[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
[Main General Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
$$$$$$ Posted by ChuckD [Email] (#2127) [Profile/Gallery] (more from ChuckD) on Mon, 28 Mar 2005 12:38:22 In Reply to: Help for 1st time home buyer......, Todd N, Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:43:17 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Hey Todd,
We've owned a house on Long Island for 4 years now. We got in just in time before the real estate prices exploded and now's a tough time to be buying. But it's still easier than anything in the city.
That said, we got a nice 1 acre lot for a decent price and my wife, who's a Controller by profession, was able to hammer down the interst rate pretty effectively. While I can't speak much for the financial side of it (it's my job to fix stuff and keep the contractors at bay) I can tell you one thing that's made things much easier for us and that's having an accessory apartment.
We've taken great care to really get to know who's rented our two bedroom apartment and it's really paid off. I highly recommend it to soften the costs. If we need to find a tenant, we have them in for a sit-down in the living room, talk about alot of stuff and generally get to know them. Our situation is that our basement (and washer/dryer) are under the apartment so we make it clear we need access but we're also sensitive to the privacy concerns of the tenant and under no circumstances do we enter bedrooms. We emphasize it's an open environment up front. For some that wasn't good for them but there are plenty others (recent graduates, etc.) who have found it acceptable and it's been a great experience. Plus it's helped with the mortgage. We haven't had anyone who we weren't comfortable with letting our two year old be around.
C.
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.