Home buying thread

Haus

I am Big Balls!
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Most people on here are completely okay I'm sure but there are enough complete degenerates and assholes that you wouldn't want your real identity associated with here.
You know I'm right here and can see this, right?
 
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Borzak

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I have a "formal" dining room in my house. It has a dining table and has a door to separate it from the hall just down from the kitchen (so the servants can make a short trip lol). I use it as an actual dining room. I don't eat in the living room or while sitting at the computer or whatever. Of course I don't have kids which mean some bedrooms are opened up to become a library and a small office with my computer (my real office is a separate building behind the house), and a room with my guitars, amps and such. Girlfriend has a room of her own besides her bedroom for her "stuff" and the living room is the sitting area or watching TV.

Yes I'm a relic.
 

Kobayashi

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Oh my God looking for a new house is depressing. We're still probably (hopefully) 18 months from moving but spend yesterday driving around to a few open houses and holy shit I want to kill myself. We looked at this $950k 4,400 sq ft new construction, and it was just the most sterile and soulless thing. Sure, it is open and has nice finishing touches and we could repaint walls to be colorful, but just walking in didn't feel anything like a home.

For example, this is back in an area close to us we were driving around. This is the top top of our price range but there's just no way I could consider spending that much money for this.

We went to a different neighborhood still close to us that had a 10-15 year old house for $600k, was well lived in and some some character. The main issue there is it felt so lateral to what we're already in that going from $450k > $600k home we basically gain nothing for $150k.


We've got a lot to figure out in 2 years. It almost makes me want to just remodel where we are and make this work until the kids are in high school or something and we can really move far outside town.
If that's your price range, this is what you need:

 
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Lanx

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shes a dumb cunt but shes not in the wrong

The “Roar” singer, 40, will face off with Carl Westcott’s family for the second phase of their legal war after he sold Perry, via her business manager Bernie Gudvi, his $15 million mansion in 2020.


Days later, Carl — who suffers from the neurological disorder Huntington’s disease — had a change of heart and attempted to back out of the deal. He blamed his mental capacity, claiming he was not in his right mind and under the influence of pain medication after undoing a recent surgery when he made the decision to sell.

where on the xanax bottle does it say

WARNING:
impulsive real estate decisions can be made while on this medication
 
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Gravel

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It's weird they're calling Perry the "giant spoiled brat" when it sounds like that's exactly how the faggot who sold the house is acting. Also, fuck him for trying to garner sympathy as a "veteran."
 

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
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Yeah I don't remotely care that the faggot who took a $15M payment for what is assuredly one of his many properties has cold feet. This was 5 years ago anyway so I don't even get it.

Pics of ultrawealthy old dude on a hospital bed. Just lol. What a douchebag.
 

Kithani

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Yeah I don't remotely care that the faggot who took a $15M payment for what is assuredly one of his many properties has cold feet. This was 5 years ago anyway so I don't even get it.

Pics of ultrawealthy old dude on a hospital bed. Just lol. What a douchebag.
Based on when the house was sold (Summer 2020) I assume they now know if he would have kept it they could try to sell for $25M today. I mean right around that time is when I feel like house prices started to skyrocket
 

Lanx

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Based on when the house was sold (Summer 2020) I assume they now know if he would have kept it they could try to sell for $25M today. I mean right around that time is when I feel like house prices started to skyrocket
at the time imo, he probably found out

"oh shit katey perry bought my house"!!!

(cuz ppl buy w/ llcs and not have it in their name for whatever tax/stalking reason)

and decided to reneg to get more $$$
 

Intrinsic

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We spent today driving around looking at lots in a new area about 15 miles further west out of town from where we are now. Have been talking to a couple of builders also and are leaning more toward this route. The last few weeks of open houses have just been sad and uninspiring. This would also put us very close to our family friends who farm out there and a long time personal friend who is also trying to find a smaller house for sale in the area.

Anyways, for about two weeks worth of research it seems promising but still a lot of work to do on our side before making a decision. Looking at our possibilities:

Lots are around .5 acre for $68,000 up to almost an acre for $108k. The 1 acre lot looked amazing from the plots, end of a cul de sac, flat road; but when we went today it turns out the grade is just crazy and it would likely blow our budget trying to clear and grade it.

Assuming we did one of the ~$70k lots or the largest and a location we liked, we could easily purchase it with cash now and not worry about financing the cost of the land. Then we could start the process with the builder and designing the home.

I’m hoping around $200/sqft but I need to talk to the guys and get an idea. So far we’ve only talked about needs and approximate square footage. I think I said previously we “need” three rooms for the kids and two rooms for our offices. We “want” 3.5 baths, at least a 2.5 car garage, decent kitchen, pantry, laundry. We have seen some nice layouts that have given us ideas. It feels like we could pull that off in 3,400 square feet, I need to see some actual floor plans.

3400 @ $200 is $680k, I know that ballpark misses a lot of stuff. Thinking in generalities for now. We’ll probably save an additional $150k the next 12 months and then we’ll have probably $120k in equity from this house. My plan is to not touch that until we are moved into the new home. I don’t want to do temporary living with three kids and pets. And I also don’t want to do this if we aren’t financially capable of supporting it without selling this home.

Should know more in 2-3 weeks. Traveling all next week, then we’ll come back and meet with builders and look at a couple of the lots we liked (except the damn corner lot).

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
 
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Kithani

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We spent today driving around looking at lots in a new area about 15 miles further west out of town from where we are now. Have been talking to a couple of builders also and are leaning more toward this route. The last few weeks of open houses have just been sad and uninspiring. This would also put us very close to our family friends who farm out there and a long time personal friend who is also trying to find a smaller house for sale in the area.

Anyways, for about two weeks worth of research it seems promising but still a lot of work to do on our side before making a decision. Looking at our possibilities:

Lots are around .5 acre for $68,000 up to almost an acre for $108k. The 1 acre lot looked amazing from the plots, end of a cul de sac, flat road; but when we went today it turns out the grade is just crazy and it would likely blow our budget trying to clear and grade it.

Assuming we did one of the ~$70k lots or the largest and a location we liked, we could easily purchase it with cash now and not worry about financing the cost of the land. Then we could start the process with the builder and designing the home.

I’m hoping around $200/sqft but I need to talk to the guys and get an idea. So far we’ve only talked about needs and approximate square footage. I think I said previously we “need” three rooms for the kids and two rooms for our offices. We “want” 3.5 baths, at least a 2.5 car garage, decent kitchen, pantry, laundry. We have seen some nice layouts that have given us ideas. It feels like we could pull that off in 3,400 square feet, I need to see some actual floor plans.

3400 @ $200 is $680k, I know that ballpark misses a lot of stuff. Thinking in generalities for now. We’ll probably save an additional $150k the next 12 months and then we’ll have probably $120k in equity from this house. My plan is to not touch that until we are moved into the new home. I don’t want to do temporary living with three kids and pets. And I also don’t want to do this if we aren’t financially capable of supporting it without selling this home.

Should know more in 2-3 weeks. Traveling all next week, then we’ll come back and meet with builders and look at a couple of the lots we liked (except the damn corner lot).

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
$200 per sq ft seems awfully optimistic man you can’t even buy old construction for that much in my area and I’m not in some fancy HCOL city
 
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Intrinsic

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$200 per sq ft seems awfully optimistic man you can’t even buy old construction for that much in my area and I’m not in some fancy HCOL city
I’m betting we end up closer to $220. Everything we’ve looked at, new or old, seems to be between $180 - $228, just scrolling back through our Zillow list. So I was kind of taking a dart throw in between.

It will really help having a floor plan nailed down. If it ends up being $220 it is still manageable but that’s absolutely top of my comfort level budget wise.
 

Kithani

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I’m betting we end up closer to $220. Everything we’ve looked at, new or old, seems to be between $180 - $228, just scrolling back through our Zillow list. So I was kind of taking a dart throw in between.

It will really help having a floor plan nailed down. If it ends up being $220 it is still manageable but that’s absolutely top of my comfort level budget wise.
Have you ever built a house before? You should budget +20-30% for miscellaneous BS from the builder once you’re underway
 
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Intrinsic

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Have you ever built a house before? You should budget +20-30% for miscellaneous BS from the builder once you’re underway
Have not only purchase / sold my own house or whatever a few times, but yes I have factored in contingency. That’s where paying for the lot would come in and dip into what our current liquid assets would be. Not looking at my spreadsheet / napkin math right now, but basically depending on all the variables, we would still have $120k in reserve cash to cover miscellaneous.

A lot of that depends on total square footage, lot price, interest rates at the time of the initial construction loan, and whatever the final may be. Then I feel like we can decide how much or how little to put down on the whole thing and how much we want to actually finance.

And again, this is all me just trying to work through it on paper and be conversational about it. I’m not brilliant but smart enough to know that I don’t know everything and will need some tough lessons and make mistakes. Nothing I say is meant to be definitive or argumentative, it’s all speculation as I learn more.

Since I’m on the road this week I’ll have time from hotel room to lay out more numbers. If it doesn’t make sense we’ll just stay where we are. The main focus has to be getting new baby here on October 1st first and foremost. Then it is a few months of no sleep and craziness 😂😅
 
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Gravel

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$200 per sq ft seems awfully optimistic man you can’t even buy old construction for that much in my area and I’m not in some fancy HCOL city
It's insane how much prices have inflated. It wasn't even a decade ago that $100/sqft was basically middle of the road and $150/sqft was getting into fancy territory. $200 would be fully custom home high end shit. Now that's apparently about $750/sqft, and entry level is $200.
 
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Cad

scientia potentia est
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It's insane how much prices have inflated. It wasn't even a decade ago that $100/sqft was basically middle of the road and $150/sqft was getting into fancy territory. $200 would be fully custom home high end shit. Now that's apparently about $750/sqft, and entry level is $200.
I bought my house for about $330/square foot 15 years ago. Comps are about $1000/sq ft now. I would never buy in my own neighborhood at today's prices.
 
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Arative

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Have not only purchase / sold my own house or whatever a few times, but yes I have factored in contingency. That’s where paying for the lot would come in and dip into what our current liquid assets would be. Not looking at my spreadsheet / napkin math right now, but basically depending on all the variables, we would still have $120k in reserve cash to cover miscellaneous.

A lot of that depends on total square footage, lot price, interest rates at the time of the initial construction loan, and whatever the final may be. Then I feel like we can decide how much or how little to put down on the whole thing and how much we want to actually finance.

And again, this is all me just trying to work through it on paper and be conversational about it. I’m not brilliant but smart enough to know that I don’t know everything and will need some tough lessons and make mistakes. Nothing I say is meant to be definitive or argumentative, it’s all speculation as I learn more.

Since I’m on the road this week I’ll have time from hotel room to lay out more numbers. If it doesn’t make sense we’ll just stay where we are. The main focus has to be getting new baby here on October 1st first and foremost. Then it is a few months of no sleep and craziness 😂😅
When my wife and I built our house, we sent through every room of the build with sheet of options. Ended up adding $80k in upgrades to the base price. You'd be amazed at some of the extras. Want the vent for the stove to vent outside, that's $500. Want soft close drawers, that's $400. Want 5 inch baseboards instead of 3 inch, that's a $1000. Biggest expenses were upgrading the kitchen, upgrading the master bathroom, having a 10 foot basement pour instead of 9ft and having a 6 foot garage extension, our lot couldn't handle a 3 car garage.

When you sit down with the builder, go through every option but just realize the cost will add up
 
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Intrinsic

Person of Whiteness
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When my wife and I built our house, we sent through every room of the build with sheet of options. Ended up adding $80k in upgrades to the base price. You'd be amazed at some of the extras. Want the vent for the stove to vent outside, that's $500. Want soft close drawers, that's $400. Want 5 inch baseboards instead of 3 inch, that's a $1000. Biggest expenses were upgrading the kitchen, upgrading the master bathroom, having a 10 foot basement pour instead of 9ft and having a 6 foot garage extension, our lot couldn't handle a 3 car garage.

When you sit down with the builder, go through every option but just realize the cost will add up

I'm looking forward to documenting my pain and suffering here for everyone to revel in, when the time is appropriate :)

We got another list of available parcels in the new area from builder this morning. We drove through more Saturday and the old saying is ringing more and more true. Location, locaiton, location. We are more willing to wait 3 more years and just save and let both kids get out of daycare and have an extra $2,600 to wrap up in the conversation.

I did find a 5 acre plot for sale that is only a half mile from the whole new subdivision build we were looking in. Asking the builder if he's familiar with that. It is on a long flat quiet road and if it really is available that could convince us to jump now, or at least be way more motivated to.
 

Gravel

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Yeah, we still want to build too, but it's not something I'm particularly looking forward to.

It's currently a lot owned by my mother-in-law, with a trailer from the late 70s on it that's falling apart.

Since we're also retired, it adds another wrinkle, since getting a mortgage is more difficult without normal earned income.

I was about to start calling lawyers (for the not actually owning the property portion, to figure out if we're just added to the mortgage is sufficient, or if we need a trust, or what other options there are), some banks/CUs (for the financing portion), and builders. But then mother-in-law said she still wanted to use it for now so we've put it off.

We talked about adding an in-law suite that she could use, and when she's not there could be used as a vacation rental. It's very close to the beach and would likely earn a good $2-300 a night during peak season. Which is pretty substantial. Since it'd be a year to build, we didn't want to put her out of her own property for that long.

But then I see shit like $500/sqft and suddenly I don't give a shit about an in-law suite at all.
 

Big Phoenix

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It's insane how much prices have inflated. It wasn't even a decade ago that $100/sqft was basically middle of the road and $150/sqft was getting into fancy territory. $200 would be fully custom home high end shit. Now that's apparently about $750/sqft, and entry level is $200.
Pushing 250/sqft here for basic homes.

You either bought precorona or youre hating right now.