[bearishgurl]

[quote=6packscaredy]Ultimately it seems abs are mostly about getting all the fat off on top of them[/quote]

We-e-e-ell . . . scaredy, it’s a little more than that, I think. There are a more than a few skinny people around who don’t have a six pack or anything close to one. Some look like a bag of bones and even have baggy knees :=0

It takes a lot of WORK to get rock-hard abs good enough to “show off!”

[bearishgurl]

[quote=Former SD resident]bg- I’m jealous of your bill, even on months where we haven’t run AC our bill is still close to 200! we have a pool so the pump runs everyday but I can’t imagine it takes that much electricity. must be all that laundry I’m doing all the time :). may need to switch to gas…[/quote]

Absolutely, switch to gas cooktop, gas water heater and gas dryer. And gas furnace if you can afford it and will keep your residence at least ten more years. Or whatever of those items you DON’T have as gas now. I was told this by my first LL in the seventies, when I moved here. Back then, I lived in 1920’s apts which had gas stoves where you had to light the oven first, boiler rooms for heat and gas dryers in the laundry rooms. SD has always been one of the highest-priced cities/counties in the nation for electricity and so I have NEVER had any of the above as electric in any of my homes.

Yes, pool pumps use a LOT of electricity, ESP in the winter when you try to heat an in-ground spa. Back in the mid-’90’s, we figured it cost us $7.45 for ONE TIME to heat our in-ground spa to 102 deg in the dead of winter. It took 45 mins to heat it up, only to sit in it for 20 mins to an hr. Then the next night we wanted to use it, we had to heat it up all over again (it had a plastic bubble cover cut to fit). Above-ground redwood tubs are less than half the price to heat, because they have a very thick folding cover to hold in the heat. I have no doubt that pool utilities are twice that now.

I don’t have AC and am situated only ~1 mile inland (technically, ~2 mi … from Strand State Beach). The whole house fan installed by the owner before me comes in handy about once per year … like NOW. It doesn’t use up anywhere NEAR the electricity that A/C does but you have to get used to the blower sound.

A couple of other things making my bill low (it’s been as low as the “baseline” (abt $33).

I understand the vast majority of Piggs prefer a *newer* house but you can’t insulate under a slab foundation. Many houses built prior to ~1960 have a 3-4′ crawlspace. Thick insulation can be attached right under the floor and all the way to the stemwalls, still leaving enough space to crawl around and sit up under there to work on plumbing, etc. Installing thick insulation in the walls, attic and attached to the subfloor in the crawlspace saves a LOT on utilities.

I only have about 7-10 loads of laundry per month and use a gas dryer. I only run the d/w once per week. I wash the dishes I use every day by hand.

In the past several years, I have only had 1.5 to 2 people residing in my home because my last kid stays with their dad, also. In addition, I’m not home for a few weeks per year (varies by year) and my pet-sitter(s) don’t use much utilities.

FSD, hopefully you are in an older home in the urban OC which has a crawlspace you can insulate. Besides making sure the above 4 appls/systems are gas, if you can install heavy insulation all around, I think you could see at least a ~$75 mo reduction on your utility bill.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=CA renter]Just a sidenote, but in case people missed it, SDG&E is trying to get their high-rate customers (like us) to help lobby on their behalf to flatten the tier pricing.

Even though we’re well into Tier 4 in the hot summer months (and often throughout the year), we do not want flat pricing. IMHO, the reason they are trying to flatten the rates is because more and more people are getting solar. SDG&E is probably worried about losing their most profitable customers in the higher tiers, so are trying to push up profit margins on the lower end.

Just a public service announcement for the Piggs. :)[/quote]

That’s pretty interesting CAR. I wouldn’t want “flat-rate” pricing either, because my bill varies between $35 and $55 month about 8 mos per yr (depending on if I’m actually even home or running a whole-house fan 24/7 … like NOW) and $65 to $85 mo for 4 mos year (when I’m running heat intermittently).

This is for a 4/2 SFR (approx 2200 sf) with R-30 insulation over, under and all the way around situated ~1 mile from SD Bay.

Obviously, I wouldn’t be a good candidate for solar. Nor would I want to have to try to find a buyer who would be willing to assume a lease which I already signed :=0

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flyer]Agree that there are many “horror stories” out there concerning being a LL, but, we’ve just never had any really bad experiences over the years. Our kids want to take over when they “retire” from their current professions and move back to San Diego, and tell us they’re looking forward to it.

Also, many in our family pass our homes down, rather than renting them out, because we know our heirs may not be able to replace them in their lifetimes, and we want to keep them in the family for future generations to enjoy.

As in all things in life, what works for one person, does not necessarily work for another, so everyone simply has to decide what path is best for them.[/quote]

flyer, it sounds like you had/have enough “interested parties” in your family to both reside in and manage the properties you all decided to keep. I agree that it is foolish for an estate to sell a property situated on a very valuable piece of land in CA when its taxes are extremely low and will remain so as long as the property remains in the family, especially those which would be difficult to acquire today, such as ocean-view properties and properties situated on acreage.

I wish my parents had stayed in CA and kept their $17K bay area house and expanded from there. They had the ability to do so many decades ago but my dad chose to accept what he thought was a “better” job in Denver, CO. I ended up moving back here as a young adult after which time my parents divorced. They each subsequently remarried and neither ever moved back to CA. Both of my parents and their second spouses are all gone now.

As you can surmise, my family “support-system” is dwindling unless I choose to move to a “flyover state” where I have a brother and dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins still alive. Having lived in CA for nearly 50 yrs, that locale (where my parents are from) is still unpalatable to me for retirement purposes but things could change in that regard depending on what happens in the next couple of years.

It is the very prudent children of long-established Californians, like yourselves, who will have the most security in this state going forward, IMHO.

Although it is probably too large for me, I could stay in my home indefinitely and would be in good company since the vast majority of the homeowners in my area are boomers and seniors. But I have itchy feet and want to see what’s out there before I make a decision on the matter. In order to do that, I need to “empty my nest” first :=0

Folks, a word of advice. If any of you Gen X/Y’s out there are putting off having children until age 35, 40 or beyond or waiting to have another child or a last child, I would recommend you to do it earlier, rather than later. What exactly are you “waiting” for?

Because when you’re pushing 60, you’re not going to want to play “soccer mom/dad” or HS games anymore. You’re not going to want to go to your kid’s school’s “open-house” where you are 15-25 yrs older than most of the parents (but the same age as the teachers who are nearing retirement, lol). You’re going to instead want to move on with your life. Trust me on this :=0

[bearishgurl]

[quote=6packscaredy]…I thought I was genetically incapable of being strong but I had a bad case of fuckarounditis. I wasn’t really trying. Once you try 100 percent not just play around things change.

Age 50 changed things. Time is running out. Actually made it easier if not possible to improve.[/quote]

scaredy, we’ve all probably had a case of “fuckarounditis” at one time or another. Just because one decides to fit low-impact classes and/or exercises for a few months/years around an otherwise busy and/or stressful schedule, this STILL helps one feel better, relieve stress and alleviate muscle aches and pains.

Not EVERY gym rat hangs out there regularly to chisel their abs with free weights. Some only work out on fitness machines, only swim, only attend classes, or a combination of these.

You’ve done a fine job of chiseling your abs apparently without even setting foot inside a gym! I myself wouldn’t want to own all the equipment necessary to get myself in tip-top shape OR pay for utilities and maintenance to run a pool/spa, hence, I prefer a well-equipped gym. But that’s just me.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]BG it takes all kinds.

First, the history of CA is about sprawl. Can’t have land without sprawl. Like it or not, that’s what it is.

I for one think that property management is the best retirement job. I share time between different cities. When I’m old I can manage my properties and earn spending money without touching my principal. Going places is actually fun to visit friends and family at the same time. For misc repairs, call a contractor. For the occasional eviction, you use a local attorney (never came to that for me).

For me PM is fun. You get to meet people and give them housing. Some of them might become friends. One one my tenants is a cool guy who does sports/entetainment programming so I’m learning something new. And with experience you get better at screening tenants so you don’t have evictions.

I learned how to solder plumbing and tile and install wood flooring. Not that hard and it’s fun to do. The key is to not overextend yourself that you’re stressing to meet deadlines and make payments.

As for Moreno, I’m jealous off my buddy. Wish I had followed in buying at the bottom.

As long as there is population growth, then real estate is good if you can buy well below replacement cost. You have to identify the window of opportunity and just do it.[/quote]

I was a LL in the eighties on a duplex and again in the early nineties on a triplex which we sort of “inherited” and kept for about 4 yrs. I HATED both jobs. I don’t have the patience in dealing with a tenant late on their rent when it was obvious that they paid the local cable company $150 more per month than I did and drove newer vehicles than mine. I’ve just heard a lot of sob stories but the reality is that they could afford my rent but couldn’t properly manage their incomes, hence chronic late payment of rent. Meanwhile, my mtg payment was due. I just don’t like the whole tenant-victim culture and for that reason if I DID rent out my house, I would use a VERY local PM company (w/ a UD firm chained to their ankles) and get the largest security deposit I could get away with.

Life is much too short to deal with that noise. I don’t have the personality for it.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=no_such_reality]I must have hit a nerve BG. You’re not really contributing to the thread over that bloviated snark.[/quote]

Well, you were kind of intimating that boomers already had one foot in the grave, no …?

You would be surprised how many are fit as a fiddle and can work circles around younger generations.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=SD Realtor]I know of a few other investors who have done well up there as well Flyer. Some are pulling in double digit cash flow and doing the pm themselves. Some are pulling in 8% and having a pm do all the work.[/quote]

I believe it, but it has to be very labor intensive. In addition, these LL’s need a good UD law firm chained to their ankles at all times.

It’s not for a prospective retiree (like myself) who wants to go play on the ski slopes for multiple days per year and take summer road trips (short and longer) as well.

I’d rather invest in something more passive, make less and have more peace in my life.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]BG, turnover is comme ci, comme ca. Some evictions, some section 8, some good tenants. There are hassles, but considering his cost basis, he will recoup his investment in less than 10 years and then the cash flow is safer than any pension promise.

I hate the area but there is a lake and plenty of jobs and industry. Lots of Hispanics who, I was told, are better tenants than low-class whites and blacks (who know the system better and milk it).

Sometimes you’re full of it, BG. There are benefits to the suburbs in comparison to the old run down-sections of LA. You have to be objective and look at real estate detached from your own lifestyle.[/quote]

I actually live in a (close-in) suburb, FIH. But Moreno Valley is one of the furthest-away exurbs from LA County’s work centers. It’s prices are what they are for a reason. It became severely overbuilt in the early 2000’s, with its subdivisions losing 60-85% of their value by 2007-8.

There was a very good reason for that.

Downey and Montebello likely didn’t lose any value at all during the downtown … or if they did, it was only a short blip on the radar screen.

There is a very good reason for this, as well.

All three of these areas have similar “demographics,” except the homeowning cohort in the LA County cities is more well-established and thus “stable.”

The best any homeowner can ever hope for is “stability” within their own neighborhood.

Without it, wildly plummeting property values within them are one of the direct causes of real and strategic default when homeowners wake up one by one and realize they really never “owned” anything.

I for one wouldn’t want my home’s value to be completely dependent upon the whims of a highly-transient surrounding-resident population, but that’s just me.

For the same reasons, I don’t like the Las Vegas, NV market (even though it is much closer to jobs).

Your “friend” likely bought all of his MV houses for a song in recent years (not taking into acct at least 20 yrs of pesky MR left on most or all of them) but their fundamentals remain the same. They are where they are and thus attract the tenants they attract.

I wish him the best of luck.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=no_such_reality] . . . But maybe Boomers will eventually do some good, as they age, they’ll need care, and they’ll increasingly need to pay someone to change their Depends. The Millinials aren’t doing to deal with your sh*t for peanuts. :-)[/quote]

From my vantage point, if the Gen X and Y crowd (but mostly Gen Y/millenials) don’t start taking better care of themselves, their parent and grandparent “boomers” will outlive them, or, in the very least, have a much better quality of life than they do (at 30+ years older).

Some of you people need to put down your bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and proceed straight to the nearest elliptical machine PRONTO:

Schools Launch Fiery Campaign Against Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Maybe some of them are “invisible” but I don’t see too many healthcare professionals/nurses post here. Perhaps it is because they are too busy running around on their feet for 8+ hrs per day getting all the overtime they can so they can avail themselves of of the max retirement acct “funds-matching” by their employers and generally making bank :=]

In my memory, nurses have NEVER just “worked for peanuts.” Even LVNs have always been paid well above min wage and RNs make a GOOD to GREAT professional salary.

Of course, someone sitting in a sterile windowless cubicle in an “master-planned office park” writing code? wouldn’t know this, firsthand.

NSR, time to clean out your bottom desk drawer, make a beeline for the trash can and give away all those “chip clips” if you have any designs at all on outliving or outrunning a typical “boomer.”

For starters, here’s a good suggestion for you:

http://www.meetup.com/runningmeetup/

Keep in mind that we boomers only had 2-4 brands of bagged snacks to choose from when we were young, they were relatively expensive back then in comparison to wages, were not available in schools and also did not come in “snack sizes” unless one bought at least 12 at a time :=]

[bearishgurl]

[quote=6packscaredy]Ultimately the body is some of the most important real estate to develop and maintain.[/quote]Absolutely. Without it functioning well, nothing else really matters.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=6packscaredy]…I don’t think those are love handles, I have strangely large and strong obliques.[/quote]

Thanks for clarifying that, scaredy!

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]Don’t knock Moreno Valley. I have a friend who bought about a dozen houses at the bottom. Renting them out for great cash flow. Every place has its own purposes.[/quote]

How is his turnover??

That’s an awfully long way for most workers to drive one-way to/from work for an extended length of time.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=no_such_reality] … As for tile robots, Carnegie Mellon did it back in the 90s, same concept as a DitchWitch.[/quote]

LOL, I’d be afraid this (electronic) creature would begin tiling everything in sight (vertical surfaces, etc) if left unsupervised :=0

WOW, I just skimmed your link and it’s actually an academic paper. The “robot” looks like an ice-rink icer! It’s way too large for residential use. I’m still skeptical that the tiles laid (in a ballroom?) by this machine won’t be crooked or have holes in the grout.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=SD Realtor]Very well stated nsr and cdma. In the end it does sort itself out and I can promise it will not be a utopian ending where umpteen billion people on the planet all have the same resources.[/quote]

Perhaps so, but you would have to be living among the masses to be greatly affected by the ravages of “overpopulation.”

There IS something to be said for “dropping off” of the treadmill and living a simpler life in a more rural area. This is and will be a viable option for many, IMHO.

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