I want a big house!!!

[Sunnyday]

Hi!! I want a big house; I want a nice house; I want a house in a nice location; and I don't want to pay less than 300k I'm in a HCOL.

I have to go house hunting, and seeing what I can get in my budget $450k max is so fucking depressing.

I can't get motivated. It also doesn't help that I don't know the city very well. And every time I asked, everyone has a different opinion on a neighborhood.

Help me break down the thought process. I need to think out loud.

A condo? A house? Ahhhhh help me understand what I want and what I can afford.

Budget: max 600k, but really do not want to go that high.
Much more comfortable in the $400k range. 450k is good too.

This will probably be a forever house.

[cranberry]

You say you don't know the city well. Where are you living now? Are you renting? Do you need to buy a house quickly or can you take your time, learn more about the city, and see which areas are best dir you?

[Sunnyday]

I'm renting a room in the not so great part of the city. I need a house to move my whole family to. 3 bedrooms and at least 1 1/2 bath. Garage would be awesome, but that comes at a high premium in the city. Average home price is in the high 300k.

I've selected several neighborhoods, and I'm picking the areas where there is a subway station, which limits me a bit.

[Sunnyday]

And to answer your other question, I have a 1-2 month deadline. I am paralyzed with indecision. My DH isn't here, and we have very different set of wants and needs. All the responsibility is falling on me to pick THE place we will be living until we get shipped off to assisted living. [insert dazed eyes and guts tied up in knots]

[haapai]

Does "the whole family" include any minors or pets? 

You're in a lousy position to be making this kind of decision and no matter how long you've procrastinated on house hunting, you probably should not buy in the next 1-2 months.  What you are describing is a recipe for crappy decision-making. 

[Apple]

Neighborhoods (since you mention whole family, I'm guessing kids?)

What are the school districts like?
Is there a yard or a nearby park if no yard?
Will you be having more children?  If so, would you want more room?

If no existing garage, is there room to build one or a carport?  (find out codes, some require 20' + setback from property line).

Do you prefer an open floor plan, or something with more walls?

Do you want a one story, two story, basement?

Would you feel safe walking in the neighborhood alone after dark?

Have you enjoyed living in an apartment before?  (if not, I wouldn't do a condo)

If you wanted to do something like line dry your clothing (insert other outdoor item), is there an HOA that would be too restrictive?

Do you require a large or small kitchen? (I found out that, for me, kitchen is very important, I hated the one in my first house)

Good luck!

[Sunnyday]

I have been window shopping for the past year, but only looking at houses over my budget because they were the pretty ones.

Now that I'm working with my real budget, I realiZed that I might have skewed my expectations by a mile.

2 young toddlers and one cat

[Sunnyday]

Aug 18, 2015 23:46:58 GMT -5 Apple said:

Neighborhoods (since you mention whole family, I'm guessing kids?)

What are the school districts like?
Is there a yard or a nearby park if no yard?
Will you be having more children?  If so, would you want more room?

If no existing garage, is there room to build one or a carport?  (find out codes, some require 20' + setback from property line).

Do you prefer an open floor plan, or something with more walls?

Do you want a one story, two story, basement?

Would you feel safe walking in the neighborhood alone after dark?

Have you enjoyed living in an apartment before?  (if not, I wouldn't do a condo)

If you wanted to do something like line dry your clothing (insert other outdoor item), is there an HOA that would be too restrictive?

Do you require a large or small kitchen? (I found out that, for me, kitchen is very important, I hated the one in my first house)

Good luck!

No HOAs that I know of here. I don't if it's a thing here that exists. Major packed city, no places to build garages unless you go to the burbs. Lots of ugly ass duplexes converted into SFHs, but they are all stuck to each other. I think they are row houses. You share a wall on both sides.

To get houses, you have to go out a bit, but they are further from transit.

[haapai]

Aug 18, 2015 23:47:22 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

I have been window shopping for the past year, but only looking at houses over my budget because they were the pretty ones.

Now that I'm working with my real budget, I realiZed that I might have skewed my expectations by a mile.

2 young toddlers and one cat

Shiiiiiii!  Now you have me tied up in knots! 

Have you tried resetting your search parameters to well under 300K?  If you do that, you may gain a bit of appreciation for what $300K can get you.

I suggest prostrating yourself at the feet of your beloved and begging for more time.  You'll still owe him (big time) for dragging your feet like this, but at least you won't be saddled with a house or commute that you'll both hate for decades. 

Strangely, the cat is my biggest stumbling block.  The toddlers are too young to remember this episode but housing a cat can be quite tricky. 

[Sunnyday]

Aug 18, 2015 23:58:13 GMT -5 haapai said:

Aug 18, 2015 23:47:22 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

I have been window shopping for the past year, but only looking at houses over my budget because they were the pretty ones.

Now that I'm working with my real budget, I realiZed that I might have skewed my expectations by a mile.

2 young toddlers and one cat

Shiiiiiii!  Now you have me tied up in knots! 

Have you tried resetting your search parameters to well under 300K?  If you do that, you may gain a bit of appreciation for what $300K can get you.

I suggest prostrating yourself at the feet of your beloved and begging for more time.  You'll still owe him (big time) for dragging your feet like this, but at least you won't be saddled with a house or commute that you'll both hate for decades. 

Strangely, the cat is my biggest stumbling block.  The toddlers are too young to remember this episode but housing a cat can be quite tricky. 

No, you cannot get anything under 300K that isn't a 2 bedroom condo here or isn't out in the bad neighborhood or the burbs.

And I have been looking, physically visiting houses. They all suck or it's too much for what it is. But this shot just got real, and we need to find something in the next two months to hit our before winter deadline. ahhhh!

[mollyanna58]

No advice; just wanted to say welcome back

[midjd]

Why does it have to be a forever house? I'm assuming at some point both your and your husband's salaries will increase, along with your buying power. Any reason you can't rent til then?

I agree with Haapai that buying a forever home in a city you don't know, with a budget you're not happy with, with just a few months to look probably isn't the recipe for home happiness. I'd try to put the purchase off for as long as possible.

[cranberry]

I agree about taking more time if you can. I rushed into my last home purchase and regretted it. And I had lived in town for years - I already knew the area well.

Have you been working with a realtor? He or she can be on the lookout for homes that suit your needs or make suggestions on where you might need to compromise.

[Deleted]

Aug 19, 2015 4:48:57 GMT -5 midjd said:

Why does it have to be a forever house? I'm assuming at some point both your and your husband's salaries will increase, along with your buying power. Any reason you can't rent til then?

I agree with Haapai that buying a forever home in a city you don't know, with a budget you're not happy with, with just a few months to look probably isn't the recipe for home happiness. I'd try to put the purchase off for as long as possible.

You haven't even reached school yet. There are so many neighborhood/district questions you need to look at before buying that go way beyond pretty. I would not be making 'forever' decisions at this time in this manner.

[giramomma]

I would also rent for a while.

It took us 4 years and the real estate bubble to burst to find our "until we don't want to do stairs anymore" house.

I'm glad we didn't rush into a home purchase.

[mmhmm]

Sunnyday, check your PMs, please. Got an idea for you.

Good to see you posting! I hope you're able to find what you're looking for in a home!

[garion2003]

Is your budget $300, $400, $450, or $600? It was hard to tell

[HoneyBBQ]

Why a big house? They suck. You can have mine.

[sesfw]

I don't know what area you live in but trust me, you DON'T want a big house. It's that much more to keep up and keep from being overwhelmed with stuff.

Having an adequate home will force you to get rid of stuff as your kids grow up and life changes for the family.

Make a list of your priorities ....... garage, basement or no, upstairs or no, type of kitchen, laundry on GROUND FLOOR, #bedrooms, #baths, dining room or kitchen eating area, family room or living room, etc.  How much yard do you want to care for.  If you go to the 'burbs, can you drive or take a bus to subway?  Look at the schools, tax rates, HOAs.  If an older home, look at the electrical system and plumbing.

If this is going to be your forever home, just remember your creaking joints when looking at stairs.

Personally I would rent at least until next  spring to get a better feel for the area.  And find something on a single level.  Casually keep looking in several areas and you'll have good pricing guidelines .

Been there, done that.

[lexxy703]

Go to realtor.com & put in your parameters & price range.  That should help narrow it down for you.  Good luck!

[CCL]

Aug 19, 2015 10:41:10 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Why a big house? They suck. You can have mine.

You read my mind lol, except I sold mine. It's a relief. I was tired of cleaning it and going up and down the stairs.

[muttleynfelix]

Forget big house, focus on what you can't change.

1. Lot size - is this important to you? This was a big one for us, but maybe not for you.
2. Neighborhood/schools - schools are going to be important shortly. Do you prefer to be close enough to walk? What about parks? Not to mention safety of the neighborhood. How about the type of street? It was very important to us to be on a quiet street.
OK things you can modify somewhat.
3. Min house size - for us it was 3 bed/2bath. Actual sq ft depends more on layout.

We bought in a town we knew very little about. I relied on a friend who lived here and our realtor. But research also pointed at us in the same neighborhoods they pointed us too. I am glad we took a chance even though we didn't get everything we wanted. We got a bargain (compared to the houses on the market this summer) and got to take advantage of low interest rates.

Get a Realtor and start really looking. You aren't going to get a good idea until you start looking in person.

[sarcasticgirl]

I can't imagine moving to a new city and and buying a house that I plan on living in forever. I agree that you should rent first and get to know the city. 

[whoami]

Aug 19, 2015 11:02:58 GMT -5 CCL said:

Aug 19, 2015 10:41:10 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Why a big house? They suck. You can have mine.

You read my mind lol, except I sold mine. It's a relief. I was tired of cleaning it and going up and down the stairs.

DH and I are starting to have this same conversation. 

[gooddecisions]

I love my big house. Best decision ever.

Before your family moves (I assume they are trailing?), rent a two-bedroom apartment in the school district you're comfortable with along the subway line you need. Spend the next 6 months to a year with a realtor and your husband searching for a home within your budget that meets your needs.

[Sunnyday]

Let's define a big house for me: 1500 sq feet

I don't want to move, because whatever we end up with, I will make it work.

I don't want to move.

I never want to move again.

Our salaries might get higher, but I can't imagine allocating that much of my money to housing.

Yes, so to clarify, budget is 0-600K.

Chances are that anything between 0-300k will not be acceptable.

So true range is 400-600.

What I feel most comfortable with after having run the numbers is 450k.

Most have top priority is a koi pond.

[TheHaitian]

Aug 19, 2015 20:12:05 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Let's define a big house for me: 1500 sq feet

I don't want to move, because whatever we end up with, I will make it work.

I don't want to move.

I never want to move again.

Our salaries might get higher, but I can't imagine allocating that much of my money to housing.

Yes, so to clarify, budget is 0-600K.

Chances are that anything between 0-300k will not be acceptable.

So true range is 400-600.

What I feel most comfortable with after having run the numbers is 450k.

Most have top priority is a koi pond.

How is that a big house?

I have 1,650 sqft (not counting unfinished basement) and that is definitely not a big house. Most townhomes around here are bigger than our house.

Big house I think/imagine : 3,000-4,000 sqft and up!

Did your husband find a job in your area yet?
Did your old house sell?

Good luck but I agree with renting to get more familiar with the area.

[Sunnyday]

Aug 19, 2015 20:19:41 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Aug 19, 2015 20:12:05 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Let's define a big house for me: 1500 sq feet

I don't want to move, because whatever we end up with, I will make it work.

I don't want to move.

I never want to move again.

Our salaries might get higher, but I can't imagine allocating that much of my money to housing.

Yes, so to clarify, budget is 0-600K.

Chances are that anything between 0-300k will not be acceptable.

So true range is 400-600.

What I feel most comfortable with after having run the numbers is 450k.

Most have top priority is a koi pond.

How is that a big house?

I have 1,650 sqft (not counting unfinished basement) and that is definitely not a bit house.

Big house I think/imagine : 3,000-4,000 sqft and up!

Did your husband find a job in your area yet?
Did your old house sell?

Good luck but I agree with renting to get more familiar with the area.

It's a big house in an urban area. And it would fit my needs, but more than square feet. I want an intelligent modern floor plan. Most of the house here are built with a floor plan that no lingers fits the modern way o living. And you can't do much in the way renovation, because like I said houses are stuck to each other in a row

[cranberry]

Aug 19, 2015 20:12:05 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Most have top priority is a koi pond.

You mean after you find something that in structurally sound, in a good neighborhood, in a good school district, etc?  Or is the koi pond more important?

Could you just build a koi pond eventually, in a house that meets your needs?

Or will you only consider houses with koi ponds?

[TheHaitian]

Aug 19, 2015 20:22:46 GMT -5 Sunnyday said:

Aug 19, 2015 20:19:41 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

How is that a big house?

I have 1,650 sqft (not counting unfinished basement) and that is definitely not a bit house.

Big house I think/imagine : 3,000-4,000 sqft and up!

Did your husband find a job in your area yet?
Did your old house sell?

Good luck but I agree with renting to get more familiar with the area.

It's a big house in an urban area. And it would fit my needs, but more than square feet. I want an intelligent modern floor plan. Most of the house here are built with a floor plan that no lingers fits the modern way o living. And you can't do much in the way renovation, because like I said houses are stuck to each other in a row

Could you renovate down the road?