https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 18:17:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004542 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 14:17:39 +0000 looch 1004542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: outdated, built in 1996...you would die when you look at my home, built in 1963!</p> <p>Your house is out there, don't worry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004530 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 14:14:48 +0000 yoursilverlining 1004530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just read your update but wanted to add my .02 anyway ;)</p> <p>We owned our starter home, a condo too small for us and a baby, for about 5 years before we bought our forever home. We now rent out our condo for a little more than the mortgage each month. that's another thought, too, depending on your rental market. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004461 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:53:55 +0000 Dandelion 1004461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He said no. It's too outdated for the price...it's not falling apart, but it needs to be updated a lot. He also made a point that it's too small for a starter home and not what we originally said we wanted for the first house we buy. Plus, it's only 3 bedrooms, with one a craft room right now, so we're going to need a 4 bedroom house since LO is on the way.</p> <p>Oh well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004072 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:24:13 +0000 regberadaisy 1004072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: I would totally make an offer!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004064 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:23:01 +0000 mrskc 1004064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: It just keeps sounding better and better! $300 less is a lot! And you'll hopefully build some equity so you have more money to work with when you buy your next home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004057 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:20:55 +0000 Dandelion 1004057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: It was built in 1996. His mother had it built, so she's the only owner that has lived in it and she was an elderly lady. No major repairs...there's a couple door frames that need work, but I haven't noticed anything huge.</p> <p>Plus, the water heater and AC unit is brand new. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004037 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:15:32 +0000 Sunshine1810 1004037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: That is another important thing to take into account. If your payments would be $300 less, then I really think you should do it. Plus you will be building equity. I think it sounds like a good deal for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004034 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:14:25 +0000 regberadaisy 1004034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: is it a older home? In the time you have lived in it have you had to call your landlord often to repair things?<br /> If you calculated the mortgage payment + property taxes and it's actually LESS than your rent? I think it would be wise to buy! Yes, there will be unforeseen house improvement costs. But you can easily take that $300/month into a house improvement fund for what ifs. Then at the end of the day you still win because you will own it when you're ready to move. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004022 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:11:34 +0000 Bookish 1004022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think in your situation I'd be all over it. Since the only reason you would be moving is because of commute, which is something he might be able to put up with for a while, I think it'd be really smart to snatch up a good deal. The way I see it, the interest rates will not stay this low, so in a few years, you will probably need more money to buy. If you are putting money into equity instead of rent, you'll have more money to work with. It's really awesome that the guy is willing to do that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004019 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:10:21 +0000 Dandelion 1004019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: our payment would be at least $300 LESS if we buy. That's huge in savings! And yeah, the equity is another big benefit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004011 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:08:12 +0000 regberadaisy 1004011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: FWIW, our starter home was the house we were renting from my ILs. It was DH's maternal grandmother's home that she left my MIL and her siblings. Siblings wanted to sell, MIL didn't want to so she bought them out but only after we said we would rent it from her. Fast forward a 2ish years they are thinking about selling so they ask if we wanted to buy otherwise they will be listing in the spring. We calculated that our mortgage payment will only be like $200/month more including escrow. And it will go towards US, something WE will own. So we decided to do it. We ended up living in that house for about 4 years before buying our forever home. No regrets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004007 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:05:53 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1004007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess we are in our starter home right now.<br /> My husband bought it in 2006, so he has been in it for 7 years... I have lived in it for 3 years. We hope to move in 18 months or less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1004000 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:03:37 +0000 avivoca 1004000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in our second year of owning this home, and I think it will end up being a starter home due to the size. Our plan is to live here for 4-5 years, maybe more depending on how our lives are going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003999 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:03:24 +0000 Dandelion 1003999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm really hoping that DH will seriously consider the offer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003992 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:01:51 +0000 Sunshine1810 1003992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think that I would be able to give up that deal. I agree with @mrskc about this being the time to buy. The interest rates are just starting to go up a little, but are still low. DH and I just bought our starter home in April, and are planning to be here at least 5-7 years but maybe more than that. We bought in the area we want to stay in so we don't feel too much pressure to buy another house unless we need more space.</p> <p>I have a 45-55 minute commute to work now, and I don't mind it much. I own a Prius which is amazing on gas mileage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003984 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:01:00 +0000 Dandelion 1003984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: It's a really reasonable price. I didn't get farther than the manager telling me what I mentioned above, cause I just said I'd have to talk to DH. The call came out of the blue, so I just said we'd think about it. I'm sure we could counter offer.</p> <p>Part of it is that the landlord lives an hour and a half away and this was his mother's house before she passed. I think he just doesn't want to deal with it. It just kinda fell on him to be a landlord. I think he just wants to be free of it.</p> <p>He'd sell it to us through the property management company, cause they're also a real estate company, so there would be those fees for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003964 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:56:51 +0000 mrskc 1003964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: is he reasonable on his price? Can you negotiate down at all or have him cover some closing cost? It benefits him a lot by selling it to you because he doesn't have to give up any money to commission for a real estate agent. I personally think right now is a good time to buy. Home prices are on the rise and interest rates are going up so it would be great to get locked into the lower interest rate. Of course you risk prices not rising. It's a lot to think about! But sounds like there's no rush so take your time to think it through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003944 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:51:36 +0000 MrsBrewer 1003944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well our house that we own how is our starter home. We plan on living here for 5-7 years. We have a 15 yr mortgage, and we would like to have the house paid off in 10. So at the 5-7 year mark we will be a little over halfway there, which will make for an awesome down payment on our forever home!</p> <p>We have owned the house now for a little over 1 year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003936 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:49:04 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1003936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That deal sounds too good to pass up to me. The fact that he would be crediting your past rent towards the purchase price of the house is awesome, and who knows if your DH's company will be relocating in 2, 3, 4 years? I also have an hour and 15 minute commute, so the 45 minutes would sound amazing to me. My vote is buy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003924 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:45:49 +0000 regberadaisy 1003924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: that's exactly why I say buy.</p> <p>2 years is a projected goal for his company. It can easily be double that. If there is resale value to this home then I would buy it. Look at it as a investment. If you think it's a good investment and you can fix it up and flip it in 2-4 or even 5 years then yes. If not, then probably no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003917 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:44:31 +0000 bisous 1003917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have only been in our started home for 1.5 years. Based on what you have said though, I say research the market and figure out how much will actually come off the price of the home by putting rent you have paid for it. It sounds like a great deal if your DH is willing to deal with a longer commute! Just make sure you get your own agent and get an inspection, in case the landlord is trying to get rid of the property knowing there is something wrong with it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003904 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:41:41 +0000 mlm2934 1003904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, it's not a risk id want to take if I knew we'd prolly be moving. That said, we bought our first house in a down market, and sold a little less than 3 years later when the market finally started rising again, and were able to sell for $20k over our orig purchase price. Since we were moving to lower cost area, we had plenty for our next down payment. But really you just can't predict the future, and it would scary to have a definite timeline and be stuck with the house. We had the luxury of making the choice to move if our house sold and if not, oh well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003886 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:37:08 +0000 Dandelion 1003886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: Yeah, we have already money saved for a down payment and closing costs.</p> <p>The area is good. Outside Charlotte, in SC, so it's growing and the market is good.</p> <p>You made some good points! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003841 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:20:31 +0000 mrskc 1003841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like a good deal. How is housing where you live? Things are really picking up in my town and prices have risen over 10%. So even in a few years, you could gain some equity. And maybe consider staying for 5 years &amp; your DH commute for a few years. 45 minutes isn't that bad. I do that everyday. Also, do you have money to pay the closing costs? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003831 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:17:21 +0000 lemondrop 1003831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are going on 6 years in our starter home. We had planned to move 3-4 years after fixing it up, but the housing market crashed shortly after buying. While I don't regret buying, we do have less flexibility since we are stuck unless we want to take a loss. Our landlord did a similar thing, giving us the option to buy them out. We were sick of moving, do we went for it. Being that the market is improving, I'd probably go for it, even if his work moves, a 45 minute commute really isn't that bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003820 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:12:05 +0000 Dandelion 1003820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: I worry about this! My dad's company had been saying for 20 years that they were thinking about moving and finally this past year they did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003819 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:11:09 +0000 Dandelion 1003819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I love the area...it's my home. My parents and all my friends are here. Great schools, too.</p> <p>@Reese: That would be up to my DH. Also, there's no exact place that they say they're going to go, yet...could be more of a commute. But, DH is looking to buy a 4 cylinder car or hybrid anyways, so maybe it wouldn't be as much of an issue for him. I texted DH to tell him about the offer and all I got back from him is, "ok, cool." So, I guess number one would be to discuss what he thinks about it, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003815 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:09:12 +0000 Charm54 1003815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put off buying a home because DH's job was supposed to relocate in 2 years...well 2 years passed, then it was another 2 years...so we kept renting, then another 2 years (etc.).</p> <p> After 7 years DH was so angry that he didn't buy a home, lol. This spring they finally relocated him, but he ended up switching companies and we are staying local. We have no idea how long we will be able to stay in our current city (his line of work involves a lot of moves) but we bit the bullet and bought a house - we didn't want to keep renting and in 5 years we were still here. We move in in 10 days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003812 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:06:05 +0000 looch 1003812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try to probe the landlord a bit more, why does he want to sell, if you don't accept, is he planning to list the home, etc.</p> <p>I look at it differently, I don't look at the job as the reason to buy or not buy...do you like the area? Would you want to stay there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-own-your-starter-home#post-1003811 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:05:30 +0000 Reese 1003811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dandelion: Would you consider doing the 45 minute commute for a while? </p>