Should I buy a house with 7’3” ceilings?
lisaanna
last year
last modified: last year
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (39)
Related Discussions
Which hoop house should I buy?
Comments (4)I bent and made my own frame out of galvanized fence top rail and posts then finished it using stuff from Farmtek. I really didn't save any money over their kits. Keep in mind that the kits don't include much of what you need to finish your hoop house. The U-channel(wiggle wire) is expensive but really nice. You can change the plastic cover and get it tight with one helper on smaller houses. Use the self tapping screws they sell. The assembly instructions posted on their site are pretty good....See Moreshould I buy a home?
Comments (17)I would be careful about buying a condo if you want to sell it in 6 or 7 years. Suze Orman says that the housing market is going to stay like this until 2023. If you want to stay there permanently, then it sounds like you could get a good deal, but those fees really do add up if the other units are empty. Could you find a tiny house instead? I bought my cottage in 1998 for $89,500. It's only 567 square feet but the lot is 7,400. I have seen foreclosure homes 45 mins. from here for $40,000! It's just not easy to sell. That's the catch. I tried to sell my house twice and kept it because I didn't want to go below $180,000. You sound like you are very disciplined financially. You also sound concerned that you could lose your job. I would listen to your intuition. Many of my customers mentioned to me they could lose their jobs and then they were laid off. These are intense times, especially in FL. I have cut my expenses down to $1,000. a month and switched from owning a small business to farming my land. This economy has changed everything. I am fortunate that I can do this, but I really watch it. I ride my bicycle everywhere, live very simply, and my lifestyle is totally different now than it used to be. Staying debt free and maintaining a year's living expenses is my top priority....See MoreShould I buy a home now
Comments (9)Are you looking for a home or are you trying to be a speculator in the property market? If this is a short term investment, then I'd stay out of the house market now. Chances are, prices will be flat or declining for the next year or so and then see a very slow gain in the coming years. There probably won't be much market for "flipping" houses any time soon. If you are trying to get into a home, then now is as good a time as any. You can find good deals and good interest rates. If you are going to stay there 10+ years, it really doesn't matter if prices move 1-2% down because it will have minimal impact on your payments. In the long run, a 1% increase in the interest rates is WAY more important than a 1% decline in home value. Of course, that is assuming you are in financial position to buy a house. Do you have a down payment? Do you have your credit in good shape? Do you have a steady job? Do you have an emergency fund? You might get a great "deal" on a house at this point, but that won't really matter if you end up in foreclosure when you get laid off or the HVAC system breaks....See MorePart Deux: Should I buy THIS house?
Comments (9)Been there. Had perfectly nice home in nice suburb. Didn't *have* to move. Didn't *need* more space. But, after living there for 30 years, DH retired, DS grown and married, we wanted *nicer* home in *nicer* suburb. We found our home after looking for six months, but didn't buy it until three years later. The seller would not come down 6% to appraised value although the house had been on the market for years and she had a reverse mortgage. Two years after she rejected our offer, we approached her directly and paid the same asking price. It was still over appraisal. We were paying the same asking price, but she was getting 6% more by selling direct. OK, so now we own the house. We'd planned to remodel extensively -- everything you outlined for your purchase plus replacing a virtually flat roof with a 10/12 pitch roof; creating a mudroom from one of the garage spaces and adding another space at the far end of the garage; replacing landscaping around the house -- rest of the acre was lovely (main reason we loved the property). So...ready to remodel. Wait. A portion of the house is SINKING. Plus, every GC we spoke to said it would cost more to remodel than to tear down. Our $150K remodel turned into a $350K new build after teardown. If we had not had the resources, this would be a tale of woe, but...we are delighted with the house, and the upmarket for the last five years has left us dollars ahead. The acre + ranch next to us sold in 2002 as a teardown for just under what we have in our land and house. Ours is one of the smaller homes in the area. We're ahead in contentment --and financially, at least for now. I'm saying all this because you need to be ready to do MUCH more to this property than you now estimate. And the current market is vastly different from 2000, when we bought. (If you are staying a long time, that doesn't matter as much.) Can you remake this house and still have less invested than the value of neighboring houses in good condition? You don't want to own the most expensive home in a neighborhood. Can you stay in your present home until this one is ready? You'll have to work with the HOA. It could take a year or more. It seems to me that this is a "good deal" only if you can buy it for near land value; are prepared to spend what it takes to re-build or build new; are OK with how much time and effort this will take. Near our home is a development where just one house is EIFS. It has consistently sold for less than its comps that are not EIFS. A realtor owns it now and is in the process of removing the EIFS and replacing it with true stucco -- before putting it on the market. She's owned it for three years of high appreciation in the area, so will still come out ahead even with the replacement expense. Im not sure how you would fare if you had to sell before the market stops dropping -- if it is dropping in your area as it is here....See Morelisaanna
last yearlisaanna
last yearlisaanna
last yearmaifleur03
last yearlast modified: last yearlisaanna
last yearlisaanna
last yearAlly De
last yearlisaanna
last yeartfitz1006
last year
Related Stories
EXTERIORSHelp! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?
Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors
Full StoryLIFE7 Things to Do Before You Move Into a New House
Get life in a new house off to a great start with fresh paint and switch plates, new locks, a deep cleaning — and something on those windows
Full StoryDECORATING 1017 Ways to Make Low Ceilings Seem Higher
Well-chosen paint, lighting, millwork and other details can give rooms a lift
Full StoryMOVING8 Things to Learn From Open Houses (Whether or Not You’re Buying)
You can gather ideas, get a handle on the market, find an agent and more
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESDesign Dilemma: I Need Lake House Decor Ideas!
How to Update a Lake House With Wood, Views, and Just Enough Accessories
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSE7 Must-Dos on the Day You Show Your House
Don’t risk losing buyers because of little things you overlook. Check these off your list before you open the front door
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES10 Easy Fixes for That Nearly Perfect House You Want to Buy
Find out the common flaws that shouldn’t be deal-breakers — and a few that should give you pause
Full StoryARCHITECTUREEnergy-Saving Ideas From 3 Affordable Green-Built Houses
Get lessons in budget-friendly green building from design competition winners in New York state
Full StoryTHE POLITE HOUSEThe Polite House: Can I Put a Remodel Project on Our Wedding Registry?
Find out how to ask guests for less traditional wedding gifts
Full StoryLIFEThe Polite House: Do I Have to Display Decor Given to Me as a Gift?
Etiquette columnist Lizzie Post tackles the challenge of accepting and displaying home decor gifts from frequent visitors
Full Story
elcieg