View Full Version : The 7 year itch
Dragynphyre
08-18-04, 07:12 AM
I have said many times that I've never lived anywhere longer than 7 years - and it's holding true again. Moved when I was 3 1/2, 10, 16, and we moved into the apartment we're in when I was 23, on my mom's 50th birthday - we're now about 3 months away from her 57th birthday...
...and our bid on a a well maintained, move-in condition, relatively roomy, legal 3 family (I was really big on not having the usual illegal basement/attic apartment common in my city - 1 5-room 2nd floor, 6-room 1st floor (same square footage as 2nd) , and a basement studio) house was accepted by the seller last night, and the realtor called at 11:05 pm to let us know.
Home inspection and attorney review are to be done after both my mother and I get back from our respective vacations next week. We're bound to have writers cramp after all the signatures.
Finally, a good house that we are able to afford the 20% down and monthly payments on - provided we are able to find tenants relatively quickly, which shouldn't be a problem considering the move-in condition of the apartment and studio that will be rented. We're going to find out if we can start interviewing for tenants as soon as we find out when closing will be.
One of the benefits that will attract tenants is that we, unlike many of the landlords in the area, will actually allow small pets, including cats and smaller dogs (as long as the dog isn't a problem barker - in which case, I would probably make them hire me to train the little ****er. ;) My qualifications are that I never had a problem with my dogs barking when they weren't supposed to)
Unfortunately no laundry facilities for tenants, there is no access for any but the first floor apartment into the laundry room, and we will be taking the first floor. If 2nd floor wants to try to squeeze in a mini washer/dryer unit into their kitchen, they could. There are also quite a few laundromats nearby. Heat, hot water, and utilites will be included for the basement studio. We're going to see if we can get about $1,200 for the 2nd floor apartment and $650 for the basement studio.
Relieved and stressed at the same time now.
1200 to rent 1 floor of a house? My god. Thats insane.
What area do you live in that the housing market is that expensive?
I thought this was going to be about Vulcan porn.... :)
And IIRC Del is in the NY area, so prices are going to be through the roof.
Dragynphyre
08-18-04, 09:25 AM
Smaller apartments in nearby Hoboken are going for nearly double that, if not more. No pets allowed.
Studios in Staten Island, NY (right across the bridge) are going for $800+
I think we're being reasonable in light of the going market on rentals.
Meddik's head will REALLY explode when I say that we matched the sellers asking price of $445,000.00.
Hell, in California, that would be cheap.
Krimzan
08-18-04, 09:42 AM
Yeah, good thing there's no rent control, or those poor landlords would be out on the streets.
So I guess moving 4 times in 4 years is probably a bad thing then??
yea and $1200 is a bargain..
Yeah, my last apartment was half a house and we were paying $1000. That was on par with just about everything else size-wise.
Darkefang
08-18-04, 10:10 AM
Yeah, good thing there's no rent control, or those poor landlords would be out on the streets.
The remaining effects of rent control are the exact reason there is a housing shortage in the New York area. Commercial development took precedence over residential development when land was still available.
The $460 I pay for a month of rent in my 525 sq ft apartment in a low crime culturally diverse part of the dallas/ftworth metroplex is one of the big reasons I live here... Well, that and the low crime, cultural diversity, proximity to friends and good restaraunts...
But mostly it is the cheap rent. For 1200 a month, I could get a huge apartment in the pricey side of town, or a medium one in down town dallas (if I wanted to live within stumbling distance of the social centers)
Yeah, but you have to live in Texas. :lol
I went there in the summer once. Next time I'll cut out the middleman and go straight to the Ninth Circle.
yeah, the summers can take some getting used to, but the weather is actually one of the reasons I moved here from Ohio. I don't like the cold :p
/pays $0.83 per square foot of living space (not including my garage) in the historic area of an Atlanta suburb.
/giggles
I just glanced through today's classified. Studios here are running 700-800 if you don't mind where you rent. In nicer areas over a grand.
I think you got a great price based on your description. Out here you'd barely be getting a decent single family dwelling for that in most neighborhoods.
We're going to see if we can get about $1,200 for the 2nd floor apartment and $650 for the basement studio.
The basement studio sounds perfect for your brother! :)
Dragynphyre
08-18-04, 11:38 AM
Pardon me while I RUN SCREAMING FROM THE ROOM JUST BECAUSE I READ THAT! How could you DO that to me Dorla? No no no no NO. You just put me on Rant Mode!
If he EVER gets his ass off the couch to go over to the apartment he's already paid rent on for August, I'll be SOOOOOOO happy. Rather than having spare sets made IMMEDIATELY upon receiving keys for the apartment, Idiot locked his keys inside the apartment, the landlord let him in to get them, and then he either lost or locked them in AGAIN - thereby nullifying the fact that my mom had rented a van to move him over to the apartment on Saturday the 14the (would have been SUCH a lovely birthday present)
Slugs hasn't even packed anything - the only stuff that's packed, and sitting in the dining room waiting to go is the stuff that my mom picked up for him like plates, pots, silverware, etc.
His excuse? "Well, I've never done this before." I can't believe I'm ****ing related to this walking brain hemorrhage.
Meddik's head will REALLY explode when I say that we matched the sellers asking price of $445,000.00.
Heh. At that price, I could have bought my house, The two neighboring houses on either side, and put 2 new cars (at about 15k each) in each of the garages.
When it starts costing that much, thats a sign you need to move.
If I ever think about taking a job up that way, someone hit me on the back of the head with a frying pan, please.
Meddik's head will REALLY explode when I say that we matched the sellers asking price of $445,000.00.
Heh. At that price, I could have bought my house, The two neighboring houses on either side, and put 2 new cars (at about 15k each) in each of the garages.
When it starts costing that much, thats a sign you need to move.
If I ever think about taking a job up that way, someone hit me on the back of the head with a frying pan, please.
Would all 3 houses come with banjos??
Sorry I couldnt resist!! :P
Pardon me while I RUN SCREAMING FROM THE ROOM JUST BECAUSE I READ THAT! How could you DO that to me Dorla? No no no no NO. You just put me on Rant Mode!
Ha ha... actually I wasn't aware he was truly moving out, so I was thinking the studio would be a way to get him out of your place at least. However, if he's already FOUND an apartment... that's better 'cause it's further away from you. :)
Oh, and I almost forgot this... my in-laws live in northern Iowa and their mortgage is $150.00 a month. They own a 3 bedroom house (that they built themselves) on a double lot in a town of about 500. One of the neighbors down the road just sold his 1 bedroom house for 5k. Yes, 5k. I told my husband we should just save up and buy a house there, for a "summer house" so to speak. :)
Our mortgage in Nebraska is still much much less than anything you'd get in NYC... but 150 a month is still amazing.
My mortgage is only $50, so there!
($50 a day that is)
Jhani Vandolay
08-18-04, 12:52 PM
When it starts costing that much, thats a sign you need to move.
I don't suppose the people living in areas that seem to cost unimaginably high (to some) are getting anything out of it, eh? They can afford to live there, after all. (Despite the cost of one month's rent being enough to purchase eleven houses somewhere else.)
The pay scale is very diffent in major cities for the same work..
I know a network engineer who has actually more experience than I do and makes half my salary and is happy with it.. Of course he lives in the midwest..
I don't suppose the people living in areas that seem to cost unimaginably high (to some) are getting anything out of it, eh? They can afford to live there, after all. (Despite the cost of one month's rent being enough to purchase eleven houses somewhere else.)
Yep.
The pittance I make here in New Hampshire translates to nearly the upper end of middle class in Knoxville, Tennessee according to my friend who just relocated there. I live in the southern end of the state and it's pretty much all a 'burb of Boston so I'm in a completely different market. The disparity in cost of living across this country is pretty interesting. If I were to make what I am making in Manhatten or Southern Cal, I'd be living on the street.
change that to Northern. Cal..
Southern isnt so bad in comparison..
Lenilya
08-18-04, 01:40 PM
$518/m for my studio; I pay electricity, No laundry on-site.
Gotta love out-of-the-way islands ^_^
Hehe I pay 385 a month in a duplex. No washer and dryer, but there is a laundry mat within walking distance. Nice neighborhood, historical area. Utilities run 70ish a month.
Im going to go insane when I move someplace thats more expensive. I couldnt imagine paying 800+ dollars for my place.
I'm so glad I live in a rural area. I pay $350 a month for a two bedroom house. My parents mortgage is $289 for two bedrooms and a full basement, on a corner lot.
Biggwin
08-18-04, 05:33 PM
I'm so glad I live in a rural area. I pay $350 a month for a two bedroom house. My parents mortgage is $289 for two bedrooms and a full basement, on a corner lot.
Sounds like it is time for you to buy a house ;)
Dragynphyre
08-18-04, 06:33 PM
I drove past it today - new brick porch, new vinyl siding, new windows and doors, new roof... brand new carpets and kitchens...
My uncle lives a block and a half away, said they just did all that work last year. But the woman selling it lost her husband (a city fireman) a year ago, I think that's why she's selling. My uncle knew him.
My uncle's daughter went to high school with the woman's oldest daughter, and I was a freshman at the same high school when the younger daugher was a senior. I showed a picture of the girl to my mom and she said "yep, that's the one I met the other night"
My cousin's mother-in-law lives on the same block, and now we'll get to see my cousin's kids more often too. Cute kids.
Excited - hoping that everything gets through home inspection, attorney review, and mortgage review with no hitches. Cross yer fingers and toes for me.
The thing that caught me the most as I drove past was the dwarf Japanese maple in the front garden. A lovely 2-3 foot specimen that was lovingly pruned, and could qualify as bonsai. Silly druid. :)
new vinyl siding
egh? Whats vinyl siding?
Vinyl siding (http://www.carterworks.net/L3.jpg)
Lenilya
08-18-04, 08:07 PM
some houses just look good with it. My paren't old house changed from a white metal to a kinda light blue vinyl siding, and the color/texure really worked with the profile for some odd reason. :)
Vinyl siding is the norm where I live. As long as you pick a good color for your shutters and trim it can look very nice. Just signed a contract to have my house built a week and a half ago. Not as expensive as that house, but certainly not as cheap as the one Lilum mentioned either! (cheap payment wise, not quality wise)
Caldarya
08-19-04, 02:02 PM
my parents like to tell the story of their friends' parking place in Manhattan costing more than our house upstate
Eldoren
08-19-04, 10:41 PM
This thread does not deliver.
http://www.leffa-arviot.com/arvostelut/s/seven_year_itch_the/01.jpg
PsiKoTicK
08-20-04, 06:41 AM
I second the pon'farr reference.
I pay $600 a month, for the master bedroom in a house. I have my own bathroom (The other rooms that are about the same size at 20x15 or so are 500-550 in this same house - they share a bathroom between 4 people). That $600 includes Extended Basic Cable TV (no digital, I cry), 768/128 DSL, and all utilities. 2 shared kitchens, 1 shared laundry room (aka, 1 washer and dryer) - one of the kitchens is being remodeled. The landlord is currently finishing half of the basement for another room to rent, with their own bathroom as well. The living room is shared, but I never use it cuz I'm an antisocial bastard.. :)
To put in context, I'm in Silver Spring, about a 3 minute walk from Glenmont Metro Station in the DC Metro area. In Gaithersburg (which is 20-30 minutes North), I was paying $550 a month, PLUS utitilities. In DC (or even other places around here), I'd pay $800+, plus utilities, for a studio. In DC, I'd expect more like $1000+.
I'm actually very happy here, tho if/when I get a girlfriend, who wants to move in, I'll need to move out... but what are the odds of THAT happening?
Dragynphyre
08-20-04, 07:29 AM
Sounds like the DC area is simliar to the area surrounding NYC in terms of rents.