Remember, kev, that after selling, I, too, have to live somewhere. But at that point, I will be a cash buyer … that is, unless I move to the SF Bay area. If I decide to buy there, I will take out a very small mortgage.
The “inventory shortage” is much more pronounced up there but I’m not worried that I won’t be able to find something. Why? I will accept a fixer as long as it is structurally sound. In addition, I’m not as “picky” about neighborhood as a lot of Pigg “helicopter parents” seem to be. And, even if I had my kid living with me (currently in HS), I won’t be bothering to check the Megan’s Law website to check a listing I’m placing an offer on. Why? Because I don’t care and neither does my kid! A PC 290 registrant can be living across the street with a telescope in their window and it won’t bother me a bit.
For example, in the absence of an inspection, the following listing (which took me all of two minutes to find online) appears to be acceptable to me to make an offer on. And I might even be willing to inspect a listing myself or with a knowledgeable friend and waive a “professional inspection” with a completed termite clearance in hand and proof of recent pest control services contracted by the seller.
There are few more acceptable properties to me in this area to choose from.
kev, if you don’t yet have a principal residence and need one in the OC, I think you should rethink making offers in those nice, stable, convenient ‘hoods in the OC that you consider to be “blue collar.” WTH is wrong with your kids (if you have any) being able to ride their bikes to CA Adventure Park? I carefully perused the $400K listing which NSR posted here on your thread:
…and on the surface (without an inspection), it appears to be perfectly acceptable with a largish flat lot. In addition, it appears to be a stone’s throw from a major hospital and could be rented to medical professionals VERY steadily for YEARS, IMO, should you decide to move out and turn it into a rental.
Of course prospective wanna-be homeowners today always have the option of “waiting for a better day” before they decide to make offers.
Good luck with that, kev. If you’re wishing and hoping for 2009/10 again in CA coastal counties before you decide to make any offers, you may very well find yourself a lifelong renter. If that’s your goal, more power to you.
In a nutshell, today’s buyer’s should be completely realistic in their househunt and get out there (preferably with a knowledgeable construction friend), to see what’s available to buy NOW. Fantasies of a particular “lifestyle” have no business in a young family’s househunt who needs a house ASAP. Especially not in the househunt of a FTB, IMHO. Buyers today also need to be decisive and act forthwith when they see an acceptable listing or they may very well find themselves fence-sitting into oblivion.
