Do you own or rent?

[Joshua B]

Just curious as to how happy people are with their current situation and the area where they live.

I will answer first. I rented for 3 1/2 years. Now I'm in the process of buying my first place. It's a townhouse in Hudson, MA. Some people call it a mill town that's seen better days. Some say it's improving and is actually a desirable place to buy.

Is this discussion inappropriate because it's too personal? If so, we don't have to continue. I'm just trying to generate some discussion that I'm personally interested in.

 

[Stephen]

My best friend (and his wife and infant) bought a house too big for them and invited us to live with them rent-free, so we can pay off debt and build up a down payment on our own house.

We're on track to buy next spring.

-T

 

[Greg]

Is this discussion inappropriate because it's too personal? If so, we don't have to continue. I'm just trying to generate some discussion that I'm personally interested in.

I suppose people will respond if they want. We'll be in our house two years next spring. the8re - must be nice for your buddy to have a house that's too big. If we have another kid, we'll either need to upgrade or expand...

 

[ChileMass]

3 years fixing up one antique house (circa 1860) and then 10 more years fixing up the current antique (circa 1840). Always something that needs to be fixed in an old house, but it's really a labor of love......

 

[Greg]

but it's really a labor of love......

I hear ya, CM. And I thought our house was old, built 1931. There's something about old homes though...

 

[SilentCal]

We have a fix-er upper too built in 1936. While it always seems like something needs fixing, I fully agree with the Labor of love comment. Over the last year I've stripped and reshingled the roof, installed new gutters, and built a new shed. Home Depot is really getting to know me....

 

[skijay]

I wish I had some "home owner" skills. I am a contractor's best friend. I have had the best luck with selecting contractors with the exception of the one who did my pool.

 

[severine]

I didn't answer the poll because of my unique situation. We owned our multi-family house for 2 years, but sold it back in December after deciding landlording just wasn't for us (on top of the nice gains in market values in those two years that allowed us to sell for a nice profit). Right now we're actually renting back the same apartment we lived in while we owned the house until we decide where we want to move next.... I keep saying we won't buy again in the state of Connecticut, but I don't know how feasible it would be for us to pick up everything we own and move out of state. Especially with the way the job market is right now...

 

[teachski]

The home I own was the home of my parents. I purchased it after they passed away. It is a real MONEY pit! In addition to the work that has been done and needs to be done in the house, there is a fairly large yard to maintain. Due to my allergy to fresh cut grass I have to get a lawn boy for the summer. In the winter I get a plow because I have to leave by 6am and frequently don't get home early enough to shovel before it sets up to a cement consistency.

Other than things that were really necessary, I have yet to complete the remodeling aspect of things. The room I am sitting in right now has paneling, what a throwback! Although the house has wall to wall carpeting, most of it was installed in the late 70's and needs to be removed. I started to do that in a room at the end of last summer and found that there is an unfinished floor under it. I put that project off till this summer. I also plan to prep the paneling so that I can paint it.

My dad was a half-assed do-it-yourselfer so in the master bedroom the closet is made of stained, rough cut lumber and there is a shelfing unit that has to come down. My dad was also paranoid about people looking into the house so the windows, with the exception of the picture window in the living room and those in the back bedrooms, are the small(18"x36") camp type crank out windows. I have my work cut out for me. :roll:

 

[Max]

I owned my first house for 17 years, it was built in the 1920's and needed so many repairs it could have been a candidate for a TV fix-er-up show. We had our current house built in 1994 and it has freed me from the drudgery of extensive home repairs, leaving time for more worthwhile pursuits like hiking and motorcycling!

 

[MichaelJ]

I'm a renter. I'd like to buy, but what I want for a house, I can't afford on my own. Additionally, being a homeowner would mean that I would have to spend too many weekends working on the house instead of being up hiking!


I'm thinking about a condo for a few years, so that I can have ownership with limited responsibilities (at least for outdoor care).

 

[smitty77]

Rented for two years and bought our first house in June, 2001. Nice little fixer-upper built in 1948. Completely removated the bathroom (down to the studs) and the kitchen, refinished the wood floors, and stripped the wallpaper everywhere and painted the rooms. Home Depot loved to see us coming. We were on first name basis with many of the associates.

Not long after I finished the kitchen I convinced the wife to put the house on the market (much to her dismay), and we found a builder clearing a lot for a cape about fifteen miles down the road. We had our home under agreement in 3 days (yes, 3) and moved into our new house in December 2003. We love the place! 8)

Although I like the handyman stuff, I hate working under pressure such as when I have the toilet in pieces and everyone needs to pee. Max can vouch for this. Our house was 1 mile from his, and we used his facilities for about 3 weeks while I gutted our one and only bathroom. Despite the problems (everytime you start one project, you end up taking on 3 more in the process) it was a valuable experience.

Smitty

 

[skican]

I own a duplex in Forge Village/Westford, MA. It was built in 1903 and was for the mill workers in the neighborhood. I/we renovated the side we live in and rent the other half. Rental pays half of my mortgage. I just refinanced my house and it's worth 100k more than I paid for it! It's nice, on the water, but very small. We are putting it on the market Monday to move to Maine. Just 30 miles south of the Loaf. 30 acres! With a private pond! I want to do organized llama hikes. Has anyone encountered llamas during their hikes? It's very popular out west, but does not seem to have caught on here as much.

Llama Hikes with Erin & Jasmine, coming soon to Maine. Well, it will probably take me about 2 years to get this thing off the ground. How fun does that sound? Llama carries all the stuff and we get to enjoy the scenery and make some money?

 

[Skier75]

UK and I are renting as a tempo

 

[Skier75]

Whoops...did't mean to send that post like that. Anyways, we sold our house and are renting for now, till we can build our home when we thaw out. Can't wait....don't like renting, been there done that and want to be done with it again.

 

[jlangdale]

Actually, I own w/mortgage and rent that out while I rent in ski country.

 

[Joshua B]

I need to change my vote to "Own with a mortgage."

 

[pepsi]

Congratulations

 

[Joshua B]

Thank you.

 

[MtnMagic]

Can't believe I can not add to the poll, wish I could. (whats happening here?!) I bought 20 years ago and paid my mortgage off in just 5 years. It gives me the opportunity to hike several times a week.
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Sweet!