Things I'm going to do if I don't buy a house

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 02/23/2018 at 19:40 • Filed to: house shopping

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I’ve looked at 8 homes in the last two days alone, in addition to the half-dozen I look at weekly, and I am stunned by what I’ve seen. Small homes that need major overhaul for laughable amounts Houses in shit areas going for more. And the one house in a good area getting 12 bids [eye twitches]. Inventory is improving, but quality of homes has been stagnant. So if we don’t buy a house, we’ll have some money lying around... Money that was supposed to be for a downpayment, but hey.

Here’s what I’d do maybe...

THE FORTRESS BUILD
- 6' privacy fence for entire backyard, and a 4' cute/decorative picket fence for the front.
- Adding a bay to the garage and widen the driveway. I’ll get my 2-car garage one way or another, dammit!
- Barn gate for the driveway. The picket fence says “hello,” but the gate will say, “hell no.” An important balance.
- I guess I should replace the garage windows and fix the north corner which needs love

THE “HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE” BUILD
- New appliances
- New floors in kitchen, bathroom, and mudroom. Carpet everywhere else.
- New kitchen cabinets
- demo of separating wall between living room and kitchen to make a nice open floor plan
- turn the bonus room into a proper second bedroom (build a closet, close the half-wall, drink more beer).
- complete bathroom remodel. New cabinets, new tub, and a barn-style frameless glass shower door with low-iron glass and sandblasting across the center... Or maybe just go with rain glass.
- paint ALL THE THINGS

THE “MONEY-INTO-BONFIRE” BUILD
- combine the above two plans and have a home that looks way too nice for 886 square feet in east Everett. Although I guess at that point, the expansion idea would be back on the table.

Unfortunately, any of these fun plans will be constrained by the first plan of action...

THE ZOIDBERG BUILD
- Put money into savings
- pay off some more student loans
- post chandeliers

CB > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:44

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Zoidberg Build sounds the best.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:46

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My first house was a 760 SF “bungalow”. I know the feels. We then got into an honest to god 3 bed/1 bath at 1200 SF and it seemed huge. Always had a long driveway with a 1 car garage with shop room. You would shit if you saw my current split level garage/shop it’s ginormous.

Ssfancyfresh > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:47

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Zoidberg build.

Just finished “happy wife, happy life build”. She says to me - “We should move”

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkk

vondon302 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:49

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Ugh house shopping. I tore down the cabin I was living in and thru up a modular Cape cod. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

Good luck

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Ssfancyfresh 02/23/2018 at 19:50

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Yeah that’s my biggest fear. I feel deep down she doesn’t really want to live here too much longer.

That said, a remodel would be good for resale value, if we were smart about it.

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:53

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I bought a fancy, brand new dslr and all the accessories as my “quitting the business” gift and you know what? I feel so bad about that purchase. My phone takes good pictures, I don’t have time to learn a new major skill right now, and most of all... I’d rather have the money back in my bank. So I’m packing everything up and sending it all back to Amazon. I feel your pain. Don’t rush things

My bird IS the word > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:55

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Mybird build: Live with parents, pay of loans. Cry in breakfast cereal.

Spaceball-Two > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 19:57

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Put a moderate amount of money into the home, make it comfortable for while you are living there and appealing to potential buyers. The market is already correcting and more inventory will come on as the weather gets nicer.

Steve in Manhattan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 20:05

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You are renting now? The trick is to get on the horse, especially if the area is increasing in value. Even if it’s not everything you want, do the improvements and let it appreciate. Bought the apartment we were renting even though it’s smaller than we wanted and doesn’t have a few amenities we’d have liked. But the location is outstanding. You should consider that.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Steve in Manhattan 02/23/2018 at 20:06

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No, I bought a house three years ago.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 20:19

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...Celica.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 20:20

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First off good luck. Also my plans

1. get new garage door with functioning remote opener!

2. Pay off e90

3. Never actually sell the E39A (Galant) and make it a full Rally build!

4. Save all rental income from apartment and use it as a down payment for a house with 10+ acres. Move out within 3 years. Then rent out both apartments and use it to pay for more cars... I mean vacations for my wife.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 20:34

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I support and respect all of these builds, but I’d choose the last one by my nature. #3, in order of importance would be next.

The sad thing is that building is probably actually a lot cheaper than buying. I had this argument with my wife about that, but ultimately the problem is that construction workers are hard to come by and decent land is expensive. You have at least the latter one down, and I suspect you have some skills to do some of it yourself or at least hire good people.

benjrblant > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 20:38

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I’d love to buy a lot and design/build my own home and detached garage, but lot prices in town are almost the same as a damn house. A few acres way in the mountains is affordable for lack of utilities and the 2hr commute.

itschrome > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 20:43

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I’m currently working on

The chrome master plan

Phase one:

HIDE ALL THE MONEY FROM THE MISSES WHO SPENDS ALL THE MONIES SHE FINDS

Phase two:

Buy house.

Wacko > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 21:20

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That’s why I decided to Do a major renovation. The prices of what I wanted was too high for me, so I added a story to my house. Shit loads of work, It cost me 80000 materials, and only payed to jack the house, lay the cement and do the joints on my drywall. Oh and I payed someone to build my oak stairs.

So I have a 140000 cnd mortgage on a house that is worth over 400000 now.

Keep in mind I originally paid 92000 back in 2007.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 21:28

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Buy and old Toyota camper. Camp in the driveway for a month. Tear the house down and build a new one to your liking

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/23/2018 at 22:00

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I have a job interview coming up and if I get an offer it would require moving to an area where a house similar to mine is over 2x the price with very little availability. I’m not looking forward to that part of it.

fintail > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/24/2018 at 12:39

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I’d mix Zoidberg build with the wifey thing. It’s cheaper to keep her.

I’ve long since given up on a detached house here, and condo improvements are money into a fireplace. Via this, I get to take vacations, drive what I want (within reason, although I am itching to look at a G-wagen), actually put a little money away for tomorrow.

His Stigness > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/25/2018 at 14:56

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MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/25/2018 at 20:07

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I vote for a combination of the Fortress and the Happy Wife plan - some new carpet and a fresh coat of paint, and as much garage as you can add.