LI down 23% in home value in 2009?

[thepokerdepot]

Originally Posted by WJFM

I see your point of view. You are looking at a house as an investment perspective.. you buy it.. and you want to rent it out, and you want to atleast break even every month. In this environment, your calculations might work. If you want to sell your house in 2 years.. you want to break even atleast.

Here is Rent-Vs-Buy calculator from NY times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/bu...T_GRAPHIC.html

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Great graph,..very nice,..Thank you very much,..having fun with this.

Well, I'm not renting if I buy and never did before,..I just use my formula to see if it's a good time to sell or a good time to buy. I've bought and sold only as many properties as your average Joe. I would always live in the home at least 2 years to avoid paying capital gains taxes.( On paper,.. I made enough from my investments in housing to live rent free when I didn't own a home and still increased my bank @ 10% a year)
I understand not everybody has this option to do what I do,..but just want,..to who ever is listening,..to know how to price a home today,.in this market. Homes that are "selling" are great investments.
We all dream of a great retirement,... and buying a home correctly,..then selling at the right time (2 to 4 times) will insure you this. Atleast this is what every retiree did up to 2008.

If your young,..save as much as you can,..don't go into debt,..buy what you need,..not what you want. There's something to learn about the old-timers out there,..They turned the lights off early,..had one TV,.and more of a social life,..oh and skinnier.

Saying that,..I'm outta here and wish all the best,..great messages. I learned much.