Go for it. I still keep original copies, it will be interesting to see what she says. She actually may agree with it. Or maybe not. > On Mar 13, 2015, at 9:00 AM, Josh <lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > I’m going to have to tell Amanda you called her salty *LOL*. > > From: audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > [mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On Behalf Of Thomas McMahan > Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 9:18 AM > To: audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: [audio-pals] Re: Older Houses > > I think a garage is for storing your car away whether you get wet in the > process of getting inside or not. They are very handy up here whether > attached or detached. We have neither, it’s hard on a car sitting outside > all winter up here, shortens battery life at least, not good for the belts > either. > > Maybe Danny will let you park the car in his tree, but maybe then again you > won’t like to do that because he might drive it around and thats kind of > scary. > > At this point i would consider all options attached is best but if the place > is good enough a little rain once in a while on you won’t melt you. Maybe > Amanda but not you, salt just lumps up with a little water thats all *lol*. > On Mar 13, 2015, at 7:40 AM, Josh <lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx > <mailto:lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: >> >> Talking about a detached garage, Amanda had a couple of houses on her list >> that were detached garages, but I ruled them out before ever going to them. >> I think a detached garage is useless. The main reason I would want a garage >> in the first place is to stay out of the elements when they are bad and if I >> had a detached garage well then I am still going outside at some point in >> order to get in the house. Now, that the criteria has changed and shifted a >> bit so that we have more options though it may be that we reconsider >> detached garages at some point. After all we are now considering houses with >> carports whereas before we were not. >> >> From: audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> <mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> [mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> <mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On Behalf Of Thomas McMahan >> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 2:37 PM >> To: audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> Subject: [audio-pals] Re: Older Houses >> >> No he couldn’t, we he won’t once the property tax comes around. Not in >> Chicago. Detroit maybe though. >> >>> On Mar 12, 2015, at 1:19 PM, BethAnn LaPresta (Redacted sender >>> "bela28_02@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:bela28_02@xxxxxxxxx>" for DMARC) >>> <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: >>> >>> Actually for $120K, he could probably buy an entire block in Chicago... >>> >>> From: Thomas McMahan <thomas.mcmahan@xxxxxxx >>> <mailto:thomas.mcmahan@xxxxxxx>> >>> To: audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 11:08 AM >>> Subject: [audio-pals] Re: Older Houses >>> >>> Why didn’t you tell us you lived in Chicago? Sounds very much the same as >>> it is up there. >>> >>> Hey Josh, I just thought of another option. There are lots of houses >>> available in Detroit. Heck you can probably buy yourself a school building >>> there. That would be a big house for you. Utilities might be a little >>> high though. >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Mar 12, 2015, at 11:57 AM, BethAnn LaPresta (Redacted sender >>>> "bela28_02@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:bela28_02@xxxxxxxxx>" for DMARC) >>>> <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: >>>> >>>> My house is in a neighborhood that is definitely considered "the hood". I >>>> refinanced in January at $130K and my payment is about $800/mo. My >>>> property taxes are spendy though, over $2K per year, so that adds almost >>>> $200/mo right there. They tossed 26 of my cottage style single detached >>>> homes on little 3900 sq ft. lots, so our cul-de-sac is very busy with all >>>> of us stacked up right against each other. But, living out west, things >>>> cost much more, it is shocking actually. >>>> >>>> I could've purchased a 100 yr. old home where Heather lives in Ohio with >>>> about the same size lot for $60K, just to give perspective. The guy who >>>> got himself into trouble with my house paid $263K for it in 2006 when real >>>> estate prices were obscene out here. Because he was short selling the >>>> home, I was able to get it for just $110K in 2011. A house on my street >>>> has just gone up for sale and they're asking $200K for 3 bedrooms (and >>>> they are tiny), 2 baths with one car detached garage. So, if I need to >>>> sell, I should still be able to make a little. >>>> >>>> Thought I should explain my monthly payment since I was saying I didn't >>>> think the $600/mo. seemed like enough. >>>> >>>> From: Thomas McMahan <shadowmonstrosity@xxxxxxx >>>> <mailto:shadowmonstrosity@xxxxxxx>> >>>> To: audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 9:23 AM >>>> Subject: [audio-pals] Re: Older Houses >>>> >>>> Oh mine btw was $162, because we’re cheap! *lol*. Then it went down to >>>> $150 then down to $128, but again we’re cheap and live in a piece of s— >>>> house, but as Pat used to say, “it’s our piece of S— *lol*. >>>> >>>> >>>>> On Mar 12, 2015, at 10:12 AM, BethAnn LaPresta (Redacted sender >>>>> "bela28_02@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:bela28_02@xxxxxxxxx>" for DMARC) >>>>> <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> I am not sure that $600/month figure is accurate. I just refinanced at >>>>> 3.25% and my payment is $800/mo. (this does include property taxes and >>>>> insurance though). >>>>> >>>>> From: Josh <lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx>> >>>>> To: audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 4:44 AM >>>>> Subject: [audio-pals] Re: Older Houses >>>>> >>>>> Amanda did some figuring using a mortgage calculator online and the >>>>> 120,000 house was going to run us roughly 600 something a month for I >>>>> want to again say it was 1700 sq. ft. We currently live in a 1100 sq. ft. >>>>> apartment and pay 714.00 a month. So, given the differences there and the >>>>> fact that we have nothing to show for it at the end of the year is a >>>>> little much in my book. So, if the 120,000 was going to be 600 something >>>>> it would go to reason that the 112,000 would be less money than that. >>>>> Now, as far as utilities go, Knoxville Utilitiy Board (KUB) will give us >>>>> high and low figures for the last 12 months. The last 12 months is a good >>>>> thing providing there has been someone living in the house, but if the >>>>> house has sat empty then the numbers that KUB quotes are not in the least >>>>> bit accurate. I really like the idea of rolling insurance and taxes into >>>>> the monthly payment so that way at the end of the year or whenever land >>>>> taxes are due we are not hit with a big lump sum of money to pay. Sure it >>>>> would be nice to think that I could just put that money back each month >>>>> and not touch it, but the minute something needs to be paid for guess >>>>> where the land tax money goes that was being put bac into an account. If >>>>> it is figured into the monthly payment then for the most part the >>>>> majority of it will be paid throughout the year. The thing that really >>>>> sucks is that stinking PMI payment each month. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> <mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>> [mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> <mailto:audio-pals-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] On Behalf Of Thomas McMahan >>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 4:58 AM >>>>> To: audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:audio-pals@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>>> Subject: [audio-pals] Re: Older Houses >>>>> >>>>> I accidentally hit the send before cleaning up that mail darn it. >>>>> >>>>> Here’s another little exercise to work on. Lets say you guys decide to >>>>> go for this house. You should have a ballpark of the monthly payment. >>>>> Sit down and plot out a budget around it on one paper, as well as a list >>>>> of possible repairs to do on another list and their costs. Yes a house >>>>> payment can be cheaper than rent, but their are other realities such as >>>>> the taxes, and insurance. Are you going to escrow your insuranc and tax >>>>> payments into your house payment? Most people do that and it usually >>>>> works out well until they assess your house taxes up and then you have to >>>>> make up the short fall. Of course if they assess them downward you get a >>>>> chunk of money back in the mail like my sister-in-law has done the past >>>>> two years. I didn’t escro my other payments. I deal with insurance as I >>>>> would any other utility, and we would do our taxes on our own. Because >>>>> of that I now pay my insurance once a year and it’s cheaper, and once the >>>>> house was paid for there was less entanglement with the bank. I even >>>>> removed the automatic withdraw for house payment because they double >>>>> dipped us a couple of different months, and didn’t have a very good >>>>> explanation as to why. So it put us into over draw land, which isn’t a >>>>> place you want to be. They did the same to my sis-in-law too and she >>>>> went in and practically threw a fit because she wasn’t working at the >>>>> time and didn’t have income yet. They refunded her money on that one, >>>>> but as she asked them, “now how am I supposed to pay the rest of my >>>>> bills? You think you guys are my only bill to pay?” Banks and their >>>>> computers can be sloppy sometimes. >>>>> >>>>> Now when you do your budget here’s another game to play which may be >>>>> beneficial. Can you run your whole budget on one income? Everybody that >>>>> lives as a couple should do this whether renting or paying for a house. >>>>> Most of us find we can’t, but it is a nice goal. The guy we had going >>>>> along with us to check out houses etc and sort of pointed and guided us >>>>> along through the process gave us that little bit of wisdom. As he said, >>>>> what happens if Pat loses her job and can’t get one very fast? Can you >>>>> live on just your income alone, because if you can get to that point, >>>>> then you can start paying extra against your house on it’s principle and >>>>> have more paid off faster which is good for the credit rating, but if you >>>>> decide to move in 20 years you are carrying less of a load thus will get >>>>> more money back to leverage against your next place should you decide to >>>>> do that. Or you can both pay some extra on house and car, then put the >>>>> rest in the bank against major repairs which are going to come even if >>>>> you buy a house that was built today, in 30 years you will have to had to >>>>> replace things, they just don’t build stuff that good anymore and >>>>> sometimes that includes homes btw. >>>>> >>>>> Lots of decisions, but at least it looks like you guys aren’t just >>>>> jumping right and grabbing what shines in front of you which is good. >>>>> >>>>> Btw, I don’t think our budget is currently within the lowest income level >>>>> of the house here at this time which would be Patti’s income, although >>>>> it’s not way above that amount. It is a good goal to work for actually, >>>>> so we will be able to start seriously working on this place. Get a lot >>>>> of little stuff done over time, then do a loan down the road and fix the >>>>> major stuff such as re doing the roof etc. I don’t think I am going to >>>>> lift the house and work on foundation, but it would be nice to do >>>>> actually. >>>>> >>>>> But it’s a good exercise to do. I would run it on your income Josh >>>>> because it is likely to always be there and Amanda’s income is the >>>>> variable one, it can be lower if she’s out of work, but can also be a lot >>>>> higher should land a great paying job. Drop in everything, credit cards >>>>> the whole deal, then figure out once you get to where you’re going which >>>>> angles to cover and get paid off in the budget. >>>>> >>>>> I am guessing you guys have done some of this already though in preparing >>>>> for checking out the housing market and talking to lenders because they >>>>> are going to do roughly the same thing when checking your credit etc. >>>>> Especially if it’s a conservative bank. >>>>> >>>>> Now I think I’ve completed all I was going to say. Took two e-mails, but >>>>> if I had been able to clean up the other one first it would have fitted >>>>> into one probably *lol*. >>>>> >>>>> Instead you get two. >>>>> >>>>>> On Mar 12, 2015, at 3:34 AM, Thomas McMahan <shadowmonstrosity@xxxxxxx >>>>>> <mailto:shadowmonstrosity@xxxxxxx>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Wouldn’t worry about a house on market for 5 months. Most around here >>>>>> are on a year or so. To many deals fall through each time that happens >>>>>> that just adds more time that the house is sitting there. Age, is only >>>>>> a problem if the house hasn’t been kept up and modernized over the >>>>>> years. There are people who prefer older houses simply because they are >>>>>> more solid. The house I live in was placed here in 1922. Yes it came >>>>>> from somewhere else. The house next door is older and was also brought >>>>>> in here from another place too. Fairly common in a town that springs up >>>>>> by a railroad. I wouldn’t worry so much about that as apposed to how >>>>>> it’s fundamentally built, there are a lot of newer places that are >>>>>> likely to give you just as much trouble if not more. >>>>>> >>>>>> Any house is going to have ongoing mantainence of some kind. Sided >>>>>> house are nice but siding fades over the years for example and >>>>>> eventually would need replacing. Wooden houses have their things that >>>>>> have to be done, and so would brick, but brick is the best option as far >>>>>> as I’m concerned accept maybe when a big earthquake comes, then I would >>>>>> favor a wooden house, but what are the chances of that huh? >>>>>> >>>>>> I don’t know the market down there anymore so don’t know if that is a >>>>>> low ball figure on that house or not, but I can tell you it is larger >>>>>> than mine is and mine is two stories, but so is it’s price too. >>>>>> >>>>>> Go through it with a fine tooth comb with the idea of what has to be >>>>>> fixed now, and then in the next 5 years and what would be ongoing over >>>>>> the years, I don’t think for the long term ongoing it will be much >>>>>> different than a 10 year old house verses the 60 year old house, but >>>>>> agin it is a matter of what would immediately have to be worked on. >>>>>> When was the house last occupied too? A house that hasn’t been occupied >>>>>> for a good while can have problems such as drainage because they haven’t >>>>>> been flushed etc. It sounds like you already have someone with you who >>>>>> knows how to examine a foundation well and give you an idea of what >>>>>> would have to be done and when which is good. Same with tuck pointing >>>>>> brick etc. >>>>>> >>>>>> It may be sitting on market because folks think it’s to high also, but >>>>>> you are going to drop in a price and they will take it or leave it, or >>>>>> you both the buyer and seller will eventually come up with something in >>>>>> the middle, or the seller is going to have an empty house on their >>>>>> hands. >>>>>> >>>>>> What heating and cooling does it have, and when was it installed too >>>>>> that is a factor, a 30 year old furnace is getting kind of old in this >>>>>> part of the world, but most of our furnaces are gas and they do have to >>>>>> work pretty hard for a good part of the year. Does it have any >>>>>> chimnies, and where do they run through the house. Ones that run >>>>>> through centers of houses on the surface are nice, but when they have to >>>>>> be worked on they are a lot more work. Of course where you live a lot >>>>>> of homes are electric heat and electric water heat, which is another >>>>>> thing to add to your check list, how old is the water heater and when >>>>>> will you be replacing that. A brand new house obviously you would get >>>>>> to wait a while before doing that, but chances are you would have to do >>>>>> it eventually, or have your price knocked down when you are selling it, >>>>>> or when your descendants are selling it. But that goes with any house >>>>>> again. >>>>>> >>>>>> What neighborhood is it in? How accessible is it to you. Pretend >>>>>> Amanda had to leave town for a Month and start your math, what is easy >>>>>> to get to via walking etc. Maybe that isn’t a problem for you at this >>>>>> moment, but life can always hand you changes, and well, next thing you >>>>>> know, you are walking to the grocery store if you know what I mean. >>>>>> >>>>>> Find out what their highest bills were for each utility in the last year >>>>>> it was occupied if you can, you need that in planning a general budget. >>>>>> I don’t know your property tax situation anymore, but here they just >>>>>> give an estimate from the seller, but the problem is, that if the sell >>>>>> lived in the house for a long time you might get a little surprise when >>>>>> the annual taxes come. Our’s wasn’t a surprise because the previous >>>>>> owner hadn’t lived or owned the house for to long. >>>>>> >>>>>> So it becomes also a matter of do you get a house that you won’t have to >>>>>> do any work or as little work as possible on, verses one that may have >>>>>> to have some work done, or one that is a fixer upper. We bought a fixer >>>>>> upper, but when we bought it was a seller’s market, it definitely isn’t >>>>>> that nowadays, so we went for a house we knew we could likely get. Well >>>>>> the trade off is that it’s needed work done on it and still does >>>>>> actually, but likely we would at least get some money back when we sell >>>>>> it. Maybe not a lot but probably some when all is said and done, and of >>>>>> course the sell of this place could be the lverage to getting a better >>>>>> place. It’s probably what you parents did, if not them then your grand >>>>>> parents did, that is more the normal thing in history. Well up until >>>>>> recently where you have people who expect to buy a brand new house that >>>>>> is larger than what their parents owned as their first house. Well if >>>>>> it can be swung, go for it, but to me it’s a little unrealistic, well to >>>>>> my income level it is *lol*. >>>>>> >>>>>> What appliances are already there, and how quickly do you think you will >>>>>> be having to replace say: stove, washer, or more of a bear dishwasher? >>>>>> What about cabinetry etc, is Amanda happy with that, having that done >>>>>> can also be expensive unless you have someone who works with you to give >>>>>> you a break. How much stuff will you guys do on your own for >>>>>> modifications verses having to hire outsiders. So yes the advantage of >>>>>> a new place is that you won’t have to do that, but I guarantee you will >>>>>> pay up front for that, but that is why newer houses don’t stay on market >>>>>> long. >>>>>> >>>>>> So then it falls back to degree of work and mantainence that has to be >>>>>> done. >>>>>>> On Mar 11, 2015, at 9:41 PM, Josh <lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx >>>>>>> <mailto:lawdog911@xxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello, >>>>>>> We are finding tons of older houses that we absolutely love. When I >>>>>>> say older I am talking 1950’s. I am struggling with this a bit though >>>>>>> because I am looking ahead, past when I am living there. Or rather to >>>>>>> the point that I am ready to not live there anymore. So, when I get to >>>>>>> the point of not wanting to live there anymore it could be 10, 20, 30 >>>>>>> or more years down the road, but I am sure there will come a time that >>>>>>> I am ready to move on. If this is not the case and I stay there until I >>>>>>> die then it is not a concern, However, a 1950 house that I live in for >>>>>>> 20 years will then be 85 years old. I know the specific house that we >>>>>>> are looking at has been on the market for right about 5 months. So, >>>>>>> what do you all think, do you think I would have trouble selling an 85 >>>>>>> year old home? It is on the market for 5 months at the age of 65 years >>>>>>> old. It is right about 112,000.00 right now without negotiating a lower >>>>>>> price. Do you think I would be able to get my money back? If it is not >>>>>>> a major concern, the age of the house, then I will not let it sway my >>>>>>> decision, but taking into consideration that it is an all brick rancher >>>>>>> with over 1700 sq. ft. and it is almost 100,000.00 and still on the >>>>>>> market concerns me regardless how beautiful the house seems right now. >>>>>>>