Is it a rip off or is it fair?

[SEABREEZE 1957]

http://realtor.com/FindHome/HomeListing.asp?snum=5&locallnk=yes&frm=byzip&mnbed=0&mnbath=0&mnprice=0&mxprice=99999999&js=off&pgnum=1&fid=so&stype=&mnsqft=&mls=xmls&areaid=20657&poe=realtor&zp=20657&sbint=&vtsort=&sorttype=&typ=1&typ=2&typ=4&x=77&y=10&sid=0706B0D536C1C&snumxlid=1063708160&lnksrc=00001

If that's going for 175k, then most of us could be millionaires...just MHO.

 

[sinwagon]

Why do I care? Reading other posts this morning where people are putting their hearts out to people who can't afford to live here because there are no affordable homes. People like our childrens teachers. I stumbled across this house when I was looking up some statistics for homes in Calvert County and it caught my eye.

Don't feel too sorry for the teachers, lets not forget Calvert County teachers are among the highest paid teachers in the state.

And...if you think it is high here, why not go up north a little bit???? Then you will see high.

I bought my 2700 sq ft. I guess its considered a rambler,4 bedroom, 3 full bath, finished basement on about 1/2 acre. 2 fireplaces, yada, yada, yada, 4 years ago at $172,000 in CRE, it is now appraised for about $340,000!

Don't knock the value of housing, while you are worried about those teachers, the equity allows me to send my kids to college.

 

[sinwagon]

I disagree, hospital bills, doctor bills, anesthesiologist, nursing all can and are reported to credit bureaus when considered in default. True, it is up to the hospital when to turn it over for collection or to call it in default or work it out with the patient but facts are facts.

Hospitals MAY be willing to work with people who have larger incomes on bills they deem can be paid off within a reasonable amount of time but what is their interest in a $40,000 bill to a couple that makes $40K a year? the hospital sells off the debt to collectors, takes the loss on taxes and moves on.

You have had a kid in the hospital lately yet you are lucky to have tricare and no doubt a supplement from your employer. Not everyone is so lucky. Hospital stays and sudden illness are the #1 cause of bankruptcy because the bills are typically huge.


Typically people budget for their lives during the good times with not much consideration for a catastrophe. A family of 4 can easily have their savings wiped out and be forced into bankruptcy. I make damn good change and I know I could not afford a $100,000 medical bill for Boy nor would I EVER refuse medical care based on that. Many people get caught between a rock and a hard place.

To say that the wife needs to get off her ass and get a job is about as pompous as it gets. First of all daycare for 5 kids would negate nearly anything she made. Second assuming that people all live by the "ItsBob's book of responsible living" and save 20% of their total income for catastrophic occurrences and anyone who doesn't is an irresponsible ####### and a blight on society is bullchit.

There are hundreds of thousands of hard working people in this country that do not suck on the nipple of the government contracts in our air conditioned offices like you and I do. They are the ones who change the tires on your BMW motorcycle and the oil in your new $10,000 lawn mower, dig ditches, put up fences and chop the lettuce in our crusted garlic shrimp salads at Applebees. I can guarantee you they don't make the coin to afford a $40K medical bill and be out of work for a couple months. How much "reserve" do YOU have handy right now?

To me, a job is a job and as long as we are all doing the VERY best that we can, that is all that matters. We only have something to prove to ourselves and our families.

With that said, I don't completely agree with the welfare system, I suppose it should be more selective in whom it offers benefits to. In line at Food lion this weekend while the lady held up the line with her WIC checks and her food stamps to answer her cell phone, now that pissed me off! Cell phones are not cheap and if you need the govt. to assist you with food, you should not have one!

You mentioned 5 kids, well in my opinion, these days people should not be having 5 kids unless they can afford them. Ok you have 1 or 2 and are scraping by but to have 3 more is irrisponsible! Its one thing if you have the 5 kids when you are able to afford them and then say God forbit a spouse dies leaving you to care for them, ok then maybe I can understand some assistance but not to the person that was/is/or has been on some type of assistance befor and continues to have them.

Health insurance should be offered to EVERYONE based on income, like a sliding scale if it is not offered through employment. That way if you make 20,000 or 120,000 you are contributing in some way and then at the end of the year, you should be able to claim some of those contributions.

Also, for mothers/fathers or whoever who receive a welfare check or whatever you should get a 1099 or W-2 from the state having to claim a portion as income. So often these welfare parents will get a job for a month just so they can then clean up on the earned income credit on their taxes. Once again, taking our money and getting back way more than they pay in!

 

[LordStanley]

To me, a job is a job and as long as we are all doing the VERY best that we can, that is all that matters. We only have something to prove to ourselves and our families.

With that said, I don't completely agree with the welfare system, I suppose it should be more selective in whom it offers benefits to. In line at Food lion this weekend while the lady held up the line with her WIC checks and her food stamps to answer her cell phone, now that pissed me off! Cell phones are not cheap and if you need the govt. to assist you with food, you should not have one!

You mentioned 5 kids, well in my opinion, these days people should not be having 5 kids unless they can afford them. Ok you have 1 or 2 and are scraping by but to have 3 more is irrisponsible! Its one thing if you have the 5 kids when you are able to afford them and then say God forbit a spouse dies leaving you to care for them, ok then maybe I can understand some assistance but not to the person that was/is/or has been on some type of assistance befor and continues to have them.

Health insurance should be offered to EVERYONE based on income, like a sliding scale if it is not offered through employment. That way if you make 20,000 or 120,000 you are contributing in some way and then at the end of the year, you should be able to claim some of those contributions.

Also, for mothers/fathers or whoever who receive a welfare check or whatever you should get a 1099 or W-2 from the state having to claim a portion as income. So often these welfare parents will get a job for a month just so they can then clean up on the earned income credit on their taxes. Once again, taking our money and getting back way more than they pay in!

 

[itsbob]

. But there are many more people, like me, that couldn't afford college for whom manual labor or customer service are the only choices.




_____________

I'm sorry, I was poor, and I went to college at the age of 38 with 4 kids at home.

Matter of fact there is no such thing as being too poor to go to school, as the poorer you are, the better. You would qualify for grants that would pay your tuition, and loans to help pay your room and board costs. Is it worth going 30 - 40K in debt to secure your future? Are the $113 loan payments worth the improved lifestyle I have now.. You bet your ass it is.

There are many programs in all states that the state will even pay your tuition if you chose specific majors. Science's, Math, Nursing are the big three in most states, and they usually GIVE you the tuition with no more then a guarantee from you that you will live and work in the state for two or three years after you graduate.

Most schools even have onsite daycare for their students, and the students are welcome to come visit their children between classes and take them lunch etc.. The cost of which can also be figured into your loan/ grant amounts.

SO it's up to you, is it worth it? Or is it easier just to be poor, and fight from paycheck to paycheck?

 

[sinwagon]

I'm sorry, I was poor, and I went to college at the age of 38 with 4 kids at home.

Matter of fact there is no such thing as being too poor to go to school, as the poorer you are, the better. You would qualify for grants that would pay your tuition, and loans to help pay your room and board costs. Is it worth going 30 - 40K in debt to secure your future? Are the $113 loan payments worth the improved lifestyle I have now.. You bet your ass it is.

There are many programs in all states that the state will even pay your tuition if you chose specific majors. Science's, Math, Nursing are the big three in most states, and they usually GIVE you the tuition with no more then a guarantee from you that you will live and work in the state for two or three years after you graduate.

Most schools even have onsite daycare for their students, and the students are welcome to come visit their children between classes and take them lunch etc.. The cost of which can also be figured into your loan/ grant amounts.

SO it's up to you, is it worth it? Or is it easier just to be poor, and fight from paycheck to paycheck?

You are exactly right! Infact, you know why I didn't go to school? Because they thought my parents were too rich! Combined back in 1992 they made $80,000 combined and although I lived on my own, they would not consider me as an adult and always based everything on my parents income. Now things have changed a bit but I believe back then you were not considered an individual until 23 I believe it was.

 

[Abby]

That's pretty much it. Only try adding up the income of four parents- who all went to college on scholarships (mostly musical) and won't contribute a dime. If only I'd gotten the gift of music!
That gray area between income brackets kills a lot of opportunities, and that's what broke in the 'burbs means. I'm almost 30 and just started taking online courses. I've been saving what I could from my web work for years so I could do it. It is also a conscious choice not to be in debt, which my husband and I made four years ago.

 

[Pete]

I'm sorry, I was poor, and I went to college at the age of 38 with 4 kids at home.

Matter of fact there is no such thing as being too poor to go to school, as the poorer you are, the better. You would qualify for grants that would pay your tuition, and loans to help pay your room and board costs. Is it worth going 30 - 40K in debt to secure your future? Are the $113 loan payments worth the improved lifestyle I have now.. You bet your ass it is.

There are many programs in all states that the state will even pay your tuition if you chose specific majors. Science's, Math, Nursing are the big three in most states, and they usually GIVE you the tuition with no more then a guarantee from you that you will live and work in the state for two or three years after you graduate.

Most schools even have onsite daycare for their students, and the students are welcome to come visit their children between classes and take them lunch etc.. The cost of which can also be figured into your loan/ grant amounts.

SO it's up to you, is it worth it? Or is it easier just to be poor, and fight from paycheck to paycheck?

Yea I went to college in my 30's, not wealthy, single parent. If it were not for Navy Tuition assistance, and GI Bill, and helpful neighbors watching Boy I would never have done it. The fact of the matter is with all the assistance and breaks you get by being active or retired military it makes going to college significantly easier than the guy cutting pipe at Lowes.

 

[itsbob]

Yea I went to college in my 30's, not wealthy, single parent. If it were not for Navy Tuition assistance, and GI Bill, and helpful neighbors watching Boy I would never have done it. The fact of the matter is with all the assistance and breaks you get by being active or retired military it makes going to college significantly easier than the guy cutting pipe at Lowes.

Well, when I started going, all I was getting from Uncle Sam was $225 a month.. (VEAP). I delivered pizzas, and worked at a video store..

But, in my school I was in a campus club called RACS(Returning and Commuting Students). Over half of our members were women that were left to provide for their families after the husband abandoned them, or had died. They were 100% going on grants, loans and assistance from the state. They sacrificed for a few years to guarantee their families would have a secure future, and I'd say about 90% of them succeeded.

We even had the state come in to give classes to these same members, to see if they were missing some benefits that they could use. For example, the state would pay their car repair bills to make sure they could get to school. Day Care vouchers for day care providers licensed by the state.. gas money.. Medical cards for them and their families... the list goes on and on. If you WANT to go to school, there is a way, the money is there.

I would much rather see a man or woman taking advantage of the state systems to provide them a way to get an education, then to see them on the dole for the next 30 or 40 years.

And some day, maybe not soon, but someday there will be a BC Scholarship Fund, where I can find people (starting with one person at a time) on the street in similar situations like mine, and help them financially get through school. If you'd like to donate to this cause, I'll send you my Pay-Pal info.

 

[Pete]

Well, when I started going, all I was getting from Uncle Sam was $225 a month.. (VEAP). I delivered pizzas, and worked at a video store..

But, in my school I was in a campus club called RACS(Returning and Commuting Students). Over half of our members were women that were left to provide for their families after the husband abandoned them, or had died. They were 100% going on grants, loans and assistance from the state. They sacrificed for a few years to guarantee their families would have a secure future, and I'd say about 90% of them succeeded.

We even had the state come in to give classes to these same members, to see if they were missing some benefits that they could use. For example, the state would pay their car repair bills to make sure they could get to school. Day Care vouchers for day care providers licensed by the state.. gas money.. Medical cards for them and their families... the list goes on and on. If you WANT to go to school, there is a way, the money is there.

I would much rather see a man or woman taking advantage of the state systems to provide them a way to get an education, then to see them on the dole for the next 30 or 40 years.

And some day, maybe not soon, but someday there will be a BC Scholarship Fund, where I can find people (starting with one person at a time) on the street in similar situations like mine, and help them financially get through school. If you'd like to donate to this cause, I'll send you my Pay-Pal info.

VEAP did stink on ice. Why didn'y you use Army TA? I didn't think you could use VEAP until you paid in all the money and got out. How many CLEP's did you take for free at the Army Campus office? How many credits for military equivalent training were you given? Did you buy into GI Bill for VEAP people in 2001? $2,700 buy in gives you up to $30K in benefits up to 10 years after retirement.

 

[itsbob]

VEAP did stink on ice. Why didn'y you use Army TA? I didn't think you could use VEAP until you paid in all the money and got out. How many CLEP's did you take for free at the Army Campus office? How many credits for military equivalent training were you given? Did you buy into GI Bill for VEAP people in 2001? $2,700 buy in gives you up to $30K in benefits up to 10 years after retirement.

Well, let me backtrack, I did have my retirement too.. But that 50% retirement sure didn't ad up to anywhere near 50% of what I was making while on active duty.

YES, I did buy into the GIBILL, and it took me MONTHS of fighting with the VA over it. After calling and getting "I never heard of it" I finally got Congressman Bob Smith involved. I got the letter first week of October, with the warning "Must be completed prior to 31 October", I got the congressman involved about the 20th of October, and was guaranteed it the VA didn't have it done on time I would still be eligible. Then I had to convince the wife at the time, that the $2700 payout would be worth the $1000 a month benefit for 48 months(it's now up to $1400 a month). What part of 2700 for $48,000 is a GOOD investment didn't she understand??.. sometimes math just escapes people. So now, I've got my BS, and recently completed my Masters, and still have 18 months of benefits left (they didn't count the VEAP time against my 48 months of benefits).

CLEP, took two tests English and Math for 6 credits each. Took SOME classes while I was in, but spent too much time in the field to do it when I was young, then started up again on my own dime when I was down to my last two years.

They gave me an inordinate amount of credits for military experience, but not many went towards my degree, I graduated with a Bachelors (normally 120 SH) with 169 Semester Hours.

Believe me, I know I had it good when I went to school, even though I was below the poverty line, and many had it a loss worse then I, but they still did it.

 

[Pete]

Well, let me backtrack, I did have my retirement too.. But that 50% retirement sure didn't ad up to anywhere near 50% of what I was making while on active duty..

Very true but retainer pay for an E-7 is nearly what some people make a year. 2,080 work hours per year /$18900 annual retainer pay = $$9.10 an hour.

YES, I did buy into the GIBILL, and it took me MONTHS of fighting with the VA over it. After calling and getting "I never heard of it" I finally got Congressman Bob Smith involved. I got the letter first week of October, with the warning "Must be completed prior to 31 October", I got the congressman involved about the 20th of October, and was guaranteed it the VA didn't have it done on time I would still be eligible. Then I had to convince the wife at the time, that the $2700 payout would be worth the $1000 a month benefit for 48 months(it's now up to $1400 a month). What part of 2700 for $48,000 is a GOOD investment didn't she understand??.. sometimes math just escapes people. So now, I've got my BS, and recently completed my Masters, and still have 18 months of benefits left (they didn't count the VEAP time against my 48 months of benefits)..

Good many people didn't and now they regret it.

So you used 30 months of GIB, probably about $1000 a month average, thats $30K in education benefits

CLEP, took two tests English and Math for 6 credits each. Took SOME classes while I was in, but spent too much time in the field to do it when I was young, then started up again on my own dime when I was down to my last two years.

Excellent, than means you got to skip 4 classes at about $300 per semester hours each, thats about $3,600, plus the few classes that you did take early on.

They gave me an inordinate amount of credits for military experience, but not many went towards my degree, I graduated with a Bachelors (normally 120 SH) with 169 Semester Hours.

Wow, thats alot of wasted credits. I had some wasted credits because most military training is used to fill electives. Most BS degrees have free electives you can fill with anything. A quick check looks that most degrees have an average of 8 free electives thats about $7,200.

Believe me, I know I had it good when I went to school, even though I was below the poverty line, and many had it a loss worse then I, but they still did it.

So see, my point is that a quick glance shows you got about $41,000 in education benefits AND your retirement yet you had to deliver pizza's to do your education. It's not so easy for Joe Blow mechanic at Jiffy Lube who doesn't have the $41,000 leg up and a monthly check from Uncle Sugar while they go to school.

Not to mention those people out there who are just not college material and there are a bunch of them.

 

[Chain729]

You are exactly right! Infact, you know why I didn't go to school? Because they thought my parents were too rich! Combined back in 1992 they made $80,000 combined and although I lived on my own, they would not consider me as an adult and always based everything on my parents income. Now things have changed a bit but I believe back then you were not considered an individual until 23 I believe it was.

Same here, except it was 2001, 2 parents and the amounts were higher.

23 is still the age, unless you're married, a ward of the court, have dependants, or are working on a Master's or Doctorate. Parents through me out at 17 (I was still in HS), wouldn't pay for college and wouldn't make me a ward of the court so that I could get help with school. So, I paid for what I could and stopped when the money (had a bit saved) and time ran out.

Now, at 22, I'm trying to get back to school, but still can't without a paycheck. I'm having a hard time getting the classes I need because most of them are in the day ONLY (CSM's get a degree at night crap is BS). Though, I do have an employer that is willing to help with school, and so is the gov't side- and I plan on using that to my full advantage.

Bob, aside from starting with FAFSA, where do you recommend to start looking for aid for college? I know someone that has kids and can't afford school but is looking for a way to go.

 

[Chain729]

What do y'all think? Is this a rip off or fair game?

1 story home built in CRE in 1968. No basement, 616 square feet, two bedroom, on .23 acres. Not water front or lake view, just in the middle of many houses.
Purchased 8/30/1994 for $58,125
Owner dies, home is paid off already and left to daughter for $0. Daughter lives out of state and wants to sell home. It is put on the market for $175,000

So is this a rip off, another case of real estate prices being pushed out of proportion, or is it fair? I talked with one guy and he said that you should get as much as you can get away with when selling property. It would be stupid to under sell yourself.

Its fair to charge whatever she wants to charge. Houses are usually listed above the appraisal. Appraisals are based on what houses sell for, and listing them higher is part of how they increase. Personally, I think its an over-priced shoe-box; but if they want to charge that much, they're must be someone out there willing to pay it- or pay something close to it. That's fair.

What does it matter what her father bought it for? Things aren't worth what you pay for them, they're worth what you can sell them for- and you'd be a fool to sell something for less than what someone else will give you for it (family is an exclusion). Welcome to capitalism.

 

[itsbob]

Bob, aside from starting with FAFSA, where do you recommend to start looking for aid for college? I know someone that has kids and can't afford school but is looking for a way to go.

I don't know how well it worked out, but I had a friend in PA who wanted to go to Nursing school. She hadn't lived with her parents since she was 16, but they still held her parents income against her, she then went to court and got emancipated. Again, i don't know if it worked, or how well it worked as far as finAid, but last time I saw her she was in a four year BSN program.

Get to the school, first and foremost figure out what school you want to go to, then go directly to their financial aid office. Their whole purpose in life is to find ways for people that are accepted to go to their school, to find them the financing to do it. They can tell you about state programs to apply to, grants and scholarships alumni offer etc..

I don't know if this is true, but I do know one story where it applied. It's easier to find money to go to an IV league school then to a community college. LOT of benefactors out there willing to shell out someones tuition money.

So for your friends, have the kids get accepted to several schools, and then work the financial aid offices. One or more of them will find them a way to get in school.

ALSO, some financial experts say... Don't have a college fund for your kids. Those state funded savings programs etc.. They count against financial aid dollar for dollar.. it's better to put your money into an IRA for YOU, then if they need it, you can elect to withdraw without penalty to help with their school costs... and still qualify for financial aid.

 

[BadGirl]

ALSO, some financial experts say... Don't have a college fund for your kids. Those state funded savings programs etc.. They count against financial aid dollar for dollar.. it's better to put your money into an IRA for YOU, then if they need it, you can elect to withdraw without penalty to help with their school costs... and still qualify for financial aid.

Yep. It is best to finance your retirement. Your son/daughter can always get a scholarship or take out a loan to go to school, but you cannot take out a loan to fund your retirement.

 

[Chain729]

I don't know how well it worked out, but I had a friend in PA who wanted to go to Nursing school. She hadn't lived with her parents since she was 16, but they still held her parents income against her, she then went to court and got emancipated. Again, i don't know if it worked, or how well it worked as far as finAid, but last time I saw her she was in a four year BSN program.

Get to the school, first and foremost figure out what school you want to go to, then go directly to their financial aid office. Their whole purpose in life is to find ways for people that are accepted to go to their school, to find them the financing to do it. They can tell you about state programs to apply to, grants and scholarships alumni offer etc..

I don't know if this is true, but I do know one story where it applied. It's easier to find money to go to an IV league school then to a community college. LOT of benefactors out there willing to shell out someones tuition money.

So for your friends, have the kids get accepted to several schools, and then work the financial aid offices. One or more of them will find them a way to get in school.

ALSO, some financial experts say... Don't have a college fund for your kids. Those state funded savings programs etc.. They count against financial aid dollar for dollar.. it's better to put your money into an IRA for YOU, then if they need it, you can elect to withdraw without penalty to help with their school costs... and still qualify for financial aid.

I knew about the emancipation rule, but my mother wouldn't go for it. She didn't want to say that abandoned me. Unfortunately, that screwed things up for me more than she'll ever allow herself to realize. And, at the time, I didn't have the funds or knowledge to start the process myself.

About the friend, GF actually, sorry, it came out wrong. She wants to go to school, the kids are still young. I mentioned it, because you mentioned that you can get help with that and I know how much child care can cost.

Thanks for the information. I'll talk her into doing that. She has some fear about needing to know the financial end of it before she'll even look into the rest.

I also didn't know about the college fund rules. It's nice to know for future reference.

 

[Bronwyn]

Its fair to charge whatever she wants to charge. Houses are usually listed above the appraisal. Appraisals are based on what houses sell for, and listing them higher is part of how they increase. Personally, I think its an over-priced shoe-box; but if they want to charge that much, they're must be someone out there willing to pay it- or pay something close to it. That's fair.

What does it matter what her father bought it for? Things aren't worth what you pay for them, they're worth what you can sell them for- and you'd be a fool to sell something for less than what someone else will give you for it (family is an exclusion). Welcome to capitalism.

I agree with you that it's fair that each individual should get what they can for the property that they are selling. The sense of unfairness that I get from it is the overall picture. The high cost of housing here. I love MD, don't get me wrong. I'm not going to run off to TN to buy a large house for less.

I'm no expert in the housing market. Are the prices here so high because Maryland has the third highest median income in the USA? Or do we have the third highest median income because people can't afford to move here? Like I said. I'm no expert by any means....