How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
The cost delta isn't very significant for a recently-rebuilt home in this area. 2 car with 2 or 3 br and 1 or 2 ba is maybe $550-$575k. The cost is mostly in the land.
Below that, $500k will get you into condo / townhome territory. At that point, you're paying $200-$400 a month in HOA, plus dealing with upstairs neighbors in a lot of cases. Many such properties around here are actually single-family homes which have been subdivided into 2-3 apartments, by floor. And believe me, those hundred year old wooden floors squeak. Anything under $450k, and you're parking on the street.
Below that, $500k will get you into condo / townhome territory. At that point, you're paying $200-$400 a month in HOA, plus dealing with upstairs neighbors in a lot of cases. Many such properties around here are actually single-family homes which have been subdivided into 2-3 apartments, by floor. And believe me, those hundred year old wooden floors squeak. Anything under $450k, and you're parking on the street.
Boost Pope
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So, let's say I change my assumptions a tad.
https://click.mail.zillow.com/f/a/Pg...0lm3nhu1_1pt0h
This shifts the numbers dramatically. Even with somewhat pessimistic assumptions about property valuation and taking HOA fee into account, this pays off during the second year by moving down to a 15 year mortgage.
Hell, even if we assume the property inflation rate to be zero, it STILL pays off in less than two years:
https://click.mail.zillow.com/f/a/Pg...0lm3nhu1_1pt0h
This shifts the numbers dramatically. Even with somewhat pessimistic assumptions about property valuation and taking HOA fee into account, this pays off during the second year by moving down to a 15 year mortgage.
Hell, even if we assume the property inflation rate to be zero, it STILL pays off in less than two years:
Yes, that I would go for. Nice clean, assume it's in a good location for you, etc. And not nearly the amount of overhanging mortgage or increased utilities by not sharing any walls with anyone. And at that price, if you needed/wanted to move/change jobs, etc, you could likely easily lease the place to cover the bills.
This. The house my ex-wife still lives was on a 15yr mortgage. But with an anticipated move to Austin in the next 18-36 months, I'm not sure there is any company that will pay me a salary allowing a 15 year mortgage there unless it's way out in the sticks or something.
This. The house my ex-wife still lives was on a 15yr mortgage. But with an anticipated move to Austin in the next 18-36 months, I'm not sure there is any company that will pay me a salary allowing a 15 year mortgage there unless it's way out in the sticks or something.
Boost Pope
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It's definitely a different neighborhood. On Irving Park, most of the store signs are in English. On Montrose, which is one major block north, they're mostly Spanish. This does not personally bother me (better supermarkets, for one thing), but it's something to consider from a resale perspective.
I'll need to eyeball the property...
I'll need to eyeball the property...
It's definitely a different neighborhood. On Irving Park, most of the store signs are in English. On Montrose, which is one major block north, they're mostly Spanish. This does not personally bother me (better supermarkets, for one thing), but it's something to consider from a resale perspective.
I'll need to eyeball the property...
I'll need to eyeball the property...
Boost Pope
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Yes.
Anyone ever had a home circuit breaker fail in the "ON" position?
Nasty lightning/thunderstorm through OKC this morning, one circuit that includes lights and the garage door opener fried. Fancy modem and router base on a completely different circuit are dead, while nothing else on that circuit is.
Strange.
Nasty lightning/thunderstorm through OKC this morning, one circuit that includes lights and the garage door opener fried. Fancy modem and router base on a completely different circuit are dead, while nothing else on that circuit is.
Strange.
Boost Pope
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Circuit breakers don't generally do much to protect against lightning. They are relatively slow-acting, and are designed to protect against over-current, not over-voltage.
The modem and router died because the lightning induced a voltage in whatever line external to your house feeds the modem.
The modem and router died because the lightning induced a voltage in whatever line external to your house feeds the modem.
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Here in the lightning capital of North America we have various surge protection devices that the mounted directly into the fuse panel and elsewhere. I'm dubious as to their effectiveness, but we did have a fairly large oak tree struck by lightning about 30 feet from the corner of my house with no damage to electronics. The charge sent chunks of the tree trunk over the house into the front yard.
When lightning hits the electrical Transformers up on the poles and they explode like a bomb it's pretty impressive. That's a fairly common occurrence.
When lightning hits the electrical Transformers up on the poles and they explode like a bomb it's pretty impressive. That's a fairly common occurrence.
Circuit breakers don't generally do much to protect against lightning. They are relatively slow-acting, and are designed to protect against over-current, not over-voltage.
The modem and router died because the lightning induced a voltage in whatever line external to your house feeds the modem.
The modem and router died because the lightning induced a voltage in whatever line external to your house feeds the modem.
I couldn't see any obvious damage to the house, but even when I left for work this morning it was still raining too hard and far too much lightning for me to take a good look.
Here in the lightning capital of North America we have various surge protection devices that the mounted directly into the fuse panel and elsewhere. I'm dubious as to their effectiveness, but we did have a fairly large oak tree struck by lightning about 30 feet from the corner of my house with no damage to electronics. The charge sent chunks of the tree trunk over the house into the front yard.
When lightning hits the electrical Transformers up on the poles and they explode like a bomb it's pretty impressive. That's a fairly common occurrence.
When lightning hits the electrical Transformers up on the poles and they explode like a bomb it's pretty impressive. That's a fairly common occurrence.