"Buy the biggest house you can afford"

[Jiddy78]

Advice I've been given anecdotally more than a few times in the last few years...Any viewpoints before I give mine?

(This is not a housing bashing thread.)

[Vegas]

That depends on a lot of things. If you're talking about a straight economics type of thing, it's not horrible advice. More expensive houses tend to appreciate faster. And it depends largely on what you mean by "can afford" and whose definition. Other people's budgets are like other people's diets. It's always a lot easier than your own.

[Jiddy78]

That depends on a lot of things. If you're talking about a straight economics type of thing, it's not horrible advice. More expensive houses tend to appreciate faster. And it depends largely on what you mean by "can afford" and whose definition. Other people's budgets are like other people's diets. It's always a lot easier than your own.

Major sticking point.....Also, notice I used the word "biggest"...That's a far cry from "more expensive" in a lot of cases...but I've been seeing the word supplanted..."Best" is a good word...Buy the "best" house you can "afford"...

I'd probably buy that. Although I prefer small...I've been meaning to run an inverse relationship as to tax/electric savings put into an annuity vs. appreciation expectation from variously priced homes...In my area, such savings invested would dwarf the current value of my home over 30 years...Just doing the math somewhat crudely, those savings alone (no interest/investment compound figured in) would be almost worth the amount I paid for my home...

[Vegas]

Major sticking point.....Also, notice I used the word "biggest"...That's a far cry from "more expensive" in a lot of cases...but I've been seeing the word supplanted..."Best" is a good word...Buy the "best" house you can "afford"...

I'd probably buy that. Although I prefer small...I've been meaning to run an inverse relationship as to tax/electric savings put into an annuity vs. appreciation expectation from variously priced homes...In my area, such savings invested would dwarf the current value of my home over 30 years...Just doing the math somewhat crudely, those savings alone (no interest/investment compound figured in) would be almost worth the amount I paid for my home...

Energy costs will continue to rise for years to come. Buying an energy efficient home will prove to be a good investment. My electric bills are half as much as homes half the size of mine.

[Jiddy78]

Energy costs will continue to rise for years to come. Buying an energy efficient home will prove to be a good investment. My electric bills are half as much as homes half the size of mine.

Would you believe our electric bill is 50 bucks a month? Wifey despises air conditioning and I reap the benefits...

I figured this thread would take off...but alas...Nothing.

[Vegas]

Would you believe our electric bill is 50 bucks a month? Wifey despises air conditioning and I reap the benefits...

I figured this thread would take off...but alas...Nothing.

My total utilities (gas & electric) are around $90 a month during the winter. During the summer, my electric gets up to around $250, which is pretty cheap around here.

['Lifer]

Would you believe our electric bill is 50 bucks a month? Wifey despises air conditioning and I reap the benefits...

I figured this thread would take off...but alas...Nothing.

Don't you live in Florida? No AC? No way!

[Jiddy78]

My total utilities (gas & electric) are around $90 a month during the winter. During the summer, my electric gets up to around $250, which is pretty cheap around here.

Oh yes...Gas...We don't have that down here...I like my electric stove.

[Jiddy78]

Don't you live in Florida? No AC? No way!

I've actually grown accustomed to it...It's kinda nice going outside and not having that heat wave hit you like a ton of bricks and make you wishing you were dead...I've found I'm much more active and prone to go out for a run/ride/the beach...But, on the flipside, I see myself sneezing a lot because anywhere you go in that has AC feels like a freezer box.

['Lifer]

I've actually grown accustomed to it...It's kinda nice going outside and not having that heat wave hit you like a ton of bricks and make you wishing you were dead...I've found I'm much more active and prone to go out for a run/ride/the beach...But, on the flipside, I see myself sneezing a lot because anywhere you go in that has AC feels like a freezer box.

But have your coworkers and friends grown accustomed to your B.O.?

[Vegas]

But have your coworkers and friends grown accustomed to your B.O.?

REP

[BoredWithNoSB]

In today's transient society I don't think it applies. Until you are married, I don't think it is a good idea. (Still bitter I won't break even till around year 9 or 10)

[Jiddy78]

But have your coworkers and friends grown accustomed to your B.O.?

I smell fresh like the morning dew, thank you very much.

[Jiddy78]

REP

You can't rep 2nd grade jokes. I call shenanigans.

[Jiddy78]

In today's transient society I don't think it applies. Until you are married, I don't think it is a good idea. (Still bitter I won't break even till around year 9 or 10)

Marry rich and it won't matter.

[pnkpanther]

Oh yes...Gas...We don't have that down here...I like my electric stove.

gas stoves are better

espeically if you actually like to cook



heating bills are worse then AC bills

[Jiddy78]

gas stoves are better

espeically if you actually like to cook



heating bills are worse then AC bills

Agreed. Floridaa...F*CK YEAH...Coming forth to save the f*cking day now!

[Vegas]

gas stoves are better

espeically if you actually like to cook



Couldn't agree more. I hate cooking on an electric stove. The time delays are horrible.

[pnkpanther]

Marry rich and it won't matter.

i just may have a sugar mama in the works

[Hotpapa666]

I think it can either be good or bad advice. First assuming that all things being equal the bigger house is the better house and the more expensive house: Depending on what you (impersonal you) take the word afford to mean. If you take it to mean, afford as in "able to make the payments", then it is stupid. If it means, after you have stuck money into everyone's retirement, you have your safety savings, etc., than it probably isn't a terrible idea. However, the down side to this thinking is that you end with a lot of money stuck in a house where the value, even if it increases, is very difficult (sell the house and move) and expensive (pay 6% to some scoundrels) to access.

You guys covered the other contingent, which is bigger, by itself, isn't better, a big dumper house isn't better than a little nice one.

My last house was a small old house that was beautiful but really expensive to heat and cool. I learned a lot from that house (and even made a little money) mostly I learned that my next house will be inspected to the extreme, I won't be buying any problems and that insulation is extremely important.

[BoredWithNoSB]

i just may have a sugar mama in the works

Still think you'll be breaking up Mr & Mrs Kobe, or will they just be adopting you?

[Jiddy78]

i just may have a sugar mama in the works

That's my boy!!!

*beams with pride*