Seeking the opinion of the buyers out there.

[jpinpb]

To be fair – some people (maybe not many) have been saving and riding out the bubble and some may have even timed it right, sold at peak and stashed their cash. They are in a better position than some to buy. Some, maybe not many, but some do have secure jobs.

I can understand for those people, if they see a house they want that they really like and intend to be there long term, I can understand them buying, even though others do not believe we are at bottom. Some people maybe have done the math and determined the cost to buy versus rent and although some may not think we’re at bottom, maybe it’s close enough to tip the scales in favor of buying in certain areas, rather than continue to rent.

No doubt these are uncertain times, but having a house can sometimes even make people feel a little more secure. Maybe some people just don’t care if they buy at bottom. After seeing so many people living for free, some for a year, I guess they figure that’s the worse that can happen if everything goes sideways.

I know for me personally, it still doesn’t make sense to buy where I’m looking. That still doesn’t stop me from looking and making lowball offers. I do hope someday to find something that makes sense to me. That is different for everyone. I’m sure there are some places out there that make sense for that particular person’s budget and area and not for others.

Brian – the key would be “afford” and that definition is very personal. I would say if you have sufficient savings and have a secure job – as secure as can be nowadays – and the house is being purchased w/a 30-year fixed and payments that are not at the limit where you squeaked into qualifying, I can see why some people would just take the plunge.

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

[quote=AN][quote=patientrenter]
Fair enough. TV prices look good right now. But I’d like to go swimming off the beach every morning after b’fast. Too far for me.[/quote]
You and probably everyone else :-).[/quote]

What’s wrong with surfing the internet while watching cartoons with my cereal and coffee and bagel with cream cheese.

You guy’s just are too healthy.

(actually I take the hiking trail that goes into the mountains just behind my house).

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

[quote=AN][quote=patientrenter]
Fair enough. TV prices look good right now. But I’d like to go swimming off the beach every morning after b’fast. Too far for me.[/quote]
You and probably everyone else :-).[/quote]

What’s wrong with surfing the internet while watching cartoons with my cereal and coffee and bagel with cream cheese.

You guy’s just are too healthy.

(actually I take the hiking trail that goes into the mountains just behind my house).

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

[quote=AN][quote=patientrenter]
Fair enough. TV prices look good right now. But I’d like to go swimming off the beach every morning after b’fast. Too far for me.[/quote]
You and probably everyone else :-).[/quote]

What’s wrong with surfing the internet while watching cartoons with my cereal and coffee and bagel with cream cheese.

You guy’s just are too healthy.

(actually I take the hiking trail that goes into the mountains just behind my house).

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

[quote=AN][quote=patientrenter]
Fair enough. TV prices look good right now. But I’d like to go swimming off the beach every morning after b’fast. Too far for me.[/quote]
You and probably everyone else :-).[/quote]

What’s wrong with surfing the internet while watching cartoons with my cereal and coffee and bagel with cream cheese.

You guy’s just are too healthy.

(actually I take the hiking trail that goes into the mountains just behind my house).

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

[quote=AN][quote=patientrenter]
Fair enough. TV prices look good right now. But I’d like to go swimming off the beach every morning after b’fast. Too far for me.[/quote]
You and probably everyone else :-).[/quote]

What’s wrong with surfing the internet while watching cartoons with my cereal and coffee and bagel with cream cheese.

You guy’s just are too healthy.

(actually I take the hiking trail that goes into the mountains just behind my house).

[UCGal]

Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[UCGal]

Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[UCGal]

Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[UCGal]

Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[UCGal]

Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[/quote]

I got the perfect honda recommendation. It comes with a Jeff Bridges lookalike in the trunk :

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[/quote]

I got the perfect honda recommendation. It comes with a Jeff Bridges lookalike in the trunk :

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[/quote]

I got the perfect honda recommendation. It comes with a Jeff Bridges lookalike in the trunk :

[Coronita]

[quote=UCGal]Not a realtor – but I am a homeowner.

Some people buy, not for investment, but to get shelter in an asset they can pay off before they retire. They aren’t planning on selling, so increase in value doesn’t matter to them. They can afford the payment and have either sufficient savings or job security that they are not worried about losing their jobs. They found a house that is a good match for their lifestyle and family.

I put myself in that category. I bought in early 2003 – and saw my house appreciate on paper to a stupid price, then revert back to a somewhat obscene price, IMO. (It’s a 45 year old tract home – it would cost about $500k less than we paid if it were in the midwest or south.) But it suits our family’s needs. So much so that we built a granny flat for my in-laws to live in. It is so customized to our needs that it would take a nuclear blast to get us out of here. I don’t plan on cashing out any paper profits if the housing market goes up… I don’t plan on walking away from my mortgage if the housing market goes down. And I’ve got the resources to pay the mortgage if my job goes away.

If the buyer is on the edge, financialy – buying more than they can comfortably afford – your points are valid. If the buyer is buying for strictly investment purposes – like buying stock, or beanie babies… then your points are well taken.

Some buyers, however, are buying because it suits their family needs long term and it is a long term home for them.

Perhaps they should be buying spending their money on cars instead. Clearly you are bullish on that idea. 😉

[/quote]

I got the perfect honda recommendation. It comes with a Jeff Bridges lookalike in the trunk :

[Author]

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