scaredycat in escrow….scared….

[scaredyclassic]

I admit that i am pathetic and scared, but if you’re out there, and can spare a moment … I bid on a house through the internet, the offer wasn’t the high offer but it was ultimately accepted today after others probably had some sense and backed out and we completed some paperwork through an agent. There is a short seven (7) day inspection period, which as I read the paperwork (and talk with the agent), sounds like we can back out in 7 days for whatever reason and get our deposit back. Is that generally how it works?

The final price is 42% of the peak in 2005 (58% off the peak price). I like the house, the payment would be about $1,500 a month, it has several acres, it looks like new in there. Missing some applicances…

I have 24 hours to fund the escrow account, and I am stressed out. My wife wants to go look at it again tonight. I am afraid that she doesn’t really really like it. She says it is “ok”, which is actually fairly high praise from her, and that she is “willing to live there” and sees it as a “fair compromise” between what she woudl ideally like and what I am actually willing to spend. There is nothing really bad about it, other than that it is a tract home ona huge lot, and kind of ordinary looking, not at all funky, which is bad in her eyes. How she ever consented to marry a mediocre product like myself is unclear.

Here are my thoughts in no particular order.

1. I am convinced prices are going to go down, I know it. However, we have been looking a long time, and it is difficult to find a property on land in a location that suits us. There really aren’t a lot of them about. So it’s worth it to some extent to get this because it is fairly unique and we can kind of agree on it. So even though I know prices are going to go down, I am never going to be able to get the hosue we want at the rock bottom price.

2. even after it goes down another 20% (I expect that, but hope it’s not a lot more than that), I’m still doing not so bad with a $1,500 monthly payment. It’s $200 less than our rent payment. I like the place myself, as I say, and really wouldn’t mind staying there a decade or so. It’s not bad for schools.

3. I need to come up witha sizeable sum for the 20% down, but I figure I can borrow $26,000 from a retirement acct (that I don’t believe will be in existence (confiscated by the govt somehow or other prior to my retirement)), and get $8,000 from the Government, so that’s $34,000 that isn’t really out of my pocket. I need to match that with actual money, but heck, $34,000 really isn’t all that much money to take this great adveture in life. It’ll be an interesting story, at the very least, right? Something to have done. You cannot go through life without doing stupid shit, like getting married, etc etc, and maybe buying a house is one of those. And it’ll only cost $34,000, the cost of a few vacations. Is my logic flawed?

4. I admit there is a small outside possibility I could even make a tiny bit of money fi we can hang in there 15 years or so. But probably not. It’ll be about the same price I paid for it in 2026. It will only increase in value after I am dead. Given the lowness of my expectations, how can I be disappointed?

5. I am scared that my wife will turn on me and say, “this house is dumb, it was your idea, this is your house”, because we are not starting in the position of “she loves it”. she’s just tired of looking and thinks this is good enough. Is that enough?

6. Here is the argument against: we actually really like our rental. We’ve been here 4 years, it’s $1,700 a month, it’s on 5 acres, it’s the perfect location for us, extremely private, 2.8 miles to son’s h.s. (other place is 5.0 miles). All our stuff is here, and while it is admittedly kind of a dump, it is just barely big enough for us and we’re used to it. the new place is more than twice as big and we will probably feel like we are in too much space.

7. Also, i have a sudden urge to move to the bach and rent a place a few blocks from the ocean. that would not be possible if i buy this place. not that i would actually do that. I just have an urge.

8. even if we were to get divorced, a $1500 payment is ok, since kids have to reside somehwere…hell, the place is big enough, has a separate casita, we might even be able to be divorced here. coudl certainly put people up. I think there’s 6 bedrooms.

So, bottom line…should I buy this goddamn box so I can have a place to put all my stuff in?

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

Well there is one thing I am fairly certain of,

That your wife will at some point whether you buy it or back out,

She will turn to you and say either

“It was your idea”
or
“It’s your fault”

Just Kidding,

Other than that I got nothing…

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

Well there is one thing I am fairly certain of,

That your wife will at some point whether you buy it or back out,

She will turn to you and say either

“It was your idea”
or
“It’s your fault”

Just Kidding,

Other than that I got nothing…

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

Well there is one thing I am fairly certain of,

That your wife will at some point whether you buy it or back out,

She will turn to you and say either

“It was your idea”
or
“It’s your fault”

Just Kidding,

Other than that I got nothing…

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

Well there is one thing I am fairly certain of,

That your wife will at some point whether you buy it or back out,

She will turn to you and say either

“It was your idea”
or
“It’s your fault”

Just Kidding,

Other than that I got nothing…

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

Well there is one thing I am fairly certain of,

That your wife will at some point whether you buy it or back out,

She will turn to you and say either

“It was your idea”
or
“It’s your fault”

Just Kidding,

Other than that I got nothing…

[waiting hawk]

“even after it goes down another 20% (I expect that, but hope it’s not a lot more than that), I’m still doing not so bad with a $1,500 monthly payment”

So you expect to pay $1200 a month instead of the $1500 if you bought now and waited. Depending on location and current rents 20% lower at current interest rates would not be realistic unless you are talking about Hemet. Next time you look at it take a camera with a camcorder option so you can view it over and over during escrow. I did that on many places I was serious about. If you like the place, can afford it, and its around what you are paying for rent then buy it. If not ditch it and move onto another one later. My freind bought a place a few weeks ago because he was just sick and tired of waiting. After many many years I do not blame em. At least you know you are buying while everyone knows we are in a housing bust and that we did have a bubble instead of knowing about one while everyone else didnt and bought anyways.

PS. lol I went from 1200 sqft to a 2200sqft and I am already used to the extra space. You will fill it with ease. Good luck on any decission you make.

[waiting hawk]

“even after it goes down another 20% (I expect that, but hope it’s not a lot more than that), I’m still doing not so bad with a $1,500 monthly payment”

So you expect to pay $1200 a month instead of the $1500 if you bought now and waited. Depending on location and current rents 20% lower at current interest rates would not be realistic unless you are talking about Hemet. Next time you look at it take a camera with a camcorder option so you can view it over and over during escrow. I did that on many places I was serious about. If you like the place, can afford it, and its around what you are paying for rent then buy it. If not ditch it and move onto another one later. My freind bought a place a few weeks ago because he was just sick and tired of waiting. After many many years I do not blame em. At least you know you are buying while everyone knows we are in a housing bust and that we did have a bubble instead of knowing about one while everyone else didnt and bought anyways.

PS. lol I went from 1200 sqft to a 2200sqft and I am already used to the extra space. You will fill it with ease. Good luck on any decission you make.

[waiting hawk]

“even after it goes down another 20% (I expect that, but hope it’s not a lot more than that), I’m still doing not so bad with a $1,500 monthly payment”

So you expect to pay $1200 a month instead of the $1500 if you bought now and waited. Depending on location and current rents 20% lower at current interest rates would not be realistic unless you are talking about Hemet. Next time you look at it take a camera with a camcorder option so you can view it over and over during escrow. I did that on many places I was serious about. If you like the place, can afford it, and its around what you are paying for rent then buy it. If not ditch it and move onto another one later. My freind bought a place a few weeks ago because he was just sick and tired of waiting. After many many years I do not blame em. At least you know you are buying while everyone knows we are in a housing bust and that we did have a bubble instead of knowing about one while everyone else didnt and bought anyways.

PS. lol I went from 1200 sqft to a 2200sqft and I am already used to the extra space. You will fill it with ease. Good luck on any decission you make.

[waiting hawk]

“even after it goes down another 20% (I expect that, but hope it’s not a lot more than that), I’m still doing not so bad with a $1,500 monthly payment”

So you expect to pay $1200 a month instead of the $1500 if you bought now and waited. Depending on location and current rents 20% lower at current interest rates would not be realistic unless you are talking about Hemet. Next time you look at it take a camera with a camcorder option so you can view it over and over during escrow. I did that on many places I was serious about. If you like the place, can afford it, and its around what you are paying for rent then buy it. If not ditch it and move onto another one later. My freind bought a place a few weeks ago because he was just sick and tired of waiting. After many many years I do not blame em. At least you know you are buying while everyone knows we are in a housing bust and that we did have a bubble instead of knowing about one while everyone else didnt and bought anyways.

PS. lol I went from 1200 sqft to a 2200sqft and I am already used to the extra space. You will fill it with ease. Good luck on any decission you make.

[waiting hawk]

“even after it goes down another 20% (I expect that, but hope it’s not a lot more than that), I’m still doing not so bad with a $1,500 monthly payment”

So you expect to pay $1200 a month instead of the $1500 if you bought now and waited. Depending on location and current rents 20% lower at current interest rates would not be realistic unless you are talking about Hemet. Next time you look at it take a camera with a camcorder option so you can view it over and over during escrow. I did that on many places I was serious about. If you like the place, can afford it, and its around what you are paying for rent then buy it. If not ditch it and move onto another one later. My freind bought a place a few weeks ago because he was just sick and tired of waiting. After many many years I do not blame em. At least you know you are buying while everyone knows we are in a housing bust and that we did have a bubble instead of knowing about one while everyone else didnt and bought anyways.

PS. lol I went from 1200 sqft to a 2200sqft and I am already used to the extra space. You will fill it with ease. Good luck on any decission you make.

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

I went from 1000sqf (which I thought was roomy enough) to 1700sqf which My wife first thought was enormous to 3600sqf which now seems just right (the ladder comes to mind).

I guess you grow into your home whatever size it ends up being .

IMHO from the 80’s till about 2003/4 that ladder thing I feel actually did work.

It will probably start to work again sometime in the next 5 or so years, but that is just my opinion.
(Heck I live in TV what could I know)

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

I went from 1000sqf (which I thought was roomy enough) to 1700sqf which My wife first thought was enormous to 3600sqf which now seems just right (the ladder comes to mind).

I guess you grow into your home whatever size it ends up being .

IMHO from the 80’s till about 2003/4 that ladder thing I feel actually did work.

It will probably start to work again sometime in the next 5 or so years, but that is just my opinion.
(Heck I live in TV what could I know)

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

I went from 1000sqf (which I thought was roomy enough) to 1700sqf which My wife first thought was enormous to 3600sqf which now seems just right (the ladder comes to mind).

I guess you grow into your home whatever size it ends up being .

IMHO from the 80’s till about 2003/4 that ladder thing I feel actually did work.

It will probably start to work again sometime in the next 5 or so years, but that is just my opinion.
(Heck I live in TV what could I know)

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

I went from 1000sqf (which I thought was roomy enough) to 1700sqf which My wife first thought was enormous to 3600sqf which now seems just right (the ladder comes to mind).

I guess you grow into your home whatever size it ends up being .

IMHO from the 80’s till about 2003/4 that ladder thing I feel actually did work.

It will probably start to work again sometime in the next 5 or so years, but that is just my opinion.
(Heck I live in TV what could I know)

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