[PSUSMU]

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

Do you pay a townhouse/condo association fee?

Yes, $350/mo which includes clubhouse/pool, landscaping, trash & snow removal, exterior maintenance, water & sewer, etc. I know this does not go away and only increases, but it's worth having no headaches to me. ~$21k in fees over 5 years, which would otherwise offset having to replace a roof or whatever, but I also get extra services included in the cost.

[2011CrazE89]

While townhome and condo living may be less stress and maintenance. My main issue with them is that I like my music. And I like it loud! I also like watching a Blu-ray at full surround sound. I don’t want to be worrying about disturbing the neighbors by sharing that wall space. That was one of the main reasons we decided to go with a single family home.

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by PSUSMU

Yes, $350/mo which includes clubhouse/pool, landscaping, trash & snow removal, exterior maintenance, water & sewer, etc. I know this does not go away and only increases, but it's worth having no headaches to me. ~$21k in fees over 5 years, which would otherwise offset having to replace a roof or whatever, but I also get extra services included in the cost.

Then you do have exterior maintenance, it's just 'socialized' ;-)

[PSUSMU]

Originally Posted by 2011CrazE89

While townhome and condo living may be less stress and maintenance. My main issue with them is that I like my music. And I like it loud! I also like watching a Blu-ray at full surround sound. I don’t want to be worrying about disturbing the neighbors by sharing that wall space. That was one of the main reasons we decided to go with a single family home.

My townhouse is 2004 construction with very good insulation. I can blast my Sonos speakers and don't have to worry about the neighbors on either side.

Originally Posted by MrRoboto

Then you do have exterior maintenance, it's just 'socialized' ;-)

Tough, but fair.

[Whostheboss]

Originally Posted by PSUSMU

My townhouse is 2004 construction with very good insulation. I can blast my Sonos speakers and don't have to worry about the neighbors on either side.

What about blasting your S.O? LOL

[davis449]

^^No offense intended because people are entitled to create their own standards. But you seem somewhat difficult to please.

You bought a house in '08, (pretty much the worst time to buy a home in the last 20 years) and yet sell it in 2012 for more than you paid. Currently rent a house that you hate. I hope you don't hate anything about your new apartment.

Home ownership isn't for everyone, but it doesn't seem like things went all that bad for you. Check out what that house you sold would sell for in 4 years from now. If things continue as they are and predictions are correct, you probably would have made a small fortune selling that house 4 years from now.

None taken. I got talked into something that I really didn't want to afford. BTW, I sold in 2013...not 2012. A year later, the selling prices haven't risen much and renting houses in that same neighborhood are a good $200-$300 less a month than my 30 year mortgage was at 3.2%. My mortgage payment wasn't the problem. The TAXES were. There's nothing "picky" about that. If not wanting an INSANE commute and purchasing a second vehicle in order to pay cheaper property taxes so I could spend LESS time in my home (due to driving to distance to EVERYWHERE, not just work) is "picky", then I accept it. My monthly payment was almost 50/50 mortgage/taxes. You can HAVE that shit. Yes, I hate my rental home, but the house sold SO quickly, I had to find a place in two weeks. I did the best I could and signed a yr. lease so I could have time to find the right place for me. I sure I will be fine where I am headed. There are still great rentals out there right now and I am keeping my options open while awaiting my move date.

[rjpeaks]

stalking you Davis...

[Sara]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

Wow some of you pay more then $10k in property tax?!?! I only pay $300 a year for my 7 acre cabin here in the beautiful West Virginia mountains. No housing codes. Cop-less twisting back roads everywhere. No crime. Most of us leave our houses unlocked and keys in the car. I can't imagine paying that much in tax. I'd never live in or near a city.

But its West Virginia..........

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by MrPrena

Either state of CO has extremely low property taxes, or something's off.

$801,000 market value house is paying $4900/yr.
$360,000 market value house is paying $2110/yr
Even 2nd most expensive county like Pitkin has comparable property taxes.

Yeah in the suburbs of Westlake Hills in Austin Texas a house appraised at $801,000 would be paying something on the order of $17,000 or $18,000 a year in total state and local property taxes. There's a special property tax for living in Eanes ISD/Westlake compared to some of the other suburbs around Austin that probably accounts for $10,000 of that $17k or $18k. That's a big reason for why a lot of people flock to surroundings suburbs like Round Rock or Georgetown. The local property taxes are a lot lower.

Like P1et said central texas is insanely expensive when it comes to property taxes, even if our overall cost of living is much lower than places like California or Manhattan. You'll certainly get more house for your money in Austin compared to CA, but the property taxes here are still quite high.

[NemesisX]

Wow yeah I just looked up my uncle's house in Palo Alto (hope he doesn't mind me creeping ). Zestimate is $4.9M. 2012 appraisal is $3.5M. Property taxes for 2012 = $43,094

A $3.5M appraisal in Westlake would be paying at least double that.

Then again, my uncle's house is 2623 sq ft....

You could probably get a 7k or 8k sq ft house in Westlake hills for that kind of cash.

California is insane...god damn.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by NemesisX

Wow yeah I just looked up my uncle's house in Palo Alto (hope he doesn't mind me creeping ). Zestimate is $4.9M. 2012 appraisal is $3.5M. Property taxes for 2012 = $43,094

A $3.5M appraisal in Westlake would be paying at least double that.

Then again, my uncle's house is 2623 sq ft....

You could probably get a 7k or 8k sq ft house in Westlake hills for that kind of cash.

California is insane...god damn.

What we pay for our tiny condo in newport beach is MORE than what was being paid for the 4,800 sq house on 2 acres in Louisiana that I moved from. It makes no sense lol.

[nagisak31]

Originally Posted by Sara504

But its West Virginia..........

Some people in the world actually have to pay for their own things...

[Sara]

Originally Posted by nagisak31

Some people in the world actually have to pay for their own things...

I pay my own horses expenses thank you. Both of them.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by davis449

None taken. I got talked into something that I really didn't want to afford. BTW, I sold in 2013...not 2012. A year later, the selling prices haven't risen much and renting houses in that same neighborhood are a good $200-$300 less a month than my 30 year mortgage was at 3.2%. My mortgage payment wasn't the problem. The TAXES were. There's nothing "picky" about that. If not wanting an INSANE commute and purchasing a second vehicle in order to pay cheaper property taxes so I could spend LESS time in my home (due to driving to distance to EVERYWHERE, not just work) is "picky", then I accept it. My monthly payment was almost 50/50 mortgage/taxes. You can HAVE that shit. Yes, I hate my rental home, but the house sold SO quickly, I had to find a place in two weeks. I did the best I could and signed a yr. lease so I could have time to find the right place for me. I sure I will be fine where I am headed. There are still great rentals out there right now and I am keeping my options open while awaiting my move date.

Lots of good rentals for sure! Hope the next place works out well for you guys.

[MrPrena]

thanks for letting me know.
I will put this property tax as one of the factor/variable before I move there.

Originally Posted by NemesisX

Yeah in the suburbs of Westlake Hills in Austin Texas a house appraised at $801,000 would be paying something on the order of $17,000 or $18,000 a year in total state and local property taxes. There's a special property tax for living in Eanes ISD/Westlake compared to some of the other suburbs around Austin that probably accounts for $10,000 of that $17k or $18k. That's a big reason for why a lot of people flock to surroundings suburbs like Round Rock or Georgetown. The local property taxes are a lot lower.

Like P1et said central texas is insanely expensive when it comes to property taxes, even if our overall cost of living is much lower than places like California or Manhattan. You'll certainly get more house for your money in Austin compared to CA, but the property taxes here are still quite high.

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by Sara504

But its West Virginia..........

That's a very very good thing to me.

[MrPrena]

This is my major reason we purchased our house. I really didn't like the rent raise. I just wanted the fix cost (or rate of increase I would not really get upset about).

In the long run, imho,owning a house is cheaper than renting.

ETA: I just saw this article on yahoo finance
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-rea...131800432.html

[2011CrazE89]

Originally Posted by MrPrena

This is my major reason we purchased our house. I really didn't like the rent raise. I just wanted the fix cost (or rate of increase I would not really get upset about).

In the long run, imho,owning a house is cheaper than renting.

ETA: I just saw this article on yahoo finance
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-rea...131800432.html

Interesting article.

[PSUSMU]

Originally Posted by Sara504

I pay my own horses expenses thank you. Both of them.

You're what's wrong with America.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by PSUSMU

You're what's wrong with America.

Why?

[davis449]

Originally Posted by rjpeaks

stalking you Davis...

Is it Restraining Order time????

[Templar]

Originally Posted by PSUSMU

You're what's wrong with America.