tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post3179570407667779295..comments2024-03-28T08:18:47.351-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: Good advice on buying a homePeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-34674378590050894332017-05-05T15:06:45.463-05:002017-05-05T15:06:45.463-05:00Good advice.
We followed most (not all) of it - w...Good advice.<br /><br />We followed most (not all) of it - we did upgrade once (to get to an area with better schools). Since we live in an area that's expensive, even for California, we still paid more than we'd have preferred, but we did our best to pay things down, and refinanced to a lower interest rate (and lower payment, even though a shorter term) when we had a chance.<br /><br />We have a pretty decent income, but it's gone to retirement savings, paying off the house, and our kids' education rather than status symbols. The closer we get to retirement age, the more I feel we made the right call - we've got a comfortable one-story house in a decent neighborhood that's almost paid off, and respectable retirement savings. While the friends that bought the big houses worry about loosing them if they're out of work for a few months, and know that they'll need to sell them and move when & if they ever retire.<br /><br />This doesn't mean you shouldn't buy nice, expensive, things - but it really helps if it's a choice of something you actually enjoy rather than something you're buying to impress your friends and neighbors.<br /><br />I'm far from as extreme as the early-retirement advocates like Mr Money Mustache (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com) but its amazing how much of the average families spending goes to things they don't really care about all that much.Javaheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14922782424313956036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-22262539864104241292017-05-04T11:59:57.895-05:002017-05-04T11:59:57.895-05:00While I grew up in the 60s and 70s, the inflation ...While I grew up in the 60s and 70s, the inflation of the Carter years followed by the recessions of the early 80s made 1975-85 my "economic formative years". I bought a smaller house than we could afford (to the banks) specifically because one of us could make the payments should my wife or I get laid off from our jobs. <br /><br />33 years later, a major addition and dozens of smaller upgrades later, I'm still living here. Paid it off a decade early. <br /><br />There is great peace of mind in not being in over your head, but there's no peace of mind like not having monthly payments. <br /><br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-10094909412200379422017-05-04T07:09:41.026-05:002017-05-04T07:09:41.026-05:00I think part of it is how you look at it, how you ...I think part of it is how you look at it, how you were raised or maybe just how your mind works.. <br /><br />Shelter that's an investment? <br />An investment that you can live in? <br />A place of your own.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-87212216085393608532017-05-04T05:39:06.250-05:002017-05-04T05:39:06.250-05:00One mistake we made was to buy a three floor house...One mistake we made was to buy a three floor house. Now, closer to 70 than 18 I wish I had a one level dwelling. The old knees would greatly appreciate it.Timbonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-89425511274473039762017-05-04T01:24:45.882-05:002017-05-04T01:24:45.882-05:00I would also suggest, when considering a house for...I would also suggest, when considering a house for purchase, strongly considering <i>utility of space</i> - what space does the house have, how is it configured and how may it be used? For example, I've always wanted an oversize 4-car garage with an attached 2-bedroom house because my <i>utility of space</i> involves automotive and carpentry hobbies. I've seen any number of large, seemingly impressive houses that, in my estimation, would be a hemorrhoid to live in because of how they're laid out. <br /><br />As George Carlin once said, "a house is just a box to keep your stuff in."<br /><br />AlphonseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-50407129710629370322017-05-04T00:01:23.899-05:002017-05-04T00:01:23.899-05:00I would add(especially given recent weather around...I would add(especially given recent weather around here), never buy or build a house where the boy scout manual would not advise you to set up a tent.Odysseushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16710666926746925370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-7412356453993852502017-05-03T22:41:59.736-05:002017-05-03T22:41:59.736-05:00Yeah, reading this excerpt my first reaction was &...Yeah, reading this excerpt my first reaction was "well - DUH!" I always thought this was common sense stuff, but I guess not that common.Tucson Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-73424985090405665802017-05-03T19:53:37.808-05:002017-05-03T19:53:37.808-05:00pretty good advice, but living behind enemy lines ...pretty good advice, but living behind enemy lines in high-demand commiefornia required me to break a lot of those rules.<br /><br />we will be here for the time being, but we will likely have to move out of state in the forseeable future given the way we are overrun and having our rights stepped upon regularly.<br /><br />thanks for sharing.idprismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02206072140264296756noreply@blogger.com