiles that are just that bit nicer but twice as expensive, .... Structure: Make sure the structure is ok. Go to the first floor and jump up and down (no joke). Check for moisture problems. In Belgium we have problems with water in cellars, we check those things as well. Check if there's no draft under doors or windows. General: Think for the future. Isolation, electricity and other cabling. Will one bathroom do or might you want a second one in the future? ALWAYS go for maximum expension as budget allows. Adding a bathroom is no biggy, adding additional space is. Geographical: Where's the sun, where does the rain come from. Future: Kids, wife, family, friends they come and go as a matter of speech. Is the house big enough and adaptable enough? Can you throw parties for your CP fellow members? 3. Build completely new See 2. except of course you don't need to check the 'existing' house :-) Hope this helps!
V.
V. wrote:
Can you throw parties for your CP fellow members?
:laugh:
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That's pretty good advice, although I know the realtor pretty well though (friend of mine)...
Just remember other well know advice of not mixing business with pleasure (i.e. don't have friends involved with business). Think of it this way, even if your friend has all good intentions and provides you what he feels is a good inspector, if the inspector misses something you may very well blame your friend. In fact the inspector could be a good inspector but just makes an honest mistake (it happens) and your friendship could be ruined over it. Inspectors should be for all purposes completely independent of all parties involved. This also means don't use someone you know personally (relative etc.) for their judgment will be comprimised.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.