Can I make it? PLEASE READ.

[Elite Cow]

Originally Posted by MovingAloha

Okay PM me and I'll try and help you write your resume.

PM'd. Thanks.

[thepinksquid]

Don't listen to naysayers about renting. I'm going to guess that I'm a bit older than you and my husband and I are renters with truthfully no "immediate" prospect of buying in the near future. Everyone's lifestyle is different, and for us we just don't want to be tied down to a home and to have to deal with the additional headaches that come from home ownership at this point in time. Still, I'm sure some people "look down" on us for not trying to buy.

[Clevelandgal]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

Don't listen to naysayers about renting. I'm going to guess that I'm a bit older than you and my husband and I are renters with truthfully no "immediate" prospect of buying in the near future. Everyone's lifestyle is different, and for us we just don't want to be tied down to a home and to have to deal with the additional headaches that come from home ownership at this point in time. Still, I'm sure some people "look down" on us for not trying to buy.

oh heck yes I agree. I really try and be analytical to evaluate if buying makes sense and even in SD where the market has really continued to go down, it does not seem to be a good idea for us. I am also really fatigued from the relocation selling we have endured-lots of stress. Until now they worked out fine, but this last time, we found ourselves stuck with an out of state property and are miserable being a landlord-even though we are fortunate to have a good tenant currently. My point is relocation stinks if you own property (unless you are an investor and want to be in this situation) Property ownership is a real burden if you want to be mobile.

Would we buy again? Don't know. We like condo living (easy, urban) but not ownership (harder to sell, sometimes hate dealing with condo associations) . We like home ownership (easier to sell), but not living (hate yard work, too much space for various relatives to try and move in). I am a bit brain washed in the American Dream thing where I like coming home to something I own (or will own), but once I take that emotion out then it does not always make business sense. sigh.

[thepinksquid]

Originally Posted by Clevelandgal

Would we buy again? Don't know. We like condo living (easy, urban) but not ownership (harder to sell, sometimes hate dealing with condo associations) . We like home ownership (easier to sell), but not living (hate yard work, too much space for various relatives to try and move in). I am a bit brain washed in the American Dream thing where I like coming home to something I own (or will own), but once I take that emotion out then it does not always make business sense. sigh.

Right there with you. Truthfully, we aren't yard work people either. At the moment we rent a newer (~6 years old) fully detached condo and are perfectly happy.

Also, if we wanted to buy at the moment for our realistic price range we'd have to look at attached condos or "fixer upper" type places and ehhh... no thanks. I don't want the headache.

[MovingAloha]

Well he has his resume, so once he finishes school - he'll start applying to those jobs. He actually has quite a few more skills (IT wise) so he may be okay. I wish him well!

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

Don't listen to naysayers about renting. I'm going to guess that I'm a bit older than you and my husband and I are renters with truthfully no "immediate" prospect of buying in the near future. Everyone's lifestyle is different, and for us we just don't want to be tied down to a home and to have to deal with the additional headaches that come from home ownership at this point in time. Still, I'm sure some people "look down" on us for not trying to buy.

Yeah I am sure there are people like that. However I think its completely shortsighted, because everyones reasons and situations are different in todays society....especially in SD. Some of the smartest people I know that could have bought a house with cash, rented for years. There would have more money going out that coming in for own. I rented for years downtown in a condo through the bubble years up until last year when we bought.
Everyone I knew that was buying and ATM'ing their instant home equity are saying how smart we were that we just rented in hindsight. They were led to believe from generations of family members valuing the thought that home ownership was just 'common sense' when compared to renting. Of course it is, when all the ingredients are in place.

In San Diego especially, its really really difficult to see any value to home ownership within certain price brackets for what you get. Personally for me and what we wanted to spend for a first home, I knew it was going to require rolling up my sleeves to really dig in and see what it was about. So far I dont regret one thing about buying where I did.

Home ownership requires a large investment upfront as well as keeping money on the side should things go wrong. However, for the folks that do frown upon those who dont own as "money out the window", they clearly dont understand that in todays society one can lose a job in an instant without much notification as I have been seeing the past few years and its simply not feasible to pay some of these mortgages on unemployment checks and no savings in the bank.

[earlyretirement]

Originally Posted by shmoov_groovzsd

Yeah I am sure there are people like that. However I think its completely shortsighted, because everyones reasons and situations are different in todays society....especially in SD. Some of the smartest people I know that could have bought a house with cash, rented for years. There would have more money going out that coming in for own. I rented for years downtown in a condo through the bubble years up until last year when we bought.

Everyone I knew that was buying and ATM'ing their instant home equity are saying how smart we were that we just rented in hindsight. They were led to believe from generations of family members valuing the thought that home ownership was just 'common sense' when compared to renting. Of course it is, when all the ingredients are in place.

In San Diego especially, its really really difficult to see any value to home ownership within certain price brackets for what you get. Personally for me and what we wanted to spend for a first home, I knew it was going to require rolling up my sleeves to really dig in and see what it was about. So far I dont regret one thing about buying where I did.

Home ownership requires a large investment upfront as well as keeping money on the side should things go wrong. However, for the folks that do frown upon those who dont own as "money out the window", they clearly dont understand that in todays society one can lose a job in an instant without much notification as I have been seeing the past few years and its simply not feasible to pay some of these mortgages on unemployment checks and no savings in the bank.

So, so, so true. Actually I don't think there is any stigma at all now in renting vs owning. During the housing bubble people tried to play off like anyone that didn't buy was ignorant. But that is far from the case now.

I've always said it really depends on each person's/family's individual situation. The truth remains that certain groups of people should NEVER own. Renting is just plain smart for many people in many situations.

I remember selling my house before the true bubble years. And I rented for many many years where I lived. 8 years from the time I sold my house to the time when I bought another principle residence to live in. I rented and was darn happy to do so. I LOVED the flexibility to live where I wanted and as my personal situation changed (young bachelor to getting married then having one child then having another child). It was so easy to just give notice and end the lease at the end of the term and then move. No fuss, no hassles of having to sell a property first. It was GREAT!

I remember people would find out I was renting and try to play it off like it was silly. NEVER care what people think of you...always do what's best for your personal situation. Most of the people that tried playing off like I was crazy to rent....are either upside down on their mortgage and have NO equity in their homes...or already lost their houses or will soon.

Owning is such a huge responsibility. Many people that rented all their lives don't understand just how big of a responsibility is until they buy. Still, it makes sense for many families that will stay in the home long term but I totally agree with you Shmoov that San Diego is a bit of a whacked market. Many people wouldn't have been able to afford their homes if they didn't buy before the big run up in values. I still think it will always be a desirable city and property values long term should do well here long term. You know what they say in real estate...it's all about location, location, location and San Diego definitely is a great location.

[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

Right there with you. Truthfully, we aren't yard work people either. At the moment we rent a newer (~6 years old) fully detached condo and are perfectly happy.

Also, if we wanted to buy at the moment for our realistic price range we'd have to look at attached condos or "fixer upper" type places and ehhh... no thanks. I don't want the headache.

I doubt we'll buy right away, probably not for a year or so, in order to see how the COL in SD treats us. I'm in no hurry, since we've been through the homeownership thing several times and at our age, I'm not sure I want to have the responsibility anymore. I can rent in the neighborhood I want and spend more of my discretionary cash on golf and travel.