Looks like I might be going about this solo...

[ScrimpAndSave]

Debbie the good thing is, is that there is a huge market for these places around here. We have a lot of young families and young professionals...so I think the turn over is pretty good and so it the amount of inventory.

[ScrimpAndSave]

I like this one:

MLS

[mommyof4]

Actually, I love this one:


Lehigh Valley Real Estate

That's beautiful!

[ScrimpAndSave]

I thought so too. My dad would argue that for $160k-$180k, I could have a cape cod or ranch that needs updating...but it would be a detached home.

Maybe I should just live at home with him forever. lol.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Oops that was the wrong link...here is the right one:

MLS

[jIM_Ohio]

I thought so too. My dad would argue that for $160k-$180k, I could have a cape cod or ranch that needs updating...but it would be a detached home.

Maybe I should just live at home with him forever. lol.

Don't let a family member suggest "you can do better", or "you need a SFH".

That is part of the "living on your own" thing I was talking about. If the decision is good for you, then you need to do what is right for you.

Your father might be capable of mowing a lawn. Your father might be capable of patching the roof. Your father might be capable of changing his own oil in the car. That does not mean you need to fit into that stereotype.


First time my parents visited my town house, I heard my father mention he wanted to buy a house just like it when he retired. I didn't need his approval, and he's no house expert, but he could see the good gig I had (no maintainance).

[ScrimpAndSave]

Jim,

You are right. I guess I worry about my dad being alone, too...I mean he is in wonderful health and TOTALLY self sufficient...but I know that my rent does help him with the taxes that he pays on the house.

I guess I should at least wait until the summer before I decide to do anything...so I know I am through some of this grief.

[tripods68]

Break up is hard enough without adding it more.

Usually it takes about 1 year or more for anyone to recover on major breakup. I had several of those myself in early and late twenties. I remember not dating for over 1 year, and just focused on my work. I think you shouldn't worry about "how much house you can afford for now" until you arrived with a solid financial plan and mental footing. You are saving and working. So i suggest to continue the journey until if and when you are ready to start a brand new relationship.

[Wink]

Scrimp&Save,
I am much older then you, but I am single (divorced, no kids) and I purchased an older but renovated townhouse in the city. Very urban environment. I can walk to lots of restaurants, the grocery store, shops, etc. I can hop a bus or get a cab to take me into the heart of downtown to the stadiums for football and baseball games, theaters, comedy shows etc

I love my home. Hardwood floors, high ceilings, exposed brick, rooftop deck (very cool). It has a lot of the charm of an older home but with all the modern amenities. Very low maintenance and no HOA fees.

Can I hear my neighbors on both sides of me? Once in a while. But the great thing about living here is that I know all of my neighbors. It gives me a great sense of comfort and security to know that if I have an emergency, they will help me in a hearbeat. We get each other's mail when on vacation, we gather on our front "stoops" in the summer to chat, we have block parties and potluck dinners. My block ranges from young singles, to young married couples, to middleagers (like me) to retired folks. We all get along and respect each other.

I exercise my green thumb by container gardening, and have a lovely back courtyard with climbing roses and even a small veggie garden. It's like a little oasis in the middle of the city. But I don't have any grass to cut

The only cons are: my property taxes are higher then in the county, and street parking. But most of the time I don't even move my car all weekend, I have so much to do in my own neighborhood.

I guess I just wanted to give you a snapshot of how urban living can be. It's not for everyone, but for a young professional like you, it can really be a very fun lifestyle. Whatever you eventually decide, take your time and have fun looking!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Scrimpandsave, somewhere recently you said you are a homebody and do not go out much. You also said you love gardening, even pulling weeds. In looking at houses online you sometimes were sorry to think you might only get into a small Cape Cod style for your first home. Given all that, why would you be now considering a small urban condo in the middle of an entertainment/former warehouse district? Are you hoping to start a new life?

I suspect you do just need to move somewhere, anywhere else to begin to get some ideas about what you do and don't like or want. You'd probably be happy enough in a variety of places, as you are open to considering everything under the sun. Given that, there might not really be an ideal place for you. You could be happy with a lot of different ones.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

We're the same age approximately S&S and I'm going to be blunt, I don't care how much money you are saving by living at home, you should move out. It's way harder to deal with life when you live at home. I've had many friends who regressed because their parents allowed them to. Moving home is great financially but bad in many other ways. Most moved home to pay off student loan debt or buy homes, but they all said moving back out was the biggest success.

You say all the time "my dad says". What would S&S say if she were her own woman paying all her own bills and being completely independent?

Don't get me wrong, sweet deal with cheap rent, but sometimes there is more to life than money. There is also more to life than owning a home. And independence is one of the biggest steps in finding a relationship.

I know that when you are independent you are more likely to find a successful relationship. Not many men will put up with "my dad says" and "we should live with my dad to save money."

There is money and there is money. Money isn't worth sometimes struggling and buying a smaller house or no house and renting because you get to be in the relationship of you and your significant other. NOT a party of 3.

3's a crowd KWIM? You need time to grieve the relationship. However consider moving out this summer even into a rental so you have a chance to find some space for yourself.

As for condo vs townhouse vs house, I still don't get why you need a house? Can you afford reality the maintenance of a SFH alone? Can you afford to pay people to help you because you can't do it alone or will you depend on your dad?

That's a realistic question about buying his home by yourself. And what happens in the future.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Joan,

I agree. I also don't think I am an overly picky person and I can adapt to a lot of different situations. I truly think I can make any place work for me - as long as it isn't a complete fixer upper.

Livingalmostlarge,

I think you are right. Moving out would be great for me...and I do want to do it. I'm looking at a year from now as the earliest probably. I do worry about my dad and what he will do when I move out...maybe he will move at that point to...but he needs to sell the house first. I know I should really just worry about myself - but it is so hard not to worry about him. We are really, really close.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Just for reference, these are the utilities on my dad's house and the estimate of the cable and cell phone bills too:

House Utilities

Electric: $100
Water: $ 15
Gas: $100
Trash/Sewer: $ 40
Cable/Phone: $100
Insurance: $ 75
Cell Phone: $ 70

[cptacek]

I think LAL is giving great advice.

[ScrimpAndSave]

I do agree...and I would like to be on my own...I just worry about my dad being alone too.