Home Owners Thread

[jedi03]

nice houses there! just paid mine off an got several offers from the "quick" buyers....wife is interested but i dont want to pay these insane prices to get into another reasonable house...

[Phlip]

I closed on this house in 2009 on an FHA loan at 93.9k

Three people who I KNOW see this thread have been inside of the house.

With aggressive overpayment, I owe about 57k right now. I listed it ?coming soon? on July 30 for 117k. The following Tuesday, I had an offer for 130k.
Note: my morning run COULD take me all the way downtown of the third largest city in my state and 68th in the nation if not for the fact that the last half mile would be lined with crackheads and street walkers (note: I grew up in THAT neighborhood).
I accepted the 130.

Given that I moved into this house single while making a whole $20k LESS a year than I do now ? and my current wife makes more than me ? the $70k we?re about to clear will put us in position for something bigger and better?

BUT

The fact that we are two weeks from getting 130k for a house that had dipped to 75 JUST three year ago suggests a level of motherfucking insanity in the market right now. Like to the point where we will be able to easily afford whatever we move into, but can?t promise that this rally in the value will hold.
On top of that, NOTHING lasts more than a week in this damned market.

What I CAN say, though, is that the longer this shit drags out the better my credit score coming into it is.

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by Phlip

I closed on this house in 2009 on an FHA loan at 93.9k

Three people who I KNOW see this thread have been inside of the house.

With aggressive overpayment, I owe about 57k right now. I listed it ?coming soon? on July 30 for 117k. The following Tuesday, I had an offer for 130k.
Note: my morning run COULD take me all the way downtown of the third largest city in my state and 68th in the nation if not for the fact that the last half mile would be lined with crackheads and street walkers (note: I grew up in THAT neighborhood).
I accepted the 130.

Given that I moved into this house single while making a whole $20k LESS a year than I do now ? and my current wife makes more than me ? the $70k we?re about to clear will put us in position for something bigger and better?

BUT

The fact that we are two weeks from getting 130k for a house that had dipped to 75 JUST three year ago suggests a level of motherfucking insanity in the market right now. Like to the point where we will be able to easily afford whatever we move into, but can?t promise that this rally in the value will hold.
On top of that, NOTHING lasts more than a week in this damned market.

What I CAN say, though, is that the longer this shit drags out the better my credit score coming into it is.

Congrats. Sounds like my situation.

Bought my first house in 2008 just before the collapse. Paid $88k. By 2009 the house was worth $65k assuming anyone could buy it.

Fast forward, 2020, I owed $23k, had put ~$30k into it over 12 years and sold it for $105k - Hurray for shit hole Midwest.

What rocks your mind, the house I bought sold for $250k in 2015. It was listed for $320k in 2020 and I paid $360k after a biding war.

Better yet, my market assessment is at $430k and a house down the street sold for $460k. It has a 3 car garage and extra bedroom, but gross carpet floors (I'm ceramic) and no pool or built in grilling patio. Their lot is also icky.
So... yeah.


What makes most of this possible is we are seeing just mind blowing interest rates that literally translate into tens of thousands in savings. 2009 rates where close to 5% compared to the sub 2% rates we now see. Also, with the Commie Cough, massive upheavals in peoples lives and living patterns. Not to mention last summers riots and skyrocketing urban crime.

Flee the cities for the suburbs while you can!

[Phlip]

Got the money for my old house on 9/24, about a week after going under contract on my new house.
4bd/3ba, 1900ish square feet with a single-car garage, large deck and big back yard with a newish storage building for $237.5k in a nice quiet neighborhood that was nice before, but is still on the comeup.
I should be closing within the next two and a half weeks, as soon as my agent and the buyer can get it scheduled.

[souljaseth33]

Purchased my first house earlier this year here in Upstate NY. We (fianc? & I) were lucky enough to purchase from family and get it cheap. Nice to have an oversized 2 car garage, but filling fast with the s13 & multiple bikes. Cannot wait to get the place updated and be able to work around in the garage.

[boostedoxide]

Sheet, I'll contribute.. check out visitblairsville.com That's the domain I bought to use as a catchy name for selling my old (first time) place. Made enough from that deal to roll into a 5th wheel toy hauler and buy a couple new toys. ..... I've been MIA for a long time, are there any OG's still on the forums these days?

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by Phlip

Got the money for my old house on 9/24, about a week after going under contract on my new house.
4bd/3ba, 1900ish square feet with a single-car garage, large deck and big back yard with a newish storage building for $237.5k in a nice quiet neighborhood that was nice before, but is still on the comeup.
I should be closing within the next two and a half weeks, as soon as my agent and the buyer can get it scheduled.

-UPDATE-
Closing next Wednesday at 225k... I will be in to paint the whole thing Friday and start moving our shit in on Saturday.

[Future240]

Owning a home is so wonderful until stuff breaks.

Right now in my house

Hot water heater started leaking
When it rains hard water comes out a light fixture (roof only 5 years old)
Top side a/c unit on the fritz
All of this happened in the last 6 months

[crash n' burn]

Got our tentative closing date of Dec 10th!! After the in-house mortage company called to try and lock us in, its looking like 2.875% before points. Not bad considering the current affairs but I think I may throw some doll-hairs at it to try and snag a 2.5% if I can.

Nice to see the drywall in and ready for stucco. I have soo much shit I have to start buying though. Networking equipment, media hub, mini rack, cameras, jackshaft openers, etc etc. Nowhere has fridges in stock that complete our appliance suite either..I'm getting a little worried about it.

[collegekid]

How the hell are you people getting those houses for those prices?

Around me, shit is through the roof.

A 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom house on atleast .25 acres in a decent school district is 450k minimum with several major repairs needed (ex - kitchen from 1973, atleast one bathroom needs immediate renovation, etc)

The same house mentioned above with decent bathrooms and kitchen is about 550k.


My dad just paid 470k for a 2 bed 2 bath rancher on a 10,000 square foot lot. Granted, everything is fully renovated and he is in a nice neighborhood.

Should I just wait for this shit to cool or ACT NOW before its too late?

[Phlip]

Closed Wednesday, the seller was on some NEXT shit (mostly it was her lying-ass agent though) so it took threat of legal action to get her to sign on Saturday. Garage is cleared and back yard is fenced. All our shit inside the house and being unpacked now.
I will post some pics when I am off at the end of this week.

[SupaDoopa]

My girl and I just bought a 2-acre property with a 3-bed, 2-bath bungalow-style home back in April. We have a shed with power and a pellet stove for my wife - which we are converting into a little she-shed where she can paint and do her own thing in and eventually I'll clear some of the wooded area in the back and toss a nice garage on it if we plan to stay long term. Ideally, we wanted to move up north to New Hampshire/Vermont but until I'm done with my MBA, I don't think we'll toss a lot of cash into the home unless the market stays as out of control as it is now. The kitchen and bathrooms are remodeled but the rest of the home is still semi-rustic as most homes are in this area. It's a farming community so most of our neighbors have horses and hunting dogs and shit like that so I'm pretty at peace when I go home. However, I'd love to be in the middle of no where in a free state where I can go to Walmart with a fucking crossbow and shotgun on my back covered in RealTree with my two Aussies riding shotgun to go get some cereal or some shit. My in-laws have a vacation home in North Conway on the Saco River and in the summer, we basically go there every weekend. Get drunk, go swimming in the Saco which is right in the backyard [this is a river that is supplied by Mount Washington], and go hiking and shit.

But, I agree. Homeowning is amazing until you're caught with your pants down and need to invest a pretty penny in repairs or something like a roof - which mine will need soon.

[Future240]

Fuck providers who only fix the problems not the cause.

Been having issues at my house with water. First water heater starting leaking then literally bottom blew out of it. No biggie was super old. Next the expansion tank on it pops. Was super rusty on the inside figured must have gotten an old one. My toilet flush vale goes out. No biggie who knows how long its been in there. My toilet flush vale on the toilet that is less than 5 years old starts squealing like a stuck pig when it flushes. Weird but it flushes.
--
New hot water heater starts to leak fml.jpg. I already know its like 800 to buy one. I get a plumber's info from someone I trust. Bro comes over. Is exactly on time. He does some things then explains to me all of my issues are due to my water pressure being nigh DOUBLE what it should be. My water pressure valve had failed and i was geting full pressure straight from the street into my house. The water pressue had blown the seals out of the new hot water heater. $125 later new hot water seal, new pressure valve and he cut off a hose that got stuck on a spigot.

He told me prior plumbers would have known but chose not to address the pressure issue as they knew stuff would break and I would have to call them again.

[Corbic]

Fun times. At least you don't have to worry about having a new well drilled and a new septic tank put in.

[Phlip]

Since moving in approximately a week before Zilvia shit the bed, the only major issue was a plumbing backup caused by the woman we bought the house from having been flushing her woman products. Jammed up the valve in front of the house and I had standing shitwater in my ground floor bathroom at 7am when I came down to get ready for work.
Luckily our plumber is a close friend of a friend, and lives a block away, so he was here in minutes for a $562 emergency.
Other than that, I am dealing with the fact that she gave an approximate FUCK about the lawn and I am still fighting crab grass in the front yard a couple months into the season. If I'd have known it was this bad, I would have tilled and reseeded instead of aerating and overseeding.

[Dutchmalmiss]

Originally Posted by Phlip

Since moving in approximately a week before Zilvia shit the bed, the only major issue was a plumbing backup caused by the woman we bought the house from having been flushing her woman products. Jammed up the valve in front of the house and I had standing shitwater in my ground floor bathroom at 7am when I came down to get ready for work.
Luckily our plumber is a close friend of a friend, and lives a block away, so he was here in minutes for a $562 emergency.
Other than that, I am dealing with the fact that she gave an approximate FUCK about the lawn and I am still fighting crab grass in the front yard a couple months into the season. If I'd have known it was this bad, I would have tilled and reseeded instead of aerating and overseeding.

Ooooo lawncare is my next chapter. This shit does wonders:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My question now is: do I fertilize, overseed, then topsoil? The existing grass is all good, I'm just doing kind of a combo of seasonal upkeep along with patching up all the spots I pulled weeds from.

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by Dutchmalmiss

Ooooo lawncare is my next chapter. This shit does wonders:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My question now is: do I fertilize, overseed, then topsoil? The existing grass is all good, I'm just doing kind of a combo of seasonal upkeep along with patching up all the spots I pulled weeds from.

If you have good soil and have pulled the weeds, then you should be fine to fertilize at this point in the season. In the fall I would aerate, overseed and fertilize. Apply a preemergent if weeds will be a problem.

[FaLKoN240]

Originally Posted by Future240

Fuck providers who only fix the problems not the cause.

Been having issues at my house with water. First water heater started leaking then literally bottom blew out of it. No biggie was super old. Next, the expansion tank on it pops. Was super rusty on the inside figured must have gotten an old one. My toilet flush valve goes out. No biggie who knows how long it's been in there. My toilet flush valve on the toilet that is less than 5 years old starts squealing like a stuck pig when it flushes. Weird but it flushes.
--
The new hot water heater starts to leak fml.jpg. I already know it's like 800 to buy one. I get a plumber's info from someone I trust. Bro comes over. Is exactly on time. He does some things then explains to me all of my issues are due to my water pressure being nigh DOUBLE what it should be. My water pressure valve had failed and I was getting full pressure straight from the street into my house. The water pressure had blown the seals out of the new hot water heater. $125 later new hot water seal, a new pressure valve and he cut off a hose that got stuck on a spigot.

He told me prior plumbers would have known but chose not to address the pressure issue as they knew stuff would break and I would have to call them again.

How long have you been in that house? When I got our home inspection done checking the water pressure was part of the inspection.

Ours was about 50% over the suggested rate.

Had to pay a plumber to replace the valve as it was rusted and couldn't be adjusted. Didn't want to risk a pipe burst of any of the issues that you just described O_o

[AKADriver]

A little pressure gauge that fits on a hose bibb is a good $15 investment, especially if you ever have problems like water hammer and squealing/banging pipes and valves. When my pressure regulator went out the regulator itself was making a weird rattling noise that echoed through the house.

[Phlip]

I've noticed the past couple of months, ESPECIALLY since my office directly faces the street and I open the blinds every morning, that about once a week or so someone drives past my house and takes a picture.
After some time on Google, I learned that this happens when a house is sold within the past year, real estate agents are using the house for comps on other houses that are now currently selling nearby.
As much as I hate it, it is also perfectly legal for these people to photograph my house from the street.

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by Phlip

I've noticed the past couple of months, ESPECIALLY since my office directly faces the street and I open the blinds every morning, that about once a week or so someone drives past my house and takes a picture.
After some time on Google, I learned that this happens when a house is sold within the past year, real estate agents are using the house for comps on other houses that are now currently selling nearby.
As much as I hate it, it is also perfectly legal for these people to photograph my house from the street.

I take photos of houses all the time, especially when I'm walking.

Usually it's to send to the wife because they have a neat accent, paint scheme, land scape, tree, etc.

I'd be more worried about the random hoodlum rolling real slow with their busted up Honda accord, black tint windows, window down, stinking of pot, vaping and is looking around to steal packages off porches or grab-n-dash shit out of open garages.

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by Corbic

I'd be more worried about the random hoodlum rolling real slow with their busted up Honda accord, black tint windows, window down, stinking of pot, vaping and is looking around to steal packages off porches or grab-n-dash shit out of open garages.

I lived on a main road before and while the neighborhood was not bad, it was more an issue there than here in the back of a neighborhood full of business owners. That element would stick out like a sore thumb. The people photographing the house have been in a Honda HR-V, a Benz wagon and a brand-ass new Jeep Grand Cherokee, not some clapped-out shit obviously casing a neighborhood.

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by Phlip

I lived on a main road before and while the neighborhood was not bad, it was more an issue there than here in the back of a neighborhood full of business owners. That element would stick out like a sore thumb. The people photographing the house have been in a Honda HR-V, a Benz wagon and a brand-ass new Jeep Grand Cherokee, not some clapped-out shit obviously casing a neighborhood.

Maybe you are just under Fed surveillance.

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by Corbic

Maybe you are just under Fed surveillance.

A black dude who writes short stories, drinks bourbon and has three dogs. They're wasting their fucking time on me.

[collegekid]

Originally Posted by Corbic

I take photos of houses all the time, especially when I'm walking.

Usually it's to send to the wife because they have a neat accent, paint scheme, land scape, tree, etc.

I'd be more worried about the random hoodlum rolling real slow with their busted up Honda accord, black tint windows, window down, stinking of pot, vaping and is looking around to steal packages off porches or grab-n-dash shit out of open garages.

Glad to know I'm not the only one like "Man.....that's a nice boulder"

Originally Posted by Corbic

Maybe you are just under Fed surveillance.

Originally Posted by Phlip

A black dude who writes short stories, drinks bourbon and has three dogs. They're wasting their fucking time on me.

Prior to my girlfriend working at an unnamed agency, they had a 6 month long background check on her. Towards the end of it, they called her and asked her if she had a boyfriend. She said yes. They asked why she didn't inform them of that.
Her: "No one asked me that question."
Them: "Hmmm..."

Another 3 months went by. They cleared her to start working.

It took them 3 months to clear a brown dude who: browses memes, plays a disturbing amount of HCR2, drinks coconut water, and has 3 dogs.



Anyone in here who purchased a home in the past two years have any regrets or advise?
I'm still hunting for a house as a first time buyer, but beyond the specs of the house [ 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, 2000+ above grade square footage + basement, 0.50 acre min, 2 car garage ] what else should I keep an eye out for?
I have a big excel file full of requirements [ no easements, minimum distance between neighboring houses, school districts, ambient noise levels, etc ]. I'm looking for some dad level advice.

[AKADriver]

The only thing that's really changed in the past few years is the insanity of pricing and bidding wars. And that depends on your market. Based on your requirements you must be somewhere that's not as hot as my area... here that would be a very rare, well over $1MM property, not a first time purchase for most folks.

The biggest thing after the location of the lot and the size of the building that's hard to change about a house is the grade of the lot. My house is at a low point on the street, my driveway and backyard are both pretty steep, I've had to put a lot of money and work into improving drainage and my house is 40 years old. I don't know how the basement wasn't just constantly wet before I got the house and had the basement flood twice. My in-laws bought this house in '89. I think neighbors may have added patios and additions that sent more water my way.

Second thing I'd think about is take the long view on energy. When I bought my first place almost 20 years ago I would've been all in on gas, price was plummeting, and it was the most efficient way to make heat by far. Now I'd try to get away from it. If I were building my dream house from scratch right now I'd design it around Asian style mini-split heat pumps instead of central air and a furnace, efficiency is insane for both heating and cooling, and it's future-proof.

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by collegekid

Anyone in here who purchased a home in the past two years have any regrets or advise?
I'm still hunting for a house as a first time buyer, but beyond the specs of the house [ 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, 2000+ above grade square footage + basement, 0.50 acre min, 2 car garage ] what else should I keep an eye out for?
I have a big excel file full of requirements [ no easements, minimum distance between neighboring houses, school districts, ambient noise levels, etc ]. I'm looking for some dad level advice.

I purchased in October and regret nothing. I got the house for under asking and my interest rate is BEAUTIFUL.
I have room for my stuff and enough yard for my buddies to run to their heart's content.

I don't know where you live but in my area of NC, the property you just described will START at about $350k, but will assuredly be in a great neighborhood, but will be further from the middle of the city than I am comfortable with personally. You want something like that closer to the middle of the city and it'll be closer to 450-500ish.

[S13SilviaGirl]

Originally Posted by Corbic

Fun times. At least you don't have to worry about having a new well drilled and a new septic tank put in.

I have a jet well pump (sits in my basement)....and the idiots had added onto the house...OVER THE WELL ACCESS....so hoping we can just switch out just the actual jet pump and hopefully not have to do a whole new well.

[S13SilviaGirl]

Originally Posted by collegekid

Anyone in here who purchased a home in the past two years have any regrets or advise?
I'm still hunting for a house as a first time buyer, but beyond the specs of the house [ 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, 2000+ above grade square footage + basement, 0.50 acre min, 2 car garage ] what else should I keep an eye out for?
I have a big excel file full of requirements [ no easements, minimum distance between neighboring houses, school districts, ambient noise levels, etc ]. I'm looking for some dad level advice.

Look for roots around base of house, trees, rot, look for solid foundation and little to no cracks. Check the roof line, look for where the nearest fire hydrant is (can help on insurance costs if it is closer). Check utilities in the area (some places are astronomically more than the next town over).

Look at the home at all hours of the day...you do NOT want to have shitty neighbors that blast crap music at 3 am, 2pm and all times in between.

I always do sexual offender checks within the area (though I have 2 kids so this is something important to me).

I thought I bought far enough out of the city...I am still considered apart of the town I live in, but "outside city limits" which is SO nice in so many ways...but everyone is developing around me....guess I should have bought in the middle of a forest.

If you live where it snows...find out how they maintain the streets where you are at. Where I am, some areas are maintained better.

Also, never hurts to go talk to the neighbors and get first hand opinion of the area you are looking at and any potential issues.

Also, interest rates suck ass right now, sadly.

Also, look into programs for first time buyers. A lot of states and cities have them, most realtors can guide ya in navigating them.

On that note, get a good realtor...not a dirtbag that is just wanting a quick $$ and closing no matter the cost.

[AKADriver]

Originally Posted by S13SilviaGirl

Look at the home at all hours of the day...you do NOT want to have shitty neighbors that blast crap music at 3 am, 2pm and all times in between.

I always do sexual offender checks within the area (though I have 2 kids so this is something important to me).

Not discounting the value of this stuff, just remember that it's dynamic. You can't always control who else moves in, especially with a lot of people selling to cash investors who just rent them out, and then the renters sublet and you have 10 cars parked down the block.