I need advice

[Redneckryder]

this may sound weird, but go with me.....knock out the back wall of the garage and make it more of a carport and build a 2 car garage or a pole barn in the backyard. my uncle did it and he loves it.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I'll put my 2-cents in..........

First off, you have time to shop before you get married.

Avoid renting if possible. You're just throwing money away.

Ohio is swamped with forclosures. Keep your eyes open. You may stumble in to a good deal.

Consider a 2-bedroom home. My first house was a 2-bedroom home. I made a good profit off that house when I sold it and bought a 4-bedroom home. Chances are, it will be a few years before you would need (3) bedrooms unless you guys want to start popping kids out like an assembly line.

Don't be afraid to have to do a little 'fixing-up'. My first house was owned buy a guy in another state that rented to some old guy. It was very dated. Realistically though, you'll want to go in and paint, carpet, etc to your own tastes anyways.

As far as the truck goes.........

You need a reliable vehicle to get you to work. I always had a nice 'family vehicle' but never had a new truck until I was about 38 years old. My first tow rig was a 1989 F-250 I bought around 2003-2004 cheap to fix up. If my first wife and I would have stayed in an apartment after being married I could have had a new truck, but sometimes you have to give up the things you want for your 'family'.

Hopefully you'll be able to find a starter home and still be able to keep your truck. Just remember, if your new home needs some work, Heather's going to have to let you keep the truck to be able to haul the dryway, lumber, landscaping supplies, etc that you'll need to fix it up.

P.S. - I'll be in your neck of the woods Monday April 7th. I have an appointment with the State in Columbus. I'll have to find out where you're working so I can stop by and say hello.

 

[Jim Oaks]

this may sound weird, but go with me.....knock out the back wall of the garage and make it more of a carport and build a 2 car garage or a pole barn in the backyard. my uncle did it and he loves it.

I've seen garages with an overhead door in the rear to get to another garage behind it.

 

[Jspafford]

I'll put my 2-cents in..........

First off, you have time to shop before you get married.

Avoid renting if possible. You're just throwing money away.

Ohio is swamped with forclosures. Keep your eyes open. You may stumble in to a good deal.

Consider a 2-bedroom home. My first house was a 2-bedroom home. I made a good profit off that house when I sold it and bought a 4-bedroom home. Chances are, it will be a few years before you would need (3) bedrooms unless you guys want to start popping kids out like an assembly line.

Don't be afraid to have to do a little 'fixing-up'. My first house was owned buy a guy in another state that rented to some old guy. It was very dated. Realistically though, you'll want to go in and paint, carpet, etc to your own tastes anyways.

As far as the truck goes.........

You need a reliable vehicle to get you to work. I always had a nice 'family vehicle' but never had a new truck until I was about 38 years old. My first tow rig was a 1989 F-250 I bought around 2003-2004 cheap to fix up. If my first wife and I would have stayed in an apartment after being married I could have had a new truck, but sometimes you have to give up the things you want for your 'family'.

Hopefully you'll be able to find a starter home and still be able to keep your truck. Just remember, if your new home needs some work, Heather's going to have to let you keep the truck to be able to haul the dryway, lumber, landscaping supplies, etc that you'll need to fix it up.

P.S. - I'll be in your neck of the woods Monday April 7th. I have an appointment with the State in Columbus. I'll have to find out where you're working so I can stop by and say hello.

Here is a map from downtown to where I work.

We don't need a 4 bedroom, but if it has it, and its in our price we minds well look at it.

I hope I don't have to off the truck, but at this point it is up in the air.

 

[naford]

My 2 pennies. Keep looking. If the future wife finds a postion in a school district it makes sense that you would like to live closer to her work than yours. Also why would you buy a house that didn't fit your needs just because it's there. Just because somebody looking at a computer screen says your qualified for this much money doesn't mean you are. Some words of wisdom. Stay away from variable morgages, look at smaller houses that have what you you need, think about a 20 year morgage rather than a 30 year.

 

[Jspafford]

The realtor handed me a signed copy of a pre-approval. He said I could take it with me and use it like money, so I know I am approved for that much. Believe me, I don't want to spend it all, but anything under 90 and it's a POS.

He told me if I was to transfer the title of the silver truck to Heather and get it off my credit, the amount of house I would be approved for would almost double. I know there is no way I could make payments on that much, but it has crossed my mind.

I DO rant to live out in the sticks, but any school Heather is hired for will be in the city. I want to have a huge polebarn or something, but I figure if we live in the place for a few years, save up, move, and get everything we both want.

We were thinking about apartments, because of the fact you mentioned. We have no idea where here job will be. If it's not on the east side, we've been lookinf in vain. However, we need somewhere to live before were married. How much fun would it be moving back home once were hitched?

There again, once you add on the fees, and charges you have the montly payment of a house.

 

[Explorin94]

Right now this is a big argument, everytime we try and 'discuss' it, it turns ugly. She doesn't understand why I need a 2 car garage. Working on trucks is a hobby. I want a place to do it.

That is the major hangup. If I sell the SD, I can't work on the B2 because I have nothing else to drive. Six of one, halfdozen of the other.

I feel your pain brother. My wife and I just bought a house 4 years ago. The house that we bought has 2 four car garages. One houses the wifes explorer and my mustang as well as the lawnmower and 3 wheeler. Kids toys too, with a loft above the vehicles. The other has all my tools and current projects I have going on.The nice thing about it is (this can be your argument to Heather) with a 2 car garage she has her side where she can have a spot to park her vehicle and keep dry when raining or whatever outside and you can have your side to put all the awsome junk you like to have. Plus it will give you somewhere to go when she is mad at you....hide man hide.

 

[ryan]

are you planning on having kids? if so, when?

a 2BR place should be more than enough for 5-7 years

i'd give the housing market at least another year to even out anyways

 

[Jspafford]

are you planning on having kids? if so, when?

a 2BR place should be more than enough for 5-7 years

i'd give the housing market at least another year to even out anyways

We don't plan on having kids anytime soon, but you know how that works.

I would argue she could have a side of the garage, but I don't know if I could say it and actually be telling the truth.

 

[Psychopete]

I made about the same as you last year.

I wouldn't even consider a 90K house at my age (24). Or with what's happening with the ecomony for that matter. With the housing crunch, you might be able to get that same house cheaper in some amount of time.

I owe about 6K in student loans, and I will not get another loan until this is paid off.

It's about 600/mon inc. property taxes for just a 70K house that I live in, but my brother owns it. I have a room mate, so that helps.

I just think you're going to be on the egde, you never know what will happen. I went to the dentist and walked out with a $1,500 bill w/ no dental insurance. It would have been 1,700 had I not been able to pay in full. Plus the 6% they'll get you for if you need to make payments. That might not happen in your case, but similar shit happens.

Pete

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

We were thinking about apartments, because of the fact you mentioned. We have no idea where here job will be. If it's not on the east side, we've been looking in vain. However, we need somewhere to live before were married. How much fun would it be moving back home once were hitched?

There again, once you add on the fees, and charges you have the montly payment of a house.

I wouldn't sell my baby and sign up for a $100k note until I knew the house I was signing up for was on the right side of town. Even here in podunk Omaha you can burn a fair amount of fuel and time driving from one side of town to the other.

That is why I recomended renting just to start out, just give them your notice once she finds a job and you find a house and you are gone. No rigamaro trying to sell your house and trying to buy another, and no frustrating long commutes across town.

 

[Jspafford]

I made about the same as you last year.

I wouldn't even consider a 90K house at my age (24). Or with what's happening with the ecomony for that matter. With the housing crunch, you might be able to get that same house cheaper in some amount of time.

I owe about 6K in student loans, and I will not get another loan until this is paid off.

It's about 600/mon inc. property taxes for just a 70K house that I live in, but my brother owns it. I have a room mate, so that helps.

I just think you're going to be on the egde, you never know what will happen. I went to the dentist and walked out with a $1,500 bill w/ no dental insurance. It would have been 1,700 had I not been able to pay in full. Plus the 6% they'll get you for if you need to make payments. That might not happen in your case, but similar shit happens.

Pete

I have heard and feel that if anything when the crunch is over the prices will go up in my area. Right now there are so many houses for sale everyone is dropping the prices to try and move them.

When everything recovers it will again be the sellers market.

I hear you on the unexpeceted bills.

The good news is, once Heather gets a job she will be making more each year she teaches. She will start out making more than I did last year. It's just we don't know how long until she is hired.

 

[Redneckryder]

We don't plan on having kids anytime soon, but you know how that works.

i didnt plan on ANY of my 3!!

if you come home and she says "honey, we need to talk" RUN!!!!!!! HA HA HA

 

[Psychopete]

I have heard and feel that if anything when the crunch is over the prices will go up in my area. Right now there are so many houses for sale everyone is dropping the prices to try and move them.

I feel that we're only seeing the start of it. IMO, the prices of houses are high right now. In time they will come down, but yes, eventually they will go back up.

Pete

 

[kerry]

Have you considered a "fixer upper?" My nephew bought an older (1915) two family in an older part of town. Rehabed the upper level & rented it (to help with the payments!) Then fixed up the bottom to live in. They just bought a second - nicer home & are keeping the two family for income.