Author Topic: House Hunting (Read 601 times)

Horn · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2002, 10:47:52 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by MrBill
Realtors work on commission, you don't buy they get nothing, therefore they do not have YOUR best interest in mind.

Bite the bullet and hire a real estate attorney.

Pure Malarky.

If it bugs you that much, hire a Buyer's Agent. "Agency" is rapidly becoming more of an issue in residential and raw land sales. Here in Colorado, most of us act as "transaction brokers"(TB) -- that is, we represent both parties and are responsible to each. The difference is that in this case, the listing agent (the one whose sign is out front) doesn't actually represent the seller *only* (Seller's Agent)--which until recently, was kinda rare.

In my experience, RE attorneys know little of the specific local markets, and can do much to screw a deal, even if they work for you.

Of course, YMMV.

dh

Ripsnort · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2002, 10:51:23 AM »

My father always said 3 things about house hunting, and he was right...(we bought ours for $239,000, its appraised today (5 years later) for $350,000 roughly)

Location, location location

If you do the double wide thing, the above applies as well!

midnight Target · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2002, 12:14:10 PM »

1 acre!!!!! My estimate was too low at 400k then.

1/4 Acre is considered a huge lot here. Much bigger and you're pushing 1/2 million dollars.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2002, 12:16:48 PM »

Tahgut, exactly which city, township we talking here? Just curious as I want to do a generic salary calculation on the area...

Greese · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2002, 01:35:34 PM »

Get out of Southern California.

I can't find a good reason to live here, can't wait to move to back to Oregon.

Have to fight crowds everywhere, there are no trees, smog, fires, earthquakes, crowds, dust, crowds, scammers and solicitors everywhere, Gray Davis, and of course, huge crowds fighting for anything that could be consdidered enjoyable.

I have simple goals. Get a little 4 bedroom house for the family, have enough land so the kids can play ball and we can have a small garden. Live somewhere with mountains and trees close by. Have a dog.

That kind of simple lifestyle in Southern California would cost more than I can imagine. It's not do able for the average person, yet those are average needs elsewhere.

My $.02 (you got your money's worth).

Curval · « **Reply #20 on:** September 23, 2002, 01:51:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
1 acre!!!!! My estimate was too low at 400k then.

1/4 Acre is considered a huge lot here. Much bigger and you're pushing 1/2 million dollars.

Pah..that's cheap. $1million for a half acre here...minimum.

Horn · « **Reply #21 on:** September 23, 2002, 01:56:10 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Greese

I have simple goals. Get a little 4 bedroom house for the family, have enough land so the kids can play ball and we can have a small garden. Live somewhere with mountains and trees close by. Have a dog.

May I suggest:

http://www.fourteenernet.com/buenavista/

dh

Ripsnort · « **Reply #22 on:** September 23, 2002, 01:56:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval

Pah..that's cheap. $1million for a half acre here...minimum.

Yeah, but how much for an acre of ocean? Bet its cheap!

midnight Target · « **Reply #23 on:** September 23, 2002, 02:39:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Tahgut, exactly which city, township we talking here? Just curious as I want to do a generic salary calculation on the area...

Area's vary greatly here. Bad neighborhood... reasonable prices, good neighborhood.... you gotta be rich. I'm near Riverside California.

Greese · « **Reply #24 on:** September 23, 2002, 02:45:16 PM »

"May I suggest:

http://www.fourteenernet.com/buenavista/

dh"

Colorado Springs is high on our list, but we are happy just being in Colorado, with the exception of Denver. Don't care much for it, and also anything east.

Our number one place is Sisters Oregon, though we may settle for Bend (which is further east, not quite as much in the mnountains, but still close).

Oh, I worked for a home builder for a long time. If you have the patience (and the land) I would reccomend building. You will save money, and if you are willing to put up with the hassles and tiem involved, can really be rewarding to have your own house built to the specs you need.

Curval · « **Reply #25 on:** September 23, 2002, 02:51:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort

Yeah, but how much for an acre of ocean? Bet its cheap!

Funny you mention that...I have about 100 acre lots of ocean availiable at very reasonable rates I also have a bridge for sale in London...but that one is a bit pricey.

popeye · « **Reply #26 on:** September 23, 2002, 03:07:08 PM »

1. Don't believe anything a real estate agent says.

2. Don't buy the most expensive house in the neighborhood.

3. Hire a good home inspector.

4. Talk to the neighbors.

5. Trust your intuition.

Elfenwolf · « **Reply #27 on:** September 23, 2002, 04:48:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Tahgut, exactly which city, township we talking here? Just curious as I want to do a generic salary calculation on the area...

Heya Rip, For what it's worth I live in Citrus Heights, a suburb of Sacramento. My house is a three bedroom, three bath two story 2100 sq ft Larchmont home built in 1971. We have an inground pool, hot tub, wetbar and huge family room and RV parking. Lot isn't the biggest, but it's comfortable. We paid 159,900 in January of 2000 after a search that lasted for several months. Now the house across the street, a mirror image of ours only not quite as nice, sold for 239,000 a few months ago, so I'd guess ours is worth 250k. This area is just about the last affordable area in California, BTW. Of course wages here suck, the traffic is worse every day, theres nut burgers on every street corner and chitbirds willing to steal everything from your chrome valve stems to your garden hose.

LOL Ironically enough I may be relocating to Honolulu as my two biggest clients are from Hawaii. I got a brochure on a 9th floor 2 and 2 with a "lahani," (help me out 10Bears) which I think is a patio or whatever, for 259,000. I haven't checked into it yet so I don't know if there's building dues on top of that or not, but that seemed more reasonable than a comperable apartment in San Francisco or Seattle even.

MT BTW, the first thing you need to do is send away for your VA entitlement certificate. Do a Google search on Veterans Administration, and go to Veterans Home Loans programs. There you can get a pre-qualification form, and you send that in along with your DD-214 and the VA will issue you a certificate of eligibility. I did (ok, actually my wife did) all of that before we even started looking. Oh, and what MWRod said. A house inspector would have saved me alot of money had I sprung for one. A teremite inspection is very basic and doesn't detect problems with foundations or whatever.

Above all enjoy the search for your new home. Don't get discouraged, and if there's any doubt at all about a place don't buy it. You'll know when you have found that perfect house because your wife will tell you so. LOL Good luck MT.

Elfenwolf · « **Reply #28 on:** September 23, 2002, 05:02:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Curval

Funny you mention that...I have about 100 acre lots of ocean availiable at very reasonable rates I also have a bridge for sale in London...but that one is a bit pricey.

Curval, you must be refering to the Tower Bridge because The Queen has already sold London Bridge to America. I knew things were bad in Britain but I didn't know how bad it was until I heard England was selling off its historical landmarks. Wouldn't it be cool if Bill Gates bought Big Ben and had it reassembled in Seattle?

mauser · « **Reply #29 on:** September 23, 2002, 05:04:16 PM »

Elfenwolf:

A lanai is a balcony. A 2/2 for $259k in Honolulu seems ok. In my building 2/2 goes from $300k and up, even for a unit with 800 odd sq. ft. and only one parking stall. May I ask what the place is called?

mauser