The Vent and Rant Thread

[covingtoncat73]

Housing, housing, housing! My mother is a retired Realtor and lives with me in a house she owns that I rent from her (I was renting it before she moved in after my stepfather died and still pay nominal rent).

Anyway, since my work is closing this satellite campus near my home, I'm going to have to start commuting again or move and Mom is going all Real estate-powers, activate. What I am worried about is that, if I don't use the first-time-homebuyer stuff I'm eligible for (I think), she might sell her house in a parish (read county) over and buy something herself. I don't want her to do that. It is bringing in good rental income, it is in good condition, and selling it would be a bit of a loss at this point.

I kind of am interested in the idea of buying something because of the first-time stuff is pretty good around here (a nice soft-second mortgage program), the rents are sky-high but there are deals to buy, and I've gotten used to not commuting.

It is just so much to think about and I need that soft second as I don't have down payment money. Mom would spot me for the deposits on utilities and stuff, since she would be moving with me.

She might just sell Hammond anyway to buy something to rent to my brother or something as their rental situation is not good and they're having their third child in June.

Anyway, to give you an idea of how much there is to worry about...

Might be kind of scary neighborhood but it would take care of two birds with one stone (if you read the description, it has 3 beds and 2 baths on each side), if my California-princess sister-in-law wouldn't be too scared to live there (well, I might be too scared to live there, so I shouldn't mock).

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/26...15015407_zpid/

This one, like the other, isn't one of our nice, older houses and it is a single but it is in a pretty nice neighborhood (as good as I'm likely to be able to afford). However, it is a HUD property and they have scary notes about the plumbing and it is "as is."

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/55...73787979_zpid/

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

Housing, housing, housing! My mother is a retired Realtor and lives with me in a house she owns that I rent from her (I was renting it before she moved in after my stepfather died and still pay nominal rent).

Anyway, since my work is closing this satellite campus near my home, I'm going to have to start commuting again or move and Mom is going all Real estate-powers, activate. What I am worried about is that, if I don't use the first-time-homebuyer stuff I'm eligible for (I think), she might sell her house in a parish (read county) over and buy something herself. I don't want her to do that. It is bringing in good rental income, it is in good condition, and selling it would be a bit of a loss at this point.

I kind of am interested in the idea of buying something because of the first-time stuff is pretty good around here (a nice soft-second mortgage program), the rents are sky-high but there are deals to buy, and I've gotten used to not commuting.

It is just so much to think about and I need that soft second as I don't have down payment money. Mom would spot me for the deposits on utilities and stuff, since she would be moving with me.

She might just sell Hammond anyway to buy something to rent to my brother or something as their rental situation is not good and they're having their third child in June.

Anyway, to give you an idea of how much there is to worry about...

Might be kind of scary neighborhood but it would take care of two birds with one stone (if you read the description, it has 2 beds and three baths on each side), if my California-princess sister-in-law wouldn't be too scared to live there (well, I might be too scared to live there, so I shouldn't mock).

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/26...15015407_zpid/

This one, like the other, isn't one of our nice, older houses and it is a single but it is in a pretty nice neighborhood (as good as I'm likely to be able to afford). However, it is a HUD property and they have scary notes about the plumbing and it is "as is."

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/55...73787979_zpid/

Housing is so cheap in the US compared to Canada (low end housing anyway)
I couldn't buy the garage where I live for that price.

Speaking from experience, you can't go wrong buying property if you can afford the mortgage payments. And mortgage payments are tax deductible?

Helen

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Housing is so cheap in the US compared to Canada (low end housing anyway)
I couldn't buy the garage where I live for that price.

Speaking from experience, you can't go wrong buying property if you can afford the mortgage payments. And mortgage payments are tax deductible?

Helen

They are. It is just crazy. Rents here are 2-3 times a mortgage. If you want something with any historical character in a nice part of the city, though, it would be 250,000 at least. Places in proximity to the French Quarter, Audubon Park, and City Park, for example. However, that second one, the single? It has trees, good ones, on that block and is, actually, not a bad neighborhood. Remember, there is a higher likelihood of bullets coming through your house in New Orleans than in Canada.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Good luck, but DO avoid the contacts for a while. And consider moving to different contacts or a different regime for the current ones. I have no idea what kind you currently wear, but there are ways you can reduce the risk with them.

Since it's a bacterial infection I'm dumping my current contacts, it's container, the solution and eye make-up.

The contacts I have never gave me a problem, and they are the ones that are best for your eyes (let in oxygen).

I suspect I got it because this year my hayfever has affected my eyes most and I've been rubbing them a lot.

[CRussel]

Dumping the current stuff -- very good. Essential. As long as you give your eyes a chance to recover, and don't try to wear contacts for at least a while, you should be good to go back. If you're having a lot of allergy issues, I've found Loratadine (generic Claritin) quite effective for pollen allergies, and you can buy it very inexpensively in the US. (NOT true here in Canada, so I have no idea how expensive it is in the Netherlands.) Best thing is, it's good for 24 hours, so one little pill gets you through the day. When my mold allergies were really bad, I would take one every 12 hours, which is still well below the level of any issues.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Dumping the current stuff -- very good. Essential. As long as you give your eyes a chance to recover, and don't try to wear contacts for at least a while, you should be good to go back. If you're having a lot of allergy issues, I've found Loratadine (generic Claritin) quite effective for pollen allergies, and you can buy it very inexpensively in the US. (NOT true here in Canada, so I have no idea how expensive it is in the Netherlands.) Best thing is, it's good for 24 hours, so one little pill gets you through the day. When my mold allergies were really bad, I would take one every 12 hours, which is still well below the level of any issues.

Loratadine is easily and relatively cheap available in the Netherlands. It's the also the only thing that seems to work. Unfortunately it makes my hair fall out (a very rare side effect) and since my hair isn't exactly thick and full I try to go without. This year it's mostly been teary eyes, which I can live with.

Luckily it's more annoying than painful and apparently it feels more swollen than it looks.

[CRussel]

Well, there are a couple of new ones. Might be worth checking to see what else is available.

[Dylrob]

I wish I knew how to get a friend of mine out of her dependency relationship. She's broken up with him on numerous occasions, moved out, and a few days later called him to get her because she ran into something she couldn't handle.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

I wish I knew how to get a friend of mine out of her dependency relationship. She's broken up with him on numerous occasions, moved out, and a few days later called him to get her because she ran into something she couldn't handle.

How great that you care enough to worry about it!

Having worked with young women and teen girls, the biggest help I can give you is trying to empower her in some other way. You're her friend so it would be impossible for me to tell you where to start. Maybe picking a hobby or interest and get he helping in that venue, i.e.; if she's a reader, helping with either adult our juvenile literacy programs. If housing would interest her, maybe something with habitat for humanity. The V.A. homes and hospitals always need volunteers.

All too often it takes seeing someone in worse shape or greater need than our own to figure out how truly badly we're mucking our own selves up and be able to work on our issues as well as where we might share our talents.

Just my .02, but once again, good on ya kiddo for not only noticing, but caring!

[PainMike]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

I wish I knew how to get a friend of mine out of her dependency relationship. She's broken up with him on numerous occasions, moved out, and a few days later called him to get her because she ran into something she couldn't handle.

Long time ago before I learned to shorter nose, I used to negotiate a friend couple back together 2-3 times because both bothered me all the time about it. Eventually everything happened naturally: Break-ups grew longer and dependencies non-existent.

Also, after 8 yr relationship with girlfriend we broke up, her wish. I once decided to keep total communications breakdown: After 2 weeks she phoned and blasted me with booming flak, about me sometimes leaving window open to cold, killing her plants. Later I turned into plant and married her. Still a vegetable.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

How great that you care enough to worry about it!

Having worked with young women and teen girls, the biggest help I can give you is trying to empower her in some other way. You're her friend so it would be impossible for me to tell you where to start. Maybe picking a hobby or interest and get he helping in that venue, i.e.; if she's a reader, helping with either adult our juvenile literacy programs. If housing would interest her, maybe something with habitat for humanity. The V.A. homes and hospitals always need volunteers.

All too often it takes seeing someone in worse shape or greater need than our own to figure out how truly badly we're mucking our own selves up and be able to work on our issues as well as where we might share our talents.

Just my .02, but once again, good on ya kiddo for not only noticing, but caring!

Sorry, auto un correct rules a lot of that post and I'm too tired to fix it

[theinfamousj]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

And mortgage payments are tax deductible?

Only the interest on your mortgage loan. I got a mortgage loan with such a low interest rate (good for me each month) that I don't pay enough interest for it to be a useful deduction (bad for me come tax time). Standard deduction is still the larger number.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by theinfamousj

Only the interest on your mortgage loan. I got a mortgage loan with such a low interest rate (good for me each month) that I don't pay enough interest for it to be a useful deduction (bad for me come tax time). Standard deduction is still the larger number.

Oh well. In Canada you can't buy a used mobile home on a rented pad for that price anywhere near civilisation. A house that size even on skid row would cost 3 or 4 times as much.

Helen

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Oh well. In Canada you can't buy a used mobile home on a rented pad for that price anywhere near civilisation. A house that size even on skid row would cost 3 or 4 times as much.

Helen

Well, once you add the property taxes and insurance to that mortgage, it is starting to look bad. I doubles what the website estimates as the payment. That doesn't even include flood insurance. I have to say, I pretty disgusted and hopeless about the idea already. I think I understand now why rents are what they are.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

Well, once you add the property taxes and insurance to that mortgage, it is starting to look bad. I doubles what the website estimates as the payment. That doesn't even include flood insurance. I have to say, I pretty disgusted and hopeless about the idea already. I think I understand now why rents are what they are.

If you finance the insurance and legal fees either in your mortgage or through a line of credit it will raise your monthly payments by a little but still should be a lot less than rent?

When I bought I had to get a mortgage broker because my income was not high enough for normal financing. From this I learned that a mortgage broker is the best thing to do as they are skilled at negotiating with financers and can save you a whole pile of money.

Also in Canada we expect to pay at least 10% less than the asking price although this does not always happen. A good real estate agent will often get you a better deal. Best to have your own agent.

Not saying you should buy either property as how would I know, but if you are contemplating buying now or in the future it is good to have all of your ducks in a row beforehand.

Helen