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Oh me too. Once place this drunk caused fires EVERY friday for a month before he got kicked out. It was lovely to get pulled outside at 3 am in your jammies glaring at him trying to hide behind a tree in his boxers and tube socks...
It was kinda funny as no one got hurt and EVERYONE was in a clump looking VERY p.o.ed with messed up bed head just staring at him like they wished he die or move out that minute.
I've never understood why renting has such a "bad reputation." I love renting.
There's a lot of freedom that comes with it. Get tired of your place? No need to remodel, just move to a different place. You'll get a whole new change of scenery.
I don't buy the argument about tax breaks, either. I get a renter's rebate at tax time so that's just as good. My rent is lower than most people's mortgage payments, but even for the years when it wasn't, I have freedom to leave whenever I want. If a job opportunity comes up somewhere else, I just pack my bags and leave. If I take a vacation, I don't have to worry about the house while I'm gone.
I have no upkeep, or repairs, to do - or pay for. I just leave a message on someone's answering machine and by the time I come home from work - it's done! Renter's insurance is MUCH cheaper than homeowner's insurance. My bills are kept to a minimal number because I don't have to pay for gas, heat, water, trash, or sewage. And my rent might go up $15-$20 every couple of years, but mortgages and property taxes go up higher than that.
I realize renting isn't perfect, but nothing is. Owners and renters have to contend with neighbors at times.
I really do love renting, and I'll be 42 next month. I may want a very small home at some time in the future to settle down into, but then again... maybe I won't!
I love renting as well, then decided to buy some property in silicon valley in the late 80s. Got some stock options for a firm that really took off, invested in more property. Prime locations too. Then the dot com boom happened, and the value of the least expensive of my properties went from $330K to just over $1M before the crash. It's now worth $1.2M and that equity is mine. Renting is nice and there is a time for that. But I'm in my forties now too and financially set because fortunately I was able to buy property in the right location at the right time.
There is tremendous value in buying, rather than renting too.
I love renting as well, then decided to buy some property in silicon valley in the late 80s. Got some stock options for a firm that really took off, invested in more property. Prime locations too. Then the dot com boom happened, and the value of the least expensive of my properties went from $330K to just over $1M before the crash. It's now worth $1.2M and that equity is mine. Renting is nice and there is a time for that. But I'm in my forties now too and financially set because fortunately I was able to buy property in the right location at the right time.
There is tremendous value in buying, rather than renting too.
As far as I'm concerned, buying is great for those whose lifestyle it fits! (Congrats on your windfall, by the way! Very happy for you!)
For me, at this stage in my life, even if I had a million bucks to my name, I still wouldn't buy because I don't know where I want to settle down yet. I don't want a "starter home." When I buy, I'm living in that house until the day I die. Until then, for me, renting is a beautiful, prudent, wise and hassle-free thing.
We got smashed twice in the FL RE market so when we moved to Southern CA we decided to rent. I don't think my husband ever wants to buy another house! We haven't had a great renting experience so far. Positives are that we don't have to deal with home repairs (we haven't set foot in Home Depot since we moved here), landscaping or common homeowner annoyances. Negative (FOR ME) is that feeling of impermanence because the house isn't ours (we have a caveat on our lease that we're not even allowed to hang pictures unless there's a pre-existing nail in the wall). I think it was difficult for me to move from my dream home to a rental. Overall, renting was a good decision for us but wish we had gotten into a better situation (with reasonable landlords).
We bought our first home 3 years ago(small 2 bedroom). The only plus is that we are by ourselves. We can watch tv and play music as loud as we want and don't have that apartment living situation with noisy neighbors.
Hate the yard work. We had a horrible winter this year, the worst since we moved here 4 years ago. We couldn't figure out why it bothered us so much. After much thinking it was because we were the ones getting up at 6am every other day to shovel the snow. When we didn't have to worry about that, winter never bothered us. Cutting the grass when it's 95 out sucks too. We have no trees in our yard, but thanks to everyone else, we find ourselves cleaning leaves all.the.time. Keeping up the landscape sucks. We have grass to replace this year. Watering the lawn costs a boat load, so then what, let it die? Thankfully the inside hasn't had any issues. Everything is pretty new between the last homeowner and us. We did have to replace 5 windows when we moved in, that wasn't cheap. We also got a new AC unit, since the old one was from 1966. That was costly too. I sometimes think owning a home is over rated, especially in this market. We won't ever make money on this thing unless we are here the whole 30 years, which isn't going to happen.
When the time comes to move, it will be back to renting. Either that or I win the lottery so I can hire people to do all the work..LOL
Many years ago I rented and never had a complaint about a landlord. For the next thirty years or so I was a homeowner and loved it. I recently decided to sell my home and take a rental. I selected a property owned by the Galman Group of Philadelphia. I expected the same treatment as when I rented before, but I was sadly mistaken. The whole episode of renting from these people has been a nightmare. Briefly, hot water tricked for four months. Finally after contacted the authorities a restrictor device was found in the water pipes. The thing is I pay for the hot water. This is all electric and my highest electric bill was almost $300. There is no insulation in the walls and I used more electric to heat a 900SF townhouse than my last home which was 1550SF. Maintenance has two modes of operation delay or avoid. My front door lock broke, (could not be locked), it was not repaired until the following day. When I came her they told me they had restriction on dogs, forty pound limit and no vicious breeds. Six months later there is two pit bulls and several large dogs. Dog crap is everywhere. People bring their kids and dog to the playground and the dogs urinate on everything and children being the same height tend to grab those items.
Renting has become big business gouging tenants pockets while delivering the least possible services. Landlords have the benefit of the law with lease guarantees and the tenants have nothing to work with but toothless tenants rights. Today tenants are viewed as second and third class citizens. I regret the day I sold my home and I am looking forward to home ownership once again.
Don
UW Badger,
I know lawn services are expensive. I have learned that you can get a laborer from Labor Ready, (or other agencies), for $15-$20 hour. Let your work stack up than get one of these guys.
Don
UW Badger,
I know lawn services are expensive. I have learned that you can get a laborer from Labor Ready, (or other agencies), for $15-$20 hour. Let your work stack up than get one of these guys.
Don
If you get a guy from Labor Ready, they will charge you twice what they actually pay the worker.
Much better to try to convince them to do it for 8 to 10 bucks an hour, which is more than they'll be likely to make at another job. Many of the jobs I worked for Labor Ready, I got paid fairly close to minimum wage.
If you get a guy from Labor Ready, they will charge you twice what they actually pay the worker.
Much better to try to convince them to do it for 8 to 10 bucks an hour, which is more than they'll be likely to make at another job. Many of the jobs I worked for Labor Ready, I got paid fairly close to minimum wage.
Just make sure your Home Owners Insurance covers casual labor.
A few years ago, an elderly neighbor hired a high school student to do some of the yard work that her deceased husband had always taken care of. On the second day, the student fell off a latter he was on attempting to trim a large overhanging limb.
The student broke his arm and collar bone and the limb crashed through the sun porch... I don't even want to start about liability with power mowers and chain saws...
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), landscaping or common homeowner annoyances. Negative (FOR ME) is that feeling of impermanence because the house isn't ours (we have a caveat on our lease that we're not even allowed to hang pictures unless there's a pre-existing nail in the wall). I think it was difficult for me to move from my dream home to a rental. Overall, renting was a good decision for us but wish we had gotten into a better situation (with reasonable landlords).
