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christy
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 6787 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Making the right decision-UPDATED
House hunting is so hard (as we all know). Dh and I are so on again-off again with the house shopping.
Here is my issue...
I currently found a house that has a great location/neighborhood, low taxes and big property. These are all huge pros on our list. However, I don't really like the house itself. It is small and all original. It would require tons of work. The house is not cheap, but we are pretty sure we can get it for less than asking. It would take a lot of time to make this the home we want to live it. But, it has all those other factors going for it.
What is the best way to buy a house? Look for the dream house or get the good property, area and taxes?
UPDATE: The price of this home was just lowered by 30,000!!!!!! Now I am going crazy!
Message edited 5/6/2006 11:27:09 AM.
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Posted 5/1/06 6:20 PM  |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Making the right decision
DH and I resigned ourselves to the fact that our "dreamhouse" does not exist on LI. well I'm sure it does, but not in a price range we could ever afford.
so IMO, go for the good property and neighborhood vs. nicer house that is not in the area you want to live in.
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| Posted 5/1/06 6:22 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Making the right decision
The one bit of advice that stayed constant in our 16 month search was "location, location, location".
For us, unless we were going to build a craftsman bungalow or tudor on 2 acres in Cold Spring Harbor, we weren't shopping for our dream home. We were looking for a solid home, something we could work with in the area we wanted.
I can empathize with the going back and forth and not knowing what to do...when you find the right house, you'll know it.
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| Posted 5/1/06 7:00 PM |
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Chatham-Chick
*********************
Member since 5/05 10311 total posts
Name:
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Colleen9304
The one bit of advice that stayed constant in our 16 month search was "location, location, location".
...We were looking for a solid home, something we could work with in the area we wanted...
Couldn't agree more.
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| Posted 5/1/06 7:27 PM |
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Kathy116
Hey baby!
Member since 6/05 1855 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Making the right decision
We did NOT look for the dream house...instead we looked for dream location/property.
Our home was DISGUSTING!!! It looked like the exorcist lived here! I'm not kidding...but we both knew what we desired was the location (waterfront)...it has been a long road (going on 5-6 years now), but things have come along. We completely gutted the house...now we are in the process of constructing our master bathroom.
We didn't do everything at once, it would just be too costly, instead we did things as we could.
Good luck with everything!!!!! 
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| Posted 5/1/06 7:29 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Making the right decision
The notion of a dream home sets us all up for disappointment. The majority of people do not live in their "dream home". My BIL who is stupid rich just built his "dream home" and it took him until he was 52 years old to do it.
Good solid house in great location and in a great neighborhood is the key. If we were all rich we could have our dream home. Most of us arent so we get the best we can afford. I know I did.
Even people who have their "dream home" want something else after a while. They find fault with whatever they have.
I don't think we will ever be able to afford our dream home.
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| Posted 5/1/06 7:31 PM |
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Kathy116
Hey baby!
Member since 6/05 1855 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Making the right decision
Let me just add that this decision depends on what you want. My husband and I didn't mind living in the money pit for a while...but his brother wanted a house that was set to go, updated, everything new. So that's what he focused on, and didn't care so much about location (it's in a nice area, but it's a very small piece of property, on a semi busy road).
Message edited 5/1/2006 7:36:02 PM.
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| Posted 5/1/06 7:35 PM |
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jaysee00
LIF Adult
Member since 3/06 1647 total posts
Name:
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Re: Making the right decision
I totally understand what you're feeling. I still wonder if it's the right choice for us, but as someone else said, you'll know if the house is right for you. It's all so overwhelming. If the things you listed as the pros are very important to you, then maybe this is the house for you! We knew we wanted a house that didn't need alot of work that was in a nice neighborhood and we found it. We just knew it when we walked in. Good luck in whatever you decide.
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| Posted 5/1/06 7:59 PM |
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CAJ
woulda, coulda, shoulda
Member since 12/05 3366 total posts
Name:
CJ
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Re: Making the right decision
location, location, location
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| Posted 5/1/06 8:23 PM |
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Diana1215
Living on a prayer!!!
Member since 10/05 29450 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: Making the right decision
I think that it completly depends on you and your DH. Some people like houses that they can customize and make their own while others want something already done.
I also think that people need to be realistic with where they are in life. You don't want to stretch yourself TOO thin and have to live to pay your mortgage payment every month.
As for finding your dream home...I think that your taste, wants, and needs are constantly changing - so I think that what may be your dream home today may be totally different in five years.
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| Posted 5/1/06 8:24 PM |
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MrsSchwags
Soccer Baseball Lax Mom
Member since 10/05 11240 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
we were looking for potential. We wanted a good district and decent property.
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| Posted 5/1/06 8:45 PM |
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LisaW
Time for me to FLY!
Member since 5/05 13199 total posts
Name:
Did I ever tell you that I hate people?
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by MrsSchwags
we were looking for potential. We wanted a good district and decent property.
Ditto, and although its good for now, if our family expands we will move on...
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:16 PM |
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Tumbalina
Better than the news!
Member since 2/06 2840 total posts
Name:
Angela
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by CAJ
location, location, location
exactly.
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:22 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by christy
What is the best way to buy a house? Look for the dream house or get the good property, area and taxes?
honestly...i think this is a question that only you and your DH can answer for yourselves..
a lot of people say the location, location, location thing...
but after reading the threads on this board....where is that location anymore?
So i think i try to find a nice affordable medium...compromise if you will..
but what someone wants to compromise on is very different couple to couple...
And situation to stiuation...
me....the house i buy is IT for me...we are in it for the long 30year haul....
this will not be our starter home, we are not looking to move in 5-8 years...not unless there is another real estate surge like a few years ago..(but realistically that i do not see happening)
Me...i am looking for a house in a decent location, structurally sound house, taxes that are affordable and has room to move so that when i retire i will not have to be dirt poor..decent size lot.
There are certain house aspects that may be worth compromising and some that just aren't...
so i think it is way to difficult to answer this..
Message edited 5/1/2006 9:33:32 PM.
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:32 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: Making the right decision
this is the way we see it when we're house hunting....you can always update or add onto the house. But you can't make the property bigger, or make the neighborhood better.
We found one house we LOVED! It was perfect inside, 5 years old, lots of room.....but the neighborhood was sketchy so we knew the house was out.
my priorities are location and property size.
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:44 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Palebride
make the neighborhood better.
actually i think that you can make a neighborhood better....
if anything that is what the future holds for a LOT if not all of LI towns in the future
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:49 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Making the right decision
I agree with everyone that said its a personal choice. Also you need to consider how improvements will be made. Are you & your DH DIYers? Will you need to hire pros? A bathroom renovation can easily run $10k or way more. Can you be happy in this house for the number of years it would take for all the updating to be complete?
We bought an as is property that was destroyed & needed everything because we loved the location & my DH & I do all the work ourselves. The downside is we have a 6 page list of open projects or things we still need to start. I'm ok with it though.
Good luck with your decision & tell us more about the house!!!
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:50 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Redhead
actually i think that you can make a neighborhood better....
how?
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| Posted 5/1/06 9:55 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Palebride
Posted by Redhead
actually i think that you can make a neighborhood better....
how?
as we have been seeing for years...
neighborhoods that once seemed not so good are turning over with the changing of the times...
people who are moving into LI...
well they are having a very hard time affording most towns in nassau due to high prices in houses and high taxes....forcing the average person to move east..
moving into areas that were once considered areas not great to live. They are buying these houses and the area is turning over...
pretty soon the majority of the towns on LI will be like this ....
and one day....LI will be all half a mil to a million dollar houses...
so i do see neighborhoods on LI only getting better...
Message edited 5/1/2006 10:05:42 PM.
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:05 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Redhead
Posted by Palebride
Posted by Redhead
actually i think that you can make a neighborhood better....
how?
as we have been seeing for years...
neighborhoods that once seemed not so good are turning over with the changing of the times...
people who are moving into LI...
well they are having a very hard time affording most towns in nassau due to high prices in houses and high taxes....forcing the average person to move east..
moving into areas that were once considered areas not great to live. They are buying these houses and the area is turning over...
pretty soon the majority of the towns on LI will be like this ....
and one day....LI will be all half a mil to a million dollar houses...
so i do see neighborhoods on LI only getting better...
But, the way I see it, *I* as the buyer of the house have no control over what may or may not happen to the neighborhood....so my buying into a neighborhood will do nothing to change it.
I don't disagree that neighborhoods change....it's just hard to predict the future when purchasing something as significant as a house.
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:08 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Palebride
But, the way I see it, *I* as the buyer of the house have no control over what may or may not happen to the neighborhood....so my buying into a neighborhood will do nothing to change it.
I don't disagree that neighborhoods change....it's just hard to predict the future when purchasing something as significant as a house.
i think that some neighborhoods will take time to change...
but i think me the buyer....is pretty much the person who is going to make my neighborhood....me and the people like me who are buying right now...
I mean this is why LI is seeing such a HUGE movement out of the area entirely...
I just see this massive change in the areas of LI as an inevitablity....
and to some extent a sad reality...
Message edited 5/1/2006 10:14:03 PM.
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:13 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Redhead
Posted by Palebride
But, the way I see it, *I* as the buyer of the house have no control over what may or may not happen to the neighborhood....so my buying into a neighborhood will do nothing to change it.
I don't disagree that neighborhoods change....it's just hard to predict the future when purchasing something as significant as a house.
i think that some neighborhoods will take time to change...
but i think me the buyer....is pretty much the person who is going to make my neighborhood....me and the people like me who are buying right now...
I mean this is why LI is seeing such a HUGE movement out of the area entirely...
I just see this massive change in the areas of LI as an inevitablity....
and to some extent a sad reality...
Maybe it's just me....but I'd rather buy a house that needs some work in an area that I know is good....rather than buy a house that is in perfect condition in an area i *hope* will improve in time....
But I still don't see how buying a house in a neighborhood would improve it.....seems risky to depend on that happening.
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:21 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Palebride
Maybe it's just me....but I'd rather buy a house that needs some work in an area that I know is good....rather than buy a house that is in perfect condition in an area i *hope* will improve in time....
But I still don't see how buying a house in a neighborhood would improve it.....seems risky to depend on that happening.
i would rather buy a house in an area that i am comfortable in as well...
but i do see how the less desireable places will be turning over...
like i said...it is inevitable..
And IMO....more and more people who would like to afford houses in fabulous areas are realizing quickly that they CAN"T.
So they are in fact buying houses in areas that they can...which are less desired areas...forcing them to turn over and become desired...
don't know how to better explain this to you...
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:25 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Redhead
don't know how to better explain this to you...
I do understand what you're saying...I just don't agree with it.
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:28 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Making the right decision
Posted by Palebride
Posted by Redhead
don't know how to better explain this to you...
I do understand what you're saying...I just don't agree with it.
wheeeeeeeeeeeeew....
good cause i ran out of ways to explain...
if you disagree then so be it
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| Posted 5/1/06 10:30 PM |
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