[sdrealtor]

WElls Fargo has it too. It’s a HELOC where a portion is fixed but there is also a credit line you have access to on top of it.

[sdrealtor]

WElls Fargo has it too. It’s a HELOC where a portion is fixed but there is also a credit line you have access to on top of it.

[sdrealtor]

FYI, that 450K figue will hopefully get you a nice starter SFR. Up to 500K is probably doable but not optimal as once you get in you want to start making it nice. The Home Depot trips add up quickly. The truth is w/o an accurate picture of your situation these are very rough guidelines. Hopefully, it will get much more affordable that that for you. I beleive 2 more rounds of Fall/Winter slow sales will open up some much better opportunities and the earliest I would think about buying if I were you would be November 2008 when sellers are seasonally at the bottom of their optimism.

If you end up in a townhome, try to get at least 1500 sq ft. I say this not just for the space but because it will keep you out of communities that you might not be happy in beyond 2 years.

One last thing, if you dont have family support in the area dont forget to account for help with your kids. Even if you are not working, you will need help around the house not to mention some time out with your hubby as a break from the kids.

[sdrealtor]

FYI, that 450K figue will hopefully get you a nice starter SFR. Up to 500K is probably doable but not optimal as once you get in you want to start making it nice. The Home Depot trips add up quickly. The truth is w/o an accurate picture of your situation these are very rough guidelines. Hopefully, it will get much more affordable that that for you. I beleive 2 more rounds of Fall/Winter slow sales will open up some much better opportunities and the earliest I would think about buying if I were you would be November 2008 when sellers are seasonally at the bottom of their optimism.

If you end up in a townhome, try to get at least 1500 sq ft. I say this not just for the space but because it will keep you out of communities that you might not be happy in beyond 2 years.

One last thing, if you dont have family support in the area dont forget to account for help with your kids. Even if you are not working, you will need help around the house not to mention some time out with your hubby as a break from the kids.

[sdrealtor]

Hawk,
There are many nice areas that you probably havent seen yet in the area with no or very low fees. Without any financial information from you, I probably have a good idea of what your life will look like over the next 10 years as it is what I just went through (i.e. a couple of kids, wife with great job who took a couple years off, then a couple years part time and now just starting back at around 60%). Life does get different and more expensive when kids arrive and it is best to build up reserves now. You could easily find yourself in a deficit spending mode for a couple years as the kids approach school age. But if you do it right you will be in a great position once they reach school and you can get back to working a bit more.

Based upon what I suspect your earnings are, you should try to stay at 450,000 or lower if you can. Hopefully prices will get that low or lower for something nice and I’d wait until the do. If you have questions about any areas post them here. I have owned/lived in multiple properties in the area and have friends living pretty much everywhere. I know where the busy streets are, where the crazy neighbors are, etc and would be happy to point you in the right directions. When the time comes to look I suggest you find yourself a good local experienced agent as there are many around here that really know the area and genuinely care about their clients. From my experience, the best properties/deals go quickly and often never see the mls so its best to work with a well networked agent.

I hope it all works out for you and yours as this is the most wonderful place I have ever lived and feel so fortunate to be able to raise my family here.

Best of luck!

[sdrealtor]

Hawk,
There are many nice areas that you probably havent seen yet in the area with no or very low fees. Without any financial information from you, I probably have a good idea of what your life will look like over the next 10 years as it is what I just went through (i.e. a couple of kids, wife with great job who took a couple years off, then a couple years part time and now just starting back at around 60%). Life does get different and more expensive when kids arrive and it is best to build up reserves now. You could easily find yourself in a deficit spending mode for a couple years as the kids approach school age. But if you do it right you will be in a great position once they reach school and you can get back to working a bit more.

Based upon what I suspect your earnings are, you should try to stay at 450,000 or lower if you can. Hopefully prices will get that low or lower for something nice and I’d wait until the do. If you have questions about any areas post them here. I have owned/lived in multiple properties in the area and have friends living pretty much everywhere. I know where the busy streets are, where the crazy neighbors are, etc and would be happy to point you in the right directions. When the time comes to look I suggest you find yourself a good local experienced agent as there are many around here that really know the area and genuinely care about their clients. From my experience, the best properties/deals go quickly and often never see the mls so its best to work with a well networked agent.

I hope it all works out for you and yours as this is the most wonderful place I have ever lived and feel so fortunate to be able to raise my family here.

Best of luck!

[sdrealtor]

I like “The Donald” better

BTW You seem a bit bi-polar

[sdrealtor]

I like “The Donald” better

BTW You seem a bit bi-polar

[sdrealtor]

Fall will cool off more but that is a seasonal thing that happens each year so the real question will be YOY comparisons. I expect what I have for the last 6 months. Stable to slightly decreasing prices through Spring, accelerating price declines in Fall/Winter (about 5% which is about $25,000 to $50,000 per year), lather, rinse, repeat.

I’d love to see it all happen quickly in a year or two as it would be far less painful. But I just dont see things that way, I see a long painful decline ahead continuing for at least 3 more years.

[sdrealtor]

Fall will cool off more but that is a seasonal thing that happens each year so the real question will be YOY comparisons. I expect what I have for the last 6 months. Stable to slightly decreasing prices through Spring, accelerating price declines in Fall/Winter (about 5% which is about $25,000 to $50,000 per year), lather, rinse, repeat.

I’d love to see it all happen quickly in a year or two as it would be far less painful. But I just dont see things that way, I see a long painful decline ahead continuing for at least 3 more years.

[sdrealtor]

My names already been appropriated once perhaps its time for another. Maybe it is you that should be LOWENDSFRRealtor?

[sdrealtor]

My names already been appropriated once perhaps its time for another. Maybe it is you that should be LOWENDSFRRealtor?

[sdrealtor]

I like them too but I’d like them better at 400K. For a young family or older couple they are a nice middle ground between a condo and an sfr. The neighborhood is fine also but I suspect your client wants to be closer to the beach. It’s also a pretty blue collar area with lots of contractor type trucks parked all over which no doubt gave her reason for pause.

[sdrealtor]

I like them too but I’d like them better at 400K. For a young family or older couple they are a nice middle ground between a condo and an sfr. The neighborhood is fine also but I suspect your client wants to be closer to the beach. It’s also a pretty blue collar area with lots of contractor type trucks parked all over which no doubt gave her reason for pause.

[sdrealtor]

The VP homes are only about 1200 sq ft while there are 3BR townhomes between 1400 and 2100 sq ft for less. The bigger ones also tend to be in better elementary school boundaries. We were in the same boat a decade ago and went the townhome and had our first child there. If we were still there it would have been fine. My only regret is not holding onto it when we mved up as it would be cash flow positive by about $1000/month today for us as a rental.

You wouldnt want to live on Lake and I shop mainly at Stater Bros myself. I just cant stand their deli counter which I’m sure you understand.

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