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I'm currently renting in Bergen County (way overpriced) and have looked at homes to move into within the next 6 months. I'm finding that despite most homes being extremely overpriced and small, MANY homes do not have central AC even at price points most people would consider very high. I'm looking between the 400K-600K range. I would think for over half a million dollars, a house would have central AC? Isn't that a basic necessity?
I know people always respond by saying it's not necessary in the north, but come on, that's not true at all. It's very hot from at least late June through August - that's 3 months where having AC is necessary. You can use window units, yes, but I'm used to window units being reserved for homes in the ghetto - they're noisy, block your window light, and don't really cool the whole house evenly.
Am I the only one who thinks $500K+ homes with giant window unit sticking out everywhere is completely bizarre?
I'm currently renting in Bergen County (way overpriced) and have looked at homes to move into within the next 6 months. I'm finding that despite most homes being extremely overpriced and small, MANY homes do not have central AC even at price points most people would consider very high. I'm looking between the 400K-600K range. I would think for over half a million dollars, a house would have central AC? Isn't that a basic necessity?
I know people always respond by saying it's not necessary in the north, but come on, that's not true at all. It's very hot from at least late June through August - that's 3 months where having AC is necessary. You can use window units, yes, but I'm used to window units being reserved for homes in the ghetto - they're noisy, block your window light, and don't really cool the whole house evenly.
Am I the only one who thinks $500K+ homes with giant window unit sticking out everywhere is completely bizarre?
How old is the house? My mother's house in NW Bergen County--the home I grew up in--was built in 1957. It's got six bedrooms and three baths, no central air. We had window units in the upstairs because it was converted from an attic and it got hot up there, but it wasn't worth it for the rest of the house. It was built before contractors mowed down every tree in sight. Cut out of the woods, actually. The trees shade the house and there's almost always a breeze.
Newer houses seem to have central AC. It's not a basic necessity for everyone. My parents didn't want air-conditioning. They didn't like it. Most summers it's more like six weeks that you really need AC if you've got cross-ventilation.
And whether a Bergen County house that costs $400K - $600K is really "Expensive"--well, that's another discussion.
How old is the house? My mother's house in NW Bergen County--the home I grew up in--was built in 1957. It's got six bedrooms and three baths, no central air. We had window units in the upstairs because it was converted from an attic and it got hot up there, but it wasn't worth it for the rest of the house. It was built before contractors mowed down every tree in sight. Cut out of the woods, actually. The trees shade the house and there's almost always a breeze.
Newer houses seem to have central AC. It's not a basic necessity for everyone. My parents didn't want air-conditioning. They didn't like it. Most summers it's more like six weeks that you really need AC if you've got cross-ventilation.
And whether a Bergen County house that costs $400K - $600K is really "Expensive"--well, that's another discussion.
No, I don't think 400K to 600K is expensive for Bergen...just expensive in GENERAL to the US average. Compared to the minimal cost of putting in AC, it makes no sense. If these were 100K homes, I'd understand if they were old and putting in AC would be 10% of the total home value...but at half a million, I think it makes more sense.
There's 6 weeks where you NEED AC, yes, but more like 3-4 months where it's more comfortable. High 70s/low 80s is not a comfortable temperature indoors.
I just don't get why people renovate old homes and put more money into the countertops then having a comfortable air temperature. And those window units hanging off every window look AWFUL
Most homes in Bergen county are older.
These homes were not built with AC in mind
They are not very condusive to running duckwork and such, as a retrofit
There are still a lot of homes with radiators for heat.
If a home doesn't have forced hot air ducts.
Installation costs go thru the roof for ductwork
And you think $400-600 is "way" over priced in Bergen county
I think you have a lot to learn, depending on the houses you are looking at
I'm currently renting in Bergen County (way overpriced) and have looked at homes to move into within the next 6 months. I'm finding that despite most homes being extremely overpriced and small, MANY homes do not have central AC even at price points most people would consider very high. I'm looking between the 400K-600K range. I would think for over half a million dollars, a house would have central AC? Isn't that a basic necessity?
I know people always respond by saying it's not necessary in the north, but come on, that's not true at all. It's very hot from at least late June through August - that's 3 months where having AC is necessary. You can use window units, yes, but I'm used to window units being reserved for homes in the ghetto - they're noisy, block your window light, and don't really cool the whole house evenly.
Am I the only one who thinks $500K+ homes with giant window unit sticking out everywhere is completely bizarre?
The houses are probably too old to have come with central air, and the owners either don't want to spend the money to install it or don't mind window units. My house (Union County) is old and was built without AC and when my parents bought it, they had central air installed almost right away. But most homes on my street have the window units, we're some of the few people in the neighborhood who have central air.
I agree with you, I much prefer central air too, but that's probably because I'm used to it. My aunt also lives in an old house in my town and they have no central air, but the window units work fine to cool the house down. I honestly barely notice a difference, but then again their house is pretty open and compact so air flows well.
I'm currently renting in Bergen County (way overpriced) and have looked at homes to move into within the next 6 months. I'm finding that despite most homes being extremely overpriced and small, MANY homes do not have central AC even at price points most people would consider very high. I'm looking between the 400K-600K range. I would think for over half a million dollars, a house would have central AC? Isn't that a basic necessity?
I know people always respond by saying it's not necessary in the north, but come on, that's not true at all. It's very hot from at least late June through August - that's 3 months where having AC is necessary. You can use window units, yes, but I'm used to window units being reserved for homes in the ghetto - they're noisy, block your window light, and don't really cool the whole house evenly.
Am I the only one who thinks $500K+ homes with giant window unit sticking out everywhere is completely bizarre?
This is exactly why I bought in Wayne. At least my $500K+ house looks the part...but on the flip side I have to live with the constant shame of being in...gasp... Passaic county.
No, I don't think 400K to 600K is expensive for Bergen...just expensive in GENERAL to the US average. Compared to the minimal cost of putting in AC, it makes no sense. If these were 100K homes, I'd understand if they were old and putting in AC would be 10% of the total home value...but at half a million, I think it makes more sense.
There's 6 weeks where you NEED AC, yes, but more like 3-4 months where it's more comfortable. High 70s/low 80s is not a comfortable temperature indoors.
I just don't get why people renovate old homes and put more money into the countertops then having a comfortable air temperature. And those window units hanging off every window look AWFUL
I personally prefer buff young men with large fronds fanning me. It looks nicer, too.
I think that if the OP researches the actual construction date of those homes, he will find that they were built before central A/C became commonplace. In other words, those expensive houses--sans central A/C--were probably built over 45 years ago. Cosmetic updates might conceal the actual age of these houses, but--trust me--they are probably older than you thought.
My parents bought a townhouse in Bayonne (a decidedly NON upscale town) in 1967, and it came with central A/C, all appliances, and hardwood floors for the grand total of $26,000.
Those relatively-expensive Bergen County houses w/o central A/C are likely to be at least 45 years old, and may actually be more than 50 years old.
...Am I the only one who thinks $500K+ homes with giant window unit sticking out everywhere is completely bizarre?
Yes, for a number of reasons aside those already mentioned, the foremost of which is that you're not really looking at $500K homes.
You're looking at $100K homes on $400K lots! Location, location, location — the value is in the land.
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