greetings all.
I've been referred to checking in here over a year ago before I got my job, and it has only gotten better. I work in the city of California, and live nearby. One of the things I regret was renting. Rather than buying a house and saving a huge amount than compared to what they are now, I rented for 1yr. My 1yr lease is near its end now, and guess what, its time to get a house. After figuring out that my apartments rent is equivalent to the mortgage of a $200,000 home, I was a bit shocked, as if paying $1,100/month on rent here wasnt a bit drastic. If I had bought a house, I wouldve gotten nearly all of my money back through tax returns, as well as seeing my property's price skyrocket through the year.
Im having a bit of a problem looking for a house, a place I would like to call home, at least for a while. If you asked me 6months ago if I would settle down here, I would have responded with a "hell no", but now that I got decent income, my opinion has changed a little (talking about just how bad this place is, is another subject). I've noticed the houses around here actually look like mobile homes, though the prices are astronomically increased. Most of the houses I see are rambler style (look like mobile homes), and a few "look" like regular houses, you know, the ones that dont look like a a trailer home without wheels. I have however found several houses I *would* buy, trust me I had to lower my quality levels by a HUGE margin. I just visited Tennessee before I moved here, where houses where grand (brand new) at $130k with .5 acres, vinyl sidings, 2 story 2+baths, that actually were READY to be sold, not some 1/2 arse jobs like Ive seen here. Ive seen some pretty bad, expensive homes recently, let me tell ya.
As if looking for a decent house wasnt difficult enough, Ive actually been able to land some near *contract* deals. EVERY house up on the internet is either "Sales Pending", or has "Contract" near its name, if it doesnt and I gave that realtor a phone call, its a "yes, it has a contract". On 2 occasions I've told my realtor, "ok, I want that house", but by the time we made our agreements and made an appointment to sign papers, guess what? I get the "someone just got the house" speech.
please do share on how you got your place you call home here. Ive been through a website that shows the price history of these homes, all of which were at LEAST 100k less than what they are now from 3-4years ago. While this is good for the people who already had houses, it made it very hard for those that dont, specially first time homebuyers like myself. I find it hard to find a decent place you would actually bring your friends to, and even harder to get a house thats not so expensive (i dont think thats a part of the vocabulary here), and last, one that doesnt get sold as soon as its put up for sale. Im getting to the point where I might just get a house I dont even like just so i can actually get those sweet tax returns and a place that I can actually do whatever I want to without having to share one wall of my house with deaf people that listen to music, and even in some cases, that house would have already been taken.
I've been referred to checking in here over a year ago before I got my job, and it has only gotten better. I work in the city of California, and live nearby. One of the things I regret was renting. Rather than buying a house and saving a huge amount than compared to what they are now, I rented for 1yr. My 1yr lease is near its end now, and guess what, its time to get a house. After figuring out that my apartments rent is equivalent to the mortgage of a $200,000 home, I was a bit shocked, as if paying $1,100/month on rent here wasnt a bit drastic. If I had bought a house, I wouldve gotten nearly all of my money back through tax returns, as well as seeing my property's price skyrocket through the year.
Im having a bit of a problem looking for a house, a place I would like to call home, at least for a while. If you asked me 6months ago if I would settle down here, I would have responded with a "hell no", but now that I got decent income, my opinion has changed a little (talking about just how bad this place is, is another subject). I've noticed the houses around here actually look like mobile homes, though the prices are astronomically increased. Most of the houses I see are rambler style (look like mobile homes), and a few "look" like regular houses, you know, the ones that dont look like a a trailer home without wheels. I have however found several houses I *would* buy, trust me I had to lower my quality levels by a HUGE margin. I just visited Tennessee before I moved here, where houses where grand (brand new) at $130k with .5 acres, vinyl sidings, 2 story 2+baths, that actually were READY to be sold, not some 1/2 arse jobs like Ive seen here. Ive seen some pretty bad, expensive homes recently, let me tell ya.
As if looking for a decent house wasnt difficult enough, Ive actually been able to land some near *contract* deals. EVERY house up on the internet is either "Sales Pending", or has "Contract" near its name, if it doesnt and I gave that realtor a phone call, its a "yes, it has a contract". On 2 occasions I've told my realtor, "ok, I want that house", but by the time we made our agreements and made an appointment to sign papers, guess what? I get the "someone just got the house" speech.
please do share on how you got your place you call home here. Ive been through a website that shows the price history of these homes, all of which were at LEAST 100k less than what they are now from 3-4years ago. While this is good for the people who already had houses, it made it very hard for those that dont, specially first time homebuyers like myself. I find it hard to find a decent place you would actually bring your friends to, and even harder to get a house thats not so expensive (i dont think thats a part of the vocabulary here), and last, one that doesnt get sold as soon as its put up for sale. Im getting to the point where I might just get a house I dont even like just so i can actually get those sweet tax returns and a place that I can actually do whatever I want to without having to share one wall of my house with deaf people that listen to music, and even in some cases, that house would have already been taken.
I feel for you, I really do. I hope I don't have to buy a house for a long time.
I see two choices. Suck it up or move to Tennessee.
