How much do you pay...

[shais_mom]

I own
I pay approximately $200 a month. I get it taken out of each paycheck so it's $100 every 2 weeks, it works for me b/c it isn't taking it out in one lump sum.

[wolf_Q]

Originally posted by shais_mom
I own
I pay approximately $200 a month. I get it taken out of each paycheck so it's $100 every 2 weeks, it works for me b/c it isn't taking it out in one lump sum.

You are soooooooooooooooo lucky!

I know it's not THAT expensive here in relation to other states (such as CA) but it's still expensive for someone like me with not a very large income. Small, dumpy, old houses are priced at 100,000-110,000. Ocassionally you can find them for 75,000-90,000 but usually they are in very bad shape or in a scary neighborhood. I called on a small house that looked like it hadn't been lived in in 10 years, the entire sewer system needed to be replaced and they still wanted 109,000 for it. I don't need a fancy house, but I need something that I can *live* in with only a few repairs and have at least a medium sized yard for the dogs...and I don't want to live in a really bad neighborhood either.

I honestly cannot pay more than $700 a month, and that is pushing it...$500 would be nice, but I don't think it's possible to only pay that with the mortgage rates. I'm not sure if I could get a loan, I have good credit but that's only based on the credit card I've had for about a year, I don't know if thats enough. I'm looking into it.

It's not fair my parents only paid 65,000 for this house when it was built wahhhhhhhh I wish they would move and sell it to me for that much!

[emily_the_spoiled]

If you really want to purchase a place, have you thought about getting a room mate? That way you would be getting some money towards the mortgage.

I just bought a townhouse in the DC area (which is kind of like buying in CA). So everything here is inflated, but that goes with the territory. Home ownership is expensive, I have re-painted the entire interior of the place, put new tile in two of the bathrooms, started working on the yard, and I am going to replace a number of the windows next month. It is alot of work and expensive, but you would have someplace for the dogs...

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

We pay (as in my Mom... not I!!) $800 a month for an apartment with two bedrooms, three bathrooms. Yuck. And I hate it here... what's new?

[Miss Meow]

We bought last year. The previous owner of the pink kitchen nearly doubled her money after four years and didn't spend a cent on renovations or anything while she had it. Prices in Australia have gone crazy, even out in the sticks.

We didn't want to carry a huge mortgage so we live out of the city in an older house, but in a really nice street. We live pretty simply so we can pump extra dollars into the mortgage while interest rates are low.

Amy, maybe you can start saving what a mortgage, repairs, bills etc would cost you so you can get into the habit. That'll give you a good feel for what it would be like and you'll be saving for your deposit at the same time . I think it's worth it in the long run just to have an asset that yours. And you're young still, so it'll give you a great start for your future security.

[carole]

We own a small two storyed home on a small section, we pay 345 dollars a month, but that has just increased because we borrowed some more money, and consolidated all the loans into one, so really it would be about 245 per month with rates around 87 dollars a month and insurance maybe 35 dollars a month, so its pretty good really, average rental for a house here is 260 a week, so I feel blessed, but I still complain, my home is very modest, but its cute and at least its mine., here is a pic for those who have not seen it.,its called Stoneyhill Cottage.,we were in the middle of painting the roof,when the pic was taken, it was dark brown, and the fence is now green as well, in the summertime I have hanging baskets all around, with all different coloured flowers, looks quite pretty..

[catnapper]

Interesting thread! In my area, it depends on the zip code. I live in a large 5 bedroom house, good amount of land for the area (two or three times what all the neighbors have along side us on the block) and we only pay $900 a month including taxes and insurance. Now if we picked our house up and moved litterally two blocks over, it would be worth easily 4 times what we could get... see? zip code. Its the same school district (a very good one) and the enighborhood is just as safe as the one two blockes over, but over there you are magically in "Wealthy Town"! ooohh... aaahhhh. Then in that lovely neighborhood, you'll have houses that are $400,000 sitting next door to a million dollar home, and everything in between. Whereas over here in my town, you'll have 60,000-100,000 homes.

Same exact homes built by the same builder, at the same time period. But since one carries the coveted zip code, those homes go for much more money. Personally, I love my house, "wrong" zip code or not.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by wolf_Q

... Small, dumpy, old houses are priced at 100,000-110,000.
Ocassionally you can find them for $75,000-90,000 but
usually they are in very bad shape or in a scary neighborhood.

Amy ~

Try looking a littlr farther "OUT of town"...
Like more in the "country" -
might have a septic system rather than a sewer;
and a well rather than city water;
and no sidewalks...
But Country Livin IS (sometimes) a bit cheaper!

Other thoughts:

Check on a "Mobile Home" and/or a "Modular Home" -
they are a LOT less expensive than
a "site-built" home; and if you get one that's been built
within the last 5-7 years - they ARE built better than they used
to be - and are a LOT more FIRE-safe nowdays.

You have to be careful -
MANY Communities have zoning regulations that prohibit the
"Mobile" or "Modular" homes on standard building lots;
but it's worth checking into.

Another way to get into a house is to locate an elderly person
or couple with a BIG house they have trouble maintaining...
Offer to "Live In" for paying low rent;
or maybe help with housekeeping in exchange for rent.

Good Luck!!

/s/ Phred

[carole]

Gosh Kim that is interesting , in NZ that does not happen too often, because of building covenants, for example the new subdivision opposite me, I would have been able to buy a section there, but not able to afford to build the size house and the materials, only in the older areas will you find maybe a cheaper house and more expensive one side by side, although building convenants can be a pain, I really like the idea of them, as you just won't find million dollars homes and cheaper ones together here.

[Uabassoon]

I rent a small apartment, I pay $300 a month for it. When I moved in they only asked for a $99 deposit for the kitties and I don't have to pay any pet rent. When renting with pets I've noticed that you have better luck when you are going through a property management company instead of a large apartment complex. I know two people here in Tucson that rent at a duplex and the landlords allow them to have dogs. They also have small yards for their dogs to run around in and rent is pretty resonable for a two bedroom.

I agree that it's a good idea if you decide to buy you should get a roommate. Alexa owns her own place and she has a roommate to help her pay off the mortgage.

[wolf_Q]

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke
Amy ~

Try looking a littlr farther "OUT of town"...
Like more in the "country" -
might have a septic system rather than a sewer;
and a well rather than city water;
and no sidewalks...
But Country Livin IS (sometimes) a bit cheaper!

Other thoughts:

Check on a "Mobile Home" and/or a "Modular Home" -
they are a LOT less expensive than
a "site-built" home; and if you get one that's been built
within the last 5-7 years - they ARE built better than they used
to be - and are a LOT more FIRE-safe nowdays.

You have to be careful -
MANY Communities have zoning regulations that prohibit the
"Mobile" or "Modular" homes on standard building lots;
but it's worth checking into.

Another way to get into a house is to locate an elderly person
or couple with a BIG house they have trouble maintaining...
Offer to "Live In" for paying low rent;
or maybe help with housekeeping in exchange for rent.

Good Luck!!

/s/ Phred

Yeah I have looked into those options. There's a few places on the edge of the county I would consider, but I'm not quite sure. I don't want to have to drive forever to work, and I'm a little paranoid living alone clear out in the "boonies" as I call them lol. Where I live right now is in the city, but it's a smaller city not a big city. There's places just blocks away with huge pastures that have horses and stuff like that.

Most modular homes here are in parks which have pet regulations of their own and basically *no* yard at all. If I could find a lot that's not in a mobile home park that I could put one on, or one that's already in a situation like that (I have seen a few) then it could work. Most of them that are in with regular homes are about the same prices as regular homes though.

[teenster3]

Wow...this is a neat thread.
I think our mortgage is at $1,100 a month not including taxes.
We have lived here 2 years now & basically live paycheck to paycheck. It is difficult owning your own home wondering if you will make it month to month. I can't say I know what it's like to rent an apartment. Matthew & I rented a house before moving into the home we currently own & that was only $400 a month....big leap for us!
I think unfortunately, it's expensive to live period these days!!!

[kingrattus]

$600.00/month

I rent 2 bedrooms in Rob's parents house. All our food is free & so i everything else, except gas.

Now the kicker...

I MUST live in my room & Rob MUST live in his room.

There is never any food in the house & 80% of the time there is no dinner even made if there is food.

I'm in the basement (which is fine, its cooler down here & less smoke).. The basement is used as a doggy bathroom when Rob's parents r too lazy to put THEIR dogs outside (long story, but Sadie attacks me so I wont touch her & Cadeau wont pee for me....). So it smells down here ALL the time.

The mother is a bypolar psycho case. She screams about spoons ALL the time, like tonight YAY!!


Good news...

We'll be moving out before next August & We'll be getting a Garden House (its a town house with a washer drier in it), it'll cost between $1000.000 -$1500.00. they come in 2 & 3 bedrooms, a nice livingroom, nice kitchen, nice diningroom & a ffull sized basement (not all r finished, but we don't care, we'll finish it)...

[anna_66]

We own our home and the mortage payments are $417/mo. with a 3 yr variable. It has went as high as $490/mo. but never over.
Our taxes and insurance are seperate. The insurance is around $500/yr and taxes were $1023 for this year.

I hope you can find a nice place Amy. Good Luck.

[Logan]

Originally posted by carole
We own a small two storyed home on a small section, we pay 345 dollars a month, but that has just increased because we borrowed some more money, and consolidated all the loans into one, so really it would be about 245 per month with rates around 87 dollars a month and insurance maybe 35 dollars a month, so its pretty good really, average rental for a house here is 260 a week, so I feel blessed, but I still complain, my home is very modest, but its cute and at least its mine., here is a pic for those who have not seen it.,its called Stoneyhill Cottage.,we were in the middle of painting the roof,when the pic was taken, it was dark brown, and the fence is now green as well, in the summertime I have hanging baskets all around, with all different coloured flowers, looks quite pretty..

Your home is adorable, Carole!!!