make my first time home purchase

[waiting hawk]

“But HEY!!! Not all women are gold diggers that are “socialized to find husbands who’ll take care of them.”

QUIT LYING 🙂

My website tracking Temecula and South Riverside County

[Chrispy]

PerryChase – you are opening up a can of worms with that comment. There are some women who depend on men to take care of them, there are other women (like me) who have bought property without men and did well all on their own, and there are some men who want women to take care of THEM.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been reading this website/blog with great interest off and on for a couple of years. I realize people have short memories for the real estate market so I am going to relay my experience.

I moved to San Diego in 1992. The real estate market was in the tank. I bought a foreclosure condominium in La Mesa in 1997 for $100K. The owner who was foreclosed on paid about $146K. The place had some cosmetic damage that didn’t cost much to fix. I made some upgrades and lived in it until 2003. I moved to Northern California to take a promotion. I rented my condo to someone I knew and I was a renter in NorCal. I figure it was worth about $300K in early 2003. I sold it in three weeks in April 2005 for $400K.

I am still renting. I have all that equity sitting in the bank earning 4-6% in CD’s and I am waiting for the crash.

I was addicted to those TV shows about flipping and I figure if there are that many novices out there who know nothing about flipping, making money, then something’s got to give. Plus, the irresponsible lending practices convinced me that things were going to change to a down turn. I got burned in the stock market crash in 2000. It rose the most quickly right before it crashed. I think the RE market is (was) doing the same.

[barnaby33]

Boy, there sure are alot of 6 figure incomes on this thread, are you sure you’re all putting the decimal point in the right place?

Josh

[JES]

Chrispy – The three scenarios you outlined still leave the door open to Perry’s theory. Buying a house on your own doesn’t prove to me that you are still not socialized to find a husband to take care of you. Perhaps you are still looking for a man or alternatively perhaps you are in a state of denial, doing everything possible to create the illusion that you don’t need a man, when in fact any day the right man could come along, whisk you off your feet and steal half your equity:)

[Anonymous]

David,

Your BOSS is paying you an almost 6 figure income to probably not spend work hours on a forum all day. Your BOSS would also probably appreciate if you got back to work.

Thanks,

Your BOSS

[Chrispy]

Good point, JES. However, in my state of denial about needing a man, I sold my house and thus, my equity is now sitting in a bunch of mutual funds and CDs.

I suppose I might *need* a man to figure out how to cash these things out.

[(former)FormerSanDiegan]

Josh –

Doesn’t the comma in 50,000 make it six figures.
Right? Is my counting off ? Someone check my math.

[PerryChase]

The reason I said that about women is not because I’m a misogynist. I frequently visit my bro at his upscale townhouse complex and many of the neighbors are middle age divorcees or single professional women. Despite their well-to-do status, they resent men, yet still hope to meet the right one. Money has nothing to do with it.

I think that men care about charm and good-looks whereas women care about security. I’m not saying that either way is better — just my observation. My friend who is a sociology professor (not in San Diego) agrees with me.

[PD]

If you look at it from an evolutionary standpoint, men look for a fertile female (a certain waist to hip ratio is a good indicator of fertility – Marilyn Monroe is a good example of a figure in that ratio), women look for a male who will give her offspring the best chance of success. As a human, that means a successful man who can easily provide for all of the needs of her children. Further, we both look for symmetry in face and form.

Having said all that. I did not care that my (future) husband was stacking produce when I met him. He was hot (and still is)!

[Chrispy]

A long time ago a boyfriend of a friend of mine said (about his girlfriend) : “She’s all looks and personality, and that’s it.”

It took me awhile to figure out that what was missing was depth. I think character and integrity is more important than looks, charm or being able to provide security – but if you get all four, no need to look further!

[waiting hawk]

“I suppose I might *need* a man to figure out how to cash these things out.”

I know a guy who wears CostCo jeans that can help you with that.

My website tracking Temecula and South Riverside County

[avidsaver]

I have to dig deep to determine whether you’re right Perry… I would say that as a general rule, society is “structured” (for lack of a better word) in such a way that women feel that they need to “find” a man to take care of them… even if not in monetary ways, we think that we at least need a man to fix things around a house (yeah, that would be nice even for me). But I think that my personal problem with “catching” or “keeping” a man is that I don’t stroke his ego enough to make him feel needed enough… I love men though… don’t get it twisted.

In any case, to add something meaningful to the real estate discussion, I was fortunate enough to buy a condo in 1996 in West Hollywood for $75K after the previous owner had been foreclosed on (grammar?). She had paid $120k. A 37.5% decline. Boy was I lucky. I am crossing my fingers that we will see a similar decline. I hate that I’m hoping for the misfortune of others in the process, but it is what it is…

[bubba99]

davidpeace,

you did not tell us how much they were asking for the house, or what you think is should sell for. I am guessing that you got a very good deal on the purchase, and thats why you are reluctant to back out of the deal. What was the asking price?

[powayseller]

barnaby, I wonder too if people exaggerate their incomes, or if only people earning over $100K/year come to piggington. How much do software engineers earn anyway, assuming they are in management? I think it’s $120K max for an engineer. Don’t we have any median type of people here?

DarylK, what would you advise David to do about the house? Are you planning any layoffs over there or is his job secure?

waiting hawk, you’ve really got to go shopping with me. I bet you’re real hot, but who would know in those costco jeans?

[Author]

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