Going to see this townhouse today!

[sounderella]

It's all personal opinion. I just didn't like the color....it seemed overwhelming....I think it makes the room seem smaller

[ScrimpAndSave]

I definitely don't like painted ceilings...or golds or oranges on walls. I would like a tan wall, white crown molding and white ceiling.

I'm boring. Oh well!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Crown molding is also very popular right now, and I don't think many consider it boring! I prefer very lightly colored or white ceilings as they reflect more light and I like a very bright house, so I'm with you on the ceiling color. In my own small house I also prefer light walls. But I think other people's homes that have a lot of saturated color can be great!

[ScrimpAndSave]

I also think it is very cool to have one accent wall in a color...I've seen it done and it can look wonderful if it is tastefully done.

Any rants or raves about being in a townhome? I have driven there at different times of the day and it is very, very quiet with ample parking...it is also an end of row so that is really good.

[gamecock43]

I have only good things to say about townhouses. I used to live in one.
Pro:
usually cheaper than single building
easier to rent out if you need to
no yard work
no exterier work, if you have a problem with your roof the association will be responcible for fixing it (usually)
usually close to shopping areas
no snow plowing
you will meet neighbors and gossip about other neighbors
everyone knows where you live, because you tell them you live in the "xx complex"

cons:
sometimes you hear your neighbor
you cant change anything outside the house ie. lawn/ exterier color
hoa fees
hoa politics (easily avoided by most people, just some people like to be busybodies)
you only own air. no land.
If you get dropped off at home after a heavy drinking night, you might get confused about what door is yours. LOL

I lived in a townhouse and you 'feel' as if your in a reg house.

[ScrimpAndSave]

I'm just trying to figure out...if I buy it and live in for 5 years...would I save more money buy buying it and building some equity in it...or continuing to save about $1300 a month like I am now.

Hard decision. This is in SUCH a nice area...

[ScrimpAndSave]

The townhouse was absolutely beautiful.

But...my dad is really upset that I want to move out.

Background: I went away for college and spent my first year out of college renting and teaching. My mother suddenly passed away in the middle of my first year of teaching (fast moving cancer) and I moved home and another job opened up for me to take.

So - I have been living at home with my dad since Dec. 2008. It's a 4 bedroom 2,000 sq. ft. beautiful house with plenty of room for us. We get along very well and he for offered me and my fiance to live in the house for two years after we are married while he gets a hold of his student loans ($140,000 - law school)...and get some savings together for a house. It's not rent free of course, but it is cheap.

Well...here is the weird part and probably where everyone is going to think I am just a spoiled brat. I always grew up with dogs...and I'm very much involved with animal welfare and care. We put our last dog to sleep a few months ago...she was 15 and her heart went out.

Since then, my dad says we can get another dog...but not right now. Well, I want one. And it just made me realize...I'm 27 years old...I pay rent to live here...then why can I not have my own pet?

And it does sound stupid and silly to other people...but for psycho-animal lovers like me it is devastating I'm just deeply depressed over it. It's doesn't help that my only friends are my fiance and family.

So, I've been looking at houses that are very conservatively in my range (I make $50,000 a year)...thinking that maybe I just need to move out earlier than what I thought...

Thats all. Thanks for listening.

[gamecock43]

So if you could get a dog then you would no longer have the desire to buy real estate?

[sounderella]

I'm an animal lover too. My husband has been so great to let me have 2 dogs even though he's allergic (not horribly) because I'd always had the same 2 dogs growing up. Both lived to be 18 so I understand.

In the end Scrimp, all that matters is what you want. So do what you want to do.... just make sure you do it smart. Don't base all of it on the fact of a dog because if that's the case maybe you could compromise and get a smaller dog.

Is this house close by to your dad? You could still get together a couple of nights a week for dinner and such.

[ScrimpAndSave]

If I had a dog, I could hold off on the real estate for a little while longer...and this townhouse is about 3 miles from my dad. Our last three dogs were pekingese...and I'm not asking for anything bigger than that. 12lbs. What's the big deal? I'm so annoyed with him. I visit the shelter weekly and look at the darlings in the cages.



It kills me.

[gamecock43]

Have you looked into a wedding registry for a down payment? I just came across it, and know nothing about it.

Initially, it makes sense. People deposit money in an account in ya'lls name, but then I dont know what happens...
Does it get invested until you buy a house? Does it share details with guests, like the accumulated total or how much house you can buy with the addition of that guests contribution?
What happens after the wedding..you get a check in the mail?
Is it safe? I mean, where does the money go?

Anyways, I know your getting married soon. I assume you would prefer cash but dont know how to ask for cash. This seems like a good idea...

[ScrimpAndSave]

Thank you so much...that is a nice idea. We do have two gift registries just for house stuff.

I am really trying to save. I bing home $1156 every two weeks. This is where it goes:

$400: INGDirect Savings (House Acccount)
$400: Wedding Account (Need about $7,500)
$25: Credit Union
$25 Car Account

My Totals are:
INDirect Savings: $3000
Wedding: $2500
Credit Union: $100
Car Account: $50 (Just started it)

I also pay my dad $400 for monthly rent. Which I know is nothing...I would be spending $800 + utilities on my own.

I give my fiance about $1000 every few months to help him with school and living....his student loans hardly cover it.

[gamecock43]

you just gotta be patient. It will grow. you just gotta sit back and give it a few months to accumulate. Then you will start getting addicted to the balance always going up, and feel less inclined to spend it, no matter what house comes along.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Yeah, I guess I am just really frustrated with the whole situation. My dad is also 74 and we have a great relationship...I don't want to ruin that.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Strange as it sounds, I get it. I bought a condo with DH because we decided we wanted a dog (well I did). We were desperately looking to rent and trying to find places to get a dog.

I said let's just buy, then a dog (from a rescue group) landed in our laps. And about 4 years later we got a second dog.

So I definitely get it. For some people dogs are like family. Plus if my DH died and I was single again, I'd never date anyone who didn't love my dogs.

My friend once said (she's 37) about her husband, if he didn't like her dog she'd have dumped him. She had the dog about 5 years longer than she knew her husband.