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I'm starting to look at houses

I'm starting to look at houses

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by: mjcboat Active Indicator LED Icon  OP 
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 11:30am  
I like my apartment and all but with the prices down here and low interests rates it just seems like better financial sense to buy. I've read through the previous posts on this topic and you're a wealth of information.Any tips, advice, and suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not looking for anything super fancy nor super big. But I want a decent quality house in a good area. I can handle some small updates myself . I don't know if new are in my price range or if that would really make sense as my first house.  I think my top dollar would be around $180,000 (Unless its waterfront or utterly amazing). Can I get something decent for under that? Back in New York that's pretty uncommon for a good area.  4951
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bp2018 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 11:35am  
That shouldn't be too big of a problem. Check on HAR.com you can enter in all your preferences and a list will pop up if anything is available that fits. 4951
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spookfanatic Active Indicator LED Icon
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 11:37am  
Just remember if you find a place you love, don't wait to long to make a move on it. Houses are going like crazy here right now. 4951
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Love2Run Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 11:53am  
I like my apartment and all but with the prices down here and low interests rates it just seems like better financial sense to buy. I've read through the previous posts on this topic and you're a wealth of information.Any tips, advice, and suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not looking for anything super fancy nor super big. But I want a decent quality house in a good area. I can handle some small updates myself . I don't know if new are in my price range or if that would really make sense as my first house.  I think my top dollar would be around $180,000 (Unless its waterfront or utterly amazing). Can I get something decent for under that? Back in New York that's pretty uncommon for a good area. 
 
@mjcboat:   It all depends on what you're looking for but you can find some nice homes in the older sections of KW that are well under $180k.  I sold my little 1100sf home in Sherwood Trails for $103k -- in only two days.  It was very clean (if I don't say so myself!) but needed updating in some areas (kitchen/baths) --all brick and overall in great shape, on a large greenbelt lot.  Once you've decided on where, I'd enlist a realtor's help in finding your perfect place.  Ride around in your preferred areas and make note of some realtors that have listings OR ask for realtor referrals here.  There are some really, really good ones and some really, really BAD ones.  Good luck and hopefully you'll be enjoying home ownership very soon. Emoticon
4951
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donnatella Active Indicator LED Icon 13 Forum Moderator
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 2:29pm  
If you are looking for new construction, another alternative would be some of the new construction going up along WLHP, just outside of KW.  Waters Edge and Lake Shore are still building, plus 3-4 new neighborhoods that are just now clearning.  Those neighborhoods usually start in the upper $100s.  They might also be a good investment as real estate in that general area should start to jump as Generation Park goes in near Summerwood.  FMC is a large energy company that will attract a lot of new residents who want to live near the office. 4951
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Annie Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 2:50pm  
Don't forget some of the expenses related to home ownership vs apt. I made sure that I could still have someone do the yard work. That was one of the best things w apt living - no mowing! 4951
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cgm10sne1 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 2:58pm  
www.realtor.com/real estateandhomes-searc h/77339/price-126000 -169000Lots of houses in kingwood under 180k. I put in a search in realtor.com for 126k to 169k some cute homes. Copy and paste the link above in and my search should pull up. 4951
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Retired_Engineer Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:00pm  
My son has also been house shopping but he has a lower budget.  You should be able to find a nice house for your budget.  4951
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mjcboat Active Indicator LED Icon  OP 
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:26pm  
Thanks everyone.I do want it to be smart investment wise. Aside from commute time,  a good return on investment is probably my biggest stipulation. By paying rent I'm basically flushing 1200 down the toilet every month. There would be added costs I can't cut the lawn when i'm away on business HOA fees, general upkeep and what not. I'm a bit of a handyman  so i'm not afraid of a few projects.As my first house I'm not looking for my dream home but more of an investment.   4951
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jls2 Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:30pm  
I wouldn't worry about the lawn - there are so many reasonably priced landscape companies that could cut it for you! 4951
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KingwoodDotCom Active Indicator LED Icon 18 Site Admin
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:32pm  
@mjcboat -- Houses in Texas are rarely a good investment...rent is not flushing money down the drain...houses are expensive to own. My opinion, FWIW. 4951
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mjcboat Active Indicator LED Icon  OP 
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:36pm  
@mjcboat -- Houses in Texas are rarely a good investment...rent is not flushing money down the drain...houses are expensive to own. My opinion, FWIW.
 
@KingwoodDotCom: Why do you say that? Too many houses for sale? An apartment is a place to live so i guess its not waste. 
4951
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Love2Run Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:37pm  
@mjcboat -- Houses in Texas are rarely a good investment...rent is not flushing money down the drain...houses are expensive to own. My opinion, FWIW.
 
@KingwoodDotCom: true dat.  Real estate is no longer the great investment it used to be.  With the varying markets, there's no guarantee anymore that you'll make a profit when you sell.  My DH is learning that hard lesson as we speak.  He's owned his home in Wichita for over 15 years and will probably have to sell it for less than he paid, even losing more money on what we're doing to remodel now just to get it marketable.  That hurts.Associated costs on top of your mortgage can be daunting to a first-time homebuyer....and have caused many to lose their shirts trying to get out from under.  A good realtor can educate you on expected costs, definitely earning her commission on the sale.  Homeownership isn't for everyone but it beats the heck out of apt living, IMO.  
4951
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KingwoodDotCom Active Indicator LED Icon 18 Site Admin
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:40pm  
Why do you say that? Too many houses for sale? An apartment is a place to live so i guess its not waste.
 
@mjcboat: Property values go up very, very slowly in Houston...When you factor in HOA fees, home insurance, pest control, lawn care, water & sewage, extra utilities, high property taxes, and general property maintenance (the stove and roof and carpet will run out eventually)...there is no room for a decent investment return...
4951
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Love2Run Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:48pm  
@KingwoodDotCom - that isn't necessarily the case.  I only owned my little casa for four years and made a  nice little profit when I sold it in April.  I'd put very little money into it, other than the necessities and some updated paint and new carpet.  It just all depends. I know some folks that live in the higher price point homes in KW that will lose their arses when it comes time to sell.  But in the price range that @mjcboat is looking, I'm betting he/she would be ok, especially in a 'hot' area like KW.   4951
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thetarget9 Active Indicator LED Icon 4
~ 9 years ago   Jun 16, '14 3:52pm  
It's just like the stock market....Buy Low, Sell High.  I bought my home in Kingwood on forclosure and I could easily sell it for twice what I paid.  You just have to be a smart shopper. 4951
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