Very Special Thread Of Real Estate Randomness

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by betenoire

Fun fact - my father is OBSESSED with steel roofs. OBSESSED. Seriously. He drives around and points out houses that have them. He's made it perfectly clear to me that it does not matter how new the roof on whatever house I end up with is - in fact he'd prefer that the roof need replacing. Because he wants me to have a steel roof and he and his buddies are going to put it on for me. I don't argue.

I'm with your father on this one. I have a steel roof on my house and love it. My old roof used to form giant icicles (I mean like 8 or 10 feet long and as big around as a person). With the steel, all it takes is a day or two of sunshine and all the snow and ice melts and slides off so I never get the giant icicles, and I don't have to hire the snow removal guys either.

It is louder when it rains though!

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by JustJo

I'm with your father on this one. I have a steel roof on my house and love it. My old roof used to form giant icicles (I mean like 8 or 10 feet long and as big around as a person). With the steel, all it takes is a day or two of sunshine and all the snow and ice melts and slides off so I never get the giant icicles, and I don't have to hire the snow removal guys either.

It is louder when it rains though!

My parents have a steel roof also, which my father and his pals put on. I've never noticed that it was louder in the rain - but I might just not be very observant.

They're also pretty sturdy. Where my parents live there are a lot of mature trees that tend to fall over or have large limbs break off. During a really bad storm the tree in the neighbors yard broke in HALF and landed on my parents roof (and on their Kia). The Kia was totalled but the roof didn't so much as scratch. Yay!

Plus they're usually made from recycled materials...which makes them green. I like stuff that's green. You just wait - I'm going to be one of those people who keeps rain barrels for watering the lawn with. I look forward to it.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by betenoire

My parents have a steel roof also, which my father and his pals put on. I've never noticed that it was louder in the rain - but I might just not be very observant.

They're also pretty sturdy. Where my parents live there are a lot of mature trees that tend to fall over or have large limbs break off. During a really bad storm the tree in the neighbors yard broke in HALF and landed on my parents roof (and on their Kia). The Kia was totalled but the roof didn't so much as scratch. Yay!

Plus they're usually made from recycled materials...which makes them green. I like stuff that's green. You just wait - I'm going to be one of those people who keeps rain barrels for watering the lawn with. I look forward to it.

Wow! I knew they were sturdy, but that's pretty wild.

Best of luck with your house hunting. I was trying to sell my house here but finally gave up. Everyone seemed to think that central NY had the same boom that Florida and Arizona did (wrong!) and wanted to offer me a ridiculously low price. I said heck with it and am renting the place out instead....hassle, but I'm not interested in giving it away.

Right now we're in the middle of short sale buyer's hell...great house, and will all come good in the end, but a big slow hassle right now.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Best of luck with your house hunting. I was trying to sell my house here but finally gave up. Everyone seemed to think that central NY had the same boom that Florida and Arizona did (wrong!) and wanted to offer me a ridiculously low price. I said heck with it and am renting the place out instead....hassle, but I'm not interested in giving it away.

I've been hearing a lot of that lately.

Actually, there was an article in the local newspaper here about how shitty it is for sellers right now, especially where I'm living. Houses in Sarnia are actually -cheaper- now than they were 3 years ago when I moved here. To top that off, according to the article, a few summers ago there were -maybe- 400 houses for sale in Sarnia during the month of august...this year there are 3x that and -nobody- is buying. People are getting lowballed left and right and some people are selling at a loss because they are so desperate to get out of their mortgage. I guess that's just another symptom of the bad economic situation right now.

I watch the listings pretty religiously because I really want to get out of my apartment and get into a house. And it's true - houses just aren't selling. There is one house that has been for sale since I moved here. SINCE I MOVED HERE which was just over 3 years ago. That's insane.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by betenoire

I've been hearing a lot of that lately.

Actually, there was an article in the local newspaper here about how shitty it is for sellers right now, especially where I'm living. Houses in Sarnia are actually -cheaper- now than they were 3 years ago when I moved here. To top that off, according to the article, a few summers ago there were -maybe- 400 houses for sale in Sarnia during the month of august...this year there are 3x that and -nobody- is buying. People are getting lowballed left and right and some people are selling at a loss because they are so desperate to get out of their mortgage. I guess that's just another symptom of the bad economic situation right now.

I watch the listings pretty religiously because I really want to get out of my apartment and get into a house. And it's true - houses just aren't selling. There is one house that has been for sale since I moved here. SINCE I MOVED HERE which was just over 3 years ago. That's insane.

Yep...it's crazy. Luckily I bought an inexpensive house 9 years ago, so I'm fortunate in that I don't have to sell. If I did, I'd be screwed. The only offers I've had barely cover what I paid 9 years ago and the improvements I made.

The house we're buying has been on the market a little over 3 years. I can't even imagine how that feels. Mine has been listed since February...and I'm giving up for now. Maybe in a few more years... It's a good time for you to be buying though. You should be able to get an awesome deal.

And amen to what Gayla said up there ^ about pre-approvals. My experience has been that banks have consistently approved me for amounts that I know I couldn't afford. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I've never gone anywhere near what they said I could spend...and it's saved my butt financially a couple of times. I know a lot of people who are mortgaged to the hilt...if someone gets sick or loses a job or anything, they're in trouble. That just feels too scary to me.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by JustJo

And amen to what Gayla said up there ^ about pre-approvals. My experience has been that banks have consistently approved me for amounts that I know I couldn't afford. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I've never gone anywhere near what they said I could spend...and it's saved my butt financially a couple of times. I know a lot of people who are mortgaged to the hilt...if someone gets sick or loses a job or anything, they're in trouble. That just feels too scary to me.

Yeah, I hear that. There is no freaking way I'd be willing to spend as much as the bank will tell me I can afford - the bank is clearly an idiot. I'm hoping to keep my mortgage+taxes+utilities around what I'm paying now as a renter.

[Soft*Silver]

I paid $11,500 for my house. Its 100 years old and nothing cosmetic has been changed in it since the 1950s. However, all new windows, plumbing and electrical work has been done. Its paid off and its nice not to have a mortage over my head. I have 1700 sq ft living space and a 2 car garage.

A house up the block from me is being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Pristeen shape. Move in condition. Everything is newer inside than my house. Its expected to sell for $5000.

I live in a nice neighborhood. I live close to not so nice neighborhoods. Its a good school district.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Yep...it's crazy. Luckily I bought an inexpensive house 9 years ago, so I'm fortunate in that I don't have to sell. If I did, I'd be screwed. The only offers I've had barely cover what I paid 9 years ago and the improvements I made.

The house we're buying has been on the market a little over 3 years. I can't even imagine how that feels. Mine has been listed since February...and I'm giving up for now. Maybe in a few more years... It's a good time for you to be buying though. You should be able to get an awesome deal.

And amen to what Gayla said up there ^ about pre-approvals. My experience has been that banks have consistently approved me for amounts that I know I couldn't afford. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I've never gone anywhere near what they said I could spend...and it's saved my butt financially a couple of times. I know a lot of people who are mortgaged to the hilt...if someone gets sick or loses a job or anything, they're in trouble. That just feels too scary to me.

I havent used Realtors in many moons but I've bought and sold many properties. My place in Adirondacks, the suggested listing from the one Realtor I did contact was a lot lower then what I got.

anyhow, when i decided to sell my place in Florida it was with 18 acres and unique property. I cant tell you how many were all over it. After 4-6 months of contracts people couldnt get loans for I decided to only do pre-approval, which worked but in the end they decided (the bank) they didnt want to risk rural property that size in the everglades. To make a long story short I finally just said CASH. You must have and prove you have the cash. I was sick of spending so much time showing and giving tours. A guy comes in and buys it cash.

The place I have now I found myself and did seller financing for the first few years then refinanced. In todays real-estate market I would search for seller offers. Get lots of pics, ask the right questions, locate the county GIS maps and reports, see what the value is, taxes, zoning and any permits that had been issued. Compare properties next to it and close by. This is easy to do once you know where you're looking.

Buy a place that is structurally sound. Hire companies that do nothing but inspect. What are they called again? brain clutter. It's like 200 bucks but if you get to the point of offer you'll want this for sure. Then take your time fixing it up and building equity, if thats possible today.

lol- ok final tip, always buy something you know you can afford worse case scenario. Don't rely on two incomes to pay for a house.

[betenoire]

I'm still semi-casually looking. There are three within walking distance of my work that I think look interesting/promising.

0.60 miles from work - I really dig that it has a loft bedroom

0.22 miles from work - I kinda hate corner lots, though

0.20 miles from work - this is my favourite of the 3. LOVE the kitchen!

[Gayla]

We had a metal roof put on the house I used to live in and I was kinda bummed that it didn't sound that much different when it rained. A bajillion years ago, I lived in a very tiny house that had a tin roof on the porch and it was wonderful in the rain. But miserable any other time!

[Blaze]

I think this is a fixer-upper. But I would love it here!

[betenoire]

Houses I'm grooving on (this week)

Separate entrance to basement, great yard, possibly owned by a hoarder

Love the inside, hate the outside. It needs a proper porch BADLY. Big yard, though.

Oh god! It's like a dollhouse! Love! The tub is great, but something -needs- to be done about the awful toilet and vanity. Also - wood panel walls in the family room = gross but fixable.

[Gayla]

Originally Posted by betenoire

Houses I'm grooving on (this week)

Separate entrance to basement, great yard, possibly owned by a hoarder

Love the inside, hate the outside. It needs a proper porch BADLY. Big yard, though.

Oh god! It's like a dollhouse! Love! The tub is great, but something -needs- to be done about the awful toilet and vanity. Also - wood panel walls in the family room = gross but fixable.

Oh god, that vanity. And is that one bedroom pink? I still like the first one best. But the porch on the doll house is cute. Do homes up there just not have fireplaces? Or did I miss them?


Here's the house the chicken pictures came from. Love everything about it except the tiny little kitchen.