House Hunters

[eloisel]

So, I've run across this show on TV called "House Hunters." A young couple is looking for a house in Chicago. They want a 2 bedroom, 2 bath place with a washer/dryer space/room and some room outdoors. I can't believe what tiny little places are going for $275,000 and up in Chicago. One of the cheapest places they looked at was a 900 sq ft rehabed condo for $275,000 - 2 tiny bedrooms, 1 bath, 2 balconies - big deal that it had an apartment sized stacked washer/dryer unit and some newer appliances in the kitchen. A virtual glossed up high priced cardboard box. With the condo, they will have homeowner's association fees to pay on top of everything else. What cracks me up is the real estate agent says that $275k is a tiny budget for house hunting. Not in my neck of the woods. Down here, $275k would buy a very nice house - at least 3 bedrooms, 2 and a half bathrooms, 2 car garage, real front and back yards - not just a balcony, with new kitchen appliances, a full sized washer and dryer, central heat and air, a fireplace, and trees. Who would want to live in a place without trees? Ewww.

 

[SuN]

Same story in my neck of the globe...pple camp outside auctions..and Q and bid for rentals....its pretty crazee.
Investment propertys and personal debt is screwing the housing market, and lifestyles like a 4k an hour hooker.

Ya gotta love a debt free life

 

[eloisel]

Yeah - I've noticed that - the investment property thing. People are buying houses expecting to move out of them in 2 to 5 years at a big profit. Even the couple on that show were talking about this being their first house they've purchased together. They don't plan on living there for long. So, people screw each other around for profit then blame the government because everybody is broke.

 

[starguard]

Dude..if you think THOSE prices are high, you should see what they're asking for some of those homes in the Suburbs!

 

[Laker_Girl]

My brother bought an insy-winsy house for $385,000.00, lots of upgrades, gated community but I swear the place is no more than 1,200 sq. ft. This was two years ago and if I'm lying I'm dying the back yard is so small that after he had a stone patio laid there was less than a foot of yard left and he laid astroturf. It's going to take YEARS for my brother to earn the money back on that place and he has two growing boys. Impatience never pays.

I, on the other hand, have my sights set on a 2,983 sq. ft. house, five bedrooms, three full baths, two great rooms and a huge modern kitchen and yes a giant front and back yard with a pool for $279,000.00. Lots of building, not enough buying and LG gets a great deal, YAYYYYY ME!

Oh and I love House Hunters but the couple never, ever picks the house I think they should. Also check out My First Home, My House Is Worth What?, and Moving Up. All very interesting.

 

[missmanners]

Incredibly stunning lake view from most areas of this newly built 4 bedroom, 4 full bath home. Amish built cabinetry, granite countertops, Anderson windows throughout, two-sided fireplace in first floor master and greatroom, first floor laundry and 4 car heated garage. Public dock within 100 yds. Prepaid Home Warranty.
Type: Home
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Garage: 4
Stories: 11/2
Sq.Ft.: 3236
Lot Size: 70x268(.431)
Year Built: 2005
Fireplaces: 1(two sided master/greatroom)
Heat/AC: Gas/Central
Siding: vinyl
Roof: Asphalt shingle
Yard: Landscaped, concrete drive w/turnaround
Utilities: n/a
Property Taxes: 2818
Water View? Yes
Waterfront? No
Water frontage: n/a
Virtual Tour:

This is here at the lake, more house than I'd ever want, anyone want to guess on the price?


mm

 

[Cacophony]

www.zillow.com

I don't know if you've seen this, but it's awesome.

Basically, you can put in any address in the states (doesn't work in Canada, I've tried) and it'll tell you the stats of the house and how much it's worth.

For instance my parent's house is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath (used to be 4 bedroom, but we remodeled), 1720 sq feet, and on a 22,561 sq ft lot, and it was built in 1946. My parents bought the house at around $36,500 in 1988, and now it's worth $123,500. Granted, they've put a lot of work into it, but haven't added any additions or anything like that.

All that information came from that website.

It's a stalkers paradise, but it's really cool. And I suspect that it would be extremely helpful when looking for a house/looking to sell a house.