tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post4758705020449867503..comments2023-10-07T11:34:32.532-04:00Comments on AMELIA'S HEALTHY LIFE: 2010: The Year We Buy a HouseHEALTHY AMELIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16873651025465368628noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-63621027484961463372010-02-16T15:14:38.909-05:002010-02-16T15:14:38.909-05:00Hey Mapgirl, thanks so much for the advice. I have...Hey Mapgirl, thanks so much for the advice. I have definitely heard about the property taxes being high, especially in PG. I didn’t think about the other stuff, though, so that adds another layer of concern. It’s a trade off – it might make more sense to pay a bit more for a place in DC to save on the taxes, etc. There’s a lot to think about. <br /><br />I’m still enamored of this development in PG – it’s the “nicest” place we’ve found in our price range in an area we’d be willing to live in. Our ‘walkable to Metro’ requirement really limits things.HEALTHY AMELIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873651025465368628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-6154866204437076292010-02-13T23:00:52.056-05:002010-02-13T23:00:52.056-05:00Be careful buying in PG County. They have a really...Be careful buying in PG County. They have a really high rate of foreclosure. Boyfriend has a rental property out there and his taxes in MD have skyrocketed in the past year. <br /><br />Boyfriend has property in DC and in MD and he pays twice as much in taxes in MD for a house worth half as much.<br /><br />Make sure your good faith estimate is accurate. I nearly passed out when I saw the one my mortgage banker prepared using MD tax rates vs lower VA rates. My realtor sent it back saying it was too high in taxes for VA which was true.<br /><br />If you aren't living in MD already, look into your income tax rate, property taxes and your auto insurance rates. MD has particularly high auto insurance premiums.mapgirlhttp://www.mapgirl.net/mfcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-43779748743111864392010-02-01T09:58:17.276-05:002010-02-01T09:58:17.276-05:00Everything’s OK. Just preoccupied! I have another ...Everything’s OK. Just preoccupied! I have another meeting with the NACA folks on Wednesday, so the house-buying process is poking along at a frustratingly slow but steady pace!HEALTHY AMELIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873651025465368628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-62216208773412081032010-01-31T13:17:57.196-05:002010-01-31T13:17:57.196-05:00Do hope you are OK Amelia as it has been a while :...Do hope you are OK Amelia as it has been a while :)Notes From The Frugal Trencheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00047687598677272569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-71260103327385120452010-01-21T13:18:56.262-05:002010-01-21T13:18:56.262-05:00Thanks for the tip! I will check out Boston Gal ag...Thanks for the tip! I will check out Boston Gal again. I haven’t popped in on her site in awhile. We’re not really up for being landlords right now, but I totally get how it would be an awesome way to offset mortgage costs. We’ve thought about it but we’re not ready for that. <br /><br />As to having a lot to put down, we won’t be doing that. I know, it sounds crazy, but we’re going through a first time home buying program (NACA) that does not require it. Despite not putting money down, we’ll get below market interest rates, a 30 year fixed loan, etc… They even cover closing costs, which is awesome. They basically want to remove barriers to home ownership while supporting and encouraging the things that will make us successful as homeowners in the long run (a PROVEN ability to budget, save money, etc. is required). <br /><br />This is a smart move for us because we can hoard our savings and investments as a large cushion/emergency fund instead of sinking it into something that’s not liquid: our home. We also plan to stay put indefinitely so we’re not worried about falling home prices and not having enough equity. <br /><br />NACA certainly isn’t for everyone. It requires a lot of jumping through hoops, patience, and a volunteer commitment throughout the life of our mortgage (they’re also an advocacy organization). There are also limits on the price of the home ($360,000 or so in the DC region), which would price out a lot folks. But for us, it’s the (only) way to go and really worth the effort, at least so farHEALTHY AMELIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873651025465368628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-16869136807584228812010-01-21T11:43:45.041-05:002010-01-21T11:43:45.041-05:00You should check out Bostongal.com she has great a...You should check out Bostongal.com she has great advice on home buying and what she did to get into her first home. Think about getting a place with an apartment attached so you can have an income stream. Save every dime and put as much down as you possibly can.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-44037484990901879562010-01-15T15:18:37.615-05:002010-01-15T15:18:37.615-05:00That’s an excellent point, SavingDiva. We’re going...That’s an excellent point, SavingDiva. We’re going to try an agent we met at the NACA meeting. At the very least, he knows how to navigate the process with the program we’re using and he’s personable. How competent he is will become apparent pretty quickly. I just can’t wait to get past this paperwork part and get going already! Working on the patience…HEALTHY AMELIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873651025465368628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-61099148553310955562010-01-15T15:15:24.060-05:002010-01-15T15:15:24.060-05:00My only advice is to make sure you have a good rea...My only advice is to make sure you have a good real estate agent. Mine was horrible and made the process extremely difficult.SavingDivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10267021491907810696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-10129039365172009702010-01-13T09:45:54.166-05:002010-01-13T09:45:54.166-05:00Thanks, FT. At this point, I'm trying to be pa...Thanks, FT. At this point, I'm trying to be patient. It is a struggle!HEALTHY AMELIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16873651025465368628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8370603891095573911.post-76731177288548922682010-01-13T05:53:11.388-05:002010-01-13T05:53:11.388-05:00Oh Amelia, I really hope and pray it happens for y...Oh Amelia, I really hope and pray it happens for you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com