"Hidden" costs for home owners? (new house, refrigerator)
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Unfortunately for Buyers there are alot of considerations, I have sold new homes for many years for builders, I've sold resales as an agent and I've bought homes and rented out as a landlord as well as property management. Find the LOCATION you want because all the other factors don't matter if you don't like where you live. After you have really checked that out find a local agent, interview them and ask them how they will help you. In this market most homeowners make a list of homes they like and the agent really is helping with things like taxes, insurance, flooding etc. A local agent that has been in their areas KNOW which areas are known flood areas, they also know traffic backups, little caveats that effect your day. Do consider your commute, where you worship, where schools are etc. After you get a pretty good list of homes you like (in this market there are quite a few) then you can narrow by taxes, insurance, hoa dues, etc. These items are important and will then give you a "true" cost of living. Heck some MUD districts actually have higher water rates and that will cost you!
You should also have a Buyer's CMA done. If you don't have an agent you can hire one for a la carte and have them run this for you. This will help you make a realistic offer for the home you like in the area, it will have recent comparables so that you don't put in a ridiculous offer or pay too much.
OH and for me when I moved this time I decided to rent for a while. I have found out that I am saving alot on daycare where I am (I have twins now 2 so it's a BIG deal). They are able to go to a private school/daycare when I lived in Pearland was not able to afford. My water is cheaper and I live in a less congested area 5 minutes from daycare, small Kroger, small Walmart and thus my day to day life is easier although I work in busier area and drive a bit further for some things. All in all I like the neighborhood and location so we've been here for a year and will probably stay another.
One of the reasons we have not made a more permanent move is that my parents are moving and are trying to find out where they want to be, when they decide and our small company gets more solid we will make a decision on where we want to be. The day to day operations of the companies are run from the house and we work all over the South side of Houston to Galveston so that really won't be a factor other than we won't be in the Woodlands :0)
OH and for me when I moved this time I decided to rent for a while. I have found out that I am saving alot on daycare where I am (I have twins now 2 so it's a BIG deal). They are able to go to a private school/daycare when I lived in Pearland was not able to afford. My water is cheaper and I live in a less congested area 5 minutes from daycare, small Kroger, small Walmart and thus my day to day life is easier although I work in busier area and drive a bit further for some things. All in all I like the neighborhood and location so we've been here for a year and will probably stay another.
One of the reasons we have not made a more permanent move is that my parents are moving and are trying to find out where they want to be, when they decide and our small company gets more solid we will make a decision on where we want to be. The day to day operations of the companies are run from the house and we work all over the South side of Houston to Galveston so that really won't be a factor other than we won't be in the Woodlands :0)
I have triplets Just turned 4, so these things are important to me too, we were considering renting too, mainly because it has been such a hassle selling houses, like i said we bought twice, a year and half later after each time, my husband's company transfers us somewhere else, sometimes over-seas, so after last time i promised myself that we wouldn't buy anymore, not before we know for sure that we are settling.
Well, after seeing the sizes of the apartments (we are looking to move to Katy btw), the rent, the reviews and apparently how hard it is for most to find a parking spot, we had to reconsider again. It would actually be cheaper to buy than to rent, or so it seems so far, not to mention all the extra room we'll have that we'll need for sure.
We are still open to both options i guess, it is so confusing and such a big decision to make.
Although Houston is one of the places where it is cheaper to buy instead of rent something comparable - that still doesn't work if you are going to be here only about 18 months, because of closing costs. If your husband's company picks that expense up, then it's doable.
Although Houston is one of the places where it is cheaper to buy instead of rent something comparable - that still doesn't work if you are going to be here only about 18 months, because of closing costs. If your husband's company picks that expense up, then it's doable.
I agree and they have been, but they are talking about doing away with that as it is costing them tons of money, we just have to make sure that it wouldn't effect us if we buy a house then they come up with such a decision.
I have triplets Just turned 4, so these things are important to me too, we were considering renting too, mainly because it has been such a hassle selling houses, like i said we bought twice, a year and half later after each time, my husband's company transfers us somewhere else, sometimes over-seas, so after last time i promised myself that we wouldn't buy anymore, not before we know for sure that we are settling.
Well, after seeing the sizes of the apartments (we are looking to move to Katy btw), the rent, the reviews and apparently how hard it is for most to find a parking spot, we had to reconsider again. It would actually be cheaper to buy than to rent, or so it seems so far, not to mention all the extra room we'll have that we'll need for sure.
We are still open to both options i guess, it is so confusing and such a big decision to make.
We have twins - will be 3.5yo soon.
We rented for almost 3 yrs and while it was more expensive to rent, we are now responsible for the bigger picture. It's a push when something big goes out and we have to pay for the replacement or repair. We did rent houses though because we found apartments too small and too expensive for what they "offered".
Good luck with your situation. There's certainly more to consider in leasing vs purchase when you don't know when or where your DH will be transferred to.
We rented for almost 3 yrs and while it was more expensive to rent, we are now responsible for the bigger picture. It's a push when something big goes out and we have to pay for the replacement or repair. We did rent houses though because we found apartments too small and too expensive for what they "offered".
Good luck with your situation. There's certainly more to consider in leasing vs purchase when you don't know when or where your DH will be transferred to.
Awwww! We must get the kids together once i get there!
Regarding things breaking in the house, i always buy a home warranty, it covers anything and everything, for a small fee, around $55, they come out and fix anything, if they can't fix it, they will replace it. Of course there's an annual fee but it's not that high. You can also include your appliances if they are not already covered under another warranty. Have you thought about doing that?
Regarding things breaking in the house, i always buy a home warranty, it covers anything and everything, for a small fee, around $55, they come out and fix anything, if they can't fix it, they will replace it. Of course there's an annual fee but it's not that high. You can also include your appliances if they are not already covered under another warranty. Have you thought about doing that?
Good luck with that. The warranty we had was complete garbage. If they can ghetto rig something by improperly splicing wires, or using refrigerator parts in an AC unit to keep it running for another few weeks, they'll do it.
One thing I would suggest once you have narrowed down the search is to go and talk to the ppl in the potential neighborhoods. Visit the area at night, during the day, on wkds, when it is sunny, when it is raining, etc. On an off day, go to the house and drive what would be the actual commute at the actual time. Go in and physically check out w/e schools and day cares your kids would be attending. Buying is very different from leasing, once you buy you are kind of stuck esp in this current market.
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Just turned 4, so these things are important to me too, we were considering renting too, mainly because it has been such a hassle selling houses, like i said we bought twice, a year and half later after each time, my husband's company transfers us somewhere else, sometimes over-seas, so after last time i promised myself that we wouldn't buy anymore, not before we know for sure that we are settling. 
