House Hunt Thread #3

[DAB]

"hate competition"



as i noted, "good location"

that can encompass a myriad of factors.

how close or far you are from someone or something. work location, shopping venues, schools, friends.....

only you know what is important on your list, but some of old farts have been to more than one rodeo, and might have learned a thing or two.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

As you know, last year we downsized to a mobile home half the size of out previous home. The main thing that made it practical and tolerable was the location.

Another few things I would add to that hard or impossible to change list is neighbors, crime stats and school districts. I always go around and meet the neighbors before I buy a house. Also check the Megan's Law website for registered sex offenders in the area. I hate competition.

Just got back from a 'hood' meeting with the neighbors, a few minits ago....setting in Ernie's driveway on bridge table type folding chairs...and so the guys set around and solve the world's problems.....we ALL solid on Trump's side, which certainly helps, of course.....

These evening meets going on for some well over the 20 years I been here, I happened to look across the street when buying this house, one evening....and there they were, staring back at me.....I could see they all average guys my age....so GOOD!!!

[Will]

Realtor convinced another homeowner down the street from us to let us take a look on Tuesday.

Only 4 bedroom, so no guestroom, but the price is nice - listed at $219,000.

Kitchen is fine, I think it would look great with nothing but new counters.

2.5 baths, all with granite counter tops. Master bath could use a bigger tub, not sure why they didn't utilize the space for it and went with a skinny tub.

Bedrooms all look fine.

Needs some landscaping work, but it's not pricey around here.

Main drawback is NO paved drive. Just dirt from street to garage on side of house. Realtor paid $9,000 for her driveway plus semi circle drive in front of house, so for just a drive back to the garage I'm figuring maybe $5,000 or so?

[DAB]

Our driveway is gravel.

[Will]

Also they put on a new roof last year and had a new well pump installed.

[Black94lt1]

Sounds like a good prospect!

[snide]

Originally Posted by Will

Realtor convinced another homeowner down the street from us to let us take a look on Tuesday.

Only 4 bedroom, so no guestroom, but the price is nice - listed at $219,000.

Kitchen is fine, I think it would look great with nothing but new counters.

2.5 baths, all with granite counter tops. Master bath could use a bigger tub, not sure why they didn't utilize the space for it and went with a skinny tub.

At that asking price, you'd have plenty of room in the budget to make this house truly yours.

[Will]

Originally Posted by snide

At that asking price, you'd have plenty of room in the budget to make this house truly yours.

Yeah, according to my budgeting/retirement planning/etc. spreadsheet, with estimated taxes and insurance, the bi-weekly payments on a 15 year mortgage would be under $900. With an extra $1,000 per month, we could have it paid off in 8 years, and we'd still have $2,000 per month free in the budget to allocate to cash savings and retirement savings above and beyond 403(b) contributions.


Can't wait to show up tomorrow and find mold in the crawl space or feral skunks living in the attic.

[DAB]

skunks in the basement, squirrels in the attic.

[Thunder22]

What city/state are you looking in that these huge houses are so dirt cheap? 4-5 bedroom houses around here are in the millions.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by DAB

skunks in the basement, squirrels in the attic.

clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

What city/state are you looking in that these huge houses are so dirt cheap? 4-5 bedroom houses around here are in the millions.

The GREAT STATE of SOUTH CAROLINA.

God's country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnwe...South_Carolina

[Will]

OK.

Looked at house in post #43 listed at $219,000 this AM.

Kitchen counters have also been replaced with granite after photos in post #43 were taken. Husband home owner actually does that for a living, hence all the nice counter tops. Even laundry room has granite.

Big con, but hopefully nothing a little elbow grease can't cure - these people are dirty.

Upstairs bed/bonus rooms for 3 sons (all joined Marines) were filthy. Multiple dead roaches.

Living room was facade clean, behind sofa against wall filthy and a dead roach.

Attic space is all accessible via 3 separate doors from upstairs rooms (main living area is vaulted ceilings.

Exterior is filthy. I wouldn't want to break my neck trying to clean it on a ladder, not sure how much it would cost to have vinyl siding cleaned.

Trim on exterior needs paint work.

COULD NOT access crawl space. Crawl space entrance and A/C unit behind shrubbery that would need to come down. BUT crawl space was WIDE OPEN. Door and frame lying on ground, just an open hole. Definitely would need to be addressed BEFORE they have pest situation addressed.

New roof in 2016, new well pump in 2016, septic emptied in 2016.

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by Will

The GREAT STATE of SOUTH CAROLINA.

God's country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnwe...South_Carolina

I have a couple of buddies who live down there, 1 by Spartenburgh, and 1 somewhere else who knows where they seem to like it.

Good luck.

[snide]

Originally Posted by Will

OK.

Looked at house in post #43 listed at $219,000 this AM.

Kitchen counters have also been replaced with granite after photos in post #43 were taken. Husband home owner actually does that for a living, hence all the nice counter tops. Even laundry room has granite.

Big con, but hopefully nothing a little elbow grease can't cure - these people are dirty.

Upstairs bed/bonus rooms for 3 sons (all joined Marines) were filthy. Multiple dead roaches.

Living room was facade clean, behind sofa against wall filthy and a dead roach.

Attic space is all accessible via 3 separate doors from upstairs rooms (main living area is vaulted ceilings.

Exterior is filthy. I wouldn't want to break my neck trying to clean it on a ladder, not sure how much it would cost to have vinyl siding cleaned.

Trim on exterior needs paint work.

COULD NOT access crawl space. Crawl space entrance and A/C unit behind shrubbery that would need to come down. BUT crawl space was WIDE OPEN. Door and frame lying on ground, just an open hole. Definitely would need to be addressed BEFORE they have pest situation addressed.

New roof in 2016, new well pump in 2016, septic emptied in 2016.

Pay the money for a good quality home inspector. Anything the inspector finds, including crawl space issues and insect infestations should be remediated by the home owner as part of any offer.

If you end up buying the place, hire a company to scrub the house top to bottom, interior and exterior, before you move in.

[Will]

After looking at first house, Realtor ran back into town and picked up keys from another agency to show me the ugly yellow fixer-upper monstrosity.

I think I'm in love.

The inside is totally 1979. Ugly and out of date. But it is pristine.

It was like walking into a time capsule, and the potential is tremendous. It's HUGE.

5 bedrooms. And a separate office. And a bar room off the kitchen. Kitchen and living room are enormous. Walking perimeter of house, absolutely rock solid. Grading perfect. Soffits perfect. Dual crawl space entries, in perfect shape. Crawl space itself was dry, and just 1 or 2 spots with some insulation falling down that needs to be resecured.

Attic space accessible via doors in upstairs hall. Clean. Wired with lights with switches just inside doors. Roof looks great. House isn't being lived in. NO bugs. This thing is tight.

Come with me, and take a journey back in time:

Kitchen:




Bar and Half Bath, both off kitchen:

[Will]

Living Room and Laundry Room:

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by snide

Pay the money for a good quality home inspector. Anything the inspector finds, including crawl space issues and insect infestations should be remediated by the home owner as part of any offer.

If you end up buying the place, hire a company to scrub the house top to bottom, interior and exterior, before you move in.

1K in exterminator and 5K for painter, $700 full house clean, $500 for full house wash. It will be move in minty fresh.

[Will]

Upstairs Hall:

[Thunder22]

ugh, no way i would buy that house... you know why? because the noise from downstairs will filter up to the bedrooms and drive you nuts, assuming that the bedrooms are off of the upstairs hall. I used to have a house like that, it was infuriating trying to sleep if people were still awake downstairs and doing anything, including watching TV.