Clueless about home buying.... Seriously considering, but....

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carolina

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Well, technically speaking, no, your rent is not just going down the drain.  It's providing a place for you and the kitties to live.  But yes, I think you could find a house with payments and utilities for less than that, by a long ways.

If you want to sit down and discuss some of this, let me know.  I would sure like to see you in a nice home of  your own.

Four bedroom homes are easier to resell, because you can use 3 as bedrooms and one as an office.
you are right Mike, those were not the best choice of words.... Yes, money is not going to trash, it is giving me and the kitties a roof, and ensuring they are well taken care of. I guess it is just not being invested properly; as it could been.
I would definitely love to talk to you, let me get back in town and we arrange coffee or something; thank you so much for the offer! :hugs:
 

c1atsite

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Maybe you already know, but there's a great resource named city-data.com that is full of current, meaningful statistics and loads of local insight/advice. spending time on that site sometimes feels like an education. If I were looking to buy property, I imagine I'd bookmark and lean on that site quite a bit. It's the 72nd most popular website in America, supposedly.  http://www.city-data.com/forum/#u-s-forums
 
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carolina

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So..... I am home hunting :clap:
Well, kind of :lol:
I got pre-qualified for a loan, and got the go ahead to go shopping for a home.
Of course you go online and see all these houses..... Then only when you drive by you really SEE them. Long story short, from my first trip, I think I visited 5 I liked on paper, and none made the cut.
The ones that were great homes were in awful neighborhoods. There was a good one, in an ok neighborhood, but so far from the fwy and from everything.... I don't know.... :confused: then there were bad ones in bad neighborhoods :doh3:
There are some great older homes too that are grabbing my attention but I am kind of scared of what might come with them... I found one I LOVE in a great historic neighborhood, completely remodeled.... Gorgeous.... But was first built in 1915! The central air is refrigerator - what is that :think: I am scared of the pipes, the foundation.... But such a jewel of a house!
A friend of mine has an agent who he says is great, and has given him my contact... I am thinking this might be the way to go. Especially when it comes time to make the offer, negotiate and all... I am not sure if I can do it all on my own.
Anyways.... That's the story... Hopefully me and the kitties will have a home of our own soon! :cross:
 
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Willowy

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My house was built in 1912. . .it has some old-house quirks but nothing terribly wrong. Find out what they did to the house when they remodeled, when the wiring was done, when the plumbing was done, etc. And have an inspection done (if you really like it). A well-built and well-kept old house can be much better than the "slap-em-up" new houses.
 
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carolina

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Thanks Willowy, great advice.......... only the awesome house is now out of the market - I am not sure if it was in the market for too long just dropping prices, or if they got an offer..... :( I will keep an eye on it, hopefully it will come back, as I REALLY loved it.

I made another move in the right direction, I think. Well, Two moves. Two important moves - 1. I got myself an agent and we will start visiting homes in and out this weekend. I think this will be more productive as I will be able to actually see all the rooms, as well as the neighborhood. He can also get information more easily than I can. He is a good agent referred by someone I trust a lot.

2, I have the sitter, provided I move to a certain area - the area would work for me without a problem as it is not too far from the airport, and I can get quite a bit more for the $$$ too. It is a person who I trust, has done sitting for me, and would work great. It is somewhat from where I currently live, so it will be a bit of a shock..... (suburbs, and I live in the city) but since I am almost never here in Dallas, I will enjoy more the home itself than the neighborhood.... I don't go out much, or at all actually, so what really matters is the safety, the home and the commute to the airport.

We will see...... Hopefully I will be able to move in January or so..... :cross: I start getting really busy from then on and that will make things way harder! :
 

minka

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Only advice I have since I've never bought a house is:

A. From now until closing, charge everything as credit. Groceries, gas, food, everything. And then pay it all off every month. It will super boost your credit. Working at Radioshack I did a Lot of credit checks. And to get on AT&T without a deposit, you had to have good credit. I've only been building up credit for 2 years or less and I don't have any deposits when I apply for a phone with them.
B. Get the house inspected at least once before you buy; by a GOOD inspector. Last thing you want is a house thats broken inside the walls. Even happens to new ones, so you can't avoid it that way.
 
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carolina

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Only advice I have since I've never bought a house is:
A. From now until closing, charge everything as credit. Groceries, gas, food, everything. And then pay it all off every month. It will super boost your credit. Working at Radioshack I did a Lot of credit checks. And to get on AT&T without a deposit, you had to have good credit. I've only been building up credit for 2 years or less and I don't have any deposits when I apply for a phone with them.
B. Get the house inspected at least once before you buy; by a GOOD inspector. Last thing you want is a house thats broken inside the walls. Even happens to new ones, so you can't avoid it that way.
Thanks, will do it!

So, you are saying to get the house inspected by more than one inspector?
Stupid question - who gets the inspector? I see that fee on my lender's fee schedule..... Does that mean he arranges that for me? Because I know NOTHING about that!
Or will my agent take care of that when I am ready to write an offer? How do I go about that?
 
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carolina

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7. Never offer your top dollar because the leaves you nothing to negotiate with.  A good real estate agent will talk with you about what a good starting offer will be, and come back to you with the results, to allow you to increase your offer if need be.
Question about offers as I might be making one soon. Say the house is listed for $150,000 - how much is a sound offer nowadays? I am guessing a house that has been in the market for a little while might offer some more room for negotiations? Am I right?
 

kimkats000

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Your agent should know of a couple of inspectors.  Be there when the inspector looks at the house. Take a camera and note pad to take notes. You will learn SO much about the house that way.

Price-again your agent should be able to help you in that area.  It is a fine line between too much and too little. Your agent should know the area. Of course the more you spend the more he makes so.........

Make sure to go by the house at all time during the day/night, week day and weekend.  You do not want to make a mistake in something this big.

Do NOT let anyone talk you into more house then YOU think you can buy/afford. Forget what the banks says you can get. Do a budget and find out what YOU think you can swing and still do/have what you want.  Do not want to be house poor.

Good luck!  I took us 6 years to find our dream home. 

Kim
 

mrblanche

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Just a warning. By law, since the seller pays the commission, the agent works for him, not for you.

The agent should give you a list of inspectors, and allow you to pick. Angie's list might be a good idea.
 
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carolina

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I guess it is time for an update - I am moving into MY VERY OWN HOME NEXT WEEK! :woohoo:

I made it through alive :thud: :stars:

OMG - this was a LONG and ARDUOUS process..... I tell ya! But as of tonight I am clear to close, and my closing day is Friday :clap::clap::clap::clap:
Movers are scheduled to come in Tuesday at 10am.
My vet is picking up the babies at 9:30 - they have a taxi service - I won't have them in the house.... I don't feel safe in this tiny apartment with these many people coming in and out :nono:

I am SO SO glad this is over..... At least the documents, that is :thud:

I can't wait to be able to spend money on Friday - I am SO POOR right now. I have no privacy whatsoever, and I counting every dime - every single dime matters until I get that check on closing.... Can't deposit anything, can't move funds, can't this.... can't that..... Can't can't can't :lol3::lol3::lol3::lol3:
I am over it :lol3::lol3::lol3:

BUT I AM SOOOOOOO HAPPY TOO :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

I think this was one of the harderst things I have done for sure - doing it alone, with no family here who has gone through the same to guide me through it.... man..... Thank goodness my banker was phenomenal! OMG - Worked with me night and day through the holidays, weekends, talking to me like I was a two-year old to make this happen - and it did!

Ok - not boring you guys anymore - without further ado....... Here is out home :clap::clap::clap::clap:

Front

Backyard - Kitties will be HAPPY!!!!!!

Kitchen

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom


Office/Bedroom2

Guest Bedroom/Bedroom 3

Guest Bathroom

Porch

There is a 2-car garage, which the entrance is through the back of the house - through the backyard. I am getting the measurements of the fence to order the cat fence after closing, as soon as I can spend some money :sweat:

There is also a minor issue with spacing under the gate I have to fix before letting the kitties in the yard on their own - I might call the fence company to figure how to fix this one out. One thing at a time.
For now I am concentrating on moving...... LOTS to do until then.

I am totally on :9: and can't wait to sleep in my house next Tuesday!

:clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
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minka

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I'm glad you finally sound more excited than stressed. :tongue2:
Now if only all that stuff would pack itself... ;)
 
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carolina

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I'm glad you finally sound more excited than stressed. :tongue2:
Now if only all that stuff would pack itself... ;)
I wouldn't say that just yet..... :9: in excitement..... but a cloud 11 in stress..... It is going to be over when I am there and moved.... There is a LOT to be done still...... It is not even close to be done.
 
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carolina

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Oh, it's small, but perfect for me and the kitties! It's only 1554 square ft. The yard however is 0.3 acres!
 

jcat

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Congratulations!!! :clap::clap::clap: That's not too small. Three bedrooms, two baths, a fireplace, two-car garage, a big yard and a porch? That looks perfect! Are the floors laminate?
 
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carolina

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:clap: :clap: :clap: that's the part I loave the most- no more carpet for me :woohoo:
Ceramic in the wet areas, laminate throughout the rest of the house :bigthumb:
 

pushylady

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:clap: Congratulations!!! :clap:

What a nice sized house, and huuuge yard! Awesome! I hope you all are very happy there, once you get settled in. Good luck with the moving today. Great idea on keeping the kitties at the vet BTW.
 
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