[cabal]

The 48K builder credit applied to inflated builder prices can get you granite countertops, stainless appliances, average flooring and not much more in my experience. Other builder options worth considering are home theatre wiring, alarm, and intercom. Your 20K personal funds to finish the interior is low imo even taking a minimalist approach. For reference here’s an incomplete list of what I spent on my house in somewhat chronological order after closing. My house and yard is larger so the following info may not be a good reference point. Carpet: 10K, Travertine & marble flooring: 15K (2k underlayment self installed), full kitchen backsplash: 2K (self installed), refrigerator: 5K, laundry rm and garage built-ins: 5K (self installed), 10” crown mouldings: 2K(self installed, otherwise 10K with contractor), painting: 2k (painted myself), wood shutters: maybe 15K, and formal lr/dr/fr draperies: 5K.

For landscaping, I solicited quotes from reputable landscapers who were willing provide plans for free. Then I spent a month studying models and the free plans, ultimately fusing in the elements we liked to create our own unique landscape design. I purchased software to help me finish the design. The alternative was to pay a designer 2K to provide detail plans.

Completed front yard first for about 30K, which included several full size trees and plants, walls, walkways, flagstone, etc. Small plants, irrigation, drainage, lighting, and lawn were self installed with help from local workers. Hired a Bobcat guy to dig all trenches in one day and rented a jackhammer for supplemental digging. Quotes for everything were in the 50k-70K range.

For the backyard our biggest cost was the pool/spa at 60K, followed by supporting hardscape at 28K, which included outdoor kitchen structure, block walls, sidewalks, firepit, and large concrete decking. Irrigation, outdoor lighting, patio covers, plants, lawn and dirt were self installed at a combined cost of probably another 15k. Other separate high cost items are the built-in BBQ equipment. A medium size stainless BBQ will cost over 2K. Irrigation and lighting supplies were purchased at Ewing using friends contractor license. Plants and trees mostly purchased in bulk from nursery (somewhere off 78 don’t remember).

Lastly, I would recommend spending extra to get a top notch concrete finisher. They’re worth it. If you do hire a contractor be sure to secure lien releases from all subs and suppliers. Good luck.

[cabal]

Sdseeker – Congrats on your potential new home.

For this home class, I would agree $195/sqft is very reasonable, certainly consistent with early bubble 02 pricing. Haven’t visited the development in a while, but regarding first impressions, we didn’t like Stonebridge and would not buy a home there due to a combination of factors such as long single point entry, power lines and industrial park visibility, and the lack of a “well planned out feel” to the community. However, other folks clearly like it perhaps due to the floorplans, lot size and overall designs tipping the scale towards purchase worthiness. In any case, if you’re there for the long haul resale considerations are not relevant.

Regarding your question, my initial thought was your interior finishing and exterior landscaping budget. Builder front landscaping is of little value as it typically gets torn up during real landscaping. Finishing a large new house is really expensive and this is a hidden pitfall not frequently discussed. Most homeowner can initially afford their house, but once interior & exterior finishing pressures hit, many deplete their savings, get a heloc, or refi cash out into a bad loan ultimately getting into trouble. It took me 3 yrs to fully finish my house using the pay as u go approach, whereas many of my neighbors somehow coughed up 200k/300k to finish in 3-6 months. A few of them had to eventually short sell. Another consideration is that as you become empty nesters, do you really want to be stuck cleaning and maintaining a large house? Why dampen your new found freedom during your golden years. Even if you pay for a regular maid & gardener, daily housework and yard maintenance is still required by the homeowner. Finally, did you decide on a 15/20 yr loan so that the house can be free and clear near retirement? It may be worth it to consider the slightly higher rate, peace of mind lower payment with a 30/40 yr loan and attempt to pay it off in fewer yrs as cash flow permits.

[cabal]

Sdseeker – Congrats on your potential new home.

For this home class, I would agree $195/sqft is very reasonable, certainly consistent with early bubble 02 pricing. Haven’t visited the development in a while, but regarding first impressions, we didn’t like Stonebridge and would not buy a home there due to a combination of factors such as long single point entry, power lines and industrial park visibility, and the lack of a “well planned out feel” to the community. However, other folks clearly like it perhaps due to the floorplans, lot size and overall designs tipping the scale towards purchase worthiness. In any case, if you’re there for the long haul resale considerations are not relevant.

Regarding your question, my initial thought was your interior finishing and exterior landscaping budget. Builder front landscaping is of little value as it typically gets torn up during real landscaping. Finishing a large new house is really expensive and this is a hidden pitfall not frequently discussed. Most homeowner can initially afford their house, but once interior & exterior finishing pressures hit, many deplete their savings, get a heloc, or refi cash out into a bad loan ultimately getting into trouble. It took me 3 yrs to fully finish my house using the pay as u go approach, whereas many of my neighbors somehow coughed up 200k/300k to finish in 3-6 months. A few of them had to eventually short sell. Another consideration is that as you become empty nesters, do you really want to be stuck cleaning and maintaining a large house? Why dampen your new found freedom during your golden years. Even if you pay for a regular maid & gardener, daily housework and yard maintenance is still required by the homeowner. Finally, did you decide on a 15/20 yr loan so that the house can be free and clear near retirement? It may be worth it to consider the slightly higher rate, peace of mind lower payment with a 30/40 yr loan and attempt to pay it off in fewer yrs as cash flow permits.

[cabal]

Sdseeker – Congrats on your potential new home.

For this home class, I would agree $195/sqft is very reasonable, certainly consistent with early bubble 02 pricing. Haven’t visited the development in a while, but regarding first impressions, we didn’t like Stonebridge and would not buy a home there due to a combination of factors such as long single point entry, power lines and industrial park visibility, and the lack of a “well planned out feel” to the community. However, other folks clearly like it perhaps due to the floorplans, lot size and overall designs tipping the scale towards purchase worthiness. In any case, if you’re there for the long haul resale considerations are not relevant.

Regarding your question, my initial thought was your interior finishing and exterior landscaping budget. Builder front landscaping is of little value as it typically gets torn up during real landscaping. Finishing a large new house is really expensive and this is a hidden pitfall not frequently discussed. Most homeowner can initially afford their house, but once interior & exterior finishing pressures hit, many deplete their savings, get a heloc, or refi cash out into a bad loan ultimately getting into trouble. It took me 3 yrs to fully finish my house using the pay as u go approach, whereas many of my neighbors somehow coughed up 200k/300k to finish in 3-6 months. A few of them had to eventually short sell. Another consideration is that as you become empty nesters, do you really want to be stuck cleaning and maintaining a large house? Why dampen your new found freedom during your golden years. Even if you pay for a regular maid & gardener, daily housework and yard maintenance is still required by the homeowner. Finally, did you decide on a 15/20 yr loan so that the house can be free and clear near retirement? It may be worth it to consider the slightly higher rate, peace of mind lower payment with a 30/40 yr loan and attempt to pay it off in fewer yrs as cash flow permits.

[cabal]

Sdseeker – Congrats on your potential new home.

For this home class, I would agree $195/sqft is very reasonable, certainly consistent with early bubble 02 pricing. Haven’t visited the development in a while, but regarding first impressions, we didn’t like Stonebridge and would not buy a home there due to a combination of factors such as long single point entry, power lines and industrial park visibility, and the lack of a “well planned out feel” to the community. However, other folks clearly like it perhaps due to the floorplans, lot size and overall designs tipping the scale towards purchase worthiness. In any case, if you’re there for the long haul resale considerations are not relevant.

Regarding your question, my initial thought was your interior finishing and exterior landscaping budget. Builder front landscaping is of little value as it typically gets torn up during real landscaping. Finishing a large new house is really expensive and this is a hidden pitfall not frequently discussed. Most homeowner can initially afford their house, but once interior & exterior finishing pressures hit, many deplete their savings, get a heloc, or refi cash out into a bad loan ultimately getting into trouble. It took me 3 yrs to fully finish my house using the pay as u go approach, whereas many of my neighbors somehow coughed up 200k/300k to finish in 3-6 months. A few of them had to eventually short sell. Another consideration is that as you become empty nesters, do you really want to be stuck cleaning and maintaining a large house? Why dampen your new found freedom during your golden years. Even if you pay for a regular maid & gardener, daily housework and yard maintenance is still required by the homeowner. Finally, did you decide on a 15/20 yr loan so that the house can be free and clear near retirement? It may be worth it to consider the slightly higher rate, peace of mind lower payment with a 30/40 yr loan and attempt to pay it off in fewer yrs as cash flow permits.

[cabal]

Sdseeker – Congrats on your potential new home.

For this home class, I would agree $195/sqft is very reasonable, certainly consistent with early bubble 02 pricing. Haven’t visited the development in a while, but regarding first impressions, we didn’t like Stonebridge and would not buy a home there due to a combination of factors such as long single point entry, power lines and industrial park visibility, and the lack of a “well planned out feel” to the community. However, other folks clearly like it perhaps due to the floorplans, lot size and overall designs tipping the scale towards purchase worthiness. In any case, if you’re there for the long haul resale considerations are not relevant.

Regarding your question, my initial thought was your interior finishing and exterior landscaping budget. Builder front landscaping is of little value as it typically gets torn up during real landscaping. Finishing a large new house is really expensive and this is a hidden pitfall not frequently discussed. Most homeowner can initially afford their house, but once interior & exterior finishing pressures hit, many deplete their savings, get a heloc, or refi cash out into a bad loan ultimately getting into trouble. It took me 3 yrs to fully finish my house using the pay as u go approach, whereas many of my neighbors somehow coughed up 200k/300k to finish in 3-6 months. A few of them had to eventually short sell. Another consideration is that as you become empty nesters, do you really want to be stuck cleaning and maintaining a large house? Why dampen your new found freedom during your golden years. Even if you pay for a regular maid & gardener, daily housework and yard maintenance is still required by the homeowner. Finally, did you decide on a 15/20 yr loan so that the house can be free and clear near retirement? It may be worth it to consider the slightly higher rate, peace of mind lower payment with a 30/40 yr loan and attempt to pay it off in fewer yrs as cash flow permits.

[cabal]

Anyone know the cost of replacing a windshield with a GPS receiver ? My wife’s car has a windshield chip. Insurance company paid for the el cheapo epoxy filler repair waiving the deductible, but the small cracks seem to be reappearing. I’d like to replace it eventually.

[cabal]

Anyone know the cost of replacing a windshield with a GPS receiver ? My wife’s car has a windshield chip. Insurance company paid for the el cheapo epoxy filler repair waiving the deductible, but the small cracks seem to be reappearing. I’d like to replace it eventually.

[cabal]

Anyone know the cost of replacing a windshield with a GPS receiver ? My wife’s car has a windshield chip. Insurance company paid for the el cheapo epoxy filler repair waiving the deductible, but the small cracks seem to be reappearing. I’d like to replace it eventually.

[cabal]

Anyone know the cost of replacing a windshield with a GPS receiver ? My wife’s car has a windshield chip. Insurance company paid for the el cheapo epoxy filler repair waiving the deductible, but the small cracks seem to be reappearing. I’d like to replace it eventually.

[cabal]

Anyone know the cost of replacing a windshield with a GPS receiver ? My wife’s car has a windshield chip. Insurance company paid for the el cheapo epoxy filler repair waiving the deductible, but the small cracks seem to be reappearing. I’d like to replace it eventually.

[cabal]

The hardcore CRE investors I know seem to like Loopnet. One acquaintance purchased a 40+ unit apartment complex in the Midwest.

http://www.loopnet.com/

[cabal]

The hardcore CRE investors I know seem to like Loopnet. One acquaintance purchased a 40+ unit apartment complex in the Midwest.

http://www.loopnet.com/

[cabal]

The hardcore CRE investors I know seem to like Loopnet. One acquaintance purchased a 40+ unit apartment complex in the Midwest.

http://www.loopnet.com/

[cabal]

The hardcore CRE investors I know seem to like Loopnet. One acquaintance purchased a 40+ unit apartment complex in the Midwest.

http://www.loopnet.com/

[Author]

Posts